A UWB sensor based on resistively‐loaded dipole antenna for skull healing on cranial surgery phantom models. Issue 4 (8th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Doojin; Nowinski, Daniel; Augustine, Robin
• Is Part Of: Microwave and optical technology letters. Volume 60:Issue 4(2018:Apr.)
• Page Start: 897
• Page End: 905
• Publication Date: 2018-03-08
• Subjects: craniotomy -- craniosynostosis -- resistively‐loaded dipole antenna -- ultra‐wideband (UWB) antennas; Microwaves -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; 621
• DOI: 10.1002/mop.31077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-2477

Abstract

Abstract: After craniotomy, the monitoring of the skull healing progression is strongly needed to take a proper medical intervention. The CT scans is however currently used for follow‐up after craniotomy resulting in lack of an effective and safety problem. This research proposes an alternative for monitoring the skull healing using ultra‐wide band (UWB) antenna. For the healing of the skull surgical defect, a compact resistively‐loaded dipole antenna is designed and analyzed in terms of its performance in the time domain. The head phantoms having a wideband characteristic are fabricated and used as models for the skull healing process. To represent various mineralization stages, phantoms with various dielectric constants from hydrogel scaffold to the normal skull and their intermediate values are used. The UWB radar technique in the time domain is implemented in the healing process of skull injuries emulating cranial cavities that are made as part of craniosynostosis treatment. The measurement results at the defect area show that the variations in amplitude of the reflected pulse as the skull healing is progressed. The results obtained can contribute to the development of microwave‐based techniques as a preliminary study of a proof concept before clinical trial in the healing process after cranial surgery.