A 16-modified antipodal Vivaldi antenna array for microwave-based breast tumor imaging applications

Abstract

In this article, an improved method is introduced for enhancing the gain and directivity of a modified antipodal Vivaldi antenna, which is suitable for detecting malignant cells in the breast through microwave imaging. By slotting on the fins of the antenna with the addition of parasitic elliptical patch makes the antenna radiation more directive with more gain at the lower band range. The operating fractional bandwidth of this proposed Vivaldi antenna is 120% (2.50-11 GHz) with compact dimension and directive radiation pattern with 7.20 dBi highest gain. The antenna time-domain performance and the near-field directivity (NFD) are also observed. Effective microwave breast phantom imaging system with an array of 16 antipodal antennas is designed where one antenna works as a transmitter and rest of the antenna works as a receiver in turn. The imaging performance is investigated with tumor inside the breast phantom using the Microwave Radar-Based Imaging Toolbox open source software. Detection of tumor tissue inside breast phantom has been identified by analyzing the modified antipodal Vivaldi antennas' backscattered signal.