This Letter introduces a feasibility study of a scanning system for applications in biomedical bone imaging operating in the microwave range 0.5-4 GHz. Mechanical uncertainties and data acquisition time are minimised by using a fully automated scanner that controls two antipodal Vivaldi antennas. Accurate antenna positioning and synchronisation with data acquisition enables a rigorous proof-of-concept for the microwave imaging procedure of a multi-layer phantom including skin, fat, muscle and bone tissues. The presence of a suitable coupling medium enables antenna miniaturisation and mitigates the impedance mismatch between antennas and phantom. The three-dimensional image of tibia and fibula is successfully reconstructed by scanning the multi-layer phantom due to the distinctive dielectric contrast between target and surrounding tissues. These results show the viability of a microwave bone imaging technology which is low cost, portable, non-ionising, and does not require specially trained personnel. In fact, as no a-priori characterisation of the antenna is required, the image formation procedure is very conveniently simplified.
Keywords: accurate antenna positioning; antenna miniaturisation; antipodal Vivaldi antennas; biomedical bone imaging; bone; bone tissues; data acquisition; data acquisition time; distinctive dielectric contrast; fat; fats; fibula; frequency 0.5 GHz to 4 GHz; fully automated scanner; image formation procedure; image reconstruction; impedance mismatch; mechanical uncertainties; medical image processing; microwave antennas; microwave bone imaging technology; microwave imaging; multilayer phantom; muscle; phantoms; portable nonionising imaging; preliminary scanning system; proof-of-concept; skin; synchronisation; three-dimensional image; tibia.