Microwave Tomography System

Abstract

A novel medical imaging system that is based on radio-wave signals at microwave frequencies and has unique properties. The system can be used for various diagnostic applications such as breast cancer detection, brain stroke detection, and assessment of internal bleeding (trauma emergencies).

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A system comprising:
 an imaging volume to receive a biological target;   a plurality of antennas; and   a metamaterial structure disposed between the plurality of antennas and the biological target, wherein the metamaterial structure is configured to affect an amount of energy that penetrates the biological target from the electromagnetic radiation transmitted towards the biological target at multiple frequencies,   the plurality of antennas:
 transmitting electromagnetic radiation towards the biological target received in the imaging volume through the metamaterial structure; and 
 capturing received electromagnetic radiation of the transmitted electromagnetic radiation that has interacted with the biological target for imaging at least a portion of the biological target based on the received electromagnetic radiation. 
   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is captured at a plurality of different physical locations of antennas of the plurality of antennas. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the plurality of antennas generates a tomogram based on the received electromagnetic radiation captured from the plurality of different paths. 
     
     
         48 . the system of  claim 45 , wherein the metamaterial structure comprises one or more metamaterial elements. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the metamaterial structure is configured to affect the amount of energy that penetrates the biological target by modifying a number of layers in the metamaterial structure, a number of elements in the metamaterial structure, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the biological target comprises multiple layers of tissue. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the metamaterial structure reduces an amount of energy that is reflected off of an outermost layer of tissue of the multiple layers of tissue from the electromagnetic radiation transmitted towards the biological target. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein at least one dimension of the metamaterial structure is less than a wavelength of an operating frequency of the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         53 . A system comprising:
 an imaging volume to receive a biological target;   a plurality of antennas; and
 a metamaterial structure disposed between the plurality of antennas and the biological target, the metamaterial structure being tunable to affect an amount of energy that penetrates the biological target from the electromagnetic radiation transmitted towards the biological target, 
 the plurality of antennas:
 transmitting electromagnetic radiation towards the biological target received in the imaging volume through the metamaterial structure; and 
 capturing received electromagnetic radiation of the transmitted electromagnetic radiation that has interacted with the biological target for imaging at least a portion of the biological target based on the received electromagnetic radiation. 
 
   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the metamaterial structure comprises one or more metamaterial elements. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein one or more physical properties of one or more metamaterial elements in the metamaterial structure are adjustable to tune the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein the one or more metamaterial elements are to receive one or more mechanical forces to mechanically stretch the one or more metamaterial elements as part of the tuning of the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein one or more electrical properties of one or more metamaterial elements in the metamaterial structure are adjustable to tune the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the one or more electrical properties include capacitances of the one or more metamaterial elements. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the metamaterial structure includes one or more metamaterial elements in proximity to a microfluidic channel, and the system further comprises a microfluidic controller to adjust a volume of fluid in the microfluidic channel to tune the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  59 , wherein the volume of fluid in the microfluidic channel affects a permittivity of one or more regions in proximity to the one or more metamaterial elements as part of tuning the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the metamaterial structure comprises a metamaterial element that comprises a photosensitive material that can change one or more properties of the metamaterial element in response to received photons at the photosensitive material to tune the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein a conductivity of the photosensitive material changes in response to the received photons as part of tuning the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the changing conductivity of the photosensitive material affects one or more physical properties of the metamaterial structure as part of tuning the metamaterial structure. 
     
     
         64 . A method of imaging a biological target, comprising:
 disposing a biological target in an imaging volume;   transmitting electromagnetic radiation towards the biological target from a plurality of antennas through a metamaterial structure disposed between the plurality of antennas and the biological target;   tuning the metamaterial structure to affect an amount of energy that penetrates the biological target from the electromagnetic radiation transmitted towards the biological target; and   capturing transmitted and received electromagnetic radiation that has interacted with the biological target for imaging at least a portion of the biological target based on the received electromagnetic radiation.