A non-invasive wearable microwave sensor for Alzheimer's Stage differentiation using realistic 3D human head phantoms

This study presents an advanced, safe, low-cost, and non-invasive sensor system for the early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease, making it a promising complementary tool to conventional methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emissi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jinan N. Shehab, Malik Jasim Farhan, Saad Al-Azawi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025024211
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849245527358570496
author Jinan N. Shehab
Malik Jasim Farhan
Saad Al-Azawi
author_facet Jinan N. Shehab
Malik Jasim Farhan
Saad Al-Azawi
author_sort Jinan N. Shehab
collection DOAJ
description This study presents an advanced, safe, low-cost, and non-invasive sensor system for the early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease, making it a promising complementary tool to conventional methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET). The system relies on the development and fabrication of four six-layer realistic 3D human head models for use in a microwave brain imaging system, along with a small sensor dedicated to disease detection. These phantoms were designed to accurately mimic human brain tissue, with each layer having distinct electrical properties and varying thicknesses. Three phantoms were designed to mimic different Alzheimer's disease stages. The stage classification was based on medical research, with the disease initially occurring in the hippocampus before spreading to the rest of the brain. Changes associated with disease progression were also considered, such as shrinkage of gray and white matter and increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration. Each prototype was tested using the proposed sensor, assessing its accuracy in distinguishing between different phases based on the signal reflected from the head and the changes in return losses. The sensor dimension of 32 × 37 × 0.36 mm³, and it operates at 3.241 GHz in simulations and 3.62 GHz in experiments. The sensor features a bandwidth of 1.4 GHz, a gain of 1.56 dB, and a specific absorption ratio of 0.566, enhancing its ability to penetrate deep into brain tissue. The proposed system features a compact antenna design that achieves an optimal balance between gain and size, along with a realistic head phantom that enhances testing accuracy.While not yet validated for clinical deployment, its performance was evaluated using a vector network analyzer (VNA), and the results confirmed its high compatibility with biological tissues, demonstrating its effectiveness in accurately detecting Alzheimer's-related dielectric changes through microwave technology.
format Article
id doaj-art-a38b52a498cd48e2b19001a69f2f567d
institution Kabale University
issn 2590-1230
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Results in Engineering
spelling doaj-art-a38b52a498cd48e2b19001a69f2f567d2025-08-20T03:58:48ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710635010.1016/j.rineng.2025.106350A non-invasive wearable microwave sensor for Alzheimer's Stage differentiation using realistic 3D human head phantomsJinan N. Shehab0Malik Jasim Farhan1Saad Al-Azawi2Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq; College of Engineering, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq; Corresponding author at: College of Engineering, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq.Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, IraqElectrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq; College of Engineering, University of Diyala, Diyala, IraqThis study presents an advanced, safe, low-cost, and non-invasive sensor system for the early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease, making it a promising complementary tool to conventional methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET). The system relies on the development and fabrication of four six-layer realistic 3D human head models for use in a microwave brain imaging system, along with a small sensor dedicated to disease detection. These phantoms were designed to accurately mimic human brain tissue, with each layer having distinct electrical properties and varying thicknesses. Three phantoms were designed to mimic different Alzheimer's disease stages. The stage classification was based on medical research, with the disease initially occurring in the hippocampus before spreading to the rest of the brain. Changes associated with disease progression were also considered, such as shrinkage of gray and white matter and increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration. Each prototype was tested using the proposed sensor, assessing its accuracy in distinguishing between different phases based on the signal reflected from the head and the changes in return losses. The sensor dimension of 32 × 37 × 0.36 mm³, and it operates at 3.241 GHz in simulations and 3.62 GHz in experiments. The sensor features a bandwidth of 1.4 GHz, a gain of 1.56 dB, and a specific absorption ratio of 0.566, enhancing its ability to penetrate deep into brain tissue. The proposed system features a compact antenna design that achieves an optimal balance between gain and size, along with a realistic head phantom that enhances testing accuracy.While not yet validated for clinical deployment, its performance was evaluated using a vector network analyzer (VNA), and the results confirmed its high compatibility with biological tissues, demonstrating its effectiveness in accurately detecting Alzheimer's-related dielectric changes through microwave technology.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025024211Stages of Alzheimer's disease progressionDetection of Alzheimer's via sensorFabrication of head phantomsFabrication and design of small antennabiosensors near the brainsensors in neuroscience
spellingShingle Jinan N. Shehab
Malik Jasim Farhan
Saad Al-Azawi
A non-invasive wearable microwave sensor for Alzheimer's Stage differentiation using realistic 3D human head phantoms
Results in Engineering
Stages of Alzheimer's disease progression
Detection of Alzheimer's via sensor
Fabrication of head phantoms
Fabrication and design of small antenna
biosensors near the brain
sensors in neuroscience
title A non-invasive wearable microwave sensor for Alzheimer's Stage differentiation using realistic 3D human head phantoms
title_full A non-invasive wearable microwave sensor for Alzheimer's Stage differentiation using realistic 3D human head phantoms
title_fullStr A non-invasive wearable microwave sensor for Alzheimer's Stage differentiation using realistic 3D human head phantoms
title_full_unstemmed A non-invasive wearable microwave sensor for Alzheimer's Stage differentiation using realistic 3D human head phantoms
title_short A non-invasive wearable microwave sensor for Alzheimer's Stage differentiation using realistic 3D human head phantoms
title_sort non invasive wearable microwave sensor for alzheimer s stage differentiation using realistic 3d human head phantoms
topic Stages of Alzheimer's disease progression
Detection of Alzheimer's via sensor
Fabrication of head phantoms
Fabrication and design of small antenna
biosensors near the brain
sensors in neuroscience
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025024211
work_keys_str_mv AT jinannshehab anoninvasivewearablemicrowavesensorforalzheimersstagedifferentiationusingrealistic3dhumanheadphantoms
AT malikjasimfarhan anoninvasivewearablemicrowavesensorforalzheimersstagedifferentiationusingrealistic3dhumanheadphantoms
AT saadalazawi anoninvasivewearablemicrowavesensorforalzheimersstagedifferentiationusingrealistic3dhumanheadphantoms
AT jinannshehab noninvasivewearablemicrowavesensorforalzheimersstagedifferentiationusingrealistic3dhumanheadphantoms
AT malikjasimfarhan noninvasivewearablemicrowavesensorforalzheimersstagedifferentiationusingrealistic3dhumanheadphantoms
AT saadalazawi noninvasivewearablemicrowavesensorforalzheimersstagedifferentiationusingrealistic3dhumanheadphantoms