Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2024 - PIT-13

The greater speed of microwave sensing
makes it more suitable for real-time
scanning applications. These could allow
medical professionals to get real-time information,
which is helpful in diagnosing
highly dynamic conditions and understanding
how patients respond to various
treatments and stimuli.
The system size and complex safety
rules associated with MRI systems and
CT scanners make them unsuitable for
use during most procedures. The compact
size of microwave sensors offers
more possibilities to provide clinicians
with useful information during procedures.
Because microwave sensing is relatively
easy and inexpensive, it is more
feasible for patients to undergo multiple
re-checks over time. Each recheck
gives data that doctors can use to help
patients. Microwave sensing systems
also have the potential for continuous
patient monitoring, such as during recovery.
This also provides clinicians with
more information to help patients faster
and with greater efficacy.
MSI uses non-ionizing radiation, which
is safer for the patient. This allows for
much longer periods of use and greater
frequency of use. MSI does not produce
strong magnetic fields, so it can be used
in patients with metal (ferromagnetic)
implants or devices. Also, there is no possibility
of damage to MSI machines from
flying metal, which is not true for MRI
machines with strong magnetic fields.
MSI has no risk of hot spots on the patient's
body. This is safer for the patient,
and it reduces a potential area liability for
hospitals and medical professionals. MSI
does not require patients to go into a system,
unlike larger systems, which sometimes
require the use relaxation drugs for
claustrophobic patients. Not only is the
need for drugs reduced, MSI does not require
the introduction of contrast agents
into the patient's body. This not only
saves money, but it also leads to a faster
procedure that does not risk the side effects
associated with the contrast agent.
With MSI systems, there is no need to
worry about positioning and moving patients,
which could be very painful for an
injured patient. There is also no concern
about fitting very large patients or patients
with limited mobility into an MSI
system. This improves safety and comfort
for patients, allows more patients to benefit
from the technology, and produces
results faster.
In summary, the simpler and faster setup
time per patient saves money for the hospital
and the patient, improves equipment
utilization, reduces patient risk, and gets
critical information to doctors sooner.
Advantages Throughout the Technology
Lifecycle for HDOs
The numerous advantages that microwave
sensors have over large systems
throughout the technology cycle begin
as soon as the HDO places an order. Unlike
an MRI machine, for example, MSI
does not require liquid helium, which
is a limited resource that requires great
care in shipping and handling.
The hospital infrastructure associated
with MSI is much smaller and simpler
than that associated with large systems.
There is no need for high-voltage electrical
service, cooling, space around the
machine, a control room, and so on. A
microwave sensor system does not require
as much time to install and calibrate as an
MRI machine or CT scanner does.
Once the system has been shipped
and installed, there are ongoing costs
that must be considered. MSI uses much
less electricity in operation and requires
no electricity for cooling. The ongoing
maintenance costs of microwave sensors
are also much less expensive. There is
no complex and laborious mechanical
alignment required, the list of repair
parts is simpler, and the repair parts
themselves are less expensive. The training
required to maintain an MSI system
is relatively simple, and it may be suitable
for the HDO's technical staff to
perform, which can result in lower costs
and less downtime.
An MSI has no complex moving parts
that can be subject to wear, as opposed
to MRI, which has a large rotating coil.
Finally, the cost and complexity associated
with decommissioning and disposing
of MSI systems at end of life are much
smaller than for the large systems. The
de-installation, shipping, and environmental
costs are all much less.
Conclusion
MRI systems and CT scanners continue
to be important systems for high-resolution
healthcare imaging, and that will be
true for years to come. MSI systems cannot
produce the high-quality images that these
large systems can, but their lower cost,
compact size, faster speed, and other advantages
may allow them to provide value
to patients in applications where the larger
systems are either unavailable or inappropriate
for a particular application.
This article was written by Brad Jolly,
Healthcare, Technical Specialist, Keysight
Technologies (Santa Rosa, CA). For more
information, visit www.keysight.com.
Compact, portable microwave sensing and imaging systems now offer a viable alternative to large, stationary
magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography systems (pictured) for medical imaging. (Image: Keysight
Technologies)
Photonics & Imaging Technology, May 2024
References
i Frontiers Case Report: Preliminary Images From an
Electromagnetic Portable Brain Scanner for Diagnosis
and Monitoring of Acute Stroke (frontiersin.org)
ii Recent Advances in Microwave Imaging for Breast
Cancer Detection - PMC (nih.gov)
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http://www.keysight.com http://www.frontiersin.org http://www.nih.gov

Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2024

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