Skin Cancer Detection Reflectometry Technique Using Millimeter-wave Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna

Abstract

This work introduces a methodology for the early detection of skin cancer. The approach utilizes a dual-band antipodal vivaldi antenna (AVA) with circular polarization and a low-profile design for reflectometry in the millimeter-wave frequency range. The AVA distinguishes between normal skin tissue and malignant tumors by analyzing the change in return loss (RL). Planar and cylindrical tissue models have been developed to simulate skin conditions, including wet and dry skin. The tissue models incorporate irregular hexagon, pentagon, and rectangle as shapes associated with skin cancer. The analysis involves the examination of frequency shift and RL magnitude in the presence and absence of a tumor. The results indicate that the cylindrical skin model displayed a notable frequency shift and higher RL than the planar model. The RL value is significantly impacted by alterations in the tumor’s morphology.