Design and implementation of a low-cost device for breast cancer detection using ultra wide band technology

Abstract

This paper investigates on a low-cost device designed for the screening of breast cancer using ultra-wideband technology. The detecting tumors principle depends on the contrast in dielectric properties of normal and malignant breast tissues to build microwave imaging of the breast with tumor. A small malignant tissue can be detected by the increment in the energy of the received signal from cancer tissues. The ultra-wideband (UWB) signal is generated and propagated through synthetic breast tissues. The received backscattered signal, after passing through calibration and antenna direct coupling reduction process, is used to determine whether cancer tissues present via delay-and-sum beamforming method then to localize tumors. Finally, the system is tested with synthetic environment with breast phantom. Successfully, the tumors in breast phantom are detected with correct positions and the results can be extended further to test with real patient.