Browsing by Author "Garrett, John Daniel"

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    Average Dielectric Property Analysis of Non-Uniform Structures: Tissue Phantom Development, Ultra-Wideband Transmission Measurements, and Signal Processing Techniques
    (2014-09-12) Garrett, John Daniel; Fear, Elise
    A new technique to analyze the average dielectric properties of complex structures has been developed. This technique uses microwave transmission measurements to estimate the complex permittivity of the object-under-test over a range of frequencies. First, time-gating is used to reduce multipath. Second, the antenna response is deconvolved from the measured data. Finally, with the object-under-test's response isolated, the average properties are estimated. To test and validate this work, dielectric materials with properties representing biological tissues and robust mechanical properties were developed. Reconfigurable tissue phantoms were created from combinations of these materials. In addition to testing the average property algorithms, these phantoms are well suited to testing a variety of microwave imaging methods. Complex breast phantoms were used to test the average dielectric property estimation technique, and accurate results were found. This technique was then applied to measurements of human breast tissue, and reasonable properties were estimated.