Enhancing Early-Stage Breast Cancer Detection: Antenna Design, Realistic Phantom Modeling, and Multi-Static Imaging with DAS Algorithm

This research delves into an exploration of diverse microwave imaging techniques for the early detection of breast cancer (BCD), focusing on the enhancement of detection capabilities through the development of a specialized antenna. The presented work introduces a microstrip inset-fed rectangular microstrip patch antenna with compact dimensions (17.75 x 15.16 x 1.21 mm^3). The design utilizes a RT 6202 substrate (0.51 mm thickness, dielectric constant of 2.94). Furthermore, the study pioneers the creation of a novel breast organ phantom model using CST Studio Suite, aiming to construct a more realistic representation for improved correlation accuracy during clinical practical trials. In the imaging domain, a qualitative multi-static microwave imaging approach is adopted, employing the Delay and Sum (DAS) algorithm implemented in MATLAB. This methodology enables the detection and localization of designed tumors within the breast model, facilitating potential advancements in early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.