Microwave Breast Imaging Marker Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast cancer detection methods, such as X-ray mammography, suffer from high missed- and false-detection rates, are uncomfortable, and involve ionizing radiation, while microwave imaging alternatives face challenges in accurately imaging internal structures without calibration.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging system utilizing a microwave antenna array with a marker that scatters microwave signals, allowing for image processing and calibration to identify internal structures and regions of interest, and a method involving a marker with known scattering characteristics for image registration and calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a densely packed conformal antenna array is used for microwave imaging, then imaging capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A marker with known scattering characteristics is introduced as an intermediary object to facilitate system calibration and image registration. The marker serves as a reference that simplifies the complex task of calibrating the antenna array by providing known reference points for signal scattering patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs calibration using the marker before actual imaging of the body part. This preliminary action of calibrating the antenna array with known scattering characteristics establishes a reference framework that simplifies subsequent imaging operations and reduces the complexity of real-time image processing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If microwave imaging is used as an alternative to X-ray mammography, then exposure to ionizing radiation is reduced, but measurement precision worsens due to lack of calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The marker acts as an intermediary reference object that enables precise measurement and calibration of the microwave imaging system. By providing known scattering characteristics, the marker allows the system to achieve measurement precision comparable to or exceeding traditional methods without using ionizing radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the marker to obtain feedback on the actual scattering characteristics of the microwave signals. This feedback is used to calibrate the imaging system, adjusting for variations in signal propagation and ensuring accurate image reconstruction without requiring ionizing radiation.
3Measurement precision
If image registration between multiple images is performed, then detection accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The marker serves as a common intermediary reference that appears across multiple images. By correlating the marker's position and characteristics in different images, the system achieves accurate image registration without requiring complex analysis of the entire image data, thus reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and focuses on the marker's specific scattering characteristics for registration purposes, rather than processing the entire complex image data. This extraction of the essential registration information from the marker enables fast and accurate image alignment.
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
The system effectively generates images of internal breast structures, reduces detection errors, and provides accurate calibration for improved imaging, enabling better detection and monitoring of breast cancer.
Implementation Method 1
a marker configured to scatter the microwave signals; and a processor configured to process the scattered microwave signals and generate an image of the marker
Data Source
AI summary
A medical imaging system and method is described. The system comprises: a microwave antenna array comprising a transmitting antenna and a plurality of receiving antennae, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to transmit microwave signals so as to illuminate a body part of a patient and the receiving antennae are configured to receive the microwave signals following scattering within the body part; a marker configured to be applied to the surface of the skin of the body part and to scatter the microwave signals; a processor configured to process the scattered microwave signals and generate an image of the internal structure of the body part and the marker so as to identify a region of interest within the body part relative to the position of the marker.