Radiowave Imaging of the Breast (2012-2013)

 

Synthetic Aperture Radar Detection of Breast Tumours

Introduction

A novel breast imaging technique has been developed based upon a synthetically-focussed but real-aperture multistatic radar and is known as MARIA (Multistatic Array processing for Radiowave Image Acquisition).

The technology was founded by Professor Ian Craddock (currently Professor, University of Bristol, and scientific project leader, heading the University's radar imaging group (www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering )) and Professor Alan Preece (previously Head of Biophysics Unit, Department of Medical Physics and Professor of Medical Physics, University of Bristol). Micrima (www.micrima.com), a spin-off company from the University of Bristol led by executive chairman Roy Johnson, are developing the radiowave radar technology for medical imaging applications.

The radiowave radar technology is non-invasive, non-ionising and inexpensive. It has undergone extensive validation in the laboratory and is now undergoing further clinical trials at Southmead Breast Care Centre, North Bristol NHS Trust (lead clinician, Dr Mike Shere) supported by researchers (clinical scientists) from the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.

 

Synthetic Aperture Radar

Breast tumours have an additional property that can distinguish them from normal and this is defined by the dielectric value.  This has two components - the dielectric constant which affects the velocity of propagation of radio waves and therefore their wavelength, and the conductivity which affects the rate of attenuation. In the microwave region this difference is quite large. Typically a tumour has a dielectric constant of 45-50 and a conductivity of 2S/m, whereas breast fat is 5-15 and 0.2-1S/m respectively but with considerable range.  Normal glandular tissue is intermediate.

 

What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of the study is to clinically evaluate the latest modifications and improvements to MARIA equipment hardware, software and data analysis techniques against conventional imaging modalities (x-ray mammograms, ultrasound and MRI) used in the diagnosis of breast disease in a cohort of symptomatic patients.