Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms: Dielectric Characterization and Design of a Multi-layer Substrate for Microwave Blood Glucose Monitoring

The fabrication of human tissue-mimicking phantoms and the relative dielectric characterization within the 0.5–5 GHz frequency range is presented in this work. The phantoms are realized with easily available ingredients, while their permittivity behavior is validated through comparison with Cole-Cole reference models. The resulting phantoms are solid, thus electrically and mechanically stable over time, and suitable for the simulation of layered mediums. The provided preparation process is intended for repeatability and it represents a preliminary step to a series of applications, ranging from realization of realistic phantoms for microwave imaging scope, as well as experimental validation of wearable devices for off-body communication and bio-signals sensing. Specifically, the performance of a designed wearable antenna for blood-glucose monitoring is evaluated by considering a stratified tissue medium, including the dielectric properties of the realized phantoms.