A double constrained robust capon beamforming based imaging method for early breast cancer detection

Ultra-wideband (UWB) microwave images are proposed for detecting small malignant breast tumors based on the large contrast of electric parameters between a malignant tumor and normal breast tissue. In this study, an antenna array composed of 9 antennas is applied to the detection. The double constrained robust capon beamforming (DCRCB) algorithm is used for reconstructing the breast image due to its better stability and high signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR). The successful detection of a tumor of 2 mm in diameter shown in the reconstruction demonstrates the robustness of the DCRCB beamforming algorithm. This study verifies the feasibility of detecting small breast tumors by using the DCRCB imaging algorithm.