UWB Antipodal Antenna With Half-Elliptical Parasitic Patch Loaded with Cylindrical Dielectric For Microwave Breast Imaging Application

This paper introduces an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Antipodal Antenna (AA) featuring leaf-shaped stubs, a half-elliptical parasitic patch, and a cylindrical lens strategically integrated into its design, aimed at enhancing its suitability for microwave breast imaging applications. The initial focus of this development is on crafting and optimizing the performance of the leaf-shaped stubs. Subsequently, in pursuit of heightened high-frequency gain performance, a half-elliptical parasitic structure is introduced both above and below the substrate. To further elevate the antenna’s gain capabilities, a circular cylindrical dielectric lens is seamlessly integrated. The proposed configuration demonstrates a simulated return loss exceeding 10 dB across the frequency range of 1.4 to 16 GHz, with a projected peak gain of 12.4 dBi at 13 GHz. Notably, this innovative device has proven effective in the successful detection of tumors within a planar breast phantom.