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Clinical Imaging of Microwave Mammography
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Towards microwave imaging of cells
Mehmet Kelleci1, Hande Aydogmus, Levent Aslanbas
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bilkent University, Ankara, 06800 Turkey. selimhanay@bilkent.edu.tr.
Lab on a Chip
|December 16, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed a new method using microwave sensors to electronically detect cell size and location in microfluidic channels. This technique enables a novel "radar for cells" microscope, advancing lab-on-a-chip technology.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Microwave Engineering
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices require integrated techniques for characterizing cell morphology.
- Current methods often lack the resolution or electronic readout needed for widespread LOC adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a theoretical and experimental framework for using higher-order modes of resonant microwave sensors.
- To enable electronic characterization of analyte morphological properties within microfluidic channels.
Main Methods:
- Developed a phase-locked loop system to track the first two modes of a microstrip line resonator.
- Utilized the sensor system to detect size and location of microdroplets and cells in microfluidic channels.
- Performed simulations to explore sensing capabilities with higher-order modes.
Main Results:
- Achieved a resolution as small as 2 × 10-8 (Allan deviation) for both tracked modes.
- Demonstrated electronic detection of microdroplet and cell size and location.
- Simulations confirmed that higher-order modes can determine geometrical volume, effective permittivity, extent, and orientation.
Conclusions:
- The presented framework enables electronic characterization of analyte morphology in microfluidics.
- This work paves the way for developing a microwave-based microscope, a
- radar for cells.
