Experimental three-dimensional time-domain reconstruction of dielectric objects for breast cancer detection,” Mediterranean Microwave Symposium

In this work, the efficacy of the forward-backward time-stepping (FBTS) time domain inverse scattering technique for detection of breast cancer is assessed via experimental measurements. An array of 8 dipole antennas is utilized with a network analyzer to characterize the scattering characteristics of a “phantom ” with dielectric ratios similar to those of the human breast. The FBTS technique is used to reconstruct the 3-D dielectric profile of several “tumors ” of both cylindrical and spherical shape. Reconstruction results demonstrate that the FBTS inverse scattering technique is able to accurately detect and localize the presence of “tumors” in the phantom, and provide evidence that the technique should be applicable to a practical breast cancer detection system. I