Experimental Validation of the DBIM-TwIST Algorithm for Brain Stroke Detection and Differentiation Using a Multi-Layered Anatomically Complex Head Phantom

We present an experimental validation of the distorted Born iterative method with the two-step iterative shrinkage thresholding (DBIM-TwIST) algorithm for the problem of brain stroke detection and differentiation, using an anatomically accurate, multi-layer head phantom. To this end, we have developed a gelatine-based, anatomically complex head phantom which mimics various brain tissues and also includes a target mimicking hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. We simulated the model and setup using CST Microwave Studio and then used our experimental imaging setup to collect numerical and measured data, respectively. We then used our DBIM-TwIST algorithm to reconstruct the dielectric properties of the imaging domain for both simulated and measured data. Results from our CST simulations showed that we are able to locate and reconstruct the permittivity of different stroke targets using an approximate initial guess. Our experimental results demonstrated the potential and challenges for successful detection and differentiation of the stroke targets.