Study and Analysis of Trishul Shaped Antenna Performance in

Microwave Imaging for Breast Tumor Detection

Sunit Shantanu Digamber Fulari

, Simrandeep Singh

and Harbinder Singh

Electronics and Communication Department, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, India

Keywords: Antenna Design, Trishul Shaped Antenna, MWI, Breast Tumor, Broadside Pattern.

Abstract: Any disease is kept at best when it is detected early or as soon as it occurs. It may be covid-19, brain stroke,

heart attack, cancer or any kind of disease it is best for survival and further complications when there is no

delay in its detection and further procedures are followed for treatment. In this case we are discussing about

breast tumor detection which is the second biggest cause of early mortality among women after lung cancer.

The ways of detecting breast tumor early by using antenna in microwave imaging (MWI). Attempt is done in

designing a trishul shaped antenna and testing its performance in MWI. The Resonance of the broadside

pattern of the antenna is optimized at 33 GHz frequency.The Sensitivity of the antenna was recorded as high

as 1 GHz which shows high efficiency of the trishul broadside radiation pattern.

1 INTRODUCTION

The major advantage of using antenna in MWI is its

effective cost, non-ionizing and non-invasive

technique of radiation, high contrast in dielectric

properties of healthy tissue and diseased tissue. It is

well said that prevention is better than cure but there

is not much stress given to early detection if at all

anything happens as the means of increasing survival

rate. Suppose any abnormality occurs it may be brain

stroke, heart ailments, covid-19, or any form of

cancer or disease is best when it is detected early or

as soon as it occurs. This is the case when it is

detected early its survival rate is maximized and the

patient is saved with minimum complications and

without complicated treatments. MWI is safer

compared to X rays. Unfortunately, symptoms are

only felt in the last or fourth stage when the patient

will go for any form of scans or diagnoses when it is

very late which brings with itself very painful

treatments and complex to very costly medical

diagnoses together as a very bad experience. Even

with all of these costly treatments and experiences the

survival of the patient is cut to minimum. In this case

the discussion is on early detection of breast tumor by

microwave imaging method. Microwave imaging has

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8121-2117

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0850-0635

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2900-1894

gained popularity due to low cost, safety, simplicity,

high image resolution of the scanned tissue, non

ionizing radiation and lastly being non-invasive

method. The survival rate of a patient in breast tumor

when detected in stage I is 97% whereas it is reduced

to less than 30% when detected in stage IV or in last

stages. Out of every one lakh women it is estimated

that 25 develop breast tumor abnormality. Nobody

goes for scanning using MRI or CT Scan due to high

cost being the main reasons besides high ionizing

radiation and the methoid being practically unsitable

to be used in scanning purposes. In this research we

put forward a scanning mechanism using antenna

which will give a hint on breast tumor abnormality if

it is present and then the patient can be encouraged to

go for more advanced scanning using MRI and CT

Scan. This method and research does not propose

anything alternative to MRI but alternative to

scanning purposes which is not possible by MRI and

CT Scan. The design of antenna plays vital role as it

directly affects the sensitivity of the antenna in MWI

whereas the simulation and fabrication of the antenna

for realistic breast phantoms with both simulation and

practical designs plays important role in checking the

veracity of the design. This area is not much

researched and there is lot of scope to be exploited in

Fulari, S. S. D., Singh, S. and Singh, H.

Study and Analysis of Trishul Shaped Antenna Performance in Microwave Imaging for Breast Tumor Detection.

DOI: 10.5220/0013621100004664

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Futuristic Technology (INCOFT 2025) - Volume 3, pages 433-437

ISBN: 978-989-758-763-4

433

early scanning and detection of breast tumors to save

lives. IN the next section we will be reviewing few

papers in MWI using antenna design. The design of

antenna plays an crucial role in effectiveness of MWI.

2 METHODOLOGY AND

DISCUSSION

The key considerations in antenna design in MWI for

breast tumor detection is array and scanning antenna

in which MWI usually uses an array of scanning

antenna which offer advantage such as avoiding

mechanical issues and being for practical for self

examination, making their topic an important topic in

MWI. Besides the antenna performance plays a

crucial role in high resolution and high contrast MWI

for early breast tumor detection. Considerations

include low return loss, high gain and the ability to

detect breast tumor with high sensitivity which should

not be a defaulter in this work. The range of

frequencies are in 1.2 GHz, 3-10 GHz , 2.4 Ghz, 3.6-

9.2 GHz range etc. It is noteworthy to discuss the

effectiveness of using MWI as compared to other

methods as already mentioned again. It is contrast in

electrical properties between healthy fatty tissues and

diseased tissues, the effectiveness being significant

and efficient with high accuracy, even though the

antenna location changes with respect to the breast

phantom. The other important point is the safety and

cost effectivess of this methodology which is obvious

a safer and cheaper detection method compared to

conventional techniques, as it used low level non-

ionizing radiation and offers high resilience to

accurate tumor detection. The other important point

to discuss is the tumor detection accuracy which is

again noteworthy discussion as the design of any

antenna is viable as long as the accurate detection

takes place which is possible through successful

detection of tumors through numerical investigations.

3 RELATED WORK

In a paper consisting of surveys of antenna designs

used in breast tumor detection using microwave

imaging in (Misilmani, Naous, et al. , 2020) speaks

about antenna designs in its oceans. Several antenna

designs are being studied to be used in microwave

imaging for breast tumor detection. Designs such as

vivaldi, antipodal vivaldi, corrugated Vivaldi,

circular slotted, balanced antipodal Vivaldi, fractal

structure, monopole structure, octagonal shape,

bowtie shape, hibiscus shape and horn antenna were

successfully designed and their performance tested in

microwave imaging. In addition to this a wearable bra

is designed to be used in breast tumor detection.

Overall different designs and their performance in

MWI concludes a thorough performance analysis

with tables showing the bandwidth and different

antenna parameters. In yet another research paper in

(Guetaf, Chaabane, et al. , 2023) discusses about

circularly polarized antenna in medical applications

for health monitoring. The CPPMA is designed and

optimized to function in the ISM band of frequency.

A prototype with dimensions of 34 X 28 X 1.5 mm

is fabricated on a low cost FR-4 substrate. The range

of operation is between 2.425- 2.475 GHz whereas

the measured results lie between 2.32-2.515 GHz.

The utilization of circular polarization in breast tumor

detection is a thing to be researched and pondered.

How circular polarization aids and yields in MWI is

where not much research is being done. In circular

polarization the aptitudes are checked in application

of MWI. Circular polarization helps as it reduces

indoor multipath-effects and different body postures,

reduce polarization mismatch effects, increased tissue

penetration and provide robust detection of breast

tumors. The antenna design is optimized for best

reflection coefficient in ISM band frequency. Similar

to paper by Misilmani there is a similar smart bra

design implemented by paper in (Elsheakh, Elgendy,

et al. , 2023) speaks about biodegradable sensor in

MWI applications. The biodegradable circularly

polarized antenna has dimensions of 33.5 X 33.5 mm

and a coplanar waveguide feedline. The technique is

significant in using textile antenna in MWI wearable

application. As the antenna design plays an crucial

role in effectiveness of sensitivity and MWI we

review a few designs done in the past few years. In

one of the designs in (Amjadi, Hamedani, et al. ,

2012) discusses about double and quad ridged horn

antenna operating in the frequency range of 3-10 GHz

and the performance show low return loss which

makes them effective in breast tumor detection

through MWI. Bhargave in his paper in (Bhargava,

and, Rattanadecho, 2022) speaks well about a

wideband microstrip patch antenna operating

between the frequency range of 3.6-9.2 GHz and the

performance of the antenna with a minimum return

loss of -48 dB and a maximum gain of 4.5 dBi. This

design is efficient in creating 2D images of breast

tissue by scanning and detecting significant contrasts

in reflected signals. Yashaswini in her paper in

(Yashaswini, Singh, et al. , 2024) discussed correctly

about microstrip inset fed rectangular microstrip

patch antenna in MWI with dimensions of 17.75 X

INCOFT 2025 - International Conference on Futuristic Technology

434

15.16 X 1.21 mm

fabricated with RT 6202 which has

higher dielectric constant then RT 5880 of 2.94. They

have well followed an imaging approach of delay and

sum (DAS) for tumor detection and localization. In a

fractal peano patch design in (Ahmed, Mahdi, et al. ,

2020) discussed about MWI operating in the

ultrawideband frequency of 6.744 GHz with an 18

array configuration for better tumor detection facing

directly to the breast. Overall 18 antenna array is one

of the largest configuration study in this area. Ruhayu

in her paper in (Rahayu, Hilmi, et al. , 2019)

mentioned to the point on MWI operating between 9-

11 GHz range whereas the configuration of the setup

was ring configuration for better tumor detection by

directly facing the breast phantom in which there is a

tumor contained. SAR value of 1.3 W/Kg was below

the normal 1.8 W/Kg value. Somethings really well

researched in (Amjadi, Hamedani, et al. , 2011) spoke

about TEM double ridged horn antenna in MWI

operating between the frequency region of 3-11 GHz

whereas the performance of the antenna was good

with low return loss which was effective in detecting

tumor of small sized effectively.

4 DESIGN OF ANTENNA

Figure 1: Perspective view of Two Layered Design

Table 1

7.5m

CPW

0.8m

Microstrip line patch

1.54m

FR-4 substrate forms the substrate layer. The

width and length of the nine system of AMC back

layer is W

and L

respectively is 7.5mm and 7.5mm

forming a square system to help in broadside system

by causing reflection of electromagnetic radiation as

discussed later in this research. W

and L

which is the

width and length respectively of the patch of values

5mm and 9mm forms the front layer of the antenna

design. The back layer and front patch is supported

by a foam layer as shown in figure 1. The Microstrip

line patch is 1.54mm in width.

Figure 2: Unit cell Structure Design

Two layers form the back layer. The Artificial

magnetic conductor (AMC) and FR-4 substrate.

There are nine unit cells and each of the unit cell

forms a square shaped layer. The square forms a side

length of 2.5mm (width and length) each. The AMC

is at the sides bordering the FR-4 substrate.

4.1 Mechanism of Operation of this

Antenna

The most important thing behind this design is

achieving broadside radiation pattern of the

electromagnetic energy which is possible due to the

reflection of the electromagnetic energy going from

the patch downwards and getting reflected from the

back AMC layer. This reduced sidelobes or causes

radiation to be in one direction which is the need.

Study and Analysis of Trishul Shaped Antenna Performance in Microwave Imaging for Breast Tumor Detection

435

Broadside pattern is important in MWI.

4.2 S

1,1

Parameters of Trishul Antenna

Figure 3:Antenna S

1,1

Parameters

The resonance is optimized to occur at 33 GHz

frequency.

4.3 Experiment of Breast Phantom and

Antenna

Figure 4: A, B, C and D

Figure A is of Side view of two antenna array with

designed breast phantom, Figure B is front view of

breast phantom with antenna, figure C is of side view

of breast phantom with tumor at location of 35mm

from center axis of breast phantom and figure D is of

front view of breast phantom with tumor inserted into

it for Analysis of MWI respectively.

Figure 5: MWI for varying tumor sizes S

1,1

Figure 5 shows the scattering parameters when the

tumor size is varied from 2mm, 3mm, 4mm and 5mm

in radius.

The measured sensitivity of the antenna is

calculated as follows.

Sensitivity=

  

   

Sensitivity=

..



..



..



Sensitivity=970 MHz/mm, 1GHz/mm and 420

MHz/mm.

The sensitivity recorded is 970 MHz/mm, 1

GHz/mm and 420 MHz respectively for tumor

variations from 2mm-3mm, 3mm-4mm and 4mm-

5mm respectively.

5 CONCLUSIONS

A trishul shaped antenna was designed and simulated

and its performance was tested for MWI. The antenna

was designed for mmWave frequency to cause

resonance at 33 GHz frequency. Together with the

patch a nine cells FR-4 and AMC material layer was

designed which changed the propagation of the

electromagnetic radiation causing a broadside

pattern. This broadside pattern was very much visible

in achieving high amount of sensitivity in the

antenna’s performance which was recorded as

970MHz, 420 MHz and a upper threshold of 1 GHz

sensitivity. CST was used for simulation purposes.

INCOFT 2025 - International Conference on Futuristic Technology

436

REFERENCES

H. M. E. Misilmani, T. Naous, S. K. A. Khatib, and K. Y.

Kabalan, “A Survey on Antenna Designs for Breast

Cancer Detection Using Microwave Imaging,” IEEE

Access, vol. 8, pp. 102570–102594, 2020, doi:

10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2999053.

B. Guetaf, A. Chaabane, A. Khalfallaoui, and H. Attia,

“Narrow-band Circularly Polarized Antenna for

Medical Microwave Imaging and Health Monitoring

Applications,” Appl Comput Electromagn Soc J, vol.

38, no. 6, pp. 424–438, Jun. 2023, doi:

10.13052/2023.ACES.J.380607.

D. N. Elsheakh, Y. K. Elgendy, M. E. Elsayed, and A. R.

Eldamak, “Circularly Polarized Textile Sensors for

Microwave-Based Smart Bra Monitoring System,”

Micromachines (Basel), vol. 14, no. 3, Mar. 2023, doi:

10.3390/MI14030586.

H. Amjadi, F. T. Hamedani, and M. I. Zaman, “A

comparison of double-ridged and quad-ridged horn

antenna for microwave tumor detection,” 2012 15th

International Symposium on Antenna Technology and

Applied Electromagnetics, ANTEM 2012, 2012, doi:

10.1109/ANTEM.2012.6262423.

D. Bhargava and P. Rattanadecho, “Microstrip Antenna for

Radar-Based Microwave Imaging of Breast Cancer:

Simulation Analysis,” Int J Commun Antenna Propag,

vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 47–53, 2022, doi:

10.15866/IRECAP.V12I1.20702.

P. Yashaswini, U. Singh, and J. Mukherjee, “Enhancing

Early-Stage Breast Cancer Detection: Antenna Design,

Realistic Phantom Modeling, and Multi-Static Imaging

with das Algorithm,” Proceedings - 11th International

Conference on Signal Processing and Integrated

Networks, SPIN 2024, pp. 409–414, 2024, doi:

10.1109/SPIN60856.2024.10511925.

S. S. Ahmed, J. F. Mahdi, and M. A. Kadhim, “Design of

Ultra-Wideband Microwave Antenna Array for

Detection Breast Cancer Tumours,” IOP Conf Ser

Mater Sci Eng, vol. 881, no. 1, Aug. 2020, doi:

10.1088/1757-899X/881/1/012112.

Y. Rahayu, M. F. Hilmi, and H. Masdar, “A novel design

rectangular UWB antenna array for microwave breast

tumor detection,” 2019 16th International Conference

on Quality in Research, QIR 2019 - International

Symposium on Electrical and Computer Engineering,

Jul. 2019, doi: 10.1109/QIR.2019.8898292.

H. Amjadi and F. T. Hamedani, “Ultra wideband horn

antenna for microwave imaging application,”

Proceedings of 2011 Cross Strait Quad-Regional Radio

Science and Wireless Technology Conference,

CSQRWC 2011, vol. 1, pp. 337–340, 2011, doi:

10.1109/CSQRWC.2011.6036953.

Study and Analysis of Trishul Shaped Antenna Performance in Microwave Imaging for Breast Tumor Detection

437