High-Performance Biomedical Antenna for Early and Non-Invasive Breast Cancer Detection

Abstract

This article presents a novel microstrip antenna design for early breast cancer detection, featuring enhanced bandwidth. Designed using HFSS software, the antenna employs edge feeding with a feed line measuring 3.6 mm in length and 3 mm in width. The 70 × 70 mm substrate, with a thickness of 1.6 mm, is fabricated using FR-4 Epoxy, characterized by a relative permittivity of 4.4 and a 50 Ω impedance. The antenna achieves a maximum gain of 4.431 dBi and operates around 2.4 GHz, offering a 100 MHz bandwidth and an average return loss of –32 dB. A breast phantom model with an embedded tumor was developed to evaluate performance, enabling detection based on the specific absorption rate (SAR), which quantifies the energy absorbed by the tissue. The SAR results, peaking at coordinates (0.035, 0.0325, 0.0325), closely align with the tumor's actual location (0, 0, 0). These findings demonstrate the antenna's effectiveness in accurately locating the tumor while adhering to SAR safety standards.