2017 IEEE First Ukraine Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (UKRCON) The Microwave Imaging Method for Express Diagnostic of Cancer Dmytro O. Shtoda, Yurii V. Arkusha, Mykola P. Mustetsov Department of physical and biomedical electronics and integrated information technology V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University Kharkiv, Ukraine [email protected] permittivity of biological tissues and fluids. Moreover, these changes can occur in the early pre-clinical stages of the disease. Primarily, it refers to cancer diseases. Abstract — The rapid growth in the number of cancer patients in the last decade has become a real challenge for modern medicine. At first, it is due to the fact that in most instances the effective treatment is possible only in the early stages of the disease. Modern medical diagnostic methods which allow to carry out earlier and pre-clinical diagnostic is usually invasive, costly, not always safe for the patient, and cannot be widely used for screening. Therefore, currently, the creation of new inexpensive and safe methods of early non-invasive diagnosis of cancer is an important task. The report describes the main issues and challenges related to development of microwave imaging systems of biological objects. A lot of medical studies have shown that in most cases the water content in the cells of malignant tumors is higher than that of normal cells. This leads to the fact that the contrast of the permittivity of the tumor relative to healthy tissue can achieve a ratio of 10:1 for breast tissue and 1.44:1 for the grey matter of the brain [3-5, 12, 14-15]. For example, in the case of a study of breast tissue (in vivo or ex vivo), there is a significant contrast between the dielectric constant and the conductivity of tissues. The averaged results of numerous measurements of electrophysical properties of breast tissue are presented in Table 1 [18-19]. The original hardware-software system for the study of biological objects is created. The system has frequency range from 137.5 to 4400 MHz and the sensitivity of 55 dB. The visualization of the object under study is performed according to the scattering measurements in the near field region. TABLE I. Keywords— microwaves, scattering, measurements, microwave imaging (MWI), permittivity, conductivity. I. MEASURED DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF EX VIVO FEMALE BREAST IN THE FRECUENCY RANGE 2 – 3.2 GHZ. Tissue Fat Normal Tissue Tumor (Malignant) Tumor (Benign) INTRODUCTION New promising directions of visualization are methods based on the registration of the electrophysical properties of living matter. The essence of the methods is as follows: registration of natural electromagnetic radiation fields of living matter with a view to measuring the depth of temperatures; study of the reaction of living matter (of organs or body systems) to external electromagnetic fields; measurement of the electrical parameters of the deep layers of the body for the purpose of visualizing the internal structures of biological objects. ε′ 4-4.5 10-25 45-60 10-50 σ (S/m) 0.11-0.14 0.35-1.05 3.0-4.0 1.0-4.0 In practice, the measurements in vivo, the contrast slightly reduced, but in most cases the contrast ratio is at least 2:1 [6, 13, 17-18] that allows to use the permittivity for the diagnosis of cancer. Microwave imaging (MWI) is a method of visualization the internal structure of the test object according to the scattering of electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range. For medical research, the diagnostic value represents the visualization of the distribution of the permittivity and conductivity of biological tissues. One of the first fundamental studies of the electrical properties of living matter in a wide range of frequencies were carried out in 1941-1959 years by German biologist Schwann and his colleagues. Initially, attempts were made to obtain the microwave imaging techniques using simple models and to demonstrate how linearization algorithms, similar to the methods of computer tomography - microwave diffraction tomography [7-8]. However, for medical diagnostics these methods are not applicable. Primarily, this is due to the fact that most of the models are valid only in the case study of objects with lowloss and weak scattering [16]. In his works Schwan detail studied the electrical properties of living matter, the mechanisms of dispersion of the permittivity and conductivity of biological tissues was considered [1-2]. Numerous studies of electrical properties of biological tissues which carried out both in vivo as in vitro, have shown that the occurrence of pathological processes in the body, in most cases accompanied by changes in the conductivity and 292 2017 IEEE First Ukraine Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (UKRCON) In addition, the mechanisms of interaction of highfrequency electromagnetic radiation with living matter are much more complicated than the model of the rectilinear propagation of the X-ray beam (computed tomography). As a consequence, simple back projection algorithms based on Fourier transform cannot be used in microwave imaging and visualization systems [8, 16], which leads to considerable complication of the obtaining and reconstruction of tomography images. It consists of a power supply (1), high frequency generator (2), a transmission (3) and receiving (4) patch antennas, twocoordinate positioning system (5), the logarithmic detector (6), control unit (7), the object of study (8) and the microstrip directional coupler (9). As the transmitting and receiving antennas we used inset feed microstrip patch antennas which are calculated on an operating frequency of 3250 MHz. The used patch antenna is shown in Fig.2. Also, in contradistinction to the X-ray computed tomography, to solve the inverse problem of scattering microwave radiation is non-linear and unstable. Therefore to obtain of full tomography imaging using microwave radiation requires multiple direct and inverse scattering problem using methods of regularization and optimization [7-8, 16]. Apart from complicated and expensive microwave imaging system and imaging in medicine, of particular interest are simple systems for screening. For example, the active development of express-methods for determining the complex dielectric permeability of the skin to detect tumors at early stages of cancer disease is observed. For this purpose used various microwave techniques which allow you to measure the dielectric constant of objects with one-way access. Usually it is realized using microstrip resonators [9] or open-ended coaxial probe method [10]. Choice of method and technical implementation of the measuring system depends on the aim of the study, geometric dimensions and electrical parameters of the object (conductivity, permittivity and dielectric loss), temperature range and the frequency. II. Fig. 2. Inset feed microstrip patch antenna The support material is Teflon (FAF-4D) of thickness h = 1.5 mm. Antenna size: patch dimension is 33.7x27.5 mm, the substrate - 50x50 mm, inset distance - 10 mm, inset gap - 1 mm, feed width - 4.2 mm, feed length 15.5 mm. Fig. 3 shows the reflection coefficient of our antenna according to the frequency range 3 - 3.5 GHz. SYSTEM DESCRIPTION In this series of experiments we used the improved hardware-software system which described in [11]. It is a twodimensional planar system for the study of objects in the microwave range. The block diagram of microwave measuring system is shown in Fig.1 Fig. 1. Block diagram of the microwave measuring system Fig. 3. S11-parameter of the microstrip patch antenna. 293 2017 IEEE First Ukraine Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (UKRCON) For measurements in reflection mode was manufactured microstrip line directional coupler. The width of the microstrip is calculated on empirical formulas 1-4 for the wave resistance of 50 ohms, the link length is λ / 4 . First calculated the coefficients A and B: 1 0.11 εr +1 2 εr −1 A= + 0.23 + 60 2 εr +1 εr Z0 B= 60π 2 Z0 ε r (1) (2) For А> 1.52 W = h 8exp( A) exp(2 A) − 2 (3) Fig. 5. Simulated S11, S13 and S23 parameter in frequency range 2–4 GHz For А< 1.52 W 2 ε −1 0.61 = B −1− ln ( 2 B −1) + r ln ( B −1) + 0.39− π h ε r 2ε r The detector head is made on the basis of the logarithmic amplifier AD8317 and 16-bit analog-to-digital converter AD7683ARMZ located on one shielded PCB. Thus, the signal is transmitted from the detector head in digital form that allows decrease the influence of noise. This engineering solution is allows for stable measurements with a dynamic range of 55 dB. (4) These formulas provide a calculation error of not more than 1% [17]. Further adjustment of the geometric dimensions and the communication parameters of microstrip line coupler were carried out using microwave structures simulation program. The design of the directional coupler is shown in Fig.4 The dual-channel high-frequency generator is made on the basis of the frequency synthesizer chip ADF4350 and can cover a continuous frequency range from 137.5 MHz to 4400 MHz with a maximum output power of 5 dBm. Minimum step of frequency is equal 1 kHz. The detector head with the high-frequency generator, directional coupler and receiving antenna is equipped with two-coordinate positioning system, which allows measuring the field distribution with minimum step of movement of 0.05 mm. The developed software allows to carry out measurements both in manual and automatic mode; to control the highfrequency generator (selection of operating mode, operating frequency, output power, delay time in scan mode frequency); to process and render received data; save the raw data for processing by other programs. Thus, our hardware-software complex allows carrying out research in a broad frequency range of 137.5 - 4400 MHz and a dynamic range of 55 dB. Fig. 4. Microstrip line directional coupler According to measurement results, the operating attenuation does not exceed of 0.31 dB in the frequency range 0.2-4.4 GHz and directivity is more than 18 dB. The isolated port is load to 50 ohm termination resistor. In Fig.6 shows a two-dimensional geometric model of the direct problem of microwave scattering. Simulated S parameters of the directional coupler are shown in Figure 5. 294 2017 IEEE First Ukraine Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (UKRCON) During the first experiment was carried out measurement of the scattered radiation caused by two closely spaced objects in free space with dielectric constants of 4.8 and 49.25. First, measurement was made by «reflection mode». The result of the processing and visualization of scattered field is presented in Fig.7. In this experiment, the range of visualization of the scattered field is -10.41 dBm for the lower part of the scale (blue) to -7.79 dBm for the upper part of the scale (red). Castor oil filled capacity denotes the number – 1, a solution of glycerol – 2. Fig. 6. Two-dimensional model of the direct problem of microwave scattering The object is illuminated by a source of electromagnetic wave Einc, which satisfies the requirements of the Helmholtz equation [7– 8]. In the absence of the research object, the incident wave is governed by the vector wave equation 2 ∇ × ∇ × E inc (r) - k 0 E inc (r) = -jωμ J ( r ) (5) Here k 02 = ω 2 μ0 ε 0 ε r is the square of the of the background medium wavenumber. Fig. 7. The contrast between the сastor oil and 85 % solution of glycerol The presence of the object of research is to scatter microwave radiation in the near field area. In this case, the total field is a superposition of incident Einc (r) and scattered E scat (r) field. Next, a study was conducted of the same objects by the «transmission mode». The result of the processing and visualization of scattered field is presented in Fig.8. In this experiment, the range of visualization of the scattered field is 4.02 dBm for the lower part of the scale (blue) to -2.79 dBm for the upper part of the scale (red). E measure (r) = E inc (r) + E scat (r) (6) The scattered field is determined as the difference between the distribution of the total field and the field in the absence of the object of study. E scat (r) = E measure (r) - E inc (r) (7) After carrying measurements and processing of collected data we obtain a two-dimensional map of the distribution of the scattered field by the object of study. Before the measurement, is necessary to calibrate the system in the absence of the object of study. III. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS For evaluation of the measuring system and to find ways for its optimization, we performed a series of experiments using simple phantoms of biological objects which have a strong contrast of permittivity. Fig. 8. The contrast between the сastor oil and 85 % solution of glycerol. Transmission mode In finally, we conducted an experiment to study of the strong contrast object in a homogeneous space filled with distilled water. The small plastic tubular containers were used as test objects. Containers were filled with distilled water, 85% glycerin solution and hydrogenated castor oil, which corresponds to the permittivity of the objects - 81, 49.25 and 4.8 respectively. For this experimentation container filled with castor oil (1) was placed in a large container with distilled water. In this 295 2017 IEEE First Ukraine Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (UKRCON) case, the contrast of the object under study with the surrounding space was a maximum – 16:1 REFERENCES [1] The result of the processing and visualization of scattered field is presented in Fig.9. In this experiment, the range of visualization of the scattered field is -12.47 dBm for the lower part of the scale (blue) to -7.89 dBm for the upper part of the scale (red). [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Fig. 9. The contrast between the сastor oil and distilled water space Reflection mode [10] All the measurements presented in this paper were performed at a constant frequency of 3250 MHz. [11] IV. [12] CONCLUSIONS The experimental verification of the microwave sensing method for the research of biological objects is presented in this paper. Series of experiments carried out to study the microwave scattering by simple model objects, both in free space and immersed in distilled water. 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