Free-Space Operating Microwave Imaging Device for Bone Lesion Detection: A Phantom Investigation

In this letter, a phantom validation of a low-complexity microwave imaging device operating in free space in the 1-6.5 GHz frequency band is presented. The device, initially constructed for breast cancer detection, measures the scattered signals in a multibistatic fashion and employs an imaging procedure based on the Huygens principle. Detection has been achieved in both bone fracture lesion and bone marrow lesion scenarios using the superimposition of five doublet transmitting positions, after applying the rotation subtraction artifact removal method. A resolution of 5 mm and a signal-to-clutter ratio (3.35 in linear scale) are achieved confirming the advantage of employing multiple transmitting positions on increased detection capability.