Non-Invasive Skin Cancer Detection: A High-Resolution Millimeter-Wave Time Reversal Approach

This paper introduces a novel non-invasive skin cancer detection system using a high-resolution millimeter-wave time reversal imaging approach. Operating in the 2–30 GHz frequency range, the system utilizes two moving Vivaldi antennas to scan the imaging area, significantly reducing hardware complexity and cost compared to conventional systems. The system features a skin-removal technique that eliminates surface reflections, improving subsurface imaging accuracy. Through time-reversal methods, particularly the DORT algorithm, the system achieves high-resolution imaging capable of detecting both single and multiple tumors. In tests with phantoms, the system successfully identified single tumors with diameters of 5 mm and 8 mm and multiple tumors of 8 mm in close proximity. The worst-case positioning error for single tumor detection was 4 mm, and for multiple targets, 14 mm. The system also exhibited a high signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) of up to 10.8 dB, demonstrating its effectiveness in distinguishing between benign and malignant tissues.