Estimating the Signal Strength for Microwave Breast Cancer Detection with a Magnetic Near-Field Applicator in Air

In this paper, we present a numerical simulation scenario to estimate the signal strength of a tumor in a microwave detection scenario containing a magnetic near-field applicator and a quarter-wave dipole as transmitter and receiver, respectively. Two different receiver orientations are tested on two different breast phantoms representing high-adipose and low-adipose bulk breast tissue. The tumor signal strength is estimated by subtracting the received signals acquired with and without a tumor being present. The results indicate that in the horizontally aligned receiver case, the presence of a tumor can be estimated from the receiver positions exhibiting the highest difference signals. The strongest difference signals however do not occur at the frequency of operation but below. The other cases are not conclusive, but a stronger tumor signal was received with the horizontally aligned receiver than with the vertically aligned one throughout.