Synthetic aperture radar imaging for burn wounds diagnostics

The need for technologies to monitor the wound healing under dressing materials has led us to investigate the feasibility of using microwave and millimetre wave radiations due to their sensitivity to water, non- ionising nature, and transparency to dressing materials and clothing. This paper presents synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images obtained from an active microwave and millimetre wave scanner operating over the band 15–40 GHz. Experimental images obtained from porcine skin samples with the presence of dressing materials and after the application of localised heat treatments reveal that SAR images can be used for diagnosing burns and for potentially monitoring the healing under dressing materials. The experimental images were extracted separately from the amplitude and phase measurements of the input reflection coefficient (S11). The acquired images indicate that skin and burns can be detected and observed through dressing materials as well as features of the skin such as edges, irregularities, bends, burns, and variation in the reflectance of the skin. These unique findings enable a microwave and millimetre-wave scanner to be used for evaluating the wound healing progress under dressing materials without their often-painful removal: a capability that will reduce the cost of healthcare, distress caused by long waiting hours, and the healthcare interventional time.