An Analysis of Open-Ended Coaxial Probe Sensitivity to Heterogeneous Media

Abstract

Open-ended coaxial probe spectroscopy is commonly used to determine the dielectric permittivity of biological tissues. However, heterogeneities in the probe sensing region can limit measurement precision and reproducibility. This study presents an analysis of the coaxial probe sensing region to elucidate the effects of heterogeneities on measured permittivity. Coaxial probe spectroscopy at 0.5–20 GHz was numerically simulated while a homogenous background was perturbed with a small inclusion of contrasting permittivity. Shifts in the measured effective permittivity provided a three-dimensional assessment of the probe sensitivity field. Sensitivity was well-approximated by the square of the electric field for each analyzed probe. Smaller probes were more sensitive to heterogeneities throughout their sensing region, but were less sensitive to spectral effects compared to larger probes. The probe sensing diameter was less than 0.5 mm in all directions by multiple metrics. Therefore, small heterogeneities may substantially impact permittivity measurement in biological tissues if located near the probe-tissue interface.

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“…The fields along the open‐ended flanged structure are used to measure the input admittance at the antenna terminal. This admittance of the known permittivity is first calculated using the relationship given below 16 where s = σ + jω is the complex frequency, α is the radius of the inner conductor of the probe, and are the real coefficient of the model obtained from the nonlinear least square fit model.…”

“…This admittance of the known permittivity is first calculated using the relationship given below. 16 Y sa, ϵ r ð Þ¼…”

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