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The effect of using a dielectric matching medium in focused microwave radiometry: an anatomically detailed head model study

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Abstract

Microwave radiometry is a passive technique used to measure in-depth temperature distributions inside the human body, potentially useful in clinical applications. Experimental data imply that it may provide the capability of detecting in-depth local variations of temperature and/or conductivity of excitable tissues at microwave frequencies. Specifically, microwave radiometry may allow the real-time monitoring of brain temperature and/or conductivity changes, associated with local brain activation. In this paper, recent results of our ongoing research regarding the capabilities of focused microwave radiometry for brain intracranial applications are presented. Electromagnetic and thermal simulation analysis was performed using an anatomically detailed head model and a dielectric cap as matching medium placed around it, in order to improve the sensitivity and the focusing attributes of the system. The theoretical results were compared to experimental data elicited while exploring that the sensing depth and spatial resolution of the proposed imaging method at 2.1 GHz areas located 3 cm deep inside the brain can be measured, while at 2.5 GHz, the sensing area is confined specifically to the area of interest. The results exhibit the system’s potential as a complementary brain imaging tool for multifrequency in-depth passive monitoring which could be clinically useful for therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Schmid & Partner Engineering AG (SPEAG) for providing the license for SEMCAD-X software through SEMCAD X for Science agreement (www.speag.com).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece

    Maria Koutsoupidou, Evangelos Groumpas, Irene S. Karanasiou, Maria Christopoulou, Konstantina Nikita & Nikolaos Uzunoglu

  2. School of Natural & Mathematical Sciences, King’s College London, Strand Campus, London, UK

    Maria Koutsoupidou

  3. Department of Mathematics and Engineering Science, Hellenic Army University, Vari, Athens, Greece

    Irene S. Karanasiou

Authors
  1. Maria Koutsoupidou
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  2. Evangelos Groumpas
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  3. Irene S. Karanasiou
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  4. Maria Christopoulou
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  5. Konstantina Nikita
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  6. Nikolaos Uzunoglu
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Correspondence to Maria Koutsoupidou.

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Koutsoupidou, M., Groumpas, E., Karanasiou, I.S. et al. The effect of using a dielectric matching medium in focused microwave radiometry: an anatomically detailed head model study. Med Biol Eng Comput 56, 809–816 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-017-1729-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-017-1729-4

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