We are pleased to share that the latest research from the MedWaveImage project was recently presented at the International Conference on Microwave Breast Imaging and Applications (ICMWIA 2026), held in Lisbon, Portugal, from February 3-5, 2026.
The paper, titled “Assessment of Skin Contact for Ultra-Wideband Microwave Breast Scanner”, was co-authored by project researchers Alexandra Prokhorova, Marc-Patrick Heppner, Ingrid Hilger, and Marko Helbig. The study addresses a critical challenge in microwave breast imaging: ensuring optimal contact between the patient’s skin and the measurement mold. Because poor or uneven skin contact can introduce air gaps that significantly degrade final image quality, the team developed and validated new methods to detect and localize these gaps.
By proposing and testing three innovative algorithms that analyze ultra-wideband signal crosstalk, the researchers successfully demonstrated that air gaps can be detected based on different clinical scenarios. This advancement marks a significant step forward for the MedWaveImage project, bringing us closer to more reliable, high-quality, and precise microwave imaging technologies for breast cancer screening.