Three Dimensional Finite-difference Time-Doman Simulation of Microwave Computed Tomography in Medical Imaging

N.F. Dajani, J.C. Lin, and K.F. Dajani (USA)

Keywords

Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Finite Difference Time-Domain, Microwave Computed Tomography, Computational Bio-electromagnetics, Differential Detection and Classification of Tumors.

Abstract

Microwave medical imaging has the advantage that it provides different functional information from other kinds of imaging and therefore is a useful diagnostic tool. Microwave propagation depends on the permittivity (molecular) rather than density based interactions of the incident energy with tissue structure when compared with X-ray radiation. The new concept of using microwave computed tomography (MCT) instead of the traditional X-ray CT, ultrasound CT, and MRI is being investigated via computer simulations utilizing FDTD methods. Imaging with microwaves offers a view of biosystems function which is unparalleled by other imaging modalities. Microwave imaging has some advantages over impedance imaging. Results have shown that differential imaging of tumors can be achieved better with microwave imaging. From the comparison among four methods of electric field, magnetic field, conduction current, and specific absorption ratio (SAR); the method of electric fields performs best in determining the size and location of tumors across three different types of renal tumor models. This research has produced reliable simulation data for an in-vitro and in-vivo MCT system design to image kidneys of Dachshund dogs. MCT systems offer economy of space and low construction cost considerations along with computational advantages, which make such systems a compelling choice for medical imaging.

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