A novel textile-based UWB patch antenna for breast cancer imaging

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women worldwide, and detecting cancer at an early stage increases the survival rate by 97%. In this study, a novel textile-based ultrawideband (UWB) microstrip patch antenna was designed and modeled to work in the 2-11.6 GHz frequency range and a simulation was used to test its performance in early breast cancer detection. The antenna was designed with an overall size of 31*31 mm $$ using a denim substrate and 100% metal polyamide-based fabric with copper, silver, and nickel to provide comfort for the wearer. The designed antenna was tested in four numerical breast models. The models ranged from simple tumor-free to complex models with small tumors. The size, structure, and position of the tumor were modified to test the suggested ability of the antenna to detect cancers with different shapes, sizes, and positions. The specific absorption rate (SAR), return loss (S11), and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) were calculated for each model to measure the antenna performance. The simulation results showed that SAR values were between 1.6 and 2 W/g (10 g SAR) and were within the allowed range for medical applications. Additionally, the VSWR remained in an acceptable range from 1.15 to 2. Depending on the size and location of the tumor, the antenna return losses of the four models ranged from $$ 36 to $$ 18.5 dB. The effect of bending was tested to determine the flexibility. The antenna proved to be highly effective and capable of detecting small tumors with diameters of up to 2 mm.