Medical Imaging System Solid Dielectric Transition Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microwave imaging systems face challenges with dielectric losses in transition media, sealing issues, electromagnetic coupling between antennas, and complex wiring, leading to suboptimal imaging results and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging system with independent arrays of transmit and receive antennas, surrounded by a shell and tank made of solid dielectric material with identical dielectric permittivity, allowing for multistatic imaging and reduced electromagnetic coupling, and using electromagnetically absorbing materials to minimize signal interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid transition medium is used between antennas and tissue, then dielectric permittivity can be adjusted to improve wave penetration, but dielectric losses increase causing energy absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the transition medium from liquid to solid, and adjusts the dielectric permittivity parameter of the solid material to match the tissue, thereby achieving good wave penetration without the high dielectric losses associated with liquids
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite solid transition media with specific dielectric properties that combine low loss characteristics with appropriate permittivity values to optimize both penetration and energy efficiency
2Reliability
If liquid transition medium is used, then wave penetration is improved, but sealing and isolation difficulties arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state from liquid to solid, which fundamentally eliminates sealing and isolation issues while maintaining the beneficial dielectric matching properties for wave penetration
3Area of stationary object
If transmitting and receiving antennas are placed close together, then imaging coverage is improved, but electromagnetic coupling increases disrupting signal reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a solid transition medium with specific electromagnetic properties as an intermediary between transmitting and receiving antennas. This medium acts as a buffer that reduces direct electromagnetic coupling while allowing the antennas to be positioned close together for improved coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies electromagnetic absorbing materials locally in specific regions to suppress coupling between antennas while maintaining the overall imaging coverage, creating localized electromagnetic property modifications
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex wiring with switch matrices is used to connect antennas, then multi-static imaging capability is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transmit and receive antenna arrays into a unified structure with common support and positioning mechanisms, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining multi-static imaging capabilities through coordinated operation of the combined arrays
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
This configuration enhances imaging performance by reducing dielectric losses, minimizing signal disruptions, and simplifying the system's complexity and cost, while providing better isolation and improved image quality.
Implementation Method 1
the materials of the tank, of the shell and of the grating supports having identical dielectric permittivities
Implementation Method 2
Microwaves emitted by the transmission network and arriving at a shell intended to receive the medium of human tissue to be observed, crossing a medium only solid transition
Implementation Method 3
said supports comprise parts made of an electromagnetically absorbing material between the antennas or else said supports consist entirely of electromagnetically absorbing material
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a medical imaging system having microwave emitting antennas and antennas for receiving the electromagnetic field, which are arranged around a space for receiving a human tissue medium to be observed, and comprising: an array (3) of emitting antennas and an array (4) of receiving antennas, wherein said two arrays (3, 4) are independent, and motors capable of angularly rotating and of translating the emitting array (3) and/or the receiving array (4) relative to the space under observation, in order to enable the scanning thereof.