UWB microwave sensor array characterization for early detection of breast cancer

In this paper, 3×3 microwave antenna sensor array is designed for microwave imaging of breast on microwave substrate of ε_r=2.2 using full wave EM simulator FEKO. The array exhibits simulated impedance bandwidth of 4 GHz centered on 7.3 GHz. The array is simulated in transmit mode when center element is transmitting and in receive mode when all elements are receiving. The accuracy and performance of image reconstruction is affected by mutual coupling between array elements. The array design and element spacing is optimized to reduce mutual coupling till -20dB for both modes but mutual coupling effect is more pronounced in transmit mode than in receive mode.