Design and Validation of a Microwave Breast Imaging Prototype

Abstract

Breast cancer detection remains a global health priority, as early and accurate identification can significantly improve clinical outcomes by reducing diagnosis time and enabling timely intervention. Yet many diagnostic methods remain costly, complex, or harmful. In this work, we present an improved microwave imaging system for early breast cancer detection, as it is a non-ionizing method, safe for repeated use, and cost-effective. Our system employs two independent Hyperfrequency (HF) sources configured as transmit and receive units, interconnected through an Arduino-controlled Radio Frequency (RF) switching network built around HMC321ALP4E microwave switches, with Vivaldi antennas arranged in a custom 3D-printed support for flexible positioning. The proposed architecture enhances signal routing, reduces complexity, and supports multi-antenna configurations without manual intervention. The resulting microwave images of the breast phantoms reveal clear phase contrasts, enabling precise tumor localization, with a simple, fast, non-invasive, and non-ionizing system suitable for cost-effective breast cancer screening.