Integration of a Slotted Monopole Antenna With a Partially Reflective Surface for Enhanced Breast Tumor Detection

This study introduces a compact monopole antenna designed for near-field breast tumor detection within the 915MHz ISM band. By integrating rectangular slots along the antenna’s non-radiating edges, the design achieves a 59% size reduction, resulting in a compact footprint of 0.4λg× 0.27λg. To enhance its performance, a partially reflective surface (PRS) is added beneath the antenna, significantly boosting gain from 1.86 dBi to 5.3 dBi, while maintaining high radiation efficiency between 95% and 99% across the 907–920MHz range. A key feature of this study was its S-parameter analysis using a realistic three-dimensional breast phantom composed of both adipose and fibroglandular tissues. This study shows that the antenna’s reflection coefficients are sensitive to tumor size, enabling the detection of structural variations in breast tissue. Furthermore, the electromagnetic behaviour of the antenna was modelled to assess the how power is transmitted and reflected through different breast layers, with and without the PRS. Specific absorption rate (SAR) analysis confirmed that the sensor operates safely at power levels up to 215mW. The experimental results closely aligned with simulations, confirming the antenna’s reliability and effectiveness in detecting early-stage breast cancer by identifying tumors of varying sizes in both adipose and fibroglandular tissue environments.