Master thesis project

Development of a portable microwave system for medical applications (30 credits)

Background

Microwave imaging for biomedical applications, such as early breast cancer detection, has been a hot research topic for over twenty years. In comparison with other technologies, microwave method is safe, comfortable and easy to use. Moreover, as the rapid development of microwave integrated circuit technology, the size and cost of microwave electronics have dramatically reduced, and this opens up many new application interests for microwaves, e.g. the prehospital diagnostics of stroke and trauma. Today, a patient with suspected stroke or trauma symptoms is usually transported to a hospital to undergo a CT scan in order to determine the stroke type for getting correct treatment. This process usually takes a long time causing unnecessary suffering or death due to the delayed treatment. Therefore, a quicker diagnosis is strongly desired. Microwave is proven to be a high potential technology for prehospital diagnosis of stroke. With this novel solution, diagnosis can be performed already at the ambulance, saving lives and reducing societal cost.

A small, cheap and accurate system is crucial for promoting the development of this technology, especially for prehospital applications. Among all the microwave systems that have been investigated for medical imaging, most of them are based on lab-instrument, which are bulky and expensive. It is therefore demanded to have a portable and affordable microwave system dedicated for these medical applications. We have developed such a prototype based on off-the-shelf components (see figure 1) and its functionality has been verified by imaging tests performed in the laboratory.

In order to take the system into real practice (see figure 2), it needs to be packaged in an effective way with the concern of system size, robustness, electromagnetic interference and interfacing with cables and wires.

Fig. 1 Developed prototype Fig.2 Real diagnostic scenario

Thesis questions and expected outcome This thesis requires to design, develop and evaluate a portable and affordable microwave system dedicated for real medical applications. The thesis will start from the developed prototype (figure 1). Resources, such as lab facilities, supervision on both mechanical and electromechanical issues, budget for material purchase and manufacturing cost will be available.

Student profile and application Strong interest in product development and mechanical engineering and with applied electro-mechanical engineering design and product development. Application opens to any master program. Start in January or per agreement.

Contact information Massimo Panarotto, Industrial and Materials Science - massimo.panarotto@chalmers.se Xuezhi Zeng, Electrical Engineering - xuezhi@chalmers.se