An Examination of Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave Radar for Biomedical Imaging

The dominant waveforms used for high resolution biomedical imaging radar systems are stepped frequency or a frequency sampled ultrawideband pulsed waveform. Here several attractive characteristics of frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar systems are summarized to motivate an alternative approach to biomedical imaging radar design. Motivated by these features a first-cut at a link budget analysis is presented for replacing computed tomography scans for imaging of the human paranasal sinuses. As a first approach, the achievable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of such a system is examined based on an initial tissue model and pertinent safety regulations. It is shown that such an FMCW mode is feasible from an SNR standpoint, but that much work is needed to compensate for distortions, account for the skin response, and validate the model.