access icon free Investigation of noise effect on image quality in microwave head imaging systems

The effect of noise on the ability to detect strokes in the human head using microwave-based systems is investigated using both simulations and measurements. The simulations, which are implemented using the full-wave electromagnetic solver (CST), utilise a realistic numerical head model generated from magnetic resonance imaging slices. On the other hand, the experiments are performed using a wideband microwave system with a frequency range of 1–4 GHz. The experiments use a head phantom consisting of materials that accurately emulate (within 3% of reported properties of human brain tissues) the main tissues found in the human brain. It is shown, in both of the simulations and measurements, that a minimum signal-to-noise ratio of around 10 dB is required to accurately detect the presence of a stroke. Below this level, the microwave-based system either does not detect or falsely indicates the location of the stroke. Based on the presented results, the required microwave power to achieve acceptable detection is well within the recommended safe levels.

Inspec keywords: microwave imaging; brain; phantoms; interference (signal); biological tissues; biomedical MRI

Other keywords: microwave power; magnetic resonance imaging slice; head phantom; microwave head imaging system; frequency 1 GHz to 4 GHz; CST; full-wave electromagnetic solver; human head; noise effect investigation; signal-to-noise ratio; human brain tissue; wideband microwave system; image quality; numerical head model; stroke detection

Subjects: Microwaves and other electromagnetic waves (biomedical imaging/measurement); Patient diagnostic methods and instrumentation; Medical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy; Biophysics of neurophysiological processes; Biomedical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy; Microwaves and other electromagnetic waves (medical uses)

References

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