Imaging reconstruction with the compensation of inhomogeneous microwave energy distribution

Microwave induced thermoacoustic tomography is a method for noninvasive, high contrast, high resolution and cost effective breast cancer detection. The thermoacoustic wave is received by the ultrasonic sensor after microwave radiation. The reconstructed image reflects the electromagnetic energy distribution of breast cancer, so it may serve as a routine detection of early stage breast cancer. Due to the heterogeneity of pulsed microwave radiation energy, it is essential to blend it into the reconstructed acoustic model of breast environment. In the present study, simulation and experiment have been used for pulsed microwave energy spatial distribution investigation. Obtained results suggest that it is feasible to detect microwave energy spatial distribution with the thermoacoustic imaging, which has paved the way to solve the inhomogeneous microwave energy problem in the thermoacoustic tomography.