Electromagnetic Tissue Imaging Using Iterative Scattering Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical imaging technologies are costly, bulky, and not suitable for rapid, portable, or frequent monitoring, particularly for urgent diagnosis of brain injuries, and current electromagnetic imaging methods suffer from non-unique solutions and inaccurate processing due to multi-reflections and refractions in the human body.
Innovation Solution
A process involving multi-static electromagnetic measurements, data processing, and machine learning to generate images of internal tissues by iteratively updating a model based on scattering data, using antenna arrays and signal calibration to reduce clutter and improve accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional medical imaging technologies (ultrasound, CT, MRI) are used, then imaging capability is provided, but cost and equipment complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical imaging systems (ultrasound, CT, MRI) with an electromagnetic field-based system using antenna arrays and signal processing. This substitution eliminates bulky mechanical components while maintaining imaging capability through electromagnetic wave interaction with tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a computational model that copies and simulates the electromagnetic properties of human tissues. By measuring scattering parameters and reconstructing dielectric property distributions through iterative optimization, the system generates virtual images without requiring physical slicing or complex mechanical scanning.
2Reliability
If ionising radiation (X-rays) is used for imaging, then imaging capability is provided, but patient safety deteriorates due to radiation exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of electromagnetic wave frequency from ionising ranges (X-rays) to non-ionising microwave frequencies. This parameter change maintains the ability to probe tissue dielectric properties while eliminating harmful radiation effects, as microwave energies are insufficient to ionize atoms or damage DNA.
3Measurement precision
If tomography-based techniques are used, then imaging accuracy is improved, but processing time increases making them unsuitable for emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing the relationship between scattering parameters and dielectric properties through simulations or calibration scans. During actual imaging, the system uses these pre-established models to rapidly reconstruct images without performing full tomographic inversion, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy.
4Productivity
If delay-and-sum (DAS) processing is used in radar imaging, then processing speed is improved, but accuracy deteriorates due to susceptibility to reflections and refractions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the reconstructed image is continuously compared with measured scattering data, and the reconstruction parameters are iteratively adjusted to minimize discrepancies. This feedback loop compensates for errors introduced by reflections and refractions, improving accuracy while maintaining reasonable processing speeds through efficient optimization algorithms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, safe, and cost-effective imaging of internal structures, particularly brain injuries, with improved accuracy and reduced processing time, suitable for emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
receiving scattering data representing mono-static or multi-static measurements of scattering of electromagnetic signals from tissues of a body part of a subject
Implementation Method 2
the human body is an electromagnetically heterogeneous medium characterized by features and tissues with different dielectric properties
Implementation Method 3
When an injured tissue with a high permittivity value compared to its neighbouring healthy tissue is exposed to an electromagnetic wave at a microwave frequency, a high portion of the wave is reflected back towards the radiation source
Data Source
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AI summary
A process for medical imaging, the process including: (i) receiving scattering data representing mono-static or multi-static measurements of scattering of electromagnetic signals from tissues of a body part of a subject at a plurality of different signal frequencies, wherein electromagnetic signals are emitted from one or more antennas and the corresponding scattered signals are measured by the one or more antennas; (ii) processing the scattering data to calculate electric field power values at each of a plurality of scattering locations of the subject's tissues within the body part and for each of the plurality of frequencies; (iii) for each of the scattering locations, summing the calculated electric field power values at the scattering location over the plurality of frequencies and the plurality of antennas to generate an image of the tissues within the body part; and (iv) iteratively updating a model of the tissues within the body part based on a comparison of the model with the generated image until a termination criterion is satisfied, wherein the updated model is output as an image of the subject's tissues within the body part.