Development of non-uniform breast phantom and its microwave imaging for tumor detection by CP-MCT.

Phantom model of the breast which has actual shape and size has been developed for evaluation of microwave imaging by Chirp Pulse Microwave Computed Tomography (CP-MCT). This phantom model will also be successfully used for hyperthermia experiments using microwaves. This phantom model is consisted of four kinds of tissue mimicking materials, that is, the skin-, breast fat-, muscle-, and tumor-simulators. The principal ingredients of the phantom are water, liquid paraffin, super stuff (TX-150), sugar, and salt. It is easy to simulate permittivity of the real breasts in addition to the shape and size. This is the advantage of this non-homogeneous phantom. CP-MCT is a modality for microwave imaging of a human body using chirp pulse microwaves to extract the component which transmits the straight path between two antennas. Possibility of tumor detection by CP-MCT has been demonstrated by using the higher frequency model of CP-MCT and the non-homogeneous breast phantom.