Abstract: A microwave imaging process, and a system controlled by an associated software product, illuminate a target with microwaves from a transmitting antenna. Receiving antennas receive microwaves scattered by the target, and form microwave data. The illumination and receiving repeat over multiple transmitting antennas and multiple microwave frequencies. The microwave data is processed to form permittivity and conductivity images by selecting a background dispersion model for permittivity and conductivity. Permittivity and conductivity dispersion coefficients are determined, and permittivity and conductivity distributions are calculated, for each of the microwave frequencies. Forward solutions at multiple frequencies are determined from property distributions, and a dispersion coefficient based Jacobian matrix is determined. Dispersion coefficient updates are determined using the microwave data, and the dispersion coefficients are updated.

Abstract: A non-invasive microwave analysis method determines scattered phase and/or amplitude data for a liquid in a container. A transmitter antenna transmits microwaves that scatter from the container and the liquid in the container. One or more receiver antennas convert the microwaves into microwave electronic signals that are processed to determine the scattered phase and/or amplitude data. Another non-invasive microwave screening method includes placing a container of an unknown liquid in a tank. The container is separated by a membrane from coupling liquid in the tank. Microwave radiation transmits from a transmitter antenna and scatters from the container and the unknown liquid. One or more receiver antennas convert the microwave radiation into microwave electronic signals. The microwave electronic signals are processed to determine scattered phase and/or amplitude data. A pass result or a fail result is determined based on the scattered phase and/or amplitude data.

Abstract: A non-invasive microwave analysis system determines scattered phase and/or amplitude data for a liquid in a container. A tank holds coupling liquid; the system includes a membrane for separating the liquid container from the coupling liquid. A transmitter antenna situated within the coupling liquid transmits microwaves. One or more receiver antennas within the coupling liquid convert microwave radiation that scatters from the liquid in the container into microwave electronic signals. Electronics process the microwave electronic signals to determine scattered phase and/or amplitude values of the microwave radiation.

Abstract: Non-invasive microwave analysis systems and methods determine scattered phase data for a liquid in a container. A transmitter antenna situated within coupling liquid separated from the container by a flexible membrane transmits microwaves that scatter from the container and the liquid in the container. One or more receiver antennas within the coupling liquid convert the microwaves into microwave electronic signals that are processed to determine the scattered phase data. Non-invasive microwave analysis systems and methods image a portion of a biological subject. A transmitter antenna situated within coupling liquid separated from the subject by a flexible membrane transmits microwaves that scatter from the container and the subject. One or more receiver antennas within the coupling liquid convert the microwaves into microwave electronic signals that are processed to reconstruct a cross-sectional image of the subject.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for microwave imaging of an inhomogeneous target, in particular of biological tissue, compensates for the interactions between active antennae and nonactive antennae. Measured electric field data are processed in magnitude and phase form so that unwrapped phase information may be used directly in the image reconstruction. Initial finite element measurements and calculations are used to determine the perimeter dimensions of the target being examined, resulting in more accurate image reconstructions. An improved regularization technique is a hybrid of a Marquardt regularization scheme with a spatial filtering technique and a Tikhonov regularization scheme. An improved switching matrix enables simultaneous sampling of electric field data from a plurality of receiving antennae.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for determining electric field properties of an inhomogeneous target. The electric property distribution on a coarse mesh discretization of the target is first estimated; and then the electric field on a fine mesh discretization of the target is computed. The fine mesh has finer discretization than the coarse mesh and is overlapping with the coarse mesh. The electric field is then measured at preselected measurement sites within a homogeneous region external to the target. A Jacobian matrix is also calculated which represents a sensitivity calculation relative to a change in the electric field at selected measurement sites due to a perturbation in the electric property distribution on the coarse mesh. A difference vector is formed between the computed electric field and the measured electric field, and an update vector is added to the electrical property distribution as a function of the difference vector and the Jacobian matrix.