A 3D microwave-imaging system for brain stroke follow-up: Review and experimental testing

This work describes a prototype of a novel imaging device and presents the experimental testing of it. The proposed prototype uses microwave-imaging technology to monitor a brain stroke after its onset, exploiting the different dielectric properties of human tissues. This device complements well-assessed MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT (Computerized Tomography), and could give clinicians fast and extra information in the decision-making stages. The system includes a helmet-like array of antennas, a switching system to connect the antennas to signal processing, the signal processing itself, and the imaging algorithm. The complete functioning prototype reconstructs the position and size of a target - representing the stroke - in a three-dimensional human-like head phantom that considers the proper tissue properties. In this work, different sizes and positions of targets demonstrated the prototype's functioning. Although the system had low complexity, the available information guaranteed a good reconstructed image of the scenario.