Multi-Band Miniaturized Patch Antennas for a Compact, Shielded Microwave Breast Imaging Array.
Multi-Band Miniaturized Patch Antennas for a Compact, Shielded Microwave Breast Imaging Array.
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DOI：
10.1109/tap.2013.2295615
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发表时间：
2013-12-18
影响因子：
5.7
通讯作者：
Hagness SC
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Aguilar SM;Al-Joumayly MA;Burfeindt MJ;Behdad N;Hagness SC
我们提出了一类多波段小型化贴片天线设计用于微波乳房成像的三维封闭传感器阵列的综合研究。小型化和多波段操作是通过在贴片的战略位置加载天线的非辐射槽来实现的。这导致对称的辐射模式和相似的辐射特性在所有频率的操作。制作原型并在生物相容性浸泡培养基中进行测试。仿真结果与实测结果吻合良好。在这类贴片天线中，小型化和辐射效率之间的权衡是通过对槽的位置和数量以及介电衬底的厚度和介电常数对谐振频率和增益的影响的数值分析来探索的。此外，我们比较了两种不同的封闭式狭缝加载小型化贴片天线阵列所获得的三维定量微波乳房成像性能。模拟阵列测量获得三维解剖逼真的数值乳房假体。由小型化贴片阵列数据生成的重建乳房图像表明，对于本研究中假设的真实噪声功率水平，在这类多波段贴片天线上观察到的增益变化不会显著影响整体图像质量。我们的结论是，这些小型化的天线很有希望成为屏蔽多频微波乳房成像系统的紧凑型阵列元件。
We present a comprehensive study of a class of multi-band miniaturized patch antennas designed for use in a 3D enclosed sensor array for microwave breast imaging. Miniaturization and multi-band operation are achieved by loading the antenna with non-radiating slots at strategic locations along the patch. This results in symmetric radiation patterns and similar radiation characteristics at all frequencies of operation. Prototypes were fabricated and tested in a biocompatible immersion medium. Excellent agreement was obtained between simulations and measurements. The trade-off between miniaturization and radiation efficiency within this class of patch antennas is explored via a numerical analysis of the effects of the location and number of slots, as well as the thickness and permittivity of the dielectric substrate, on the resonant frequencies and gain. Additionally, we compare 3D quantitative microwave breast imaging performance achieved with two different enclosed arrays of slot-loaded miniaturized patch antennas. Simulated array measurements were obtained for a 3D anatomically realistic numerical breast phantom. The reconstructed breast images generated from miniaturized patch array data suggest that, for the realistic noise power levels assumed in this study, the variations in gain observed across this class of multi-band patch antennas do not significantly impact the overall image quality. We conclude that these miniaturized antennas are promising candidates as compact array elements for shielded, multi-frequency microwave breast imaging systems.