Image-Based Simulation of Electrical Impedance Techniques Applied on the Human Thorax for Cardio-Pulmonary Applications

F.K. Hermans[1], R.M. Heethaar[1], R.T. Cotton[2], and A. Harkara[2]


[1]VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
[2]Simpleware Ltd., Exeter, United Kingdom
Published in 2009

For medical diagnostic purposes there is an increasing need for non- (or minimal) invasive techniques to measure all kinds of parameters that can provide insight in the functioning of cells, organs or organ systems. Currently, Impedance Cardiography (ICG) is used for measurements of the heart and Electric Impedance Tomography (EIT) is used for investigating lung tissue condition. This paper focuses on calculating the current distributions for these two techniques in models of the human thorax. These calculations give a profound insight what can be expected from these techniques.

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