Pediatric Corpulence Assessment Using Ultra-wideband Radar Imaging System: A Novel Approach in Tissue Characterization

• Published in: IEEE transactions on medical imaging Vol. PP; p. 1
• Main Authors: Gangwar, Kapil, Sabzevari, Fatemeh Modares, Rambabu, Karumudi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 10.06.2025
• Subjects: Abdomen; brown fat; Ex-vivo; Fats; Frequency measurement; genetic algorithm; Muscles; Pediatrics; Permittivity; Permittivity measurement; Skin; specific absorption rate; Thickness measurement; Transmission line measurements; ultrawide-radar; white fat
• ISSN: 0278-0062; 1558-254X; 1558-254X
• DOI: 10.1109/TMI.2025.3578283

This article proposes an ex-vivo method to estimate the dielectric properties and thickness of adipose tissue in the human body. Based on the electrical properties of adipose tissue, obesity levels will be assessed. This approach consists of two steps: 1) data acquisition by an ultrawideband (UWB) time-domain radar and 2) genetic algorithm optimization of the intended goal function. This study considers a three-layered tissue model to mimic the surface of the human abdomen. The experimental phantom consists of a pork skin layer followed by pork fat, then ground pork to emulate the muscle tissue. An aperture with a diameter of 2 cm on a metal sheet focuses the measurements on a small area of interest. The measured results were compared with the actual permittivity and thickness of different layers of the experimental phantom. The technique is also applied to human voxel tissue models available in the CST software library, including babies, children, and adults. The accuracy of measurement data confirms the suitability of this technique. This technique is a noninvasive, safe, cost-effective method to determine the type of fat tissue in the human body and the level of obesity.