A Flexible Antenna Array with Integrated Switching Matrix for Breast Cancer Detection

Abstract

In this report, we introduce a flexible board combining a custom switching circuit and 16 integrated antennas for a time-domain ultrawideband radar for breast health monitoring in one device. The goal of this study is to assess the suitability of the flexible prototype for tumor detection using carbon-polyurethane experimental breast models and comparing the performance to an earlier prototype with a rigid switching circuit and 16 separate antennas. The flexible antenna array allows direct contact with the patient skin while reducing the number of RF and DC cables needed in the previously reported system. We evaluate that the introduced flexible board successfully transmits and receives the microwave signals, and isolates tumor responses using a simple method. However, we observe that the board exhibits an early signal in the recordings of all antenna pairs which corresponds to direct cross-talk on the board and is not part of the signal that has passed through the phantom.