Towards Localization of Miniaturized Medical Robots With Microwaves

The emergence of miniaturized medical robots capable of performing targeted therapeutic procedures in deep-seated anatomical regions presents an alternative to conventional medical treatments. However, it remains a significant challenge to accurately locate the miniaturized robots in the complex environments of living organisms. Taking advantage of the short wavelength and noninvasive nature, microwave sensing holds promise in detecting small foreign objects embedded in tissue based on their dielectric properties. However, the limiting factor is the tradeoff between the penetration depth and the wavelength of the microwave signals. In this letter, we investigate the feasibility of using microwave signals in the frequency range from 18 to 40 GHz to detect centimeter to millimeter-scale metallic objects behind tissue-mimicking gelatin screens. The insights obtained from this work pave the way for the development of novel strategies for the localization of miniaturized medical robots using microwaves.