Confocal Microwave Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection: Delay-Multiply-and-Sum Image Reconstruction Algorithm

TLDR

The study proposes a delay‑multiply‑and‑sum (DMAS) image reconstruction algorithm for breast cancer detection using ultra‑wideband confocal microwave imaging. DMAS processes backscattered signals from finite‑difference time‑domain simulated breast phantoms by time‑shifting, pairwise multiplying, and summing them to generate synthetic focal points, demonstrating effectiveness across various phantoms. Reconstructed images reveal that DMAS improves malignant tumor identification compared to delay‑and‑sum and can detect and localize tumors as small as 2 mm.

Abstract

A new image reconstruction algorithm, termed as delay-multiply-and-sum (DMAS), for breast cancer detection using an ultra-wideband confocal microwave imaging technique is proposed. In DMAS algorithm, the backscattered signals received from numerical breast phantoms simulated using the finite-difference time-domain method are time shifted, multiplied in pair, and the products are summed to form a synthetic focal point. The effectiveness of the DMAS algorithm is shown by applying it to backscattered signals received from a variety of numerical breast phantoms. The reconstructed images illustrate improvement in identification of embedded malignant tumors over the delay-and-sum algorithm. Successful detection and localization of tumors as small as 2 mm in diameter are also demonstrated.