Improved Beamforming Algorithm for Imaging Reconstruction for Early Breast Cancer Detection by UWB

Ultra-wide band (UWB) microwave imaging is a promising method for the breast cancer detection based on the large contrast of electric parameters between the malignant tumor and its surrounded normal organisms. In this paper, a two-dimensional model of the breast organisms is numerically carried by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The dispersion characteristics of the breast media are taken into account by single pole Debye model to approach the actual properties of the breast organism. In this method, a tumor is assumed in the model with two cases. The standard Capon beamforming (SCB) and doubly constrained robust Capon beamforming (DCRCB) algorithm performed to reconstruct the image is described in detail. The tumor can be detected and localized using the proposed algorithm and the result demonstrates a good stability of DCRCB algorithm.