Presentation description

Early and accurate detection of breast cancer is vital to improving patient outcomes; however, pre-existing strategies are not always accessible and convenient to use. A later diagnosis of breast cancer commonly leads to more difficulty treating the cancer as well as an increased rate of mortality. Traditional breast cancer scans are typically performed in hospitals and other medical facilities, which may be geographically distant or logically inaccessible for many individuals. To address this, we explore the development of a wearable, microwave-based breast imaging system designed for at-home applications to support the early detection of cancerous breast tumors.

Measurements were taken on the Keysight Watson device between two ultra-wideband antennas on an MRI-based breast phantom with tumors in many different locations. We then compared these measurements to those of the same phantom tumor-free, which serves as the control. The Watson system's capability to measure both S11 (reflection) and S21 (transmission) parameters enabled a comprehensive evaluation of antenna behavior and range sensitivity. Sensitivity at each location was quantified by the detectable change at each location, which would be calculated by taking the difference between the bounds of the confidence intervals for the control and tumor location measurements, respectively. A visual sensitivity map was developed to characterize the tumor detection capability of the antenna system. The sensitivity maps generated from testing reveal the effective depth of antenna penetration, which informs the required number and placement of antennas for complete breast coverage.