Method to tune electrical impedance of LSMO/PMN-PT by nanocontact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Hao; Pei, Yongmao; Wang, Yaobing; Lei, Hongshuai

2018-01-01

Electromagnetic composites have wide application in the functional devices. For the best performance of devices, the regulation of the electrical impedance has been being desired for the impedance matching in service. However, the keeping of impedance matching in service is quite challenging. In the present work, a mechanical method for tuning the electrical impedance of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/0.72Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.28PbTiO3 (LSMO/PMN-PT) based on the nanocontact technique is proposed. It is found that the electrical impedance reduces with the increase of the nanocontact load. A linear relationship is found between the square of impedance magnitude and the inverse of nanocontact depth. Furthermore, a method for predicting the contact-depth-dependent impedance magnitude of LSMO/PMN-PT is proposed.

Broadband electrical impedance matching for piezoelectric ultrasound transducers.

PubMed

Huang, Haiying; Paramo, Daniel

2011-12-01

This paper presents a systematic method for designing broadband electrical impedance matching networks for piezoelectric ultrasound transducers. The design process involves three steps: 1) determine the equivalent circuit of the unmatched piezoelectric transducer based on its measured admittance; 2) design a set of impedance matching networks using a computerized Smith chart; and 3) establish the simulation model of the matched transducer to evaluate the gain and bandwidth of the impedance matching networks. The effectiveness of the presented approach is demonstrated through the design, implementation, and characterization of impedance matching networks for a broadband acoustic emission sensor. The impedance matching network improved the power of the acquired signal by 9 times.

Study of the Electrical Impedance Scanning

DTIC Science & Technology

2001-10-25

extremely promising technique to complement other conventional image examinations. Areas presenting abnormalities and/or malignant neoplasia evidence...presenting abnormalities and/or malignant neoplasia evidence exhibit conductive changes (in the structure of cell’s membrane, in its permeability, in the...Calas , R. R. de Cas and V. R Manoel , “Scanning de Impedância Transpectral Elétrica da Mama ”, CEPEM – Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas da Mulher

Damage Diagnosis in Semiconductive Materials Using Electrical Impedance Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ross, Richard W.; Hinton, Yolanda L.

2008-01-01

Recent aerospace industry trends have resulted in an increased demand for real-time, effective techniques for in-flight structural health monitoring. A promising technique for damage diagnosis uses electrical impedance measurements of semiconductive materials. By applying a small electrical current into a material specimen and measuring the corresponding voltages at various locations on the specimen, changes in the electrical characteristics due to the presence of damage can be assessed. An artificial neural network uses these changes in electrical properties to provide an inverse solution that estimates the location and magnitude of the damage. The advantage of the electrical impedance method over other damage diagnosis techniques is that it uses the material as the sensor. Simple voltage measurements can be used instead of discrete sensors, resulting in a reduction in weight and system complexity. This research effort extends previous work by employing finite element method models to improve accuracy of complex models with anisotropic conductivities and by enhancing the computational efficiency of the inverse techniques. The paper demonstrates a proof of concept of a damage diagnosis approach using electrical impedance methods and a neural network as an effective tool for in-flight diagnosis of structural damage to aircraft components.

Applications for Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) and Electrical Properties of the Human Body.

PubMed

Lymperopoulos, Georgios; Lymperopoulos, Panagiotis; Alikari, Victoria; Dafogianni, Chrisoula; Zyga, Sofia; Margari, Nikoletta

2017-01-01

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a promising application that displays changes in conductivity within a body. The basic principle of the method is the repeated measurement of surface voltages of a body, which are a result of rolling injection of known and small-volume sinusoidal AC current to the body through the electrodes attached to its surface. This method finds application in biomedicine, biology and geology. The objective of this paper is to present the applications of Electrical Impedance Tomography, along with the method's capabilities and limitations due to the electrical properties of the human body. For this purpose, investigation of existing literature has been conducted, using electronic databases, PubMed, Google Scholar and IEEE Xplore. In addition, there was a secondary research phase, using paper citations found during the first research phase. It should be noted that Electrical Impedance Tomography finds use in a plethora of medical applications, as the different tissues of the body have different conductivities and dielectric constants. Main applications of EIT include imaging of lung function, diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, detection of tumors in the chest area and diagnosis and distinction of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. EIT advantages include portability, low cost and safety, which the method provide, since it is a noninvasive imaging method that does not cause damage to the body. The main disadvantage of the method, which blocks its wider spread, appears in the image composition from the voltage measurements, which are conducted by electrodes placed on the periphery of the body, because the injected currents are affected nonlinearly by the general distribution of the electrical properties of the body. Furthermore, the complex impedance of the skin-electrode interface can be modelled by using a capacitor and two resistor, as a result of skin properties. In conclusion, Electrical Impedance Tomography is a promising method for the

Analytical scanning evanescent microwave microscope and control stage

DOEpatents

Xiang, Xiao-Dong; Gao, Chen; Duewer, Fred; Yang, Hai Tao; Lu, Yalin

2013-01-22

A scanning evanescent microwave microscope (SEMM) that uses near-field evanescent electromagnetic waves to probe sample properties is disclosed. The SEMM is capable of high resolution imaging and quantitative measurements of the electrical properties of the sample. The SEMM has the ability to map dielectric constant, loss tangent, conductivity, electrical impedance, and other electrical parameters of materials. Such properties are then used to provide distance control over a wide range, from to microns to nanometers, over dielectric and conductive samples for a scanned evanescent microwave probe, which enable quantitative non-contact and submicron spatial resolution topographic and electrical impedance profiling of dielectric, nonlinear dielectric and conductive materials. The invention also allows quantitative estimation of microwave impedance using signals obtained by the scanned evanescent microwave probe and quasistatic approximation modeling. The SEMM can be used to measure electrical properties of both dielectric and electrically conducting materials.

Analytical scanning evanescent microwave microscope and control stage

DOEpatents

Xiang, Xiao-Dong; Gao, Chen; Duewer, Fred; Yang, Hai Tao; Lu, Yalin

2009-06-23

A scanning evanescent microwave microscope (SEMM) that uses near-field evanescent electromagnetic waves to probe sample properties is disclosed. The SEMM is capable of high resolution imaging and quantitative measurements of the electrical properties of the sample. The SEMM has the ability to map dielectric constant, loss tangent, conductivity, electrical impedance, and other electrical parameters of materials. Such properties are then used to provide distance control over a wide range, from to microns to nanometers, over dielectric and conductive samples for a scanned evanescent microwave probe, which enable quantitative non-contact and submicron spatial resolution topographic and electrical impedance profiling of dielectric, nonlinear dielectric and conductive materials. The invention also allows quantitative estimation of microwave impedance using signals obtained by the scanned evanescent microwave probe and quasistatic approximation modeling. The SEMM can be used to measure electrical properties of both dielectric and electrically conducting materials.

Image Reconstruction Under Contact Impedance Effect in Micro Electrical Impedance Tomography Sensors.

PubMed

Liu, Xiayi; Yao, Jiafeng; Zhao, Tong; Obara, Hiromichi; Cui, Yahui; Takei, Masahiro

2018-06-01

Contact impedance has an important effect on micro electrical impedance tomography (EIT) sensors compared to conventional macro sensors. In the present work, a complex contact impedance effect ratio ξ is defined to quantitatively evaluate the effect of the contact impedance on the accuracy of the reconstructed images by micro EIT. Quality of the reconstructed image under various ξ is estimated by the phantom simulation to find the optimum algorithm. The generalized vector sampled pattern matching (GVSPM) method reveals the best image quality and the best tolerance to ξ. Moreover, the images of yeast cells sedimentary distribution in a multilayered microchannel are reconstructed by the GVSPM method under various mean magnitudes of contact impedance effect ratio |ξ|. The result shows that the best image quality that has the smallest voltage error U E = 0.581 is achieved with measurement frequency f = 1 MHz and mean magnitude |ξ| = 26. In addition, the reconstructed images of cells distribution become improper while f < 10 kHz and mean value of |ξ| > 2400.

Three-dimensional electrical impedance tomography: a topology optimization approach.

PubMed

Mello, Luís Augusto Motta; de Lima, Cícero Ribeiro; Amato, Marcelo Britto Passos; Lima, Raul Gonzalez; Silva, Emílio Carlos Nelli

2008-02-01

Electrical impedance tomography is a technique to estimate the impedance distribution within a domain, based on measurements on its boundary. In other words, given the mathematical model of the domain, its geometry and boundary conditions, a nonlinear inverse problem of estimating the electric impedance distribution can be solved. Several impedance estimation algorithms have been proposed to solve this problem. In this paper, we present a three-dimensional algorithm, based on the topology optimization method, as an alternative. A sequence of linear programming problems, allowing for constraints, is solved utilizing this method. In each iteration, the finite element method provides the electric potential field within the model of the domain. An electrode model is also proposed (thus, increasing the accuracy of the finite element results). The algorithm is tested using numerically simulated data and also experimental data, and absolute resistivity values are obtained. These results, corresponding to phantoms with two different conductive materials, exhibit relatively well-defined boundaries between them, and show that this is a practical and potentially useful technique to be applied to monitor lung aeration, including the possibility of imaging a pneumothorax.

Microfluidic Impedance Flow Cytometry Enabling High-Throughput Single-Cell Electrical Property Characterization

PubMed Central

Chen, Jian; Xue, Chengcheng; Zhao, Yang; Chen, Deyong; Wu, Min-Hsien; Wang, Junbo

2015-01-01

This article reviews recent developments in microfluidic impedance flow cytometry for high-throughput electrical property characterization of single cells. Four major perspectives of microfluidic impedance flow cytometry for single-cell characterization are included in this review: (1) early developments of microfluidic impedance flow cytometry for single-cell electrical property characterization; (2) microfluidic impedance flow cytometry with enhanced sensitivity; (3) microfluidic impedance and optical flow cytometry for single-cell analysis and (4) integrated point of care system based on microfluidic impedance flow cytometry. We examine the advantages and limitations of each technique and discuss future research opportunities from the perspectives of both technical innovation and clinical applications. PMID:25938973

Using impedance measurements for detecting pathogens trapped in an electric field

DOEpatents

Miles, Robin R.

2004-07-20

Impedance measurements between the electrodes in an electric field is utilized to detect the presence of pathogens trapped in the electric field. Since particles trapped in a field using the dielectiphoretic force changes the impedance between the electrodes by changing the dielectric material between the electrodes, the degree of particle trapping can be determined by measuring the impedance. This measurement is used to determine if sufficient pathogen have been collected to analyze further or potentially to identify the pathogen.

Some Nonlinear Reconstruction Algorithms for Electrical Impedance Tomography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berryman, J G

2001-03-09

An impedance camera [Henderson and Webster, 1978; Dines and Lytle, 1981]--or what is now more commonly called electrical impedance tomography--attempts to image the electrical impedance (or just the conductivity) distribution inside a body using electrical measurements on its boundary. The method has been used successfully in both biomedical [Brown, 1983; Barber and Brown, 1986; J. C. Newell, D. G. Gisser, and D. Isaacson, 1988; Webster, 1990] and geophysical applications [Wexler, Fry, and Neurnan, 1985; Daily, Lin, and Buscheck, 1987], but the analysis of optimal reconstruction algorithms is still progressing [Murai and Kagawa, 1985; Wexler, Fry, and Neurnan, 1985; Kohn andmore » Vogelius, 1987; Yorkey and Webster, 1987; Yorkey, Webster, and Tompkins, 1987; Berryman and Kohn, 1990; Kohn and McKenney, 1990; Santosa and Vogelius, 1990; Yorkey, 1990]. The most common application is monitoring the influx or efflux of a highly conducting fluid (such as brine in a porous rock or blood in the human body) through the volume being imaged. For biomedical applications, this met hod does not have the resolution of radiological methods, but it is comparatively safe and inexpensive and therefore provides a valuable alternative when continuous monitoring of a patient or process is desired. The following discussion is intended first t o summarize the physics of electrical impedance tomography, then to provide a few details of the data analysis and forward modeling requirements, and finally to outline some of the reconstruction algorithms that have proven to be most useful in practice. Pointers to the literature are provided throughout this brief narrative and the reader is encouraged to explore the references for more complete discussions of the various issues raised here.« less

Drilling electrode for real-time measurement of electrical impedance in bone tissues.

PubMed

Dai, Yu; Xue, Yuan; Zhang, Jianxun

2014-03-01

In order to prevent possible damages to soft tissues, reliable monitoring methods are required to provide valuable information on the condition of the bone being cut. This paper describes the design of an electrical impedance sensing drill developed to estimate the relative position between the drill and the bone being drilled. The two-electrode method is applied to continuously measure the electrical impedance during a drill feeding movement: two copper wire brushes are used to conduct electricity in the rotating drill and then the drill is one electrode; a needle is inserted into the soft tissues adjacent to the bone being drilled and acts as another electrode. Considering that the recorded electrical impedance is correlated with the insertion depth of the drill, we theoretically calculate the electrode-tissue contact impedance and prove that the rate of impedance change varies considerably when the drill bit crosses the boundary between two different bone tissues. Therefore, the rate of impedance change is used to determine whether the tip of the drill is located in one of cortical bone, cancellous bone, and cortical bone near a boundary with soft tissue. In vitro experiments in porcine thoracic spines were performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the impedance sensing drill. The experimental results indicate that the drill, used with the proposed data-processing method, can provide accurate and reliable breakthrough detection in the bone-drilling process.

ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF THE FROG EGG

PubMed Central

Cole, Kenneth S.; Guttman, Rita M.

1942-01-01

Electrical impedance measurements were made upon unfertilized and fertilized eggs of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens, over a frequency range of 0.05 to 10 kc. Average values of 170 ohm cm.2 were obtained for the plasma membrane resistance of the egg, 2.0 µf/cm.2 for the plasma membrane capacity, 86° for the phase angle of the membrane, and 570 ohm cm. for the specific resistance of the interior. These values did not change upon fertilization. No spontaneous rhythmical impedance changes such as have been found by Hubbard and Rothschild in the trout egg were found in frog eggs. PMID:19873312

Noninvasive electrical impedance sensor for in vivo tissue discrimination at radio frequencies.

PubMed

Dai, Yu; Du, Jun; Yang, Qing; Zhang, Jianxun

2014-09-01

Compared to traditional open surgery, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) allows for a more rapid and less painful recovery. However, the lack of significant haptic feedback in MIS can make tissue discrimination difficult. This paper tests a noninvasive electrical impedance sensor for in vivo discrimination of tissue types in MIS. The sensor consists of two stainless steel spherical electrodes used to measure the impedance spectra over the frequency range of 200 kHz to 5 MHz. The sensor helps ensure free movement on an organ surface and prevents soft tissues from being injured during impedance measurement. Since the recorded electrical impedance is correlated with the force pressed on the electrode and the mechanical property of the tissue, the electrode-tissue contact impedance is calculated theoretically. We show that the standard deviation of the impedance ratio at each frequency point is sufficient to distinguish different tissue types. Both in vitro experiment in a pig kidney and in vivo experiment in rabbit organs were performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the electrical impedance sensor. The experimental results indicated that the sensor, used with the proposed data-processing method, provides accurate and reliable biological tissue discrimination. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

In vitro analysis of various cell lines responses to electroporative electric pulses by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy.

PubMed

García-Sánchez, Tomás; Bragós, Ramon; Mir, Lluis M

2018-06-07

This paper reports the comparative analysis, by means of electric impedance spectroscopy measurements, of three different cell lines subjected to electroporative pulses. The multifrequency information is recorded simultaneously at 21 frequency values in the range between 5 kHz and 1.3 MHz using a multisine based measuring approach. The analysis of the pre-electroporation impedance spectra shows how the system is able to detect differences and similarities between the cell lines under analysis. Particularly, a good agreement is found between the average cell diameter and the characteristic frequency (the frequency corresponding to a maximum in the imaginary part of the impedance). The measurements performed during electroporation at three different electric field intensities show how the impedance spectra changes dynamically between the consecutive pulses of a train of 8,100 µs pulses delivered at 1 Hz repetition rate. There are clear differences between the changes in the impedance measured at low and high frequency. The multifrequency information has been fitted to an electrical equivalent model in order to understand the different contributions in the observed impedance changes (mainly separate between membrane permeabilization and the conductivity changes in the extracellular medium). Finally, a ratio of the low and high frequency impedance information is used to estimate the accumulated impedance decay and to compare it to the internalization of a fluorescent permeabilization reporter. The comparison between both techniques at the three electroporation electric field intensities assayed confirms the ability of impedance measurements to detect in a precise way the level of membrane permeabilization. Additionally, this study demonstrates how the real time information obtained thanks to impedance measurements can provide a more precise quantification of the membrane permeabilization extent. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Body Fat Measurement: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Electrical Impedance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nash, Heyward L.

1985-01-01

Research technologists have developed electrical impedance units in response to demand for a convenient and reliable method of measuring body fat. Accuracy of impedance measures versus calipers and underwater weighing are discussed. (MT)

Using of electrical impedance tomography for diagnostics of the cervix uteri diseases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trokhanova, O. V.; Chijova, Y. A.; Okhapkin, M. B.; Korjenevsky, A. V.; Tuykin, T. S.

2010-04-01

The report presents results of investigation of the neck of the womb (cervix) of 64 women aged from 19 to 70, that formed 4 clinical groups (1st group: 15 women without any pathology of the cervix, 2nd group: 27 women with the erosion, 3rd group: 11 women with dysplasia, 4th group: 11 women with cancer of the cervix). The aim of this research is to assess the capabilities of electrical impedance tomography in the diagnostics of the cervix diseases. The methods of the research were: visual examination with the speculum, colposcopy, and biopsy of the cervix. Also the new method of visualization of the cervix was used - electrical impedance tomography with the help of gynecological impedance tomograph (GIT). The following results were obtained. The electrical conductivity of the cervix in norm and in different pathology has different indices, which allow differential diagnostics of benign and malignant diseases. Summary: the method of electrical impedance tomography allows not only visually estimate portio vaginalis, but receive indices of electrical conductivity of the cervix on the depth up to 0.8 cm and thereby reveal pathological changes in epithelium without invasive and operative intervention.

Impedance spectroscopy and electric modulus behavior of Molybdenum doped Cobalt-Zinc ferrite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, A. K.; Nath, T. K.; Saha, S.

2017-07-01

The complex impedance spectroscopy and the electric modulus of Mo doped Cobalt-Zinc inverse spinel ferrite has been investigated in detail. The conventional ceramic technique has been used to prepare the CZMO. The HRXRD technique has been used to study the structural analysis which confirms the inverse spinel structure of the material and also suggest the material have Fd3m space group. The complex impedance spectroscopic data and the electric modulus formalism have been used to understand the dielectric relaxation and conduction process. The contribution of grain and grain boundary in the electrical conduction process of CZMO has been confirmed from the Cole-Cole plot. The activation energy is calculated from both the IS (Impedance Spectroscopy) and electric modulus formalism and found to be nearly same for the materials.

ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF NITELLA DURING ACTIVITY

PubMed Central

Cole, Kenneth S.; Curtis, Howard J.

1938-01-01

The changes in the alternating current impedance which occur during activity of cells of the fresh water plant Nitella have been measured with the current flow normal to the cell axis, at eight frequencies from 0.05 to 20 kilocycles per second, and with simultaneous records of the action potential under the impedance electrodes. At each frequency the resting cell was balanced in a Wheatstone bridge with a cathode ray oscillograph, and after electrical stimulation at one end of the cell, the changes in the complex impedance were determined from the bridge unbalance recorded by motion pictures of the oscillograph figure. An extension of the previous technique of interpretation of the transverse impedance shows that the normal membrane capacity of 0.9 µf./cm.2 decreases about 15 per cent without change of phase angle, while the membrane resistance decreases from 105 ohm cm.2 to about 500 ohm cm.2 during the passage of the excitation wave. This membrane change occurs during the latter part of the rising phase of the action potential, and it is shown that the membrane electromotive force remains unchanged until nearly the same time. The part of the action potential preceding these membrane changes is probably a passive fall of potential ahead of a partial short circuit. PMID:19873091

Evaluation of electrical impedance ratio measurements in accuracy of electronic apex locators.

PubMed

Kim, Pil-Jong; Kim, Hong-Gee; Cho, Byeong-Hoon

2015-05-01

The aim of this paper was evaluating the ratios of electrical impedance measurements reported in previous studies through a correlation analysis in order to explicit it as the contributing factor to the accuracy of electronic apex locator (EAL). The literature regarding electrical property measurements of EALs was screened using Medline and Embase. All data acquired were plotted to identify correlations between impedance and log-scaled frequency. The accuracy of the impedance ratio method used to detect the apical constriction (APC) in most EALs was evaluated using linear ramp function fitting. Changes of impedance ratios for various frequencies were evaluated for a variety of file positions. Among the ten papers selected in the search process, the first-order equations between log-scaled frequency and impedance were in the negative direction. When the model for the ratios was assumed to be a linear ramp function, the ratio values decreased if the file went deeper and the average ratio values of the left and right horizontal zones were significantly different in 8 out of 9 studies. The APC was located within the interval of linear relation between the left and right horizontal zones of the linear ramp model. Using the ratio method, the APC was located within a linear interval. Therefore, using the impedance ratio between electrical impedance measurements at different frequencies was a robust method for detection of the APC.

Scanning evanescent electro-magnetic microscope

DOEpatents

Xiang, Xiao-Dong; Gao, Chen; Schultz, Peter G.; Wei, Tao

2003-01-01

A novel scanning microscope is described that uses near-field evanescent electromagnetic waves to probe sample properties. The novel microscope is capable of high resolution imaging and quantitative measurements of the electrical properties of the sample. The inventive scanning evanescent wave electromagnetic microscope (SEMM) can map dielectric constant, tangent loss, conductivity, complex electrical impedance, and other electrical parameters of materials. The quantitative map corresponds to the imaged detail. The novel microscope can be used to measure electrical properties of both dielectric and electrically conducting materials.

Scanning evanescent electro-magnetic microscope

DOEpatents

Xiang, Xiao-Dong; Gao, Chen

2001-01-01

A novel scanning microscope is described that uses near-field evanescent electromagnetic waves to probe sample properties. The novel microscope is capable of high resolution imaging and quantitative measurements of the electrical properties of the sample. The inventive scanning evanescent wave electromagnetic microscope (SEMM) can map dielectric constant, tangent loss, conductivity, complex electrical impedance, and other electrical parameters of materials. The quantitative map corresponds to the imaged detail. The novel microscope can be used to measure electrical properties of both dielectric and electrically conducting materials.

Multi-channel electrical impedance tomography for regional tissue hydration monitoring.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaohui; Kao, Tzu-Jen; Ashe, Jeffrey M; Boverman, Gregory; Sabatini, James E; Davenport, David M

2014-06-01

Poor assessment of hydration status during hemodialysis can lead to under- or over-hydration in patients with consequences of increased morbidity and mortality. In current practice, fluid management is largely based on clinical assessments to estimate dry weight (normal hydration body weight). However, hemodialysis patients usually have co-morbidities that can make the signs of fluid status ambiguous. Therefore, achieving normal hydration status remains a major challenge for hemodialysis therapy. Electrical impedance technology has emerged as a promising method for hydration monitoring due to its non-invasive nature, low cost and ease-of-use. Conventional electrical impedance-based hydration monitoring systems employ single-channel current excitation (either 2-electrode or 4-electrode methods) to perturb and extract averaged impedance from bulk tissue and use generalized models from large populations to derive hydration estimates. In the present study, a prototype, single-frequency electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system with simultaneous multi-channel current excitation was used to enable regional hydration change detection. We demonstrated the capability to detect a difference in daily impedance change between left leg and right leg in healthy human subjects, who wore a compression sock only on one leg to reduce daily gravitational fluid accumulation. The impedance difference corresponded well with the difference of lower leg volume change between left leg and right leg measured by volumetry, which on average is ~35 ml, accounting for 0.7% of the lower leg volume. We have demonstrated the feasibility of using multi-channel EIT to extract hydration information in different tissue layers with minimal skin interference. Our simultaneous, multi-channel current excitation approach provides an effective method to separate electrode contact impedance and skin condition artifacts from hydration signals. The prototype system has the potential to be used in clinical

Infrared Scanning For Electrical Maintenance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenbath, Steven E.

1983-03-01

Given the technological age that we have now entered, the purpose of this paper is to relate how infrared scanning can be used for an electrical preventative maintenance program. An infrared scanner is able to produce an image because objects give off infrared radiation in relationship to their temperature. Most electrical problems will show up as an increase in temperature, thereby making the infrared scanner a useful preventative maintenance tool. Because of the sensitivity of most of the scanners, .1 to .2 of a degree, virtually all electrical problems can be pinpointed long before they become a costly failure. One of the early uses of infrared scanning was to check the power company's electrical distribution system. Most of this was performed via aircraft or truck mounted scanning devices which necessitated its semi-permanent mounting. With the advent of small hand held infrared imagers, along with more portability of the larger systems, infrared scanning has gained more popularity in checking electrical distribution systems. But the distribution systems are now a scaled down model, mainly the in-plant electrical systems. By in-plant, I mean any distribution of electricity; once it leaves the power company's grid. This can be in a hospital, retail outlet, warehouse or manufacturing facility.

Electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Costa, Eduardo L V; Lima, Raul Gonzalez; Amato, Marcelo B P

2009-02-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive, radiation-free monitoring tool that allows real-time imaging of ventilation. The purpose of this article is to discuss the fundamentals of EIT and to review the use of EIT in critical care patients. In addition to its established role in describing the distribution of alveolar ventilation, EIT has been shown to be a useful tool to detect lung collapse and monitor lung recruitment, both regionally and on a global basis. EIT has also been used to diagnose with high sensitivity incident pneumothoraces during mechanical ventilation. Additionally, with injection of hypertonic saline as a contrast agent, it is possible to estimate ventilation/perfusion distributions. EIT is cheap, noninvasive and allows continuous monitoring of ventilation. It is gaining acceptance as a valuable monitoring tool for the care of critical patients.

Design of current source for multi-frequency simultaneous electrical impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Bing; Xu, Yanbin; Dong, Feng

2017-09-01

Multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography has been evolving from the frequency-sweep approach to the multi-frequency simultaneous measurement technique which can reduce measuring time and will be increasingly attractive for time-varying biological applications. The accuracy and stability of the current source are the key factors determining the quality of the image reconstruction. This article presents a field programmable gate array-based current source for a multi-frequency simultaneous electrical impedance tomography system. A novel current source circuit was realized by combining the classic current mirror based on the feedback amplifier AD844 with a differential topology. The optimal phase offsets of harmonic sinusoids were obtained through the crest factor analysis. The output characteristics of this current source were evaluated by simulation and actual measurement. The results include the following: (1) the output impedance was compared with one of the Howland pump circuit in simulation, showing comparable performance at low frequencies. However, the proposed current source makes lower demands for resistor tolerance but performs even better at high frequencies. (2) The output impedance in actual measurement below 200 kHz is above 1.3 MΩ and can reach 250 KΩ up to 1 MHz. (3) An experiment based on a biological RC model has been implemented. The mean error for the demodulated impedance amplitude and phase are 0.192% and 0.139°, respectively. Therefore, the proposed current source is wideband, biocompatible, and high precision, which demonstrates great potential to work as a sub-system in the multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography system.

Clinical implementation of electrical impedance tomography with hyperthermia.

PubMed

Moskowitz, M J; Ryan, T P; Paulsen, K D; Mitchell, S E

1995-01-01

We describe the use of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for non-invasive thermal imaging in conjunction with a clinical treatment of a superficial scalp lesion utilizing a spiral microstrip antenna. This is our first reported use of EIT with a clinical hyperthermia treatment and perhaps the first world-wide. The thermal measurements recorded during treatment compare favourably with the images reconstructed from impedance data gathered during heating. A linear relation, measured in phantom material, between the change in temperature with the change in reconstructed impedance was assumed. The average discrepancy between the measured temperature changes with the temperatures reconstructed from the impedance changes was 1.4 degrees C, with the maximum being 8.9 degrees C. These preliminary data suggest that impedance changes can be measured during hyperthermia delivery and temperature estimates based on these observed changes are possible in the clinical setting. These findings also point to the complex, yet critical nature of the impedance versus temperature relationship for tissue in vivo. The reconstructed thermal images may provide complementary information about the overall thermal damage imposed during heating. Based on this initial clinical experience we feel that EIT has great potential as a viable clinical aid in imaging the temperature changes imposed during hyperthermia.

A Matlab toolkit for three-dimensional electrical impedance tomography: a contribution to the Electrical Impedance and Diffuse Optical Reconstruction Software project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polydorides, Nick; Lionheart, William R. B.

2002-12-01

The objective of the Electrical Impedance and Diffuse Optical Reconstruction Software project is to develop freely available software that can be used to reconstruct electrical or optical material properties from boundary measurements. Nonlinear and ill posed problems such as electrical impedance and optical tomography are typically approached using a finite element model for the forward calculations and a regularized nonlinear solver for obtaining a unique and stable inverse solution. Most of the commercially available finite element programs are unsuitable for solving these problems because of their conventional inefficient way of calculating the Jacobian, and their lack of accurate electrode modelling. A complete package for the two-dimensional EIT problem was officially released by Vauhkonen et al at the second half of 2000. However most industrial and medical electrical imaging problems are fundamentally three-dimensional. To assist the development we have developed and released a free toolkit of Matlab routines which can be employed to solve the forward and inverse EIT problems in three dimensions based on the complete electrode model along with some basic visualization utilities, in the hope that it will stimulate further development. We also include a derivation of the formula for the Jacobian (or sensitivity) matrix based on the complete electrode model.

Imaging fast electrical activity in the brain with electrical impedance tomography

PubMed Central

Aristovich, Kirill Y.; Packham, Brett C.; Koo, Hwan; Santos, Gustavo Sato dos; McEvoy, Andy; Holder, David S.

2016-01-01

Imaging of neuronal depolarization in the brain is a major goal in neuroscience, but no technique currently exists that could image neural activity over milliseconds throughout the whole brain. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an emerging medical imaging technique which can produce tomographic images of impedance changes with non-invasive surface electrodes. We report EIT imaging of impedance changes in rat somatosensory cerebral cortex with a resolution of 2 ms and < 200 μm during evoked potentials using epicortical arrays with 30 electrodes. Images were validated with local field potential recordings and current source-sink density analysis. Our results demonstrate that EIT can image neural activity in a volume 7 × 5 × 2 mm in somatosensory cerebral cortex with reduced invasiveness, greater resolution and imaging volume than other methods. Modeling indicates similar resolutions are feasible throughout the entire brain so this technique, uniquely, has the potential to image functional connectivity of cortical and subcortical structures. PMID:26348559

Electrical stimulation causes rapid changes in electrode impedance of cell-covered electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newbold, Carrie; Richardson, Rachael; Millard, Rodney; Seligman, Peter; Cowan, Robert; Shepherd, Robert

2011-06-01

Animal and clinical observations of a reduction in electrode impedance following electrical stimulation encouraged the development of an in vitro model of the electrode-tissue interface. This model was used previously to show an increase in impedance with cell and protein cover over electrodes. In this paper, the model was used to assess the changes in electrode impedance and cell cover following application of a charge-balanced biphasic current pulse train. Following stimulation, a large and rapid drop in total impedance (Zt) and access resistance (Ra) occurred. The magnitude of this impedance change was dependent on the current amplitude used, with a linear relationship determined between Ra and the resulting cell cover over the electrodes. The changes in impedance due to stimulation were shown to be transitory, with impedance returning to pre-stimulation levels several hours after cessation of stimulation. A loss of cells over the electrode surface was observed immediately after stimulation, suggesting that the level of stimulation applied was creating localized changes to cell adhesion. Similar changes in electrode impedance were observed for in vivo and in vitro work, thus helping to verify the in vitro model, although the underlying mechanisms may differ. A change in the porosity of the cellular layer was proposed to explain the alterations in electrode impedance in vitro. These in vitro studies provide insight into the possible mechanisms occurring at the electrode-tissue interface in association with electrical stimulation.

A Calculation Method of Electric Distance and Subarea Division Application Based on Transmission Impedance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, G. J.; Bao, H.

2017-12-01

The widely used method of calculating electric distances is sensitivity method. The sensitivity matrix is the result of linearization and based on the hypothesis that the active power and reactive power are decoupled, so it is inaccurate. In addition, it calculates the ratio of two partial derivatives as the relationship of two dependent variables, so there is no physical meaning. This paper presents a new method for calculating electrical distance, namely transmission impedance method. It forms power supply paths based on power flow tracing, then establishes generalized branches to calculate transmission impedances. In this paper, the target of power flow tracing is S instead of Q. Q itself has no direction and the grid delivers complex power so that S contains more electrical information than Q. By describing the power transmission relationship of the branch and drawing block diagrams in both forward and reverse directions, it can be found that the numerators of feedback parts of two block diagrams are all the transmission impedances. To ensure the distance is scalar, the absolute value of transmission impedance is defined as electrical distance. Dividing network according to the electric distances and comparing with the results of sensitivity method, it proves that the transmission impedance method can adapt to the dynamic change of system better and reach a reasonable subarea division scheme.

Impedance analysis of cultured cells: a mean-field electrical response model for electric cell-substrate impedance sensing technique.

PubMed

Urdapilleta, E; Bellotti, M; Bonetto, F J

2006-10-01

In this paper we present a model to describe the electrical properties of a confluent cell monolayer cultured on gold microelectrodes to be used with electric cell-substrate impedance sensing technique. This model was developed from microscopic considerations (distributed effects), and by assuming that the monolayer is an element with mean electrical characteristics (specific lumped parameters). No assumptions were made about cell morphology. The model has only three adjustable parameters. This model and other models currently used for data analysis are compared with data we obtained from electrical measurements of confluent monolayers of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells. One important parameter is the cell-substrate height and we found that estimates of this magnitude strongly differ depending on the model used for the analysis. We analyze the origin of the discrepancies, concluding that the estimates from the different models can be considered as limits for the true value of the cell-substrate height.

New equivalent-electrical circuit model and a practical measurement method for human body impedance.

PubMed

Chinen, Koyu; Kinjo, Ichiko; Zamami, Aki; Irei, Kotoyo; Nagayama, Kanako

2015-01-01

Human body impedance analysis is an effective tool to extract electrical information from tissues in the human body. This paper presents a new measurement method of impedance using armpit electrode and a new equivalent circuit model for the human body. The lowest impedance was measured by using an LCR meter and six electrodes including armpit electrodes. The electrical equivalent circuit model for the cell consists of resistance R and capacitance C. The R represents electrical resistance of the liquid of the inside and outside of the cell, and the C represents high frequency conductance of the cell membrane. We propose an equivalent circuit model which consists of five parallel high frequency-passing CR circuits. The proposed equivalent circuit represents alpha distribution in the impedance measured at a lower frequency range due to ion current of the outside of the cell, and beta distribution at a high frequency range due to the cell membrane and the liquid inside cell. The calculated values by using the proposed equivalent circuit model were consistent with the measured values for the human body impedance.

Detection and quantification of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris by electrical impedance in apple juice.

PubMed

Fernández, Pilar; Gabaldón, José Antonio; Periago, Mª Jesús

2017-12-01

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is a thermotolerant bacterium able to grow in fruit juices and drinks, as the spoilage by Alicyclobacillus in the final product does not product any gas, but leads to a "medicine flavor" due to the formation of guaicol. Also, its detection is a challenge for the quality control departments, because it takes several days to get the results of traditional microbiology methods. This study aimed at developing a more accurate electrical impedance technique for the detection of A. acidoterrestris in concentrated apple juice. Samples of apple juice were inoculated with A. acidoterrestris spores isolated from a peach and grape juice. For the spore germination, several heat-shock treatments were tested (80 °C/10 min, 70 °C/20 min and 60 °C/30 min). Direct and indirect electrical impedance was applied to detect and quantify the microorganism in the inoculated apple juice, using BAT broth and Bimedia 002A (pH 4). The 80 °C/10 min treatment was selected for spore activation. The valid electrical impedance technique was the indirect method in BAT broth, which measured the changes in the impedance through the formation of CO 2 . In addition, a positive correlation (r = 0.98, R 2  = 0.97) was observed between the classical microbiology (BAM agar) and the indirect impedance method. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A method for analyzing electrical impedance spectroscopy data from breast cancer patients

PubMed Central

Kim, Bong Seok; Isaacson, David; Xia, Hongjun; Kao, Tzu-Jen; Newell, Jonathan C; Saulnier, Gary J

2008-01-01

Research on freshly-excised malignant breast tissues and surrounding normal tissues in an in vitro impedance cell has shown that breast tumors have different conductivity and permittivity from normal or non-malignant tissues. This contrast may provide a basis for breast cancer detection using electrical impedance imaging. This paper describes a procedure for collecting electrical impedance spectroscopy data simultaneously and in register with tomosynthesis data from patients. We describe the methods used to analyze the data in order to determine if the electrodes are making contact with the breast of the patient. Canonical voltage patterns are applied and used to synthesize the data that would have resulted from constant voltage patterns applied to each of two parallel mammography plates. A type of Cole–Cole plot is generated and displayed from each of the currents measured on each of the electrodes for each of the frequencies (5, 10, 30, 100 and 300 kHz) of applied voltages. We illustrate the potential usefulness of these displays in distinguishing breast cancer from benign lesions with the Cole–Cole plots for two patients—one having cancer and one having a benign lesion—by comparing these graphs with electrical impedance spectra previously found by Jossinet and Schmitt in tissue samples taken from a variety of patients. PMID:17664638

A method for analyzing electrical impedance spectroscopy data from breast cancer patients.

PubMed

Kim, Bong Seok; Isaacson, David; Xia, Hongjun; Kao, Tzu-Jen; Newell, Jonathan C; Saulnier, Gary J

2007-07-01

Research on freshly-excised malignant breast tissues and surrounding normal tissues in an in vitro impedance cell has shown that breast tumors have different conductivity and permittivity from normal or non-malignant tissues. This contrast may provide a basis for breast cancer detection using electrical impedance imaging. This paper describes a procedure for collecting electrical impedance spectroscopy data simultaneously and in register with tomosynthesis data from patients. We describe the methods used to analyze the data in order to determine if the electrodes are making contact with the breast of the patient. Canonical voltage patterns are applied and used to synthesize the data that would have resulted from constant voltage patterns applied to each of two parallel mammography plates. A type of Cole-Cole plot is generated and displayed from each of the currents measured on each of the electrodes for each of the frequencies (5, 10, 30, 100 and 300 kHz) of applied voltages. We illustrate the potential usefulness of these displays in distinguishing breast cancer from benign lesions with the Cole-Cole plots for two patients--one having cancer and one having a benign lesion--by comparing these graphs with electrical impedance spectra previously found by Jossinet and Schmitt in tissue samples taken from a variety of patients.

Using electrical impedance to predict catheter-endocardial contact during RF cardiac ablation.

PubMed

Cao, Hong; Tungjitkusolmun, Supan; Choy, Young Bin; Tsai, Jang-Zern; Vorperian, Vicken R; Webster, John G

2002-03-01

During radio-frequency (RF) cardiac catheter ablation, there is little information to estimate the contact between the catheter tip electrode and endocardium because only the metal electrode shows up under fluoroscopy. We present a method that utilizes the electrical impedance between the catheter electrode and the dispersive electrode to predict the catheter tip electrode insertion depth into the endocardium. Since the resistivity of blood differs from the resistivity of the endocardium, the impedance increases as the catheter tip lodges deeper in the endocardium. In vitro measurements yielded the impedance-depth relations at 1, 10, 100, and 500 kHz. We predict the depth by spline curve interpolation using the obtained calibration curve. This impedance method gives reasonably accurate predicted depth. We also evaluated alternative methods, such as impedance difference and impedance ratio.

Magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction for imaging electrical impedance of biological tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xu; Xu, Yuan; He, Bin

2006-03-01

An experimental feasibility study was conducted on magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction (MAT-MI). It is demonstrated that the two-dimensional MAT-MI system can detect and image the boundaries between regions of different electrical conductivities with high spatial resolution. Utilizing a magnetic stimulation coil, MAT-MI evokes magnetically induced eddy current in an object which is placed in a static magnetic field. Because of the existence of Lorenz forces, the eddy current in turn causes acoustic vibrations, which are measured around the object in order to reconstruct the electrical impedance distribution of the object. The present experimental results from the saline and gel phantoms are promising and suggest the merits of MAT-MI in imaging electrical impedance of biological tissue with high spatial resolution.

Embedded silver PDMS electrodes for single cell electrical impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Yuan; Xu, Zhensong; Cachia, Mark A.; Nguyen, John; Zheng, Yi; Wang, Chen; Sun, Yu

2016-09-01

This paper presents a microfluidic device with wide channels and embedded AgPDMS electrodes for measuring the electrical properties of single cells. The work demonstrates the feasibility of using a large channel design and embedded electrodes for impedance spectroscopy to circumvent issues such as channel clogging and limited device re-usability. AgPDMS electrodes were formed on channel sidewalls for impedance detection and cell electrical properties measurement. Equivalent circuit models were used to interpret multi-frequency impedance data to quantify each cell’s cytoplasm conductivity and specific membrane capacitance. T24 cells were tested to validate the microfluidic system and modeling results. Comparisons were then made by measuring two leukemia cell lines (AML-2 and HL-60) which were found to have different cytoplasm conductivity values (0.29  ±  0.15 S m-1 versus 0.47  ±  0.20 S m-1) and specific membrane capacitance values (41  ±  25 mF m-2 versus 55  ±  26 mF m-2) when the cells were flown through the wide channel and measured by the AgPDMS electrodes.

Relationship between moisture content and electrical impedance of carrot slices during drying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kertész, Ákos; Hlaváčová, Zuzana; Vozáry, Eszter; Staroňová, Lenka

2015-01-01

Electrical properties of food materials can give information about the inner structure and physiological state of biological tissues. Generally, the process of drying of fruits and vegetables is followed by weight loss. The aim of this study was to measure the impedance spectra of carrot slices during drying and to correlate impedance parameters to moisture content in different drying periods. Cylindrical slices were cut out from the carrot root along the axis. The slices were dried in a Venticell 111 air oven at 50°C. The weight of the slices was measured with a Denver SI-603 electronic analytical and precision balance. The weighing of the samples was performed every 30 min at the beginning of drying and every 60 min after the process. The moisture content of the samples was calculated on wet basis. The magnitude and phase angle of electrical impedance of the slices were measured with HP 4284A and 4285A precision LCR meters in the frequency range from 30 Hz to 1 MHz and from 75 kHz to 30 MHz, respectively, at voltage 1 V. The impedance measurement was performed after weighting. The change in the magnitude of impedance during drying showed a good correlation with the change in the moisture content.

A new application of electrical impedance spectroscopy for measuring glucose metabolism: a phantom study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhurjaty, Sreeram; Qiu, Yuchen; Tan, Maxine; Liu, Hong; Zheng, Bin

2015-03-01

Glucose metabolism relates to biochemical processes in living organisms and plays an important role in diabetes and cancer-metastasis. Although many methods are available for measuring glucose metabolism-activities, from simple blood tests to positron emission tomography, currently there is no robust and affordable device that enables monitoring of glucose levels in real-time. In this study we tested feasibility of applying a unique resonance-frequency based electronic impedance spectroscopy (REIS) device that has been, recently developed to measure and monitor glucose metabolism levels using a phantom study. In this new testing model, a multi-frequency electrical signal sequence is applied and scanned through the subject. When the positive reactance of an inductor inside the device cancels out the negative reactance of the capacitance of the subject, the electrical impedance reaches a minimum value and this frequency is defined as the resonance frequency. The REIS system has a 24-bit analog-to-digital signal convertor and a frequency-resolution of 100Hz. In the experiment, two probes are placed inside a 100cc container initially filled with distilled water. As we gradually added liquid-glucose in increments of 1cc (250mg), we measured resonance frequencies and minimum electrical signal values (where A/D was normalized to a full scale of 1V). The results showed that resonance frequencies monotonously decreased from 243kHz to 178kHz, while the minimum voltages increased from 405mV to 793mV as the added amount of glucose increased from 0 to 5cc. The study demonstrated the feasibility of applying this new REIS technology to measure and/or monitor glucose levels in real-time in future.

Imaging and characterizing root systems using electrical impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kemna, A.; Weigand, M.; Kelter, M.; Pfeifer, J.; Zimmermann, E.; Walter, A.

2011-12-01

Root architecture, growth, and activity play an essential role regarding the nutrient uptake of roots in soils. While in recent years advances could be achieved concerning the modeling of root systems, measurement methods capable of imaging, characterizing, and monitoring root structure and dynamics in a non-destructive manner are still lacking, in particular at the field scale. We here propose electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for the imaging of root systems. The approach takes advantage of the low-frequency capacitive electrical properties of the soil-root interface and the root tissue. These properties are based on the induced migration of ions in an externally applied electric field and give rise to characteristic impedance spectra which can be measured by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy. The latter technique was already successfully applied in the 10 Hz to 1 MHz range by Ozier-Lafontaine and Bajazet (2005) to monitor root growth of tomato. We here apply the method in the 1 mHz to 45 kHz range, requiring four-electrode measurements, and demonstrate its implementation and potential in an imaging framework. Images of real and imaginary components of complex electrical conductivity are computed using a finite-element based inversion algorithm with smoothness-constraint regularization. Results from laboratory measurements on rhizotrons with different root systems (barley, rape) show that images of imaginary conductivity delineate the spatial extent of the root system under investigation, while images of real conductivity show a less clear response. As confirmed by numerical simulations, the latter could be explained by the partly compensating electrical conduction properties of epidermis (resistive) and inner root cells (conductive), indicating the limitations of conventional electrical resistivity tomography. The captured spectral behavior exhibits two distinct relaxation processes with Cole-Cole type signatures, which we interpret as the responses

Cost-effective broad-band electrical impedance spectroscopy measurement circuit and signal analysis for piezo-materials and ultrasound transducers

PubMed Central

Lewis, George K; Lewis, George K; Olbricht, William

2008-01-01

This paper explains the circuitry and signal processing to perform electrical impedance spectroscopy on piezoelectric materials and ultrasound transducers. Here, we measure and compare the impedance spectra of 2−5 MHz piezoelectrics, but the methodology applies for 700 kHz–20 MHz ultrasonic devices as well. Using a 12 ns wide 5 volt pulsing circuit as an impulse, we determine the electrical impedance curves experimentally using Ohm's law and fast Fourier transform (FFT), and compare results with mathematical models. The method allows for rapid impedance measurement for a range of frequencies using a narrow input pulse, digital oscilloscope and FFT techniques. The technique compares well to current methodologies such as network and impedance analyzers while providing additional versatility in the electrical impedance measurement. The technique is theoretically simple, easy to implement and completed with ordinary laboratory instrumentation for minimal cost. PMID:19081773

Practical human abdominal fat imaging utilizing electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, T; Maki, K; Katashima, M

2010-07-01

The fundamental cause of metabolic syndrome is thought to be abdominal obesity. Accurate diagnosis of abdominal obesity can be done by an x-ray computed tomography (CT) scan. But CT is expensive, bulky and entails the risks involved with radiation. To overcome such disadvantages, we attempted to develop a measuring device that could apply electrical impedance tomography to abdominal fat imaging. The device has 32 electrodes that can be attached to a subject's abdomen by a pneumatic mechanism. That way, electrode position data can be acquired simultaneously. An applied alternating current of 1.0 mArms was used at a frequency of 500 kHz. Sensed voltage data were carefully filtered to remove noise and processed to satisfy the reciprocal theorem. The image reconstruction software was developed concurrently, applying standard finite element methods and the Marquardt method to solve the mathematical inverse problem. The results of preliminary experiments showed that abdominal subcutaneous fat and the muscle surrounding the viscera could be imaged in humans. While our imaging of visceral fat was not of sufficient quality, it was suggested that we will be able to develop a safe and practical abdominal fat scanner through future improvements.

Cell Electrical Impedance as a Novel Approach for Studies on Senescence Not Based on Biomarkers

PubMed Central

Cha, Jung-Joon; Park, Yangkyu; Yun, Joho; Kim, Hyeon Woo; Park, Chang-Ju; Kang, Giseok; Jung, Minhyun; Pak, Boryeong; Jin, Suk-Won

2016-01-01

Senescence of cardiac myocytes is frequently associated with heart diseases. To analyze senescence in cardiac myocytes, a number of biomarkers have been isolated. However, due to the complex nature of senescence, multiple markers are required for a single assay to accurately depict complex physiological changes associated with senescence. In single cells, changes in both cytoplasm and cell membrane during senescence can affect the changes in electrical impedance. Based on this phenomenon, we developed MEDoS, a novel microelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy for diagnosis of senescence, which allows us to precisely measure quantitative changes in electrical properties of aging cells. Using cardiac myocytes isolated from 3-, 6-, and 18-month-old isogenic zebrafish, we examined the efficacy of MEDoS and showed that MEDoS can identify discernible changes in electrical impedance. Taken together, our data demonstrated that electrical impedance in cells at different ages is distinct with quantitative values; these results were comparable with previously reported ones. Therefore, we propose that MEDoS be used as a new biomarker-independent methodology to obtain quantitative data on the biological senescence status of individual cells. PMID:27812531

The effect of profound dehydration on electrical impedance of mouse skeletal muscle

PubMed Central

Li, Jia; Sanchez, B.; Rutkove, Seward B.

2014-01-01

To determine if electrical impedance myography (EIM) technique can still be used safely to monitor muscle in cases of severe dehydration, we measured the electrical impedance at 1 kHz - 1 MHz (37 frequencies) of n=8 wild type mice during 48 h of fluid deprivation and compared to the results of n=8 mice that were provided with water ad libitum. Based on the relative change in the R0 (8% p=0.59) parameter from the Cole impedance model, there is a non-significant change in regard to the muscle extracellular fluid when compared to the relative change of body weight and body water loss (19.6% p<0.0001 and 26.1% p<0.0001 respectively). The negligible changes of the phase at 50 kHz (1% p=0.88) confirm both the muscle fibers structural integrity and viability remained intact for that period of time. Accordingly, EIM can still be used to determine the status of muscle even during profound dehydration. PMID:25570009

Monitoring and Characterizing Crop Root Systems Using Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigand, M.; Kemna, A.

2016-12-01

A better understanding of root-soil interactions and associated processes is essential to achieve progress in crop breeding and management, prompting the need for high-resolution and non-destructive characterization methods. Such methods are still lacking, in particular for characterizing root growth and function in the field. A promising technique in this respect is electrical impedance tomography (EIT), which provides images of the low-frequency electrical conduction and polarization properties and thus can be used to investigate polarization processes occurring within and in the direct vicinity of roots under the influence of an external alternating electric field. This approach takes advantage of the well-known polarization properties associated with electrical double layers forming at membranes of cells and cell clusters. However, upscaling these processes to the scale of an impedance, or complex conductivity, spectrum of the whole root system is not trivial given the lack of electrical root models, the complexity of root systems, and the occurrence of additional larger-scale, ion-selective, and therefore polarizable, structures such as the Casparian strip. We here present results from several EIT laboratory studies on rhizotrons with crop root systems in aqueous solutions. Based on optimized experimental and data analysis procedures, enabling the imaging of the weak signals encountered in our studies, we found systematic spatial and temporal changes of both the magnitude and the shape of the spectral polarization signatures during nutrient deprivation and in response to the decapitation of plants. Consistent, but relatively weak, spectral impedance changes were also observed over diurnal cycles. Our results provide evidence for the capability of EIT to non-invasively image and monitor root systems at the rhizotron scale. They further suggest that EIT is a promising tool for imaging, characterizing, and monitoring crop roots at the field scale.

Electrical Impedance Tomography of Electrolysis

PubMed Central

Meir, Arie; Rubinsky, Boris

2015-01-01

The primary goal of this study is to explore the hypothesis that changes in pH during electrolysis can be detected with Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). The study has relevance to real time control of minimally invasive surgery with electrolytic ablation. To investigate the hypothesis, we compare EIT reconstructed images to optical images acquired using pH-sensitive dyes embedded in a physiological saline agar gel phantom treated with electrolysis. We further demonstrate the biological relevance of our work using a bacterial E.Coli model, grown on the phantom. The results demonstrate the ability of EIT to image pH changes in a physiological saline phantom and show that these changes correlate with cell death in the E.coli model. The results are promising, and invite further experimental explorations. PMID:26039686

Advances in imaging and quantification of electrical properties at the nanoscale using Scanning Microwave Impedance Microscopy (sMIM)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedman, Stuart; Stanke, Fred; Yang, Yongliang; Amster, Oskar

Scanning Microwave Impedance Microscopy (sMIM) is a mode for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) enabling imaging of unique contrast mechanisms and measurement of local permittivity and conductivity at the 10's of nm length scale. sMIM has been applied to a variety of systems including nanotubes, nanowires, 2D materials, photovoltaics and semiconductor devices. Early results were largely semi-quantitative. This talk will focus on techniques for extracting quantitative physical parameters such as permittivity, conductivity, doping concentrations and thin film properties from sMIM data. Particular attention will be paid to non-linear materials where sMIM has been used to acquire nano-scale capacitance-voltage curves. These curves can be used to identify the dopant type (n vs p) and doping level in doped semiconductors, both bulk samples and devices. Supported in part by DOE-SBIR DE-SC0009856.

Impedance changes during setting of amorphous calcium phosphate composites.

PubMed

Par, Matej; Šantić, Ana; Gamulin, Ozren; Marovic, Danijela; Moguš-Milanković, Andrea; Tarle, Zrinka

2016-11-01

To investigate the electrical properties of experimental light-curable composite materials based on amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) with the admixture of silanized barium glass and silica fillers. Short-term setting was investigated by impedance measurements at a frequency of 1kHz, while for the long-term setting the impedance spectra were measured consecutively over a frequency range of 0.05Hz to 1MHz for 24h. The analysis of electrical resistivity changes during curing allowed the extraction of relevant kinetic parameters. The impedance results were correlated to the degree of conversion assessed by Raman spectroscopy, water content determined by gravimetry, light transmittance measured by CCD spectrometer and microstructural features observed by scanning electron microscopy. ACP-based composites have shown higher immediate degree of conversion and less post-cure polymerization than the control composites, but lower polymerization rate. The polymerization rate assessed by impedance measurements correlated well with the light transmittance. The differences in the electrical conductivity values observed among the materials were correlated to the amount of water introduced into composites by the ACP filler. High correlation was found between the degree of conversion and electrical resistivity. Equivalent circuit modeling revealed two electrical contributions for the ACP-based composites and a single contribution for the control composites. The impedance spectroscopy has proven a valuable method for gaining insight into various features of ACP-based composites. Better understanding of the properties of ACP-based composites should further the development of these promising bioactive materials. Copyright © 2016 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On-line monitoring of the crystallization process: relationship between crystal size and electrical impedance spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yanlin; Yao, Jun; Wang, Mi

2016-07-01

On-line monitoring of crystal size in the crystallization process is crucial to many pharmaceutical and fine-chemical industrial applications. In this paper, a novel method is proposed for the on-line monitoring of the cooling crystallization process of L-glutamic acid (LGA) using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The EIS method can be used to monitor the growth of crystal particles relying on the presence of an electrical double layer on the charged particle surface and the polarization of double layer under the excitation of alternating electrical field. The electrical impedance spectra and crystal size were measured on-line simultaneously by an impedance analyzer and focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM), respectively. The impedance spectra were analyzed using the equivalent circuit model and the equivalent circuit elements in the model can be obtained by fitting the experimental data. Two equivalent circuit elements, including capacitance (C 2) and resistance (R 2) from the dielectric polarization of the LGA solution and crystal particle/solution interface, are in relation with the crystal size. The mathematical relationship between the crystal size and the equivalent circuit elements can be obtained by a non-linear fitting method. The function can be used to predict the change of crystal size during the crystallization process.

Impact of impedance unbalance on the efficiency of electricity transmission and distribution - A case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavlov, L'uboš; Skurčák, L'uboš; Chovanec, Juraj; Altus, Juraj

2017-11-01

This article is devoted to the analysis of the possible influence of impedance asymmetry on the efficiency of electricity transmission and distribution in the electricity system in Slovakia, at a voltage level of 110 kV - 400 kV, using synchronic phasor monitoring results. For simplicity of calculations, in practice, the impedance imbalance from mutual interfacial inductive capacitances bonds is neglected. In this way, the 3-phase network is interpreted as symmetrical in the calculations. In this case, it is possible to determine only some components of losses (ohmic losses, corona loss, leakages, etc). The influence of impedance asymmetry can be quantified by calculation using the results of the monitoring of the synchronous phasors of selected electricity system elements (OHL, transformer, choke) or by 3-phase modelling of real system elements. frequency to test the transformer for induced over voltage test, and its characteristics is analysed.

Calibrated complex impedance of CHO cells and E. coli bacteria at GHz frequencies using scanning microwave microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuca, Silviu-Sorin; Badino, Giorgio; Gramse, Georg; Brinciotti, Enrico; Kasper, Manuel; Oh, Yoo Jin; Zhu, Rong; Rankl, Christian; Hinterdorfer, Peter; Kienberger, Ferry

2016-04-01

The application of scanning microwave microscopy (SMM) to extract calibrated electrical properties of cells and bacteria in air is presented. From the S 11 images, after calibration, complex impedance and admittance images of Chinese hamster ovary cells and E. coli bacteria deposited on a silicon substrate have been obtained. The broadband capabilities of SMM have been used to characterize the bio-samples between 2 GHz and 20 GHz. The resulting calibrated cell and bacteria admittance at 19 GHz were Y cell = 185 μS + j285 μS and Y bacteria = 3 μS + j20 μS, respectively. A combined circuitry-3D finite element method EMPro model has been developed and used to investigate the frequency response of the complex impedance and admittance of the SMM setup. Based on a proposed parallel resistance-capacitance model, the equivalent conductance and parallel capacitance of the cells and bacteria were obtained from the SMM images. The influence of humidity and frequency on the cell conductance was experimentally studied. To compare the cell conductance with bulk water properties, we measured the imaginary part of the bulk water loss with a dielectric probe kit in the same frequency range resulting in a high level of agreement.

Estimation of anomaly location and size using electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Kwon, Ohin; Yoon, Jeong Rock; Seo, Jin Keun; Woo, Eung Je; Cho, Young Gu

2003-01-01

We developed a new algorithm that estimates locations and sizes of anomalies in electrically conducting medium based on electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technique. When only the boundary current and voltage measurements are available, it is not practically feasible to reconstruct accurate high-resolution cross-sectional conductivity or resistivity images of a subject. In this paper, we focus our attention on the estimation of locations and sizes of anomalies with different conductivity values compared with the background tissues. We showed the performance of the algorithm from experimental results using a 32-channel EIT system and saline phantom. With about 1.73% measurement error in boundary current-voltage data, we found that the minimal size (area) of the detectable anomaly is about 0.72% of the size (area) of the phantom. Potential applications include the monitoring of impedance related physiological events and bubble detection in two-phase flow. Since this new algorithm requires neither any forward solver nor time-consuming minimization process, it is fast enough for various real-time applications in medicine and nondestructive testing.

[Non-invasive estimation of aortic flow by local electrical impedance changes].

PubMed

Okuda, N; Ohashi, N; Yamada, M; Fujinami, T

1986-09-01

Aortic flow velocity was measured by catheter-tip flow transducer in 25 patients who underwent left cardiac catheterization for non-invasive estimates by the impedance method. Disk electrodes were attached to the skin at the levels of the second thoracic vertebra in the posterior median line and the V8 lead position for electrocardiography. Alternating current, 350 micro-amperes, 50 KHz constant, was applied to the outer electrode, and impedance changes were detected via the inner electrode. The e wave, or height of the first derivative dz/dt wave of the electrical impedance was lower in cases of old myocardial infarction and higher in cases of aortic valve regurgitation, as compared with the values of the healthy control group. The time lag between the start of the upward deflection and the peak value of the dz/dt wave coincided with that of the aortic flow curve as measured at the aortic arch and descending aorta. These time lags were about 20 to 30 msec as compared with the ascending aortic flow curve, and were -20 to -30 msec as compared with the abdominal aortic flow curve. There was a close correlation between the maximum flow velocity measured at the aortic arch and the height of the e waves. The regression equation was: Y = 0.21X - 1.53, r = 0.88, p less than 0.01. These data suggest that the first derivative of electrical impedance change as obtained by the disk electrode method reflects aortic flow at the arch and descending aorta.

Electrical impedance imaging in two-phase, gas-liquid flows: 1. Initial investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, J. T.; Ovacik, L.; Jones, O. C.

1991-01-01

The determination of interfacial area density in two-phase, gas-liquid flows is one of the major elements impeding significant development of predictive tools based on the two-fluid model. Currently, these models require coupling of liquid and vapor at interfaces using constitutive equations which do not exist in any but the most rudimentary form. Work described herein represents the first step towards the development of Electrical Impedance Computed Tomography (EICT) for nonintrusive determination of interfacial structure and evolution in such flows.

Measuring the multi-frequency electrical impedance of the mouse gastrocnemius muscle using a tetrapolar technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, J.; Fogerson, P. M.; Rutkove, S. B.

2010-04-01

Electrical impedance methods can be used to evaluate and monitor neuromuscular disease states. Recently, we have applied tetrapolar surface electrical impedance methods to the gastrocnemius muscle of the rat for this purpose and substantial changes in the impedance parameters after sciatic nerve crush can be identified. In order to be able to study additional animal models of nerve and muscle disease, however, it would highly desirable to be able to perform such impedance measurements in the mouse. Yet the small size of the mouse presents a substantial technical challenge. In this study, we evaluate a basic approach for performing such measurements. A series of thin, stainless steel strip electrodes affixed to the gastrocnemius and interfaced via a separate connector to the Imp SFB7® (Impedimed, Inc), provided an effective means for obtaining impedance data in the 20-500 kHz range. After two weeks, test-retest reproducibility was good, with intra-class correlation coefficients as high 0.84 and variability as low as 12.86 ± 6.18% in the 15 mice studied. Using this approach, it may now be possible to study impedance changes in a variety of mouse models of neuromuscular disease, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Electrical impedance map (EIM) for margin assessment during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) using a microendoscopic probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahara, Aditya; Khan, Shadab; Schned, Alan R.; Hyams, Elias S.; Halter, Ryan J.

2015-03-01

Positive surgical margins (PSMs) found following prostate cancer surgery are a significant risk factor for post-operative disease recurrence. Noxious adjuvant radiation and chemical-based therapies are typically offered to men with PSMs. Unfortunately, no real-time intraoperative technology is currently available to guide surgeons to regions of suspicion during the initial prostatectomy where immediate surgical excisions could be used to reduce the chance of PSMs. A microendoscopic electrical impedance sensing probe was developed with the intention of providing real-time feedback regarding margin status to surgeons during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) procedures. A radially configured 17-electrode microendoscopic probe was designed, constructed, and initially evaluated through use of gelatin-based phantoms and an ex vivo human prostate specimen. Impedance measurements are recorded at 10 frequencies (10 kHz - 100 kHz) using a high-speed FPGA-based electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system. Tetrapolar impedances are recorded from a number of different electrode configurations strategically chosen to sense tissue in a pre-defined sector underlying the probe face. A circular electrical impedance map (EIM) with several color-coded pie-shaped sectors is created to represent the impedance values of the probed tissue. Gelatin phantom experiments show an obvious distinction in the impedance maps between high and low impedance regions. Similarly, the EIM generated from the ex vivo prostate case shows distinguishing features between cancerous and benign regions. Based on successful development of this probe and these promising initial results, EIMs of additional prostate specimens are being collected to further evaluate this approach for intraoperative surgical margin assessment during RALP procedures.

Efficient Simultaneous Reconstruction of Time-Varying Images and Electrode Contact Impedances in Electrical Impedance Tomography.

PubMed

Boverman, Gregory; Isaacson, David; Newell, Jonathan C; Saulnier, Gary J; Kao, Tzu-Jen; Amm, Bruce C; Wang, Xin; Davenport, David M; Chong, David H; Sahni, Rakesh; Ashe, Jeffrey M

2017-04-01

In electrical impedance tomography (EIT), we apply patterns of currents on a set of electrodes at the external boundary of an object, measure the resulting potentials at the electrodes, and, given the aggregate dataset, reconstruct the complex conductivity and permittivity within the object. It is possible to maximize sensitivity to internal conductivity changes by simultaneously applying currents and measuring potentials on all electrodes but this approach also maximizes sensitivity to changes in impedance at the interface. We have, therefore, developed algorithms to assess contact impedance changes at the interface as well as to efficiently and simultaneously reconstruct internal conductivity/permittivity changes within the body. We use simple linear algebraic manipulations, the generalized singular value decomposition, and a dual-mesh finite-element-based framework to reconstruct images in real time. We are also able to efficiently compute the linearized reconstruction for a wide range of regularization parameters and to compute both the generalized cross-validation parameter as well as the L-curve, objective approaches to determining the optimal regularization parameter, in a similarly efficient manner. Results are shown using data from a normal subject and from a clinical intensive care unit patient, both acquired with the GE GENESIS prototype EIT system, demonstrating significantly reduced boundary artifacts due to electrode drift and motion artifact.

The use of electrical impedance spectroscopy for monitoring the hydration products of Portland cement mortars with high percentage of pozzolans

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cruz, J.M.; Fita, I.C., E-mail: infifer@fis.upv.es; Soriano, L.

2013-08-15

In this paper, mortars and pastes containing large replacement of pozzolan were studied by mechanical strength, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The effect of metakaolin (35%) and fly ash (60%) was evaluated and compared with an inert mineral addition (andalusite). The portlandite content was measured, finding that the pozzolanic reaction produced cementing systems with all portlandite fixed. The EIS measurements were analyzed by the equivalent electrical circuit (EEC) method. An EEC with three branches in parallel was applied. The dc resistance was related to the degree of hydration andmore » allowed us to characterize plain and blended mortars. A constant phase element (CPE) quantified the electrical properties of the hydration products located in the solid–solution interface and was useful to distinguish the role of inert and pozzolanic admixtures present in the cement matrix.« less

Using electrical impedance tomography to map subsurface hydraulic conductivity

DOEpatents

Berryman, James G.; Daily, William D.; Ramirez, Abelardo L.; Roberts, Jeffery J.

2000-01-01

The use of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) to map subsurface hydraulic conductivity. EIT can be used to map hydraulic conductivity in the subsurface where measurements of both amplitude and phase are made. Hydraulic conductivity depends on at least two parameters: porosity and a length scale parameter. Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) measures and maps electrical conductivity (which can be related to porosity) in three dimensions. By introducing phase measurements along with amplitude, the desired additional measurement of a pertinent length scale can be achieved. Hydraulic conductivity controls the ability to flush unwanted fluid contaminants from the surface. Thus inexpensive maps of hydraulic conductivity would improve planning strategies for subsequent remediation efforts. Fluid permeability is also of importance for oil field exploitation and thus detailed knowledge of fluid permeability distribution in three-dimension (3-D) would be a great boon to petroleum reservoir analysts.

Assessment of alterations in the electrical impedance of muscle after experimental nerve injury via finite-element analysis.

PubMed

Wang, Lucy L; Ahad, Mohammad; McEwan, Alistair; Li, Jia; Jafarpoor, Mina; Rutkove, Seward B

2011-06-01

The surface measurement of electrical impedance of muscle, incorporated as the technique of electrical impedance myography (EIM), provides a noninvasive approach for evaluating neuromuscular diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the relationship between alterations in surface impedance and the electrical properties of muscle remains uncertain. In order to investigate this further, a group of healthy adult rats, a group of rats two weeks postsciatic crush, and a group of animals six months postcrush underwent EIM of the gastrocnemius-soleus complex. The animals were then killed and the conductivity and permittivity of the extracted muscle measured. Finite-element models based on MRI data were then constructed for each group. The characteristic EIM parameter, 50 kHz phase (±standard error), obtained with surface impedance measurements was 17.3° ± 0.3° for normal animals, 13.8° ± 0.7° for acutely injured animals, and 16.1° ± 0.5° for chronically injured animals. The models predicted parallel changes with phase values of 24.3°, 18.8°, and 21.2° for the normal, acute, and chronic groups, respectively. Other multifrequency impedance parameters showed similar alterations. These results confirm that surface impedance measurements taken in conjunction with anatomical data and finite-element models may offer a noninvasive approach for assessing biophysical alterations in muscle in neuromuscular disease states.

Exploratory study on the methodology of fast imaging of unilateral stroke lesions by electrical impedance asymmetry in human heads.

PubMed

Ma, Jieshi; Xu, Canhua; Dai, Meng; You, Fusheng; Shi, Xuetao; Dong, Xiuzhen; Fu, Feng

2014-01-01

Stroke has a high mortality and disability rate and should be rapidly diagnosed to improve prognosis. Diagnosing stroke is not a problem for hospitals with CT, MRI, and other imaging devices but is difficult for community hospitals without these devices. Based on the mechanism that the electrical impedance of the two hemispheres of a normal human head is basically symmetrical and a stroke can alter this symmetry, a fast electrical impedance imaging method called symmetrical electrical impedance tomography (SEIT) is proposed. In this technique, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) data measured from the undamaged craniocerebral hemisphere (CCH) is regarded as reference data for the remaining EIT data measured from the other CCH for difference imaging to identify the differences in resistivity distribution between the two CCHs. The results of SEIT imaging based on simulation data from the 2D human head finite element model and that from the physical phantom of human head verified this method in detection of unilateral stroke.

Exploratory Study on the Methodology of Fast Imaging of Unilateral Stroke Lesions by Electrical Impedance Asymmetry in Human Heads

PubMed Central

Xu, Canhua; Dai, Meng; You, Fusheng; Shi, Xuetao

2014-01-01

Stroke has a high mortality and disability rate and should be rapidly diagnosed to improve prognosis. Diagnosing stroke is not a problem for hospitals with CT, MRI, and other imaging devices but is difficult for community hospitals without these devices. Based on the mechanism that the electrical impedance of the two hemispheres of a normal human head is basically symmetrical and a stroke can alter this symmetry, a fast electrical impedance imaging method called symmetrical electrical impedance tomography (SEIT) is proposed. In this technique, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) data measured from the undamaged craniocerebral hemisphere (CCH) is regarded as reference data for the remaining EIT data measured from the other CCH for difference imaging to identify the differences in resistivity distribution between the two CCHs. The results of SEIT imaging based on simulation data from the 2D human head finite element model and that from the physical phantom of human head verified this method in detection of unilateral stroke. PMID:25006594

Impedance Spectroscopy Study of the Electrical Properties of Cation-Substituted Barium Hexaaluminate Ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belyaev, B. A.; Drokin, N. A.; Poluboyarov, V. A.

2018-02-01

We report on the behavior of frequency and temperature dependences of the impedance of a measuring cell in the form of a parallel-plate capacitor filled with barium hexaaluminate ceramics with four aluminum cations replaced by iron (BaO · 2Fe2O3 · 4Al2O3). The measurements have been performed in the frequency range of 0.5-108 Hz at temperatures of 20-375°C. A technique for determining the electrical properties of the investigated ceramics is proposed, which is based on an equivalent electric circuit allowing the recorded impedance spectra to be approximated with sufficiently high accuracy. The established spectral features are indicative of the presence of two electric relaxation times different from each other by three orders of magnitude. This fact is explained by the difference between the charge transport processes in the bulk of crystallites and thin intercrystallite spacers, for which the charge activation energies have been determined.

Impedance spectroscopy studies in cobalt ferrite-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Supriya, Sweety, E-mail: sweety@iitp.ac.in; Kumar, Sunil, E-mail: sunil.pph13@iitp.ac.in; Kar, Manoranjan, E-mail: mano@iitp.ac.in

2016-05-06

(1-x)Cobalt ferrite-(x)reduced graphene oxidenanocomposites with x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 were prepared by the ultrasonic method. The crystal symmetry modification due to reduced graphene oxide and cobalt ferrite interaction has been studied by employing the X-ray diffraction technique. Morphology of the samples was studied by the Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Study on electrical properties of the cobalt ferrite-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites explores the possible application of these composites as anode material. Impedance decreases with an increase in frequency as well as temperature, which supports an increase in ac electrical conductivity. The modified Debye relaxation model can explain themore » behavior of impedance in cobalt ferrite-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites.« less

A Review of Electrical Impedance Spectrometry Methods for Parametric Estimation of Physiologic Fluid Volumes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dewberry, B.

2000-01-01

Electrical impedance spectrometry involves measurement of the complex resistance of a load at multiple frequencies. With this information in the form of impedance magnitude and phase, or resistance and reactance, basic structure or function of the load can be estimated. The "load" targeted for measurement and estimation in this study consisted of the water-bearing tissues of the human calf. It was proposed and verified that by measuring the electrical impedance of the human calf and fitting this data to a model of fluid compartments, the lumped-model volume of intracellular and extracellular spaces could be estimated, By performing this estimation over time, the volume dynamics during application of stimuli which affect the direction of gravity can be viewed. The resulting data can form a basis for further modeling and verification of cardiovascular and compartmental modeling of fluid reactions to microgravity as well as countermeasures to the headward shift of fluid during head-down tilt or spaceflight.

Rapid culture-based detection of living mycobacteria using microchannel electrical impedance spectroscopy (m-EIS).

PubMed

Kargupta, Roli; Puttaswamy, Sachidevi; Lee, Aiden J; Butler, Timothy E; Li, Zhongyu; Chakraborty, Sounak; Sengupta, Shramik

2017-06-10

Multiple techniques exist for detecting Mycobacteria, each having its own advantages and drawbacks. Among them, automated culture-based systems like the BACTEC-MGIT™ are popular because they are inexpensive, reliable and highly accurate. However, they have a relatively long "time-to-detection" (TTD). Hence, a method that retains the reliability and low-cost of the MGIT system, while reducing TTD would be highly desirable. Living bacterial cells possess a membrane potential, on account of which they store charge when subjected to an AC-field. This charge storage (bulk capacitance) can be estimated using impedance measurements at multiple frequencies. An increase in the number of living cells during culture is reflected in an increase in bulk capacitance, and this forms the basis of our detection. M. bovis BCG and M. smegmatis suspensions with differing initial loads are cultured in MGIT media supplemented with OADC and Middlebrook 7H9 media respectively, electrical "scans" taken at regular intervals and the bulk capacitance estimated from the scans. Bulk capacitance estimates at later time-points are statistically compared to the suspension's baseline value. A statistically significant increase is assumed to indicate the presence of proliferating mycobacteria. Our TTDs were 60 and 36 h for M. bovis BCG and 20 and 9 h for M. smegmatis with initial loads of 1000 CFU/ml and 100,000 CFU/ml respectively. The corresponding TTDs for the commercial BACTEC MGIT 960 system were 131 and 84.6 h for M. bovis BCG and 41.7 and 12 h for M smegmatis, respectively. Our culture-based detection method using multi-frequency impedance measurements is capable of detecting mycobacteria faster than current commercial systems.

Preliminary Results on Different Impedance Contrast Agents for Pulmonary Perfusion Imaging with Electrical Impedance Tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, D. T.; Kosobrodov, R.; Barry, M. A.; Chik, W.; Pouliopoulos, J.; Oh, T. I.; Thiagalingam, A.; McEwan, A.

2013-04-01

Recent studies in animal models suggest that the use of small volume boluses of NaCl as an impedance contrast agent can significantly improve pulmonary perfusion imaging by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). However, these studies used highly concentrated NaCl solution (20%) which may have adverse effects on the patients. In a pilot experiment, we address this problem by comparing a number of different Impedance Contrast Boluses (ICBs). Conductivity changes in the lungs of a sheep after the injection of four different ICBs were compared, including three NaCl-based ICBs and one glucose-based ICB. The following procedure was followed for each ICB. Firstly, ventilation was turned off to provide an apneic window of approximately 40s to image the conductivity changes due to the ICB. Each ICB was then injected through a pig-tail catheter directly into the right atrium. EIT images were acquired throughout the apnea to capture the conductivity change. For each ICB, the experiment was repeated three times. The three NaCl-based ICB exhibited similar behaviour in which following the injection of each of these ICBs, the conductivity of each lung predictably increased. The effect of the ICB of 5% glucose solution was inconclusive. A small decrease in conductivity in the left lung was observed in two out of three cases and none was discernible in the right lung.

Overview Of Impedance Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abele, John E.

1989-08-01

Electrical impedance has been one of the many "tools of great promise" that physicians have employed in their quest to measure and/or monitor body function or physiologic events. So far, the expectations for its success have always exceeded its performance. In simplistic terms, physiologic impedance is a measure of the resistance in the volume between electrodes which changes as a function of changes in that volume, the relative impedance of that volume, or a combination of these two. The history and principles of electrical impedance are very nicely reviewed by Geddes and Baker in their textbook "Principles of Applied Biomedical Instrumentation". It is humbling, however, to note that Cremer recorded variations in electrical impedance in frog hearts as early as 1907. The list of potential applications includes the measurement of thyroid function, estrogen activity, galvanic skin reflex, respiration, blood flow by conductivity dilution, nervous activity and eye movement. Commercial devices employing impedance have been and are being used to measure respiration (pneumographs and apneamonitors), pulse volume (impedance phlebographs) and even noninvasive cardiac output.

Constant current loop impedance measuring system that is immune to the effects of parasitic impedances

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, Karl F. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

A constant current loop measuring system is provided for measuring a characteristic of an environment. The system comprises a first impedance positionable in the environment, a second impedance coupled in series with said first impedance and a parasitic impedance electrically coupled to the first and second impedances. A current generating device, electrically coupled in series with the first and second impedances, provides a constant current through the first and second impedances to produce first and second voltages across the first and second impedances, respectively, and a parasitic voltage across the parasitic impedance. A high impedance voltage measuring device measures a voltage difference between the first and second voltages independent of the parasitic voltage to produce a characteristic voltage representative of the characteristic of the environment.

Monotonicity-based electrical impedance tomography for lung imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Liangdong; Harrach, Bastian; Seo, Jin Keun

2018-04-01

This paper presents a monotonicity-based spatiotemporal conductivity imaging method for continuous regional lung monitoring using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). The EIT data (i.e. the boundary current-voltage data) can be decomposed into pulmonary, cardiac and other parts using their different periodic natures. The time-differential current-voltage operator corresponding to the lung ventilation can be viewed as either semi-positive or semi-negative definite owing to monotonic conductivity changes within the lung regions. We used these monotonicity constraints to improve the quality of lung EIT imaging. We tested the proposed methods in numerical simulations, phantom experiments and human experiments.

A new experimental device to evaluate eye ulcers using a multispectral electrical impedance technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellotti, Mariela I.; Bast, Walter; Berra, Alejandro; Bonetto, Fabián J.

2011-07-01

We present a novel experimental technique to determine eye ulcers in animals using a spectral electrical impedance technique. We expect that this technique will be useful in dry eye syndrome. We used a sensor that is basically a platinum (Pt) microelectrode electrically insulated by glass from a cylindrical stainless steel counter-electrode. This sensor was applied to the naked eye of New Zealand rabbits (2.0-3.5 kg in weight). Whereas half of the eyes were normal (control), we applied to the remainder a few drops of 20% (v/v) alcohol to produce an ulcer in the eye. Using a multispectral electrical impedance system we measured ulcerated and control eyes and observed significant difference between normal and pathological samples. We also investigated the effects of different applied pressures and natural degradation of initially normal eyes as a function of time. We believe that this technique could be sufficiently sensitive and repetitive to help diagnose ocular surface diseases such as dry eye syndrome.

A new experimental device to evaluate eye ulcers using a multispectral electrical impedance technique.

PubMed

Bellotti, Mariela I; Bast, Walter; Berra, Alejandro; Bonetto, Fabián J

2011-07-01

We present a novel experimental technique to determine eye ulcers in animals using a spectral electrical impedance technique. We expect that this technique will be useful in dry eye syndrome. We used a sensor that is basically a platinum (Pt) microelectrode electrically insulated by glass from a cylindrical stainless steel counter-electrode. This sensor was applied to the naked eye of New Zealand rabbits (2.0-3.5 kg in weight). Whereas half of the eyes were normal (control), we applied to the remainder a few drops of 20% (v/v) alcohol to produce an ulcer in the eye. Using a multispectral electrical impedance system we measured ulcerated and control eyes and observed significant difference between normal and pathological samples. We also investigated the effects of different applied pressures and natural degradation of initially normal eyes as a function of time. We believe that this technique could be sufficiently sensitive and repetitive to help diagnose ocular surface diseases such as dry eye syndrome.

Physics of a novel magnetic resonance and electrical impedance combination for breast cancer diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kallergi, Maria; Heine, John J.; Wollin, Ernest

2015-03-01

A new technique is proposed and experimentally validated for breast cancer detection and diagnosis. The technique combines magnetic resonance with electrical impedance measurements and has the potential to increase the specificity of magnetic resonance mammography (MRM) thereby reducing false positive biopsy rates. The new magnetic resonance electrical impedance mammography (MREIM) adds a time varying electric field during a supplementary sequence to a standard MRM examination with an apparatus that is "invisible" to the patient. The applied electric field produces a current that creates an additional magnetic field with a component aligned with the bore magnetic field that can alter the native signal in areas of higher electrical conductivity. The justification for adding the electric field is that the electrical conductivity of cancerous breast tissue is approximately 3-40 times higher than normal breast tissue and, hence, conductivity of malignant tissue represents a known clinical disease biomarker. In a pilot study with custom-made phantoms and experimental protocols, it was demonstrated that MREIM can produce, as theoretically predicted, a detectable differential signal in areas of higher electrical conductivity (tumor surrogate regions); the evidence indicates that the differential signal is produced by the confluence of two different effects at full image resolution without gadolinium chelate contrast agent injection, without extraneous reconstruction techniques, and without cumbersome multi-positioned patient electrode configurations. This paper describes the theoretical model that predicts and explains the observed experimental results that were also confirmed by simulation studies.

Cross-sectional evaluation of electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound for the assessment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in a clinical trial setting.

PubMed

Rutkove, Seward B; Geisbush, Tom R; Mijailovic, Aleksandar; Shklyar, Irina; Pasternak, Amy; Visyak, Nicole; Wu, Jim S; Zaidman, Craig; Darras, Basil T

2014-07-01

Electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound are two noninvasive, painless, and effort-independent approaches for assessing neuromuscular disease. Both techniques have potential to serve as useful biomarkers in clinical trials in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, their comparative sensitivity to disease status and how they relate to one another are unknown. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound in 24 healthy boys and 24 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aged 2 to 14 years with trained research assistants performing all measurements. Three upper and three lower extremity muscles were studied unilaterally in each child, and the data averaged for each individual. Both electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound differentiated healthy boys from those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (P < 0.001 for both). Quantitative ultrasound values correlated with age in Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys (rho = 0.45; P = 0.029), whereas electrical impedance myography did not (rho = -0.31; P = 0.14). However, electrical impedance myography phase correlated with age in healthy boys (rho = 0.51; P = 0.012), whereas quantitative ultrasound did not (rho = -0.021; P = 0.92). In Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys, electrical impedance myography phase correlated with the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (rho = 0.65; P = 0.022); quantitative ultrasound revealed a near-significant association (rho = -0.56; P = 0.060). The two technologies trended toward a moderate correlation with one another in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy cohort but not in the healthy group (rho = -0.40; P = 0.054 and rho = -0.32; P = 0.13, respectively). Electrical impedance myography and quantitative ultrasound are complementary modalities for the assessment of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; further study and application of these two modalities alone or in combination in a longitudinal fashion are warranted. Copyright

Cross-sectional changes in lung volume measured by electrical impedance tomography are representative for the whole lung in ventilated preterm infants.

PubMed

van der Burg, Pauline S; Miedema, Martijn; de Jongh, Frans H; Frerichs, Inez; van Kaam, Anton H

2014-06-01

Electrical impedance tomography measures lung volume in a cross-sectional slice of the lung. Whether these cross-sectional volume changes are representative of the whole lung has only been investigated in adults, showing conflicting results. This study aimed to compare cross-sectional and whole lung volume changes using electrical impedance tomography and respiratory inductive plethysmography. A prospective, single-center, observational, nonrandomized study. The study was conducted in a neonatal ICU in the Netherlands. High-frequency ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Cross-sectional and whole lung volume changes were continuously and simultaneously measured by, respectively, electrical impedance tomography and respiratory inductive plethysmography during a stepwise recruitment procedure. End-expiratory lung volume changes were assessed by mapping the inflation and deflation limbs using both the pressure/impedance and pressure/inductance pairs and characterized by calculating the inflection points. In addition, oscillatory tidal volume changes were assessed at each pressure step. Twenty-three infants were included in the study. Of these, eight infants had to be excluded because the quality of the registration was insufficient for analysis (two electrical impedance tomography and six respiratory inductive plethysmography). In the remaining 15 infants (gestational age 28.0 ± 2.6 wk; birth weight 1,027 ± 514 g), end-expiratory lung volume changes measured by electrical impedance tomography were significantly correlated to respiratory inductive plethysmography measurements in 12 patients (mean r = 0.93 ± 0.05). This was also true for the upper inflection point on the inflation (r = 0.91, p < 0.01) and deflation limb (r = 0.83, p < 0.01). In 13 patients, impedance and inductance data also correlated significantly on oscillatory tidal volume/pressure relationships (mean r = 0.81 ± 0.18). This study shows that cross-sectional lung volume

Skin impedance is not a factor in transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation effectiveness

PubMed Central

Vance, Carol GT; Rakel, Barbara A; Dailey, Dana L; Sluka, Kathleen A

2015-01-01

Objective Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a nonpharmacological intervention used to manage pain using skin surface electrodes. Optimal electrode placement is unclear. We hypothesized that better analgesia would occur if electrodes were placed over sites with lower skin impedance. Optimal site selection (OSS) and sham site selection (SSS) electrode sites on the forearm were identified using a standard clinical technique. Methods Experiment 1 measured skin impedance in the forearm at OSS and SSS. Experiment 2 was a crossover design double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing OSS-TENS, SSS-TENS, and placebo TENS (P-TENS) to confirm differences in skin impedance between OSS and SSS, and measure change in pressure pain threshold (PPT) following a 30-minute TENS treatment. Healthy volunteers were recruited (ten for Experiment 1 [five male, five female] and 24 for Experiment 2 [12 male, 12 female]). TENS was applied for 30 minutes at 100 Hz frequency, 100 µs pulse duration, and “strong but nonpainful” amplitude. Results Experiment 1 results demonstrate significantly higher impedance at SSS (17.69±1.24 Ω) compared to OSS (13.53±0.57 Ω) (P=0.007). For Experiment 2, electrode site impedance was significantly higher over SSS, with both the impedance meter (P=0.001) and the TENS unit (P=0.012) compared to OSS. PPT change was significantly greater for both OSS-TENS (P=0.024) and SSS-TENS (P=0.025) when compared to P-TENS. PPT did not differ between the two active TENS treatments (P=0.81). Conclusion Skin impedance is lower at sites characterized as optimal using the described technique of electrode site selection. When TENS is applied at adequate intensities, skin impedance is not a factor in attainment of hypoalgesia of the forearm in healthy subjects. Further investigation should include testing in patients presenting with painful conditions. PMID:26316808

Anatomically informed mesoscale electrical impedance spectroscopy in southern pine and the electric field distribution for pin-type electric moisture metres

Treesearch

Samuel L. Zelinka; Alex C. Wiedenhoeft; Samuel V. Glass; Flavio Ruffinatto

2015-01-01

Electrical impedance spectra of wood taken at macroscopic scales below the fibre saturation point have led to inferences that the mechanism of charge conduction involves a percolation phenomenon. The pathways responsible for charge conduction would necessarily be influenced by wood structure at a variety of sub-macroscopic scales – at a mesoscale – but these questions...

Design and development of electrical impedance tomography system with 32 electrodes and microcontroller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ansory, Achmad; Prajitno, Prawito; Wijaya, Sastra Kusuma

2018-02-01

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is an imaging method that is able to estimate electrical impedance distribution inside an object. This EIT system is developed by using 32 electrodes and microcontroller based module. From a pair of electrodes, sinusoidal current of 3 mA is injected and the voltage differences between other pairs of electrodes are measured. Voltage measurement data are then sent to MATLAB and EIDORS software; the data are used to reconstruct two dimensions image. The system can detect and determine the position of a phantom in the tank. The object's position is accurately reconstructed and determined with the average shifting of 0.69 cm but object's area cannot be accurately reconstructed. The object's image is more accurately reconstructed when the object is located near to electrodes, has a larger size, and when the current injected to the system has a frequency of 100 kHz or 200kHz.

Current source enhancements in Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to cancel unwanted capacitive effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarafshani, Ali; Bach, Thomas; Chatwin, Chris; Xiang, Liangzhong; Zheng, Bin

2017-03-01

Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has emerged as a non-invasive imaging modality to detect and quantify functional or electrical properties related to the suspicious tumors in cancer screening, diagnosis and prognosis assessment. A constraint on EIS systems is that the current excitation system suffers from the effects of stray capacitance having a major impact on the hardware subsystem as the EIS is an ill-posed inverse problem which depends on the noise level in EIS measured data and regularization parameter in the reconstruction algorithm. There is high complexity in the design of stable current sources, with stray capacitance reducing the output impedance and bandwidth of the system. To confront this, we have designed an EIS current source which eliminates the effect of stray capacitance and other impacts of the capacitance via a variable inductance. In this paper, we present a combination of operational CCII based on a generalized impedance converter (OCCII-GIC) with a current source. The aim of this study is to use the EIS system as a biomedical imaging technique, which is effective in the early detection of breast cancer. This article begins with the theoretical description of the EIS structure, current source topologies and proposes a current conveyor in application of a Gyrator to eliminate the current source limitations and its development followed by simulation and experimental results. We demonstrated that the new design could achieve a high output impedance over a 3MHz frequency bandwidth when compared to other types of GIC circuits combined with an improved Howland topology.

Electrical properties of rat muscle after sciatic nerve injury: Impact on surface impedance measurements assessed via finite element analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahad, M. A.; Rutkove, S. B.

2010-04-01

Tetrapolar surface electrical impedance methods are sensitive to changes in muscle status and can therefore provide a means for studying neuromuscular disease noninvasively. In order to better understand the relationship between surface impedance measurements and the actual muscle electrical properties, we performed measurements on 20 adult Wistar rats, 8 of which underwent sciatic nerve crush. Surface impedance measurements were performed on the left hind limb both before injury and out to 2 weeks after injury. In addition, both normal and sciatic crush animals were sacrificed and the dielectric properties of the extracted gastrocnemius muscle measured. We found that 50 kHz conductivities were greater in the animals that underwent crush than in the animals that did not. The permittivities in both directions, however, showed non-significant differences. In order to analyze the effect of these changes as well as the accompanying reduction in muscle volume, a finite element model of the hind limb was developed based on computerized tomographic imaging. The model successfully predicted the surface impedance values in the animals after crush injury and, by its inverse application, may be used to help determine the underlying electrical properties of muscle in various neuromuscular diseases based on surface impedance data.

Modeling electrical double-layer effects for microfluidic impedance spectroscopy from 100 kHz to 110 GHz.

PubMed

Little, Charles A E; Orloff, Nathan D; Hanemann, Isaac E; Long, Christian J; Bright, Victor M; Booth, James C

2017-07-25

Broadband microfluidic-based impedance spectroscopy can be used to characterize complex fluids, with applications in medical diagnostics and in chemical and pharmacological manufacturing. Many relevant fluids are ionic; during impedance measurements ions migrate to the electrodes, forming an electrical double-layer. Effects from the electrical double-layer dominate over, and reduce sensitivity to, the intrinsic impedance of the fluid below a characteristic frequency. Here we use calibrated measurements of saline solution in microfluidic coplanar waveguide devices at frequencies between 100 kHz and 110 GHz to directly measure the double-layer admittance for solutions of varying ionic conductivity. We successfully model the double-layer admittance using a combination of a Cole-Cole response with a constant phase element contribution. Our analysis yields a double-layer relaxation time that decreases linearly with solution conductivity, and allows for double-layer effects to be separated from the intrinsic fluid response and quantified for a wide range of conducting fluids.

Using independent component analysis for electrical impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Peimin; Mo, Yulong

2004-05-01

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a way to resolve signals into independent components based on the statistical characteristics of the signals. It is a method for factoring probability densities of measured signals into a set of densities that are as statistically independent as possible under the assumptions of a linear model. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is used to detect variations of the electric conductivity of the human body. Because there are variations of the conductivity distributions inside the body, EIT presents multi-channel data. In order to get all information contained in different location of tissue it is necessary to image the individual conductivity distribution. In this paper we consider to apply ICA to EIT on the signal subspace (individual conductivity distribution). Using ICA the signal subspace will then be decomposed into statistically independent components. The individual conductivity distribution can be reconstructed by the sensitivity theorem in this paper. Compute simulations show that the full information contained in the multi-conductivity distribution will be obtained by this method.

Bioelectrical Impedance Methods for Noninvasive Health Monitoring: A Review

PubMed Central

Bera, Tushar Kanti

2014-01-01

Under the alternating electrical excitation, biological tissues produce a complex electrical impedance which depends on tissue composition, structures, health status, and applied signal frequency, and hence the bioelectrical impedance methods can be utilized for noninvasive tissue characterization. As the impedance responses of these tissue parameters vary with frequencies of the applied signal, the impedance analysis conducted over a wide frequency band provides more information about the tissue interiors which help us to better understand the biological tissues anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Over past few decades, a number of impedance based noninvasive tissue characterization techniques such as bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), electrical impedance plethysmography (IPG), impedance cardiography (ICG), and electrical impedance tomography (EIT) have been proposed and a lot of research works have been conducted on these methods for noninvasive tissue characterization and disease diagnosis. In this paper BIA, EIS, IPG, ICG, and EIT techniques and their applications in different fields have been reviewed and technical perspective of these impedance methods has been presented. The working principles, applications, merits, and demerits of these methods has been discussed in detail along with their other technical issues followed by present status and future trends. PMID:27006932

Impedance Alterations in Healthy and Diseased Mice During Electrically Induced Muscle Contraction.

PubMed

Sanchez, Benjamin; Li, Jia; Geisbush, Tom; Bardia, Ramon Bragos; Rutkove, Seward B

2016-08-01

Alterations in the health of muscles can be evaluated through the use of electrical impedance myography (EIM). To date, however, nearly all work in this field has relied upon the measurement of muscle at rest. To provide an insight into the contractile mechanisms of healthy and disease muscle, we evaluated the alterations in the spectroscopic impedance behavior of muscle during the active process of muscle contraction. The gastrocnemii from a total of 13 mice were studied (five wild type, four muscular dystrophy animals, and four amyotrophic lateral sclerosis animals). Muscle contraction was induced via monophasic current pulse stimulation of the sciatic nerve. Simultaneously, multisine EIM (1 kHz to 1 MHz) and force measurements of the muscle were performed. Stimulation was applied at three different rates to produce mild, moderate, and strong contractions. We identified changes in both single and multifrequency data, as assessed by the Cole impedance model parameters. The processes of contraction and relaxation were clearly identified in the impedance spectra and quantified via derivative plots. Reductions in the center frequency fc were observed during the contraction consistent with the increasing muscle fiber diameter. Different EIM stimulation rate-dependencies were also detected across the three groups of animals.

A new bioimpedance research device (BIRD) for measuring the electrical impedance of acupuncture meridians.

PubMed

Wong, Felix Wu Shun; Lim, Chi Eung Danforn; Smith, Warren

2010-03-01

The aim of this article is to introduce an electrical bioimpedance device that uses an old and little-known impedance measuring technique to study the impedance of the meridian and nonmeridian tissue segments. Three (3) pilot experimental studies involving both a tissue phantom (a cucumber) and 3 human subjects were performed using this BIRD-I (Bioimpedance Research Device) device. This device consists of a Fluke RCL meter, a multiplexer box, a laptop computer, and a medical-grade isolation transformer. Segment and surface sheath (or local) impedances were estimated using formulae first published in the 1930s, in an approach that differs from that of the standard four-electrode technique used in most meridian studies to date. Our study found that, when using a quasilinear four-electrode arrangement, the reference electrodes should be positioned at least 10 cm from the test electrodes to ensure that the segment (or core) impedance estimation is not affected by the proximity of the reference electrodes. A tissue phantom was used to determine the repeatability of segment (core) impedance measurement by the device. An applied frequency of 100 kHz was found to produce the best repeatability among the various frequencies tested. In another preliminary study, with a segment of the triple energizer meridian on the lower arm selected as reference segment, core resistance-based profiles around the lower arm showed three of the other five meridians to exist as local resistance minima relative to neighboring nonmeridian segments. The profiles of the 2 subjects tested were very similar, suggesting that the results are unlikely to be spurious. In electrical bioimpedance studies, it is recommended that the measuring technique and device be clearly defined and standardized to provide optimal working conditions. In our study using the BIRD I device, we defined our standard experimental conditions as a test frequency of 100 kHz and the position of the reference electrodes of at

Capacitance-digital and impedance converter as electrical tomography measurement system for biological tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikhsanti, Mila Izzatul; Bouzida, Rana; Wijaya, Sastra Kusuma; Rohmadi, Muttakin, Imamul; Taruno, Warsito P.

2017-02-01

This research aims to explore the feasibility of capacitance-digital converter and impedance converter for measurement module in electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) system. ECT sensor used was a cylindrical sensor having 8 electrodes. Absolute capacitance measurement system based on Sigma Delta Capacitance-to-Digital-Converter AD7746 has been shown to produce measurement with high resolution. Whereas, capacitance measurement with wide range of frequency is possible using Impedance Converter AD5933. Comparison of measurement accuracy by both AD7746 and AD5933 with reference of LCR meter was evaluated. Biological matters represented in water and oil were treated as object reconstructed into image using linear back projection (LBP) algorithm.

Whole-body impedance--what does it measure?

PubMed

Foster, K R; Lukaski, H C

1996-09-01

Although the bioelectrical impedance technique is widely used in human nutrition and clinical research, an integrated summary of the biophysical and bioelectrical bases of this approach is lacking. We summarize the pertinent electrical phenomena relevant to the application of the impedance technique in vivo and discuss the relations between electrical measurements and biological conductor volumes. Key terms in the derivation of bioelectrical impedance analysis are described and the relation between the electrical properties of tissues and tissue structure is discussed. The relation between the impedance of an object and its geometry, scale, and intrinsic electrical properties is also discussed. Correlations between whole-body impedance measurements and various bioconductor volumes, such as total body water and fat-free mass, are experimentally well established; however, the reason for the success of the impedence technique is much less clear. The bioengineering basis for the technique is critically presented and considerations are proposed that might help to clarify the method and potentially improve its sensitivity.

Scaling and the frequency dependence of Nyquist plot maxima of the electrical impedance of the human thigh.

PubMed

Shiffman, Carl

2017-11-30

To define and elucidate the properties of reduced-variable Nyquist plots. Non-invasive measurements of the electrical impedance of the human thigh. A retrospective analysis of the electrical impedances of 154 normal subjects measured over the past decade shows that 'scaling' of the Nyquist plots for human thigh muscles is a property shared by healthy thigh musculature, irrespective of subject and the length of muscle segment. Here the term scaling signifies the near and sometimes 'perfect' coalescence of the separate X versus R plots into one 'reduced' Nyquist plot by the simple expedient of dividing R and X by X m , the value of X at the reactance maximum. To the extent allowed by noise levels one can say that there is one 'universal' reduced Nyquist plot for the thigh musculature of healthy subjects. There is one feature of the Nyquist curves which is not 'universal', however, namely the frequency f m at which the maximum in X is observed. That is found to vary from 10 to 100 kHz. depending on subject and segment length. Analysis shows, however, that the mean value of 1/f m is an accurately linear function of segment length, though there is a small subject-to-subject random element as well. Also, following the recovery of an otherwise healthy victim of ankle fracture demonstrates the clear superiority of measurements above about 800 kHz, where scaling is not observed, in contrast to measurements below about 400 kHz, where scaling is accurately obeyed. The ubiquity of 'scaling' casts new light on the interpretation of impedance results as they are used in electrical impedance myography and bioelectric impedance analysis.

Use of electrical impedance spectroscopy to detect malignant and potentially malignant oral lesions

PubMed Central

Murdoch, Craig; Brown, Brian H; Hearnden, Vanessa; Speight, Paul M; D’Apice, Katy; Hegarty, Anne M; Tidy, John A; Healey, T Jamie; Highfield, Peter E; Thornhill, Martin H

2014-01-01

The electrical properties of tissues depend on their architecture and cellular composition. We have previously shown that changes in electrical impedance can be used to differentiate between different degrees of cervical dysplasia and cancer of the cervix. In this proof-of-concept study, we aimed to determine whether electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) could distinguish between normal oral mucosa; benign, potentially malignant lesions (PML); and oral cancer. EIS data were collected from oral cancer (n=10), PML (n=27), and benign (n=10) lesions. EIS from lesions was compared with the EIS reading from the normal mucosa on the contralateral side of the mouth or with reference spectra from mucosal sites of control subjects (n=51). Healthy controls displayed significant differences in the EIS obtained from different oral sites. In addition, there were significant differences in the EIS of cancer and high-risk PML versus low-risk PML and controls. There was no significant difference between benign lesions and normal controls. Study subjects also deemed the EIS procedure considerably less painful and more convenient than the scalpel biopsy procedure. EIS shows promise at distinguishing among malignant, PML, and normal oral mucosa and has the potential to be developed into a clinical diagnostic tool. PMID:25285005

Real-time imaging of cerebral infarction in rabbits using electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Yang, Bin; Shi, Xuetao; Dai, Meng; Xu, Canhua; You, Fushen; Fu, Feng; Liu, Ruigang; Dong, Xiuzhen

2014-02-01

To investigate the possible use of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in monitoring focal cerebral infarction in a rabbit model. A model of focal cerebral infarction was established in eight New Zealand rabbits using a photochemical method without craniectomy. Focal cerebral infarction was confirmed by histopathological examination. Intracranial impedance variation was measured using 16 electrodes placed in a circle on the scalp. EIT images were obtained using a damped least-squares reconstruction algorithm. The average resistivity value (ARV) of the infarct region on EIT images was calculated to quantify relative resistivity changes. A symmetry index was calculated to evaluate the relative difference in resistivity between the two sides of the cerebrum. EIT images and ARV curves showed that impedance changes caused by cerebral infarction increased linearly with irradiation time. A difference in ARV was found between measurements taken before and after infarct induction. Focal cerebral infarction can be monitored by EIT in the proposed animal model. The results are sufficiently encouraging that the authors plan to extend this study to humans, after further technical improvements.

Quantitative impedance characterization of sub-10 nm scale capacitors and tunnel junctions with an interferometric scanning microwave microscope.

PubMed

Wang, Fei; Clément, Nicolas; Ducatteau, Damien; Troadec, David; Tanbakuchi, Hassan; Legrand, Bernard; Dambrine, Gilles; Théron, Didier

2014-10-10

We present a method to characterize sub-10 nm capacitors and tunnel junctions by interferometric scanning microwave microscopy (iSMM) at 7.8 GHz. At such device scaling, the small water meniscus surrounding the iSMM tip should be reduced by proper tip tuning. Quantitative impedance characterization of attofarad range capacitors is achieved using an 'on-chip' calibration kit facing thousands of nanodevices. Nanoscale capacitors and tunnel barriers were detected through variations in the amplitude and phase of the reflected microwave signal, respectively. This study promises quantitative impedance characterization of a wide range of emerging functional nanoscale devices.

Red blood cells aggregability measurement of coagulating blood in extracorporeal circulation system with multiple-frequency electrical impedance spectroscopy.

PubMed

Li, Jianping; Sapkota, Achyut; Kikuchi, Daisuke; Sakota, Daisuke; Maruyama, Osamu; Takei, Masahiro

2018-07-30

Red blood cells (RBCs) aggregability A G of coagulating blood in extracorporeal circulation system has been investigated under the condition of pulsatile flow. Relaxation frequency f c from the multiple-frequency electrical impedance spectroscopy is utilized to obtain RBCs aggregability A G . Compared with other methods, the proposed multiple-frequency electrical impedance method is much easier to obtain non-invasive measurement with high speed and good penetrability performance in biology tissues. Experimental results show that, RBCs aggregability A G in coagulating blood falls down with the thrombus formation while that in non-coagulation blood almost keeps the same value, which has a great agreement with the activated clotting time (ACT) fibrinogen concertation (F bg ) tests. Modified Hanai formula is proposed to quantitatively analyze the influence of RBCs aggregation on multiple-frequency electrical impedance measurement. The reduction of RBCs aggregability A G is associated with blood coagulation reaction, which indicates the feasibility of the high speed, compact and cheap on-line thrombus measurement biosensors in extracorporeal circulation systems. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

FDTD modeling of thin impedance sheets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Luebbers, Raymond; Kunz, Karl

1991-01-01

Thin sheets of resistive or dielectric material are commonly encountered in radar cross section calculations. Analysis of such sheets is simplified by using sheet impedances. It is shown that sheet impedances can be modeled easily and accurately using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) methods. These sheets are characterized by a discontinuity in the tangential magnetic field on either side of the sheet but no discontinuity in tangential electric field. This continuity, or single valued behavior of the electric field, allows the sheet current to be expressed in terms of an impedance multiplying this electric field.

Methodology for Time-Domain Estimation of Storm-Time Electric Fields Using the 3D Earth Impedance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelbert, A.; Balch, C. C.; Pulkkinen, A. A.; Egbert, G. D.; Love, J. J.; Rigler, E. J.; Fujii, I.

2016-12-01

Magnetic storms can induce geoelectric fields in the Earth's electrically conducting interior, interfering with the operations of electric-power grid industry. The ability to estimate these electric fields at Earth's surface in close to real-time and to provide local short-term predictions would improve the ability of the industry to protect their operations. At any given time, the electric field at the Earth's surface is a function of the time-variant magnetic activity (driven by the solar wind), and the local electrical conductivity structure of the Earth's crust and mantle. For this reason, implementation of an operational electric field estimation service requires an interdisciplinary, collaborative effort between space science, real-time space weather operations, and solid Earth geophysics. We highlight in this talk an ongoing collaboration between USGS, NOAA, NASA, Oregon State University, and the Japan Meteorological Agency, to develop algorithms that can be used for scenario analyses and which might be implemented in a real-time, operational setting. We discuss the development of a time domain algorithm that employs discrete time domain representation of the impedance tensor for a realistic 3D Earth, known as the discrete time impulse response (DTIR), convolved with the local magnetic field time series, to estimate the local electric field disturbances. The algorithm is validated against measured storm-time electric field data collected in the United States and Japan. We also discuss our plans for operational real-time electric field estimation using 3D Earth impedances.

Lateral mode coupling to reduce the electrical impedance of small elements required for high power ultrasound therapy phased arrays.

PubMed

Hynynen, Kullervo; Yin, Jianhua

2009-03-01

A method that uses lateral coupling to reduce the electrical impedance of small transducer elements in generating ultrasound waves was tested. Cylindrical, radially polled transducer elements were driven at their length resonance frequency. Computer simulation and experimental studies showed that the electrical impedance of the transducer element could be controlled by the cylinder wall thickness, while the operation frequency was determined by the cylinder length. Acoustic intensity (averaged over the cylinder diameter) over 10 W / cm(2) (a therapeutically relevant intensity) was measured from these elements.

High-density CMOS Microelectrode Array System for Impedance Spectroscopy and Imaging of Biological Cells.

PubMed

Vijay, Viswam; Raziyeh, Bounik; Amir, Shadmani; Jelena, Dragas; Alicia, Boos Julia; Axel, Birchler; Jan, Müller; Yihui, Chen; Andreas, Hierlemann

2017-01-26

A monolithic measurement platform was implemented to enable label-free in-vitro electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements of cells on multi-functional CMOS microelectrode array. The array includes 59,760 platinum microelectrodes, densely packed within a 4.5 mm × 2.5 mm sensing region at a pitch of 13.5 μm. The 32 on-chip lock-in amplifiers can be used to measure the impedance of any arbitrarily chosen electrodes on the array by applying a sinusoidal voltage, generated by an on-chip waveform generator with a frequency range from 1 Hz to 1 MHz, and measuring the respective current. Proof-of-concept measurements of impedance sensing and imaging are shown in this paper. Correlations between cell detection through optical microscopy and electrochemical impedance scanning were established.

Tissue characterization using electrical impedance spectroscopy data: a linear algebra approach.

PubMed

Laufer, Shlomi; Solomon, Stephen B; Rubinsky, Boris

2012-06-01

In this study, we use a new linear algebra manipulation on electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements to provide real-time information regarding the nature of the tissue surrounding the needle in minimal invasive procedures. Using a Comsol Multiphysics three-dimensional model, a phantom based on ex vivo animal tissue and in vivo animal data, we demonstrate how tissue inhomogeneity can be characterized without any previous knowledge of the electrical properties of the different tissues, except that they should not be linearly dependent on a certain frequency range. This method may have applications in needle biopsies, radiation seeds, or minimally invasive surgery and can reduce the number of computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging images. We conclude by demonstrating how this mathematical approach can be useful in other applications.

FPGA Based High Speed Data Acquisition System for Electrical Impedance Tomography

PubMed Central

Khan, S; Borsic, A; Manwaring, Preston; Hartov, Alexander; Halter, Ryan

2014-01-01

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) systems are used to image tissue bio-impedance. EIT provides a number of features making it attractive for use as a medical imaging device including the ability to image fast physiological processes (>60 Hz), to meet a range of clinical imaging needs through varying electrode geometries and configurations, to impart only non-ionizing radiation to a patient, and to map the significant electrical property contrasts present between numerous benign and pathological tissues. To leverage these potential advantages for medical imaging, we developed a modular 32 channel data acquisition (DAQ) system using National Instruments’ PXI chassis, along with FPGA, ADC, Signal Generator and Timing and Synchronization modules. To achieve high frame rates, signal demodulation and spectral characteristics of higher order harmonics were computed using dedicated FFT-hardware built into the FPGA module. By offloading the computing onto FPGA, we were able to achieve a reduction in throughput required between the FPGA and PC by a factor of 32:1. A custom designed analog front end (AFE) was used to interface electrodes with our system. Our system is wideband, and capable of acquiring data for input signal frequencies ranging from 100 Hz to 12 MHz. The modular design of both the hardware and software will allow this system to be flexibly configured for the particular clinical application. PMID:24729790

Method of lungs regional ventilation function assessment on the basis of continuous lung monitoring results using multi-angle electrical impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aleksanyan, Grayr; Shcherbakov, Ivan; Kucher, Artem; Sulyz, Andrew

2018-04-01

With continuous monitoring of the lungs using multi-angle electric impedance tomography method, a large array of images of impedance changes in the patient's chest cavity is accumulated. This article proposes a method for evaluating the regional ventilation function of lungs based on the results of continuous monitoring using the multi-angle electric impedance tomography method, which allows one image of the thoracic cavity to be formed on the basis of a large array of images of the impedance change in the patient's chest cavity. In the presence of pathologies in the lungs (neoplasms, fluid, pneumothorax, etc.) in these areas, air filling will be disrupted, which will be displayed on the generated image. When conducting continuous monitoring in several sections, a three-dimensional pattern of air filling of the thoracic cavity is possible.

Calculation of voltages in electric power transmission lines during historic geomagnetic storms: An investigation using realistic earth impedances

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lucas, Greg M.; Love, Jeffrey J.; Kelbert, Anna

2018-01-01

Commonly, one-dimensional (1-D) Earth impedances have been used to calculate the voltages induced across electric power transmission lines during geomagnetic storms under the assumption that much of the three-dimensional structure of the Earth gets smoothed when integrating along power transmission lines. We calculate the voltage across power transmission lines in the mid-Atlantic region with both regional 1-D impedances and 64 empirical 3-D impedances obtained from a magnetotelluric survey. The use of 3-D impedances produces substantially more spatial variance in the calculated voltages, with the voltages being more than an order of magnitude different, both higher and lower, than the voltages calculated utilizing regional 1-D impedances. During the March 1989 geomagnetic storm 62 transmission lines exceed 100 V when utilizing empirical 3-D impedances, whereas 16 transmission lines exceed 100 V when utilizing regional 1-D impedances. This demonstrates the importance of using realistic impedances to understand and quantify the impact that a geomagnetic storm has on power grids.

a Study of the Electrical Impedance of Erythrocyte Membranes the Effects of Temperature and Radiation.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerig, Lee Harvey

The purpose of this work was to investigate the electrical impedance properties of Human Erythrocytes suspended in normal saline and specifically how radiation and temperature affected these properties. The cells were obtained by venepuncture from normal adult volunteers, washed three times and resuspended in phosphate buffered saline. The cells were irradiated by ('60)Co gamma rays to doses varying from 500 to 20,000 rads. The electrical impedance was measured using a computerized measurement and data acquisition system developed in the Biophysics Laboratory, School of Physics, University of New South Wales. The measurements were performed employing a four terminal technique and a digitally synthesized sine wave. The measurements revealed that nonirradiated blood from any specific individual had reproducible electrical properties from day to day and that there were only small differences in the electrical properties of blood from the various individuals sampled. This data displayed complex structure in both the capacitance versus frequency and conductance versus frequency curves. Of great interest was the dependence on the time post venesection, indicating a continual change in the state of the cells after removal from their natural environment. The experiments also revealed a non linear temperature dependence and a significant change in the suspension impedance as a function of absorbed dose. A model of the system was introduced which was able to emulate most of the measured phenomena. Studies of how the model can be adapted to fit the measured data for various cases (eg. time, temperature, radiation dose) suggested various physiological processes occurring within the membrane. The results were indicative of effects such as radiation induced changes in the lipid hydrocarbon region, the presence of a complex protein structure, the dissociation of charge within the protein, the presence of electrogenic pumps, and the destruction of the lipid matrix by radiation

Utilisation of electrical impedance tomography in breast cancer diagnosis.

PubMed

Raneta, O; Ondruš, D; Bella, V

2012-01-01

Breast cancer presents a serious medical and social problem worldwide. Early detection is key to effective breast cancer treatment. Therefore, scientists are consistently looking for new diagnostic techniques that would be more efficient, easy to use and safe for the patient. The main task of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a novel low-cost non-invasive technique called electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and to determine whether EIT can qualitatively supplement the existing traditional imaging techniques in the process of breast cancer diagnostics. Randomly selected patients with mammographic and/or sonographic abnormalities were involved into the study. In total, 808 patients aged 18-94 (mean 54) years participated in the survey. Exclusion criteria involved previous breast surgery, breast core biopsy or fine needle aspiration within the last 1 and 3 months, respectively. Furthermore, patients with implanted electrically powered devices (cardioverter, pacemaker) and patients previously treated by chemo-radiotherapy were also excluded. The EIT examination was performed using the electrical impedance computer mammograph MEIK developed by the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics, Russian Academy of Sciences. The following results were obtained: sensitivity of EIT was 87%, X-ray mammography (MMG) 89% and ultrasonography (USG) 91%; specificity of EIT was 85%, MMG 91% and USG 84%. Negative predictive value (NPV) of all three modalities showed nearly equal values, with slight advantage of the USG. MMG had the highest positive predictive (PPV) value (83%), EIT had the lowest (63%). Sensitivity increased to 96% and 98%, respectively, when combinations EIT+MMG and EIT+USG were used. The specificity increased to 79% for EIT+MMG and 71% for EIT+USG. EIT+MMG and EIT+USG NPV remained the same. PPV was 65% and 58%, respectively for the EIT+MMG and EIT+USG combination. Our study findings are comparable to those of other similar studies. Although the EIT

Novel circuit design for high-impedance and non-local electrical measurements of two-dimensional materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Sanctis, Adolfo; Mehew, Jake D.; Alkhalifa, Saad; Tate, Callum P.; White, Ashley; Woodgate, Adam R.; Craciun, Monica F.; Russo, Saverio

2018-02-01

Two-dimensional materials offer a novel platform for the development of future quantum technologies. However, the electrical characterisation of topological insulating states, non-local resistance, and bandgap tuning in atomically thin materials can be strongly affected by spurious signals arising from the measuring electronics. Common-mode voltages, dielectric leakage in the coaxial cables, and the limited input impedance of alternate-current amplifiers can mask the true nature of such high-impedance states. Here, we present an optical isolator circuit which grants access to such states by electrically decoupling the current-injection from the voltage-sensing circuitry. We benchmark our apparatus against two state-of-the-art measurements: the non-local resistance of a graphene Hall bar and the transfer characteristic of a WS2 field-effect transistor. Our system allows the quick characterisation of novel insulating states in two-dimensional materials with potential applications in future quantum technologies.

Monitoring of cell and tissue responses to photodynamic therapy by electrical impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molckovsky, A.; Wilson, B. C.

2001-04-01

Electrical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) monitoring of photodynamic therapy (PDT) was investigated in vivo in rat liver and in vitro in multicellular spheroids. Liver impedance was continuously measured with two needle electrodes before, during and up to 3 hours following Photofrin-PDT. EIS spectra were altered immediately after PDT, with significant changes in conductivity at ~10 kHz, and in permittivity at ~30 kHz and 1 MHz. The change in permittivity at high frequencies was related to oedema, while low-frequency effects were attributed to cell necrosis and vascular changes. Photofrin-PDT-treated spheroids showed dose-dependent decreases in permittivity and conductivity at frequencies above 10 and 100 kHz, respectively. Histology showed concomitant development of a damaged rim containing sparsely distributed cells with compromised membranes and lightly staining cytoplasm. Different EIS responses to apoptotic versus necrotic modes of cell death further verified the sensitivity of impedance to purely cellular changes in the spheroid model. In conclusion, EIS sensitivity to PDT-induced damage, at both the cell and tissue level, varies with dose and time, and can be correlated qualitatively to biological changes.

Large improvement of the electrical impedance of imaging and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) phased arrays using multilayer piezoelectric ceramics coupled in lateral mode.

PubMed

Song, Junho; Lucht, Benjamin; Hynynen, Kullervo

2012-07-01

With a change in phased-array configuration from one dimension to two, the electrical impedance of the array elements is substantially increased because of their decreased width (w)-to-thickness (t) ratio. The most common way to compensate for this impedance increase is to employ electrical matching circuits at a high cost of fabrication complexity and effort. In this paper, we introduce a multilayer lateral-mode coupling method for phased-array construction. The direct comparison showed that the electrical impedance of a single-layer transducer driven in thickness mode is 1/(n²(1/(w/t))²) times that of an n-layer lateral mode transducer. A large reduction of the electrical impedance showed the impact and benefit of the lateral-mode coupling method. A one-dimensional linear 32-element 770-kHz imaging array and a 42-element 1.45-MHz high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) phased array were fabricated. The averaged electrical impedances of each element were measured to be 58 Ω at the maximum phase angle of -1.2° for the imaging array and 105 Ω at 0° for the HIFU array. The imaging array had a center frequency of 770 kHz with an averaged -6-dB bandwidth of approximately 52%. For the HIFU array, the averaged maximum surface acoustic intensity was measured to be 32.8 W/cm² before failure.

Applications of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT): A Short Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanti Bera, Tushar

2018-03-01

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a tomographic imaging method which solves an ill posed inverse problem using the boundary voltage-current data collected from the surface of the object under test. Though the spatial resolution is comparatively low compared to conventional tomographic imaging modalities, due to several advantages EIT has been studied for a number of applications such as medical imaging, material engineering, civil engineering, biotechnology, chemical engineering, MEMS and other fields of engineering and applied sciences. In this paper, the applications of EIT have been reviewed and presented as a short summary. The working principal, instrumentation and advantages are briefly discussed followed by a detail discussion on the applications of EIT technology in different areas of engineering, technology and applied sciences.

Real-time imaging and detection of intracranial haemorrhage by electrical impedance tomography in a piglet model.

PubMed

Xu, C H; Wang, L; Shi, X T; You, F S; Fu, F; Liu, R G; Dai, M; Zhao, Z W; Gao, G D; Dong, X Z

2010-01-01

The aim of this study was to use electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to detect and image acute intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) in an animal model. Blood was infused into the frontal lobe of the brains of anaesthetized piglets and impedance was measured using 16 electrodes placed in a circle on the scalp. The EIT images were constructed using a filtered back-projection algorithm. The mean of all the pixel intensities within a region of interest--the mean resistivity value (MRV)--was used to evaluate the relative impedance changes in the target region. A symmetrical index (SI), reflecting the relative impedance on both sides of the brain, was also calculated. Changes in MRV and SI were associated with the injection of blood, demonstrating that EIT can successfully detect ICH in this animal model. The unique features of EIT may be beneficial for diagnosing ICH early in patients after cranial surgery, thereby reducing the risk of complications and mortality.

Application of plant impedance for diagnosing plant disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Huirong; Jiang, Xuesong; Zhu, Shengpan; Ying, Yibin

2006-10-01

Biological cells have components acting as electrical elements that maintain the health of the cell by regulation of the electrical charge content. Plant impedance is decided by the state of plant physiology and pathology. Plant physiology and pathology can be studies by measuring plant impedance. The effect of Cucumber Mosaic Virus red bean isolate (CMV-RB) on electrical resistance of tomato leaves was studied by the method of impedance measurement. It was found that the value of resistance of tomato leaves infected with CMV-RB was smaller than that in sound plant leaves. This decrease of impedances in leaf tissue was occurred with increased severity of disease. The decrease of resistance of tomato leaves infected with CMV-RB could be detected by electrical resistance detecting within 4 days after inoculation even though significant visible differences between the control and the infected plants were not noted, so that the technique for measurement of tomato leaf tissue impedance is a rapid, clever, simple method on diagnosis of plant disease.

Characteristic pattern of pleural effusion in electrical impedance tomography images of critically ill patients.

PubMed

Becher, T; Bußmeyer, M; Lautenschläger, I; Schädler, D; Weiler, N; Frerichs, I

2018-06-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is increasingly used for continuous monitoring of ventilation in intensive care patients. Clinical observations in patients with pleural effusion show an increase in out-of-phase impedance changes. We hypothesised that out-of-phase impedance changes are a typical EIT finding in patients with pleural effusion and could be useful in its detection. We conducted a prospective observational study in intensive care unit patients with and without pleural effusion. In patients with pleural effusion, EIT data were recorded before, during, and after unilateral drainage of pleural effusion. In patients with no pleural effusion, EIT data were recorded without any intervention. EIT images were separated into four quadrants of equal size. We analysed the sum of out-of-phase impedance changes in the affected quadrant in patients with pleural effusion before, during, and after drainage and compared it with the sum of out-of-phase impedance changes in the dorsal quadrants of patients without pleural effusion. We included 20 patients with pleural effusion and 10 patients without pleural effusion. The median sum of out-of-phase impedance changes was 70 (interquartile range 49-119) arbitrary units (a.u.) in patients with pleural effusion before drainage, 25 (12-46) a.u. after drainage (P<0.0001) and 11 (6-17) a.u. in patients without pleural effusion (P<0.0001 vs pleural effusion before drainage). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.96 (95% limits of agreement 0.91-1.01) between patients with pleural effusion before drainage and those without pleural effusion. In patients monitored with EIT, the presence of out-of-phase impedance changes is highly suspicious of pleural effusion and should trigger further examination. Copyright © 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Classification of breast tumour using electrical impedance and machine learning techniques.

PubMed

Al Amin, Abdullah; Parvin, Shahnaj; Kadir, M A; Tahmid, Tasmia; Alam, S Kaisar; Siddique-e Rabbani, K

2014-06-01

When a breast lump is detected through palpation, mammography or ultrasonography, the final test for characterization of the tumour, whether it is malignant or benign, is biopsy. This is invasive and carries hazards associated with any surgical procedures. The present work was undertaken to study the feasibility for such characterization using non-invasive electrical impedance measurements and machine learning techniques. Because of changes in cell morphology of malignant and benign tumours, changes are expected in impedance at a fixed frequency, and versus frequency of measurement. Tetrapolar impedance measurement (TPIM) using four electrodes at the corners of a square region of sides 4 cm was used for zone localization. Data of impedance in two orthogonal directions, measured at 5 and 200 kHz from 19 subjects, and their respective slopes with frequency were subjected to machine learning procedures through the use of feature plots. These patients had single or multiple tumours of various types in one or both breasts, and four of them had malignant tumours, as diagnosed by core biopsy. Although size and depth of the tumours are expected to affect the measurements, this preliminary work ignored these effects. Selecting 12 features from the above measurements, feature plots were drawn for the 19 patients, which displayed considerable overlap between malignant and benign cases. However, based on observed qualitative trend of the measured values, when all the feature values were divided by respective ages, the two types of tumours separated out reasonably well. Using K-NN classification method the results obtained are, positive prediction value: 60%, negative prediction value: 93%, sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 87% and efficacy: 84%, which are very good for such a test on a small sample size. Study on a larger sample is expected to give confidence in this technique, and further improvement of the technique may have the ability to replace biopsy.

Electrical impedance myography in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

PubMed

Statland, Jeffrey M; Heatwole, Chad; Eichinger, Katy; Dilek, Nuran; Martens, William B; Tawil, Rabi

2016-10-01

In this study we determined the reliability and validity of electrical impedance myography (EIM) in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). We performed a prospective study of EIM on 16 bilateral limb and trunk muscles in 35 genetically defined and clinically affected FSHD patients (reliability testing on 18 patients). Summary scores based on body region were derived. Reactance and phase (50 and 100 kHz) were compared with measures of strength, FSHD disease severity, and functional outcomes. Participants were mostly men, mean age 53.0 years, and included a full range of severity. Limb and trunk muscles showed good to excellent reliability [intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) 0.72-0.99]. Summary scores for the arm, leg, and trunk showed excellent reliability (ICC 0.89-0.98). Reactance was the most sensitive EIM parameter to a broad range of FSHD disease metrics. EIM is a reliable measure of muscle composition in FSHD that offers the possibility to serially evaluate affected muscles. Muscle Nerve 54: 696-701, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Validity and reproducibility of electrical impedance tomography for measurement of calf blood flow in healthy subjects.

PubMed

Vonk Noordegraaf, A; Kunst, P W; Janse, A; Smulders, R A; Heethaar, R M; Postmus, P E; Faes, T J; de Vries, P M

1997-03-01

The Sheffield electrical impedance tomography; (EIT) system produces images of changes in the distribution of resistivity within tissue. The paper reports on the application of electrical impedance tomography in monitoring volume changes in the limb during venous occlusion. The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility, reproducibility and validity of calf blood flow measurements by EIT. In 14 healthy volunteers calf blood flow is compared, as determined in a calf segment by strain-gauge plethysmography (SGP), with the impedance changes measured by EIT during rest and post-ischaemic hyperaemia. The measurements are repeated to assess reproducibility. The reproducibility for the EIT, assessed from the repeated measurements and expressed as a reproducibility coefficient, is 0.88 during rest and 0.89 during hyperaemia. The reproducibility coefficient for SGP data is 0.83 at rest and 0.67 during hyperaemia. Flow measurements, assessed by means of two methods, correlate well at rest (r = 0.89), but only moderately during hyperaemia (r = 0.51). The correlation coefficient for the pooled flow measurements is 0.98. It is concluded that EIT is a valid and reliable method for assessing blood flow in the limb. Possible applications of EIT in localising fluid changes are discussed.

FT-MIR supported Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy based study of sugar adulterated honeys from different floral origin.

PubMed

Das, Chirantan; Chakraborty, Subhadip; Acharya, Krishnendu; Bera, Nirmal Kumar; Chattopadhyay, Dipankar; Karmakar, Anupam; Chattopadhyay, Sanatan

2017-08-15

This study sought to detect the presence of sucrose as an adulterant in selected honey varieties from different floral origins by employing Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technique which has been simultaneously supported by Fourier Transform-Mid Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-MIR) measurements to provide a rapid, robust yet simple platform for honey quality evaluation. Variation of electrical parameters such as impedance, capacitance and conductance for 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% (w/w) sucrose syrup (SS) adulterated honey samples are analyzed and their respective current-voltage (I-V) characteristics are studied. Capacitance, conductance and net current flowing through the system are observed to decrease linearly whereas system impedance has been found to increase similarly with the increase in adulterant content. Also, FT-MIR measurements in the spectral region between 1800cm -1 and 650cm -1 reveal the increment of absorbance values due to the addition of SS. Full-Width-at-Half-Maximum (FWHM) is estimated from the spectral peak 1056cm -1 for all pure and adulterated honey samples and is observed to be linearly increasing with increase in adulterant content. Finally, the coefficient of sensitivity has been extracted for all varieties of honey considered in terms of the measured conductance values. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of electrode impedance on spread of excitation and pitch perception using electrically coupled “dual-electrode” stimulation

PubMed Central

Hughes, Michelle L.; Baudhuin, Jacquelyn L.; Goehring, Jenny L.

2014-01-01

Objective In newer-generation Cochlear Ltd. cochlear implants, two adjacent electrodes can be electrically coupled to produce a single contact or “dual electrode” (DE). The goal of the present study was to evaluate whether relatively large impedance differences (>3.0 kOhms) between coupled electrodes affect the excitation pattern and pitch percepts produced by the DE. Design Fifteen electrode pairs in six recipients were tested. Neural spread-of-excitation (SOE) patterns and pitch perception were measured for adjacent physical electrodes (PEs) and the resulting DE to determine if the lower-impedance PE in the pair dominates the DE response pattern. Results were compared to a “normative sample” (impedance differences <3.0 kOhms) from two earlier studies. Results In general, SOE patterns for DEs more closely approximated those of the lower-impedance PE in each pair. The DE was more easily distinguished in pitch from the higher-impedance PE than the lower-impedance PE. The ECAP and perceptual results generally differed from those of the normative group. Conclusions Impedance differences between adjacent PEs should be considered if DE stimulation is implemented in future research studies or clinical coding strategies. PMID:25250960

Use of Electrical Impedance Tomography to Monitor Regional Cerebral Edema during Clinical Dehydration Treatment

PubMed Central

Hu, Shi-Jie; Li, Xia; Xu, Can-Hua; Wang, Bing; Yang, Bin; Tang, Meng-Xing; Dong, Xiu-Zhen; Fei, Zhou; Shi, Xue-Tao

2014-01-01

Objective Variations of conductive fluid content in brain tissue (e.g. cerebral edema) change tissue impedance and can potentially be measured by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), an emerging medical imaging technique. The objective of this work is to establish the feasibility of using EIT as an imaging tool for monitoring brain fluid content. Design a prospective study. Setting In this study EIT was used, for the first time, to monitor variations in cerebral fluid content in a clinical model with patients undergoing clinical dehydration treatment. The EIT system was developed in house and its imaging sensitivity and spatial resolution were evaluated on a saline-filled tank. Patients 23 patients with brain edema. Interventions The patients were continuously imaged by EIT for two hours after initiation of dehydration treatment using 0.5 g/kg intravenous infusion of mannitol for 20 minutes. Measurement and Main Results Overall impedance across the brain increased significantly before and after mannitol dehydration treatment (p = 0.0027). Of the all 23 patients, 14 showed high-level impedance increase and maintained this around 4 hours after the dehydration treatment whereas the other 9 also showed great impedance gain during the treatment but it gradually decreased after the treatment. Further analysis of the regions of interest in the EIT images revealed that diseased regions, identified on corresponding CT images, showed significantly less impedance changes than normal regions during the monitoring period, indicating variations in different patients' responses to such treatment. Conclusions EIT shows potential promise as an imaging tool for real-time and non-invasive monitoring of brain edema patients. PMID:25474474

Impedance of a nanoantenna

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Greffet, Jean-Jacques; Laroche, Marine; Marquier, Francois

2009-10-07

We introduce a generalized definition of the impedance of a nanoantenna that can be applied to any system. We also introduce a definition of the impedance of a two level system. Using this framework, we establish a link between the electrical engineering and the quantum optics picture of light emission.

Use of thoracic electrical impedance tomography as an auxiliary tool for alveolar recruitment maneuvers in acute respiratory distress syndrome: case report and brief literature review

PubMed Central

Rosa, Regis Goulart; Rutzen, William; Madeira, Laura; Ascoli, Aline Maria; Dexheimer Neto, Felippe Leopoldo; Maccari, Juçara Gasparetto; de Oliveira, Roselaine Pinheiro; Teixeira, Cassiano

2015-01-01

Thoracic electrical impedance tomography is a real-time, noninvasive monitoring tool of the regional pulmonary ventilation distribution. Its bedside use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome has the potential to aid in alveolar recruitment maneuvers, which are often necessary in cases of refractory hypoxemia. In this case report, we describe the monitoring results and interpretation of thoracic electrical impedance tomography used during alveolar recruitment maneuvers in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome, with transient application of high alveolar pressures and optimal positive end-expiratory pressure titration. Furthermore, we provide a brief literature review regarding the use of alveolar recruitment maneuvers and monitoring using thoracic electrical impedance tomography in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. PMID:26761481

Spatial Analysis of Slowly Oscillating Electric Activity in the Gut of Mice Using Low Impedance Arrayed Microelectrodes

PubMed Central

Taniguchi, Mizuki; Kajioka, Shunichi; Shozib, Habibul B.; Sawamura, Kenta; Nakayama, Shinsuke

2013-01-01

Smooth and elaborate gut motility is based on cellular cooperation, including smooth muscle, enteric neurons and special interstitial cells acting as pacemaker cells. Therefore, spatial characterization of electric activity in tissues containing these electric excitable cells is required for a precise understanding of gut motility. Furthermore, tools to evaluate spatial electric activity in a small area would be useful for the investigation of model animals. We thus employed a microelectrode array (MEA) system to simultaneously measure a set of 8×8 field potentials in a square area of ∼1 mm2. The size of each recording electrode was 50×50 µm2, however the surface area was increased by fixing platinum black particles. The impedance of microelectrode was sufficiently low to apply a high-pass filter of 0.1 Hz. Mapping of spectral power, and auto-correlation and cross-correlation parameters characterized the spatial properties of spontaneous electric activity in the ileum of wild-type (WT) and W/Wv mice, the latter serving as a model of impaired network of pacemaking interstitial cells. Namely, electric activities measured varied in both size and cooperativity in W/Wv mice, despite the small area. In the ileum of WT mice, procedures suppressing the excitability of smooth muscle and neurons altered the propagation of spontaneous electric activity, but had little change in the period of oscillations. In conclusion, MEA with low impedance electrodes enables to measure slowly oscillating electric activity, and is useful to evaluate both histological and functional changes in the spatio-temporal property of gut electric activity. PMID:24124480

On optimal current patterns for electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Demidenko, Eugene; Hartov, Alex; Soni, Nirmal; Paulsen, Keith D

2005-02-01

We develop a statistical criterion for optimal patterns in planar circular electrical impedance tomography. These patterns minimize the total variance of the estimation for the resistance or conductance matrix. It is shown that trigonometric patterns (Isaacson, 1986), originally derived from the concept of distinguishability, are a special case of our optimal statistical patterns. New optimal random patterns are introduced. Recovering the electrical properties of the measured body is greatly simplified when optimal patterns are used. The Neumann-to-Dirichlet map and the optimal patterns are derived for a homogeneous medium with an arbitrary distribution of the electrodes on the periphery. As a special case, optimal patterns are developed for a practical EIT system with a finite number of electrodes. For a general nonhomogeneous medium, with no a priori restriction, the optimal patterns for the resistance and conductance matrix are the same. However, for a homogeneous medium, the best current pattern is the worst voltage pattern and vice versa. We study the effect of the number and the width of the electrodes on the estimate of resistivity and conductivity in a homogeneous medium. We confirm experimentally that the optimal patterns produce minimum conductivity variance in a homogeneous medium. Our statistical model is able to discriminate between a homogenous agar phantom and one with a 2 mm air hole with error probability (p-value) 1/1000.

Impedance spectroscopy applied to the fast wounding dynamics of an electrical wound-healing assay in mammalian cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellotti, Mariela I.; Giana, Fabián E.; Bonetto, Fabián J.

2015-08-01

Electrical wound-healing assays are often used as a means to study in vitro cell migration and proliferation. In such analysis, a cell monolayer that sits on a small electrode is electrically wounded and its spectral impedance is then continuously measured in order to monitor the healing process. The relatively slow dynamics of the cell healing have been extensively studied, while those of the much faster wounding phase have not yet been investigated. An analysis of the electrical properties of a particular cell type during this phase could give extra information about the changes in the cell membrane due to the application of the wounding current, and could also be useful to optimize the wounding regime for different cell types. The main issue when trying to register information about these dynamics is that the traditional measurement scheme employed in typical wound-healing assays doesn’t allow the simultaneous application of the wounding signal and measurement of the system’s impedance. In this paper, we overcome this limitation by implementing a measurement strategy consisting of cycles of fast alternating low- and high-voltage signals applied on electrodes covered with mammalian cells. This approach is capable of registering the fast impedance changes during the transient regime corresponding to the cell wounding process. Furthermore, these quasi-simultaneous high- and low-voltage measurements can be compared in order to obtain an empirical correlation between both quantities.

A Versatile and Reproducible Multi-Frequency Electrical Impedance Tomography System

PubMed Central

Avery, James; Dowrick, Thomas; Faulkner, Mayo; Goren, Nir; Holder, David

2017-01-01

A highly versatile Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) system, nicknamed the ScouseTom, has been developed. The system allows control over current amplitude, frequency, number of electrodes, injection protocol and data processing. Current is injected using a Keithley 6221 current source, and voltages are recorded with a 24-bit EEG system with minimum bandwidth of 3.2 kHz. Custom PCBs interface with a PC to control the measurement process, electrode addressing and triggering of external stimuli. The performance of the system was characterised using resistor phantoms to represent human scalp recordings, with an SNR of 77.5 dB, stable across a four hour recording and 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In studies of both haeomorrhage using scalp electrodes, and evoked activity using epicortical electrode mats in rats, it was possible to reconstruct images matching established literature at known areas of onset. Data collected using scalp electrode in humans matched known tissue impedance spectra and was stable over frequency. The experimental procedure is software controlled and is readily adaptable to new paradigms. Where possible, commercial or open-source components were used, to minimise the complexity in reproduction. The hardware designs and software for the system have been released under an open source licence, encouraging contributions and allowing for rapid replication. PMID:28146122

Electrical impedance myography in the diagnosis of radiculopathy.

PubMed

Spieker, Andrew J; Narayanaswami, Pushpa; Fleming, Laura; Keel, John C; Muzin, Stefan C; Rutkove, Seward B

2013-11-01

We sought to determine whether electrical impedance myography (EIM) could serve as a diagnostic procedure for evaluation of radiculopathy. Twenty-seven patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed cervical or lumbosacral radiculopathy who met a "gold standard" definition underwent EIM and standard needle electromyography (EMG) of multiple upper or lower extremity muscles. EIM reactance values revealed consistent reductions in the radiculopathy-affected myotomal muscles as compared with those on the unaffected side; the degree of asymmetry was associated strongly with the degree of EMG abnormality (P < 0.001). EIM had a sensitivity of 64.5% and a specificity of 77.0%; in comparison, EMG had a sensitivity of 79.7% but a specificity of 69.7%. These findings support the potential for EIM to serve as a new non-invasive tool to assist in diagnosis of radiculopathy; however, further refinement of the technique is needed for this specific application. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Detection of an explosive simulant via electrical impedance spectroscopy utilizing the UiO-66-NH2 metal-organic framework.

PubMed

Peterson, G W; McEntee, M; Harris, C R; Klevitch, A D; Fountain, A W; Soliz, J R; Balboa, A; Hauser, A J

2016-11-01

Electrical impedance spectroscopy, in conjunction with the metal-organic framework (MOF) UiO-66-NH 2 , is used to detect trace levels of the explosive simulant 2,6-dinitrotoluene. The combination of porosity and functionality of the MOF provides an effective dielectric structure, resulting in changes of impedance magnitude and phase angle. The promising data indicate that MOFs may be used in low-cost, robust explosive detection devices.

Influence of torso and arm positions on chest examinations by electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Vogt, B; Mendes, L; Chouvarda, I; Perantoni, E; Kaimakamis, E; Becher, T; Weiler, N; Tsara, V; Paiva, R P; Maglaveras, N; Frerichs, I

2016-06-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is increasingly used in patients suffering from respiratory disorders during pulmonary function testing (PFT). The EIT chest examinations often take place simultaneously to conventional PFT during which the patients involuntarily move in order to facilitate their breathing. Since the influence of torso and arm movements on EIT chest examinations is unknown, we studied this effect in 13 healthy subjects (37  ±  4 years, mean age  ±  SD) and 15 patients with obstructive lung diseases (72  ±  8 years) during stable tidal breathing. We carried out the examinations in an upright sitting position with both arms adducted, in a leaning forward position and in an upright sitting position with consecutive right and left arm elevations. We analysed the differences in EIT-derived regional end-expiratory impedance values, tidal impedance variations and their spatial distributions during all successive study phases. Both the torso and the arm movements had a highly significant influence on the end-expiratory impedance values in the healthy subjects (p  =  0.0054 and p  <  0.0001, respectively) and the patients (p  <  0.0001 in both cases). The global tidal impedance variation was affected by the torso, but not the arm movements in both study groups (p  =  0.0447 and p  =  0.0418, respectively). The spatial heterogeneity of the tidal ventilation distribution was slightly influenced by the alteration of the torso position only in the patients (p  =  0.0391). The arm movements did not impact the ventilation distribution in either study group. In summary, the forward torso movement and the arms' abduction exert significant effects on the EIT waveforms during tidal breathing. We recommend strict adherence to the upright sitting position during PFT when EIT is used.

Assessment of errors in static electrical impedance tomography with adjacent and trigonometric current patterns.

PubMed

Kolehmainen, V; Vauhkonen, M; Karjalainen, P A; Kaipio, J P

1997-11-01

In electrical impedance tomography (EIT), difference imaging is often preferred over static imaging. This is because of the many unknowns in the forward modelling which make it difficult to obtain reliable absolute resistivity estimates. However, static imaging and absolute resistivity values are needed in some potential applications of EIT. In this paper we demonstrate by simulation the effects of different error components that are included in the reconstruction of static EIT images. All simulations are carried out in two dimensions with the so-called complete electrode model. Errors that are considered are the modelling error in the boundary shape of an object, errors in the electrode sizes and localizations and errors in the contact impedances under the electrodes. Results using both adjacent and trigonometric current patterns are given.

An electrical impedance tomography (EIT) multi-electrode needle-probe device for local assessment of heterogeneous tissue impeditivity.

PubMed

Meroni, Davide; Maglioli, Camilla Carpano; Bovio, Dario; Greco, Francesco G; Aliverti, Andrea

2017-07-01

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is an image reconstruction technique applied in medicine for the electrical imaging of living tissues. In literature there is the evidence that a large resistivity variation related to the differences of the human tissues exists. As a result of this interest for the electrical characterization of the biological samples, recently the attention is also focused on the identification and characterization of the human tissue, by studying the homogeneity of its structure. An 8 electrodes needle-probe device has been developed with the intent of identifying the structural inhomogeneities under the surface layers. Ex-vivo impeditivity measurements, by placing the needle-probe in 5 different patterns of fat and lean porcine tissue, were performed, and impeditivity maps were obtained by EIDORS open source software for image reconstruction in electrical impedance. The values composing the maps have been analyzed, pointing out a good tissue discrimination, and the conformity with the real images. We conclude that this device is able to perform impeditivity maps matching to reality for position and orientation. In all the five patterns presented is possible to identify and replicate correctly the heterogeneous tissue under test. This new procedure can be helpful to the medical staff to completely characterize the biological sample, in different unclear situations.

Electrical conductivity imaging using gradient B, decomposition algorithm in magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT).

PubMed

Park, Chunjae; Kwon, Ohin; Woo, Eung Je; Seo, Jin Keun

2004-03-01

In magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT), we try to visualize cross-sectional conductivity (or resistivity) images of a subject. We inject electrical currents into the subject through surface electrodes and measure the z component Bz of the induced internal magnetic flux density using an MRI scanner. Here, z is the direction of the main magnetic field of the MRI scanner. We formulate the conductivity image reconstruction problem in MREIT from a careful analysis of the relationship between the injection current and the induced magnetic flux density Bz. Based on the novel mathematical formulation, we propose the gradient Bz decomposition algorithm to reconstruct conductivity images. This new algorithm needs to differentiate Bz only once in contrast to the previously developed harmonic Bz algorithm where the numerical computation of (inverted delta)2Bz is required. The new algorithm, therefore, has the important advantage of much improved noise tolerance. Numerical simulations with added random noise of realistic amounts show the feasibility of the algorithm in practical applications and also its robustness against measurement noise.

Three-dimensional electrical impedance tomography based on the complete electrode model.

PubMed

Vauhkonen, P J; Vauhkonen, M; Savolainen, T; Kaipio, J P

1999-09-01

In electrical impedance tomography an approximation for the internal resistivity distribution is computed based on the knowledge of the injected currents and measured voltages on the surface of the body. It is often assumed that the injected currents are confined to the two-dimensional (2-D) electrode plane and the reconstruction is based on 2-D assumptions. However, the currents spread out in three dimensions and, therefore, off-plane structures have significant effect on the reconstructed images. In this paper we propose a finite element-based method for the reconstruction of three-dimensional resistivity distributions. The proposed method is based on the so-called complete electrode model that takes into account the presence of the electrodes and the contact impedances. Both the forward and the inverse problems are discussed and results from static and dynamic (difference) reconstructions with real measurement data are given. It is shown that in phantom experiments with accurate finite element computations it is possible to obtain static images that are comparable with difference images that are reconstructed from the same object with the empty (saline filled) tank as a reference.

Model study of imaging myocardial infarction by intracardiac electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Li, Ying; Rao, Liyun; Ling, Yuesheng; He, Renjie; Khoury, Dirar S

2008-01-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) detects tissue composition inside a medium by determining its resistive properties, and uses various electrode configurations to pass a small electric current and measure corresponding potential. We investigated the feasibility of reconstructing scarred tissue inside the heart wall by employing EIT on the basis of a catheter carrying a plurality of electrodes and placed inside the blood-filled heart cavity. We built a computer model of the biological medium, and reconstructed the resistivity distribution using the finite element method and Tikhonov regularization. The results established the successful implementation of the numeric methods and the possibility of localizing and quantifying scarred myocardium. Novel application of EIT from inside the heart cavity could be useful during catheterization and may complement other diagnostic modalities. Further research is necessary to assess the impact of several factors on the accuracy of the reconstruction and include number of electrodes, catheter location, and scar size.

Novel method of using dynamic electrical impedance signals for noninvasive diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Gajre, Suhas S; Anand, Sneh; Singh, U; Saxena, Rajendra K

2006-01-01

Osteoarthritis (OA) of knee is the most commonly occurring non-fatal irreversible disease, mainly in the elderly population and particularly in female. Various invasive and non-invasive methods are reported for the diagnosis of this articular cartilage pathology. Well known techniques such as X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, arthroscopy and arthrography are having their disadvantages, and diagnosis of OA in early stages with simple effective noninvasive method is still a biomedical engineering problem. Analyzing knee joint noninvasive signals around knee might give simple solution for diagnosis of knee OA. We used electrical impedance data from knees to compare normal and osteoarthritic subjects during the most common dynamic conditions of the knee, i.e. walking and knee swing. It was found that there is substantial difference in the properties of the walking cycle (WC) and knee swing cycle (KS) signals. In experiments on 90 pathological (combined for KS and WC signals) and 72 normal signals (combined), suitable features were drawn. Then signals were used to classify as normal or pathological. Artificial multilayer feed forward neural network was trained using back propagation algorithm for the classification. On a training data set of 54 signals for KS signals, the classification efficiency for a test set of 54 was 70.37% and 85.19% with and without normalization respectively wrt base impedance. Similarly, the training set of 27 WC signals and test set of 27 signals resulted in 77.78% and 66.67% classification efficiency. The results indicate that dynamic electrical impedance signals have potential to be used as a novel method for noninvasive diagnosis of knee OA.

Wideband Fully-Programmable Dual-Mode CMOS Analogue Front-End for Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Valente, Virgilio; Demosthenous, Andreas

2016-01-01

This paper presents a multi-channel dual-mode CMOS analogue front-end (AFE) for electrochemical and bioimpedance analysis. Current-mode and voltage-mode readouts, integrated on the same chip, can provide an adaptable platform to correlate single-cell biosensor studies with large-scale tissue or organ analysis for real-time cancer detection, imaging and characterization. The chip, implemented in a 180-nm CMOS technology, combines two current-readout (CR) channels and four voltage-readout (VR) channels suitable for both bipolar and tetrapolar electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. Each VR channel occupies an area of 0.48 mm2, is capable of an operational bandwidth of 8 MHz and a linear gain in the range between −6 dB and 42 dB. The gain of the CR channel can be set to 10 kΩ, 50 kΩ or 100 kΩ and is capable of 80-dB dynamic range, with a very linear response for input currents between 10 nA and 100 μA. Each CR channel occupies an area of 0.21 mm2. The chip consumes between 530 μA and 690 μA per channel and operates from a 1.8-V supply. The chip was used to measure the impedance of capacitive interdigitated electrodes in saline solution. Measurements show close matching with results obtained using a commercial impedance analyser. The chip will be part of a fully flexible and configurable fully-integrated dual-mode EIS system for impedance sensors and bioimpedance analysis. PMID:27463721

A physics-based model of the electrical impedance of ionic polymer metal composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cha, Youngsu; Aureli, Matteo; Porfiri, Maurizio

2012-06-01

In this paper, we analyze the chemoelectrical behavior of ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) in the small voltage range with a novel hypothesis on the charge dynamics in proximity of the electrodes. In particular, we homogenize the microscopic properties of the interfacial region through a so-called composite layer which extends between the polymer membrane and the metal electrode. This layer accounts for the dissimilar properties of its constituents by describing the charge distribution via two species of charge carriers, that is, electrons and mobile counterions. We model the charge dynamics in the IPMC by adapting the multiphysics formulation based on the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) framework, which is enriched through an additional term to capture the electron transport in the composite layer. Under the hypothesis of small voltage input, we use the linearized PNP model to derive an equivalent IPMC circuit model with lumped elements. The equivalent model comprises a resistor connected in series with the parallel of a capacitor and a Warburg impedance element. These elements idealize the phenomena of charge build up in the double layer region and the faradaic impedance related to mass transfer, respectively. We validate the equivalent model through measurements on in-house fabricated samples addressing both IPMC step response and impedance, while assessing the influence of repeated plating cycles on the electrical properties of IPMCs. Experimental results are compared with theoretical findings to identify the equivalent circuit parameters. Findings from this study are compared with alternative impedance models proposed in the literature.

SU-8 microprobe with microelectrodes for monitoring electrical impedance in living tissues.

PubMed

Tijero, M; Gabriel, G; Caro, J; Altuna, A; Hernández, R; Villa, R; Berganzo, J; Blanco, F J; Salido, R; Fernández, L J

2009-04-15

This paper presents a minimally invasive needle-shaped probe capable of monitoring the electrical impedance of living tissues. This microprobe consists of a 160 microm thick SU-8 substrate containing four planar platinum (Pt) microelectrodes. We design the probe to minimize damage to the surrounding tissue and to be stiff enough to be inserted in living tissues. The proposed batch fabrication process is low cost and low time consuming. The microelectrodes obtained with this process are strongly adhered to the SU-8 substrate and their impedance does not depend on frequency variation. In vitro experiments are compared with previously developed Si and SiC based microprobes and results suggest that it is preferable to use the SU-8 based microprobes due to their flexibility and low cost. The microprobe is assembled on a flexible printed circuit FPC with a conductive glue, packaged with epoxy and wired to the external instrumentation. This flexible probe is inserted into a rat kidney without fracturing and succeeds in demonstrating the ischemia monitoring.

Guidelines to electrode positioning for human and animal electrical impedance myography research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanchez, Benjamin; Pacheck, Adam; Rutkove, Seward B.

2016-09-01

The positioning of electrodes in electrical impedance myography (EIM) is critical for accurately assessing disease progression and effectiveness of treatment. In human and animal trials for neuromuscular disorders, inconsistent electrode positioning adds errors to the muscle impedance. Despite its importance, how the reproducibility of resistance and reactance, the two parameters that define EIM, are affected by changes in electrode positioning remains unknown. In this paper, we present a novel approach founded on biophysical principles to study the reproducibility of resistance and reactance to electrode misplacements. The analytical framework presented allows the user to quantify a priori the effect on the muscle resistance and reactance using only one parameter: the uncertainty placing the electrodes. We also provide quantitative data on the precision needed to position the electrodes and the minimum muscle length needed to achieve a pre-specified EIM reproducibility. The results reported here are confirmed with finite element model simulations and measurements on five healthy subjects. Ultimately, our data can serve as normative values to enhance the reliability of EIM as a biomarker and facilitate comparability of future human and animal studies.

A Reconstruction Algorithm for Breast Cancer Imaging With Electrical Impedance Tomography in Mammography Geometry

PubMed Central

Kao, Tzu-Jen; Isaacson, David; Saulnier, Gary J.; Newell, Jonathan C.

2009-01-01

The conductivity and permittivity of breast tumors are known to differ significantly from those of normal breast tissues, and electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is being studied as a modality for breast cancer imaging to exploit these differences. At present, X-ray mammography is the primary standard imaging modality used for breast cancer screening in clinical practice, so it is desirable to study EIT in the geometry of mammography. This paper presents a forward model of a simplified mammography geometry and a reconstruction algorithm for breast tumor imaging using EIT techniques. The mammography geometry is modeled as a rectangular box with electrode arrays on the top and bottom planes. A forward model for the electrical impedance imaging problem is derived for a homogeneous conductivity distribution and is validated by experiment using a phantom tank. A reconstruction algorithm for breast tumor imaging based on a linearization approach and the proposed forward model is presented. It is found that the proposed reconstruction algorithm performs well in the phantom experiment, and that the locations of a 5-mm-cube metal target and a 6-mm-cube agar target could be recovered at a target depth of 15 mm using a 32 electrode system. PMID:17405377

Aerophagia, gastric, and supragastric belching: a study using intraluminal electrical impedance monitoring.

PubMed

Bredenoord, A J; Weusten, B L A M; Sifrim, D; Timmer, R; Smout, A J P M

2004-11-01

Patients with aerophagia are believed to have excessive belches due to air swallowing. Intraluminal impedance monitoring has made it possible to investigate the validity of this concept. The authors measured oesophageal pH and electrical impedance before and after a meal in 14 patients with excessive belching and 14 healthy controls and identified patterns of air transport through the oesophagus. The size of the gastric air bubble was measured radiographically. In four patients prolonged oesophageal manometry was performed simultaneously. In all subjects, impedance tracings showed that a significant amount of air is propulsed in front of about a third of the swallow induced peristaltic waves. Two types of retrograde gas flow through the oesophagus (belch) were observed. In the first type air flowed from the stomach through the oesophagus in oral direction ("gastric belch"). In the second type air entered the oesophagus rapidly from proximal and was expulsed almost immediately in oral direction ("supragastric belch"). The incidence of air-containing swallows and gastric belches was similar in patients and controls but supragastric belches occurred exclusively in patients. There was no evidence of lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation during supragastric belches. Gastric air bubble size was not different between the two groups. In patients with excessive belching the incidence of gaseous reflux from stomach to oesophagus is similar to that in healthy subjects. Their excess belching activity follows a distinct pattern, characterised by rapid antegrade and retrograde flow of air in the oesophagus that does not reach the stomach.

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT): simulation study of J-substitution algorithm.

PubMed

Kwon, Ohin; Woo, Eung Je; Yoon, Jeong-Rock; Seo, Jin Keun

2002-02-01

We developed a new image reconstruction algorithm for magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT). MREIT is a new EIT imaging technique integrated into magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. Based on the assumption that internal current density distribution is obtained using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, the new image reconstruction algorithm called J-substitution algorithm produces cross-sectional static images of resistivity (or conductivity) distributions. Computer simulations show that the spatial resolution of resistivity image is comparable to that of MRI. MREIT provides accurate high-resolution cross-sectional resistivity images making resistivity values of various human tissues available for many biomedical applications.

Evaluation method for corrosion level of rebar in RC with electrical impedance measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasamoto, Akira

2018-04-01

The author reported that the impedance measurement using the 4-terminal method on the RC surface for diagnosing corrosion of internal rebar. The difference between the maximum value at 0.01 Hz and the minimum value around 10 Hz indicates the corrosion level of rebar in that report. This is successive report on a signal processing method for estimating the corrosion level by the measured impedance data to obtain more high accuracy. In the dielectric, a graph of frequency and dielectric constant (Cole-Cole plot diagram by KS Cole and RH Cole article of 1941) draws a shape of circle if the dielectric is independent of frequency but it draws a shape of ellipse in reality due to frequency dependency. Havriliak and Negami have also presented Havriliak-Negami model which introduced parameter into dielectric constant equation which deforms Cole-Cole plot diagram and showed that acquired dielectric data of polymer materials fit to this model with proper parameters. In this report, we first consider electric model connected with resistance and capacitance as a rough model of RC concrete. If the capacitance in this model circuit has some loss of dielectric, it is stated that graph in impedance plot is expected to take as similar deformation in the dielectric Cole-Cole plot. Then a numerical optimization computer code for obtaining parameters in the Cole-Cole plot diagram and Havriliak-Negami model is constructed, and the correlation between the deformation parameter of each model and corrosion is shown by this code. These results are feasibility study for diagnosis of corrosion level of rebar by associated parameters to a shape of impedance graph.

Impedance testing on cochlear implants after electroconvulsive therapy.

PubMed

McRackan, Theodore R; Rivas, Alejandro; Hedley-Williams, Andrea; Raj, Vidya; Dietrich, Mary S; Clark, Nathaniel K; Labadie, Robert F

2014-12-01

Cochlear implants (CI) are neural prostheses that restore hearing to individuals with profound sensorineural hearing loss. The surgically implanted component consists of an electrode array, which is threaded into the cochlea, and an electronic processor, which is buried under the skin behind the ear. The Food and Drug Administration and CI manufacturers contend that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is contraindicated in CI recipients owing to risk of damage to the implant and/or the patient. We hypothesized that ECT does no electrical damage to CIs. Ten functional CIs were implanted in 5 fresh cadaveric human heads. Each head then received a consecutive series of 12 unilateral ECT sessions applying maximum full pulse-width energy settings. Electroconvulsive therapy was delivered contralaterally to 5 CIs and ipsilaterally to 5 CIs. Electrical integrity testing (impedance testing) of the electrode array was performed before and after CI insertion, and after the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and 12th ECT sessions. Electroconvulsive therapy was performed by a staff psychiatrist experienced with the technique. Explanted CIs were sent back to the manufacturer for further integrity testing. No electrical damage was identified during impedance testing. Overall, there were statistically significant decreases in impedances (consistent with no electrical damage) when comparing pre-ECT impedance values to those after 12 sessions. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in impedance values comparing ipsilateral to contralateral ECT. Manufacturer testing revealed no other electrical damage to the CIs. Electroconvulsive therapy does not seem to cause any detectable electrical injury to CIs.

Interdigitated microelectrode (IME) impedance sensor for the detection of viable Salmonella typhimurium.

PubMed

Yang, Liju; Li, Yanbin; Griffis, Carl L; Johnson, Michael G

2004-05-15

Interdigitated microelectrodes (IMEs) were used as impedance sensors for rapid detection of viable Salmonella typhimurium in a selective medium and milk samples. The impedance growth curves, impedance against bacterial growth time, were recorded at four frequencies (10Hz, 100Hz, 1kHz, and 10kHz) during the growth of S. typhimurium. The impedance did not change until the cell number reached 10(5)-10(6) CFUml(-1). The greatest change in impedance was observed at 10Hz. To better understand the mechanism of the IME impedance sensor, an equivalent electrical circuit, consisting of double layer capacitors, a dielectric capacitor, and a medium resistor, was introduced and used for interpreting the change in impedance during bacterial growth. Bacterial attachment to the electrode surface was observed with scanning electron microscopy, and it had effect on the impedance measurement. The detection time, t(D), defined as the time for the impedance to start change, was obtained from the impedance growth curve at 10Hz and had a linear relationship with the logarithmic value of the initial cell number of S. typhimurium in the medium and milk samples. The regression equations for the cell numbers between 4.8 and 5.4 x 10(5) CFUml(-1) were t(D) = -1.38 log N + 10.18 with R(2) = 0.99 in the pure medium and t(D) = -1.54 log N + 11.33 with R(2) = 0.98 in milk samples, respectively. The detection times for 4.8 and 5.4 x 10(5) CFUml(-1) initial cell numbers were 9.3 and 2.2 h, respectively, and the detection limit could be as low as 1 cell in a sample.

Pseudo-polar drive patterns for brain electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Shi, Xuetao; Dong, Xiuzhen; Shuai, Wanjun; You, Fusheng; Fu, Feng; Liu, Ruigang

2006-11-01

Brain electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a difficult task as brain tissues are enclosed by the skull of high resistance and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of low resistance, which makes internal resistivity information more difficult to extract. In order to seek a single source drive pattern that is more suitable for brain EIT, we built a more realistic experimental setting that simulates a head with the resistivity of the scalp, skull, CSF and brain, and compared the performance of adjacent, cross, polar and pseudo-polar drive patterns in terms of the boundary voltage dynamic range, independent measurement number, total boundary voltage changes and anti-noise performance based on it. The results demonstrate that the pseudo-polar drive pattern is optimal in all the aspects except for the dynamic range. The polar and cross drive patterns come next, and the adjacent drive pattern is the worst. Therefore, the pseudo-polar drive pattern should be chosen for brain EIT.

Aerophagia, gastric, and supragastric belching: a study using intraluminal electrical impedance monitoring

PubMed Central

Bredenoord, A J; Weusten, B L A M; Sifrim, D; Timmer, R; Smout, A J P M

2004-01-01

Background: Patients with aerophagia are believed to have excessive belches due to air swallowing. Intraluminal impedance monitoring has made it possible to investigate the validity of this concept. Methods: The authors measured oesophageal pH and electrical impedance before and after a meal in 14 patients with excessive belching and 14 healthy controls and identified patterns of air transport through the oesophagus. The size of the gastric air bubble was measured radiographically. In four patients prolonged oesophageal manometry was performed simultaneously. Results: In all subjects, impedance tracings showed that a significant amount of air is propulsed in front of about a third of the swallow induced peristaltic waves. Two types of retrograde gas flow through the oesophagus (belch) were observed. In the first type air flowed from the stomach through the oesophagus in oral direction (“gastric belch”). In the second type air entered the oesophagus rapidly from proximal and was expulsed almost immediately in oral direction (“supragastric belch”). The incidence of air-containing swallows and gastric belches was similar in patients and controls but supragastric belches occurred exclusively in patients. There was no evidence of lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation during supragastric belches. Gastric air bubble size was not different between the two groups. Conclusions: In patients with excessive belching the incidence of gaseous reflux from stomach to oesophagus is similar to that in healthy subjects. Their excess belching activity follows a distinct pattern, characterised by rapid antegrade and retrograde flow of air in the oesophagus that does not reach the stomach. PMID:15479671

Plasma Diagnostics by Antenna Impedance Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swenson, C. M.; Baker, K. D.; Pound, E.; Jensen, M. D.

1993-01-01

The impedance of an electrically short antenna immersed in a plasma provides an excellent in situ diagnostic tool for electron density and other plasma parameters. By electrically short we mean that the wavelength of the free-space electromagnetic wave that would be excited at the driving frequency is much longer than the physical size of the antenna. Probes using this impedance technique have had a long history with sounding rockets and satellites, stretching back to the early 1960s. This active technique could provide information on composition and temperature of plasmas for comet or planetary missions. Advantages of the impedance probe technique are discussed and two classes of instruments built and flown by SDL-USU for determining electron density (the capacitance and plasma frequency probes) are described.

Electrical Impedance Tomography Technology (EITT) Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oliva-Buisson, Yvette J.

2014-01-01

Development of a portable, lightweight device providing two-dimensional tomographic imaging of the human body using impedance mapping. This technology can be developed to evaluate health risks and provide appropriate medical care on the ISS, during space travel and on the ground.

Lactate threshold by muscle electrical impedance in professional rowers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jotta, B.; Coutinho, A. B. B.; Pino, A. V.; Souza, M. N.

2017-04-01

Lactate threshold (LT) is one of the physiological parameters usually used in rowing sport training prescription because it indicates the transitions from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. Assessment of LT is classically based on a series of values of blood lactate concentrations obtained during progressive exercise tests and thus has an invasive aspect. The feasibility of noninvasive LT estimative through bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) data collected in thigh muscles during rowing ergometer exercise tests was investigated. Nineteen professional rowers, age 19 (mean) ± 4.8 (standard deviation) yr, height 187.3 ± 6.6 cm, body mass 83 ± 7.7 kg, and training experience of 7 ± 4 yr, were evaluated in a rowing ergometer progressive test with paired measures of blood lactate concentration and BIS in thigh muscles. Bioelectrical impedance data were obtained by using a bipolar method of spectroscopy based on the current response to a voltage step. An electrical model was used to interpret BIS data and to derive parameters that were investigated to estimate LT noninvasively. From the serial blood lactate measurements, LT was also determined through Dmax method (LTDmax). The zero crossing of the second derivative of kinetic of the capacitance electrode (Ce), one of the BIS parameters, was used to estimate LT. The agreement between the LT estimates through BIS (LTBIS) and through Dmax method (LTDmax) was evaluated using Bland-Altman plots, leading to a mean difference between the estimates of just 0.07 W and a Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.85. This result supports the utilization of the proposed method based on BIS parameters for estimating noninvasively the lactate threshold in rowing.

Assessing risk of thyroid cancer using resonance-frequency based electrical impedance measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Bin; Tublin, Mitchell E.; Lederman, Dror; Klym, Amy H.; Brown, Erica D.; Gur, David

2011-03-01

The incidence of thyroid cancer has risen faster than many malignancies and has nearly doubled in the USA over the past 30 years. Palpable nodules and subclinical nodules detected by imaging are found in a large percentage of the USA population. Most of these (.>95%) are fortunately benign. This vast reservoir of nodules makes the detection and diagnosis of thyroid cancer a diagnostic dilemma. Ultrasound guided Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) is excellent for triaging patients but up to 25% of FNABs are inconclusive. As a result, definitive diagnosis is often only possible with a diagnostic lobectomy; many thousands of these are performed in the USA annually for ultimately benign disease. It would be extremely beneficial if we could develop a non-invasive procedure that could assist the diagnostician in reliably predicting the likelihood of malignancy of otherwise indeterminate thyroid nodules, thereby reducing the number of these "exploratory/diagnostic" lobectomies performed under general anesthesia. Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was considered as a possible approach to address this problem. However, the diagnostic accuracy of EIS is too low for routine clinical use to date. In our group, we developed a substantially modified technology termed Resonance-frequency Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (REIS), which yields usable information for classifying risk of having breast abnormalities. We preliminarily applied REIS to measure signals on participants having thyroid nodules aiming to assess whether we can assist in improving diagnosis of indeterminate thyroid nodules. In this study we present a new multi-probe based REIS device specifically designed for the assessment of indeterminate thyroid nodules. Our preliminary assessment presented here demonstrates the feasibility of using this proposed REIS device in a busy tertiary care center.

Protein Aggregation Measurement through Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Affanni, A.; Corazza, A.; Esposito, G.; Fogolari, F.; Polano, M.

2013-09-01

The paper presents a novel methodology to measure the fibril formation in protein solutions. We designed a bench consisting of a sensor having interdigitated electrodes, a PDMS hermetic reservoir and an impedance meter automatically driven by calculator. The impedance data are interpolated with a lumped elements model and their change over time can provide information on the aggregation process. Encouraging results have been obtained by testing the methodology on K-casein, a protein of milk, with and without the addition of a drug inhibiting the aggregation. The amount of sample needed to perform this measurement is by far lower than the amount needed by fluorescence analysis.

Measurement of lung function using Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) during mechanical ventilation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nebuya, Satoru; Koike, Tomotaka; Imai, Hiroshi; Noshiro, Makoto; Brown, Brian H.; Soma, Kazui

2010-04-01

The consistency of regional lung density measurements as estimated by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), in eleven patients supported by a mechanical ventilator, was validated to verify the feasibility of its use in intensive care medicine. There were significant differences in regional lung densities between the normal lung and diseased lungs associated with pneumonia, atelectasis and pleural effusion (Steel-Dwass test, p < 0.05). Temporal changes in regional lung density of patients with atelectasis were observed to be in good agreement with the results of clinical diagnosis. These results indicate that it is feasible to obtain a quantitative value for regional lung density using EIT.

TRANSVERSE ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF THE SQUID GIANT AXON

PubMed Central

Curtis, Howard J.; Cole, Kenneth S.

1938-01-01

The impedance of the excised giant axon from hindmost stellar nerve of Loligo pealii has been measured over the frequency range from 1 to 2500 kilocycles per second. The measurements have been made with the current flow perpendicular to the axis of the axon to permit a relatively simple analysis of the data. It has been found that the axon membrane has a polarization impedance with an average phase angle of 76° and an average capacity of 1.1µf./cm2 at 1 kilocycle. The direct current resistance of the membrane could not be measured, but was greater than 3 ohm cm.2 and the average internal specific resistance was four times that of sea water. There was no detectable change in the membrane impedance when the axon lost excitability, but some time later it decreased to zero. PMID:19873081

Electrical impedance measurements in the arm and the leg during a thirty day bed rest study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cardus, David; Jaweed, Mazher; McTaggart, Wesley

1995-01-01

The need to detect, follow, and understand the effects of gravity on body fluid distribution is a constant stimulus to the quest for new techniques in this area of research. One of these techniques is electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS). Although not new, this is a technique whose applications to biomedical research are fairly recent. What is new is the development of instrumentation that has made practical the use of impedance spectroscopy in the biomedical setting, particularly in studies involving human subjects. The purpose of this paper is to report impedance spectroscopy observations made on a subject who was submitted to bed rest for a period of thirty days. These observations were made as part of a study on muscle atrophy during a thirty day head down bed rest. Since bed rest studies are very costly in human and financial terms, and technically difficult to realize, we felt that even though the present study deals only with a single case it was worthy of reporting because it illustrates kinds of questions impedance spectroscopy may help to answer in microgravity research.

Microfabricated AC impedance sensor

DOEpatents

Krulevitch, Peter; Ackler, Harold D.; Becker, Frederick; Boser, Bernhard E.; Eldredge, Adam B.; Fuller, Christopher K.; Gascoyne, Peter R. C.; Hamilton, Julie K.; Swierkowski, Stefan P.; Wang, Xiao-Bo

2002-01-01

A microfabricated instrument for detecting and identifying cells and other particles based on alternating current (AC) impedance measurements. The microfabricated AC impedance sensor includes two critical elements: 1) a microfluidic chip, preferably of glass substrates, having at least one microchannel therein and with electrodes patterned on both substrates, and 2) electrical circuits that connect to the electrodes on the microfluidic chip and detect signals associated with particles traveling down the microchannels. These circuits enable multiple AC impedance measurements of individual particles at high throughput rates with sufficient resolution to identify different particle and cell types as appropriate for environmental detection and clinical diagnostic applications.

Evaluation of Electrical Impedance as a Biomarker of Myostatin Inhibition in Wild Type and Muscular Dystrophy Mice.

PubMed

Sanchez, Benjamin; Li, Jia; Yim, Sung; Pacheck, Adam; Widrick, Jeffrey J; Rutkove, Seward B

2015-01-01

Non-invasive and effort independent biomarkers are needed to better assess the effects of drug therapy on healthy muscle and that affected by muscular dystrophy (mdx). Here we evaluated the use of multi-frequency electrical impedance for this purpose with comparison to force and histological parameters. Eight wild-type (wt) and 10 mdx mice were treated weekly with RAP-031 activin type IIB receptor at a dose of 10 mg kg-1 twice weekly for 16 weeks; the investigators were blinded to treatment and disease status. At the completion of treatment, impedance measurements, in situ force measurements, and histology analyses were performed. As compared to untreated animals, RAP-031 wt and mdx treated mice had greater body mass (18% and 17%, p < 0.001 respectively) and muscle mass (25% p < 0.05 and 22% p < 0.001, respectively). The Cole impedance parameters in treated wt mice, showed a 24% lower central frequency (p < 0.05) and 19% higher resistance ratio (p < 0.05); no significant differences were observed in the mdx mice. These differences were consistent with those seen in maximum isometric force, which was greater in the wt animals (p < 0.05 at > 70 Hz), but not in the mdx animals. In contrast, maximum force normalized by muscle mass was unchanged in the wt animals and lower in the mdx animals by 21% (p < 0.01). Similarly, myofiber size was only non-significantly higher in treated versus untreated animals (8% p = 0.44 and 12% p = 0.31 for wt and mdx animals, respectively). Our findings demonstrate electrical impedance of muscle reproduce the functional and histological changes associated with myostatin pathway inhibition and do not reflect differences in muscle size or volume. This technique deserves further study in both animal and human therapeutic trials.

Sensor Applications of Soft Magnetic Materials Based on Magneto-Impedance, Magneto-Elastic Resonance and Magneto-Electricity

PubMed Central

García-Arribas, Alfredo; Gutiérrez, Jon; Kurlyandskaya, Galina V.; Barandiarán, José M.; Svalov, Andrey; Fernández, Eduardo; Lasheras, Andoni; de Cos, David; Bravo-Imaz, Iñaki

2014-01-01

The outstanding properties of selected soft magnetic materials make them successful candidates for building high performance sensors. In this paper we present our recent work regarding different sensing technologies based on the coupling of the magnetic properties of soft magnetic materials with their electric or elastic properties. In first place we report the influence on the magneto-impedance response of the thickness of Permalloy films in multilayer-sandwiched structures. An impedance change of 270% was found in the best conditions upon the application of magnetic field, with a low field sensitivity of 140%/Oe. Second, the magneto-elastic resonance of amorphous ribbons is used to demonstrate the possibility of sensitively measuring the viscosity of fluids, aimed to develop an on-line and real-time sensor capable of assessing the state of degradation of lubricant oils in machinery. A novel analysis method is shown to sensitively reveal the changes of the damping parameter of the magnetoelastic oscillations at the resonance as a function of the oil viscosity. Finally, the properties and performance of magneto-electric laminated composites of amorphous magnetic ribbons and piezoelectric polymer films are investigated, demonstrating magnetic field detection capabilities below 2.7 nT. PMID:24776934

Development of the algorithm of measurement data and tomographic section reconstruction results processing for evaluating the respiratory activity of the lungs using the multi-angle electric impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aleksanyan, Grayr; Shcherbakov, Ivan; Kucher, Artem; Sulyz, Andrew

2018-04-01

Continuous monitoring of the patient's breathing by the method of multi-angle electric impedance tomography allows to obtain images of conduction change in the chest cavity during the monitoring. Direct analysis of images is difficult due to the large amount of information and low resolution images obtained by multi-angle electrical impedance tomography. This work presents a method for obtaining a graph of respiratory activity of the lungs based on the results of continuous lung monitoring using the multi-angle electrical impedance tomography method. The method makes it possible to obtain a graph of the respiratory activity of the left and right lungs separately, as well as a summary graph, to which it is possible to apply methods of processing the results of spirography.

Enhanced health monitoring of fibrous composites with aligned carbon nanotube networks and electrical impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tallman, T.; Semperlotti, F.; Wang, K. W.

2012-04-01

The high strength to weight ratio of fibrous composites such as glass-fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) makes them prominent structural materials. However, their laminar nature is susceptible to delamination failure the onset of which traditional structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques cannot reliably and accurately detect. Carbon nano-tubes (CNT) have been recently used to tailor the electrical conductivity of polymer based materials that otherwise behave as insulators. The occurrence of damage in the polymer matrix produces localized changes in conductivity which can be tracked using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). This paper explores combining advances in composite manufacturing with EIT to develop a SHM technique that exploits anisotropic conductance monitoring for enhanced delamination and matrix crack detection.

3D modelling of the human thorax for ventilation distribution measured through electrical impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, W. R.; Wang, H. X.

2010-11-01

Thoracic electrical impedance tomography (EIT) aims to reconstruct a cross-sectional image of the internal spatial distribution of conductivity from electrical measurements made by injecting small alternating currents via an electrode array placed on the surface of the thorax. It is a non-invasive, radiation-free monitoring technique. In this paper, true 3D thorax models with conductivity distribution or complex conductivity distribution under different ARDS conditions are built up in comparison with the 2.5D ones, and EIT-derived numeric indices are also employed for evaluation of the lung ventilation. The purpose of this paper is to study different effects of different thorax models with either conductivity or complex conductivity on the reconstructed images and ventilation indices.

Impedance-matched Marx generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stygar, W. A.; LeChien, K. R.; Mazarakis, M. G.; Savage, M. E.; Stoltzfus, B. S.; Austin, K. N.; Breden, E. W.; Cuneo, M. E.; Hutsel, B. T.; Lewis, S. A.; McKee, G. R.; Moore, J. K.; Mulville, T. D.; Muron, D. J.; Reisman, D. B.; Sceiford, M. E.; Wisher, M. L.

2017-04-01

We have conceived a new class of prime-power sources for pulsed-power accelerators: impedance-matched Marx generators (IMGs). The fundamental building block of an IMG is a brick, which consists of two capacitors connected electrically in series with a single switch. An IMG comprises a single stage or several stages distributed axially and connected in series. Each stage is powered by a single brick or several bricks distributed azimuthally within the stage and connected in parallel. The stages of a multistage IMG drive an impedance-matched coaxial transmission line with a conical center conductor. When the stages are triggered sequentially to launch a coherent traveling wave along the coaxial line, the IMG achieves electromagnetic-power amplification by triggered emission of radiation. Hence a multistage IMG is a pulsed-power analogue of a laser. To illustrate the IMG approach to prime power, we have developed conceptual designs of two ten-stage IMGs with L C time constants on the order of 100 ns. One design includes 20 bricks per stage, and delivers a peak electrical power of 1.05 TW to a matched-impedance 1.22 -Ω load. The design generates 113 kV per stage and has a maximum energy efficiency of 89%. The other design includes a single brick per stage, delivers 68 GW to a matched-impedance 19 -Ω load, generates 113 kV per stage, and has a maximum energy efficiency of 90%. For a given electrical-power-output time history, an IMG is less expensive and slightly more efficient than a linear transformer driver, since an IMG does not use ferromagnetic cores.

Transthoracic Electrical Impedance in Cases of High-altitude Hypoxia

PubMed Central

Roy, Sujoy B.; Balasubramanian, V.; Khan, M. R.; Kaushik, V. S.; Manchanda, S. C.; Guha, S. K.

1974-01-01

Changes in transthoracic electrical impedance (T.E.I.) due to high-altitude hypoxia (3,658 m) have been measured in 20 young, healthy Indian soldiers. They were first studied at sea level (198 m) and then rapidly transported by air to 3,658 m, where they were studied daily from day 1 to day 5 and then on days 8 and 10. The mean (±S.D.) T.E.I. at sea level (34·6±0·6Ω) fell sharply to 29·6±0·8Ω, 30·3±0·9Ω, and 30·5±1·1Ω on days 1, 2, and 3 (P <0·001) and levelled off at 31·5±0·7Ω on day 10, which was comparable to the mean value obtained in 13 persons permanently resident at high altitude (32·2±0·7Ω). Five sea-level residents who had acute mountain sickness (A.M.S.) or high-altitude pulmonary oedema (H.A.P.O.) had a still lower mean value (22·5±1·1Ω). One normal healthy subject who at sea level had a T.E.I. of 34·7Ω developed H.A.P.O. when the T.E.I. fell to 21·1Ω. Ninety minutes after the administration of 80 mg of intravenous frusemide the value increased to 35·5Ω. In another subject with A.M.S. who received 40 mg of frusemide intravenously the T.E.I. rose from 21·9 to 33·2Ω. Since the study was non-invasive the changes in impedance could not be correlated objectively with alterations in either pulmonary blood volume or pulmonary extravascular water space. In the subject, however, with x-ray evidence of H.A.P.O. and a low T.E.I. intravenous frusemide produced a marked rise in T.E.I. together with clearing of the chest x-ray picture within 24 hours, indicating an inverse relationship between impedance and thoracic fluid volume. It is suggested that with further objective verification in man the measurement of T.E.I. may be a potentially promising technique for the early detection of increased pulmonary fluid volume. ImagesFIG. 3FIG. 4 PMID:4416705

A new non-iterative reconstruction method for the electrical impedance tomography problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, A. D.; Novotny, A. A.

2017-03-01

The electrical impedance tomography (EIT) problem consists in determining the distribution of the electrical conductivity of a medium subject to a set of current fluxes, from measurements of the corresponding electrical potentials on its boundary. EIT is probably the most studied inverse problem since the fundamental works by Calderón from the 1980s. It has many relevant applications in medicine (detection of tumors), geophysics (localization of mineral deposits) and engineering (detection of corrosion in structures). In this work, we are interested in reconstructing a number of anomalies with different electrical conductivity from the background. Since the EIT problem is written in the form of an overdetermined boundary value problem, the idea is to rewrite it as a topology optimization problem. In particular, a shape functional measuring the misfit between the boundary measurements and the electrical potentials obtained from the model is minimized with respect to a set of ball-shaped anomalies by using the concept of topological derivatives. It means that the objective functional is expanded and then truncated up to the second order term, leading to a quadratic and strictly convex form with respect to the parameters under consideration. Thus, a trivial optimization step leads to a non-iterative second order reconstruction algorithm. As a result, the reconstruction process becomes very robust with respect to noisy data and independent of any initial guess. Finally, in order to show the effectiveness of the devised reconstruction algorithm, some numerical experiments into two spatial dimensions are presented, taking into account total and partial boundary measurements.

Simulation of a current source with a Cole-Cole load for multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Aguiar Santos, Susana; Schlebusch, Thomas; Leonhardt, Steffen

2013-01-01

An accurate current source is one of the keys in the hardware of Electrical impedance Tomography systems. Limitations appear mainly at higher frequencies and for non-simple resistive loads. In this paper, we simulate an improved Howland current source with a Cole-Cole load. Simulations comparing two different op-amps (THS4021 and OPA843) were performed at 1 kHz to 1 MHz. Results show that the THS4021 performed better than the OPA843. The current source with THS4021 reaches an output impedance of 20 MΩ at 1 kHz and above 320 kΩ at 1 MHz, it provides a constant and stable output current up to 4 mA, in the complete range of frequencies, and for Cole-Cole (resistive and capacitive) load.

High temperature electrical properties study of Sr{sub 2}(Fe,Ti)O{sub 6} double perovskite materials using impedance spectroscopy method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Triyono, D., E-mail: djoko.triyono@sci.ui.ac.id; Laysandra, Heidi

2016-04-19

The structure, thermal, and electrical properties of double perovskite material Sr{sub 2}(Fe,Ti)O{sub 6} at high temperature have been studied. This material was synthesized by a solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction characterization at room temperature for all samples shows a single phase and having a structure of cubic double perovskite with Pm3m space group. The variation of Fe and Ti atoms are seen in an increasing of lattice parameter and grain size which is found between 30 nm and 80 nm. The electrical properties as a function of temperature and frequency are characterized by using RLC-meter with impedance spectroscopy method. The impedancemore » data are presented in Nyquist and Bode plot resulting in the equivalent circuit and its parameters. The equivalent circuit shows the effect of grain and grain boundary in the electrical properties of materials. DC conductivity of Sr{sub 2}(Fe,Ti)O{sub 6} as a function of temperature was explained by using Arrhenius equation. The value of the activation energy which is evaluated from dc conductivity as a function of temperature shows the effect of grain and grain boundary. The activation energy exhibits of oxygen vacancy in Sr{sub 2}(Fe,Ti)O{sub 6} which is also supported by morphology of Sr{sub 2}(Fe,Ti)O{sub 6} is characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).« less

Noninvasive assessment of gastric acid secretion in man. Application of electrical impedance tomography (EIT).

PubMed

Sarker, S A; Mahalanabis, D; Bardhan, P K; Alam, N H; Rabbani, K S; Kiber, A; Hassan, M; Islam, S; Fuchs, G J; Gyr, K

1997-08-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a tubeless technique that generates tomographic images of gastric resistivity. We investigated the application of EIT to measure gastric acid secretion. Nineteen normal subjects underwent a standard intubation test. Basal acid output (BAO) and stimulated acid output (SAO) (millimoles per hour) were measured before and after pentagastrin, respectively. On a different day, EIT was performed before (basal) and after pentagastrin (stimulated). The changes in impedance over time were measured and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Both the tests were repeated in 13 subjects after omeprazole treatment. As in the intubation test, there was the expected increase in AUC value after pentagastrin (basal vs stimulated; 1.2 +/- 2.8 vs 731 +/- 297, P < 0.0001). A significant fall in acid output and AUC following omeprazole pretreatment was observed (without vs with omeprazole; 20.5 +/- 5.7 vs 0.03 +/- 0.06, P < 0.0001 for intubation test and 731 +/- 297 vs 44 +/- 172, P < 0.0001 for EIT). There was a significant correlation between SAO and the delta AUC with (r = 0.65 P < 0.001) or without (r = 0.95, P < 0.001) omeprazole and in all the experiments (r = 0.87, P < 0.001). This study demonstrates the predictable change of gastric impedance and may be useful as a noninvasive test for measuring gastric acid secretion.

Inverse solutions for electrical impedance tomography based on conjugate gradients methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, M.

2002-01-01

A multistep inverse solution for two-dimensional electric field distribution is developed to deal with the nonlinear inverse problem of electric field distribution in relation to its boundary condition and the problem of divergence due to errors introduced by the ill-conditioned sensitivity matrix and the noise produced by electrode modelling and instruments. This solution is based on a normalized linear approximation method where the change in mutual impedance is derived from the sensitivity theorem and a method of error vector decomposition. This paper presents an algebraic solution of the linear equations at each inverse step, using a generalized conjugate gradients method. Limiting the number of iterations in the generalized conjugate gradients method controls the artificial errors introduced by the assumption of linearity and the ill-conditioned sensitivity matrix. The solution of the nonlinear problem is approached using a multistep inversion. This paper also reviews the mathematical and physical definitions of the sensitivity back-projection algorithm based on the sensitivity theorem. Simulations and discussion based on the multistep algorithm, the sensitivity coefficient back-projection method and the Newton-Raphson method are given. Examples of imaging gas-liquid mixing and a human hand in brine are presented.

What the electrical impedance can tell about the intrinsic properties of an electrodynamic shaker

PubMed Central

Lütkenhöner, Bernd

2017-01-01

Small electrodynamic shakers are becoming increasingly popular for diagnostic investigations of the human vestibular system. More specifically, they are used as mechanical stimulators for eliciting a vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP). However, it is largely unknown how shakers perform under typical measurement conditions, which considerably differ from the normal use of a shaker. Here, it is shown how the basic properties of a shaker can be determined without requiring special sensors such as accelerometers or force gauges. In essence, the mechanical parts of the shaker leave a signature in the electrical impedance, and an interpretation of this signature using a simple model allows for drawing conclusions about the properties of the shaker. The theory developed (which is quite general so that it is usable also in other contexts) is applied to experimental data obtained for the minishaker commonly used in VEMP measurements. It is shown that the experimental conditions substantially influence the properties of the shaker. Relevant factors are, in particular, the spatial orientation of the shaker (upright, horizontal or upside-down) and the static force acting on the table of the shaker (which in a real measurement corresponds to the force by which the shaker is pressed against the test person’s head). These results underline the desirability of a proper standardization of VEMP measurements. Direct measurements of displacement and acceleration prove the consistency of the conclusions derived from the electrical impedance. PMID:28328999

Abdominal fat thickness measurement using Focused Impedance Method (FIM) - phantom study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haowlader, Salahuddin; Baig, Tanveer Noor; Siddique-e Rabbani, K.

2010-04-01

Abdominal fat thickness is a risk indicator of heart diseases, diabetes, etc., and its measurement is therefore important from the point of view of preventive care. Tetrapolar electrical impedance measurements (TPIM) could offer a simple and low cost alternative for such measurement compared to conventional techniques using CT scan and MRI, and has been tried by different groups. Focused Impedance Method (FIM) appears attractive as it can give localised information. An intuitive physical model was developed and experimental work was performed on a phantom designed to simulate abdominal subcutaneous fat layer in a body. TPIM measurements were performed with varying electrode separations. For small separations of current and potential electrodes, the measured impedance changed little, but started to decrease sharply beyond a certain separation, eventually diminishing gradually to negligible values. The finding could be explained using the intuitive physical model and gives an important practical information. TPIM and FIM may be useful for measurement of SFL thickness only if the electrode separations are within a certain specific range, and will fail to give reliable results if beyond this range. Further work, both analytical and experimental, are needed to establish this technique on a sound footing.

Bioelectrical Impedance and The Frequency Dependent Current Conduction Through Biological Tissues: A Short Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanti Bera, Tushar

2018-03-01

Biological tissues are developed with biological cells which exhibit complex electrical impedance called electrical bioimpedance. Under an alternating electrical excitation the bioimpedance varies with the tissue anatomy, composition and the signal frequency. The current penetration and conduction paths vary with frequency of the applied signal. Bioimpedance spectroscopy is used to study the frequency response of the electrical impedance of biological materials noninvasively. In bioimpedance spectroscopy, a low amplitude electrical signal is injected to the tissue sample or body parts to characterization the sample in terms of its bioimpedance. The electrical current conduction phenomena, which is highly influenced by the tissue impedance and the signal frequency, is an important phenomena which should be studied to understand the bioimpedance techniques like bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), EIS, or else. In this paper the origin of bioelectrical impedance and current conduction phenomena has been reviewed to present a brief summary of bioelectrical impedance and the frequency dependent current conduction through biological tissues. Simulation studies are conducted with alternation current injection through a two dimensional model of biological tissues containing finite number of biological cells suspended in extracellular fluid. The paper demonstrates the simulation of alternating current conduction through biological tissues conducted by COMSOL Multiphysics. Simulation studies also show the frequency response of the tissue impedance for different tissue compositions.

Measurement of electrical impedance of a Berea sandstone core during the displacement of saturated brine by oil and CO2 injections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yu; Xue, Ziqiu; Park, Hyuck; Kiyama, Tamotsu; Zhang, Yi; Nishizawa, Osamu; Chae, Kwang-seok

2015-12-01

Complex electrical impedance measurements were performed on a brine-saturated Berea sandstone core while oil and CO2 were injected at different pressures and temperatures. The saturations of brine, oil, and CO2 in the core were simultaneously estimated using an X-ray computed tomography scanner. The formation factor of this Berea core and the resistivity indexes versus the brine saturations were calculated using Archie's law. The experimental results found different flow patterns of oil under different pressures and temperatures. Fingers were observed for the first experiment at 10 MPa and 40 °C. The fingers were restrained as the viscosity ratio of oil and water changed in the second (10 MPa and 25 °C) and third (5 MPa and 25 °C) experiments. The resistivity index showed an exponential increase with a decrease in brine saturation. The saturation exponent varied from 1.4 to 4.0 at different pressure and temperature conditions. During the oil injection procedure, the electrical impedance increased with oil saturation and was significantly affected by different oil distributions; therefore, the impedance varied whether the finger was remarkable or not, even if the oil saturation remained constant. During the CO2 injection steps, the impedance showed almost no change with CO2 saturation because the brine in the pores became immobile after the oil injection.

Utilization of electrical impedance imaging for estimation of in-vivo tissue resistivities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eyuboglu, B. Murat; Pilkington, Theo C.

1993-08-01

In order to determine in vivo resistivity of tissues in the thorax, the possibility of combining electrical impedance imaging (EII) techniques with (1) anatomical data extracted from high resolution images, (2) a prior knowledge of tissue resistivities, and (3) a priori noise information was assessed in this study. A Least Square Error Estimator (LSEE) and a statistically constrained Minimum Mean Square Error Estimator (MiMSEE) were implemented to estimate regional electrical resistivities from potential measurements made on the body surface. A two dimensional boundary element model of the human thorax, which consists of four different conductivity regions (the skeletal muscle, the heart, the right lung, and the left lung) was adopted to simulate the measured EII torso potentials. The calculated potentials were then perturbed by simulated instrumentation noise. The signal information used to form the statistical constraint for the MiMSEE was obtained from a prior knowledge of the physiological range of tissue resistivities. The noise constraint was determined from a priori knowledge of errors due to linearization of the forward problem and to the instrumentation noise.

Electrical impedance characterization of normal and cancerous human hepatic tissue.

PubMed

Laufer, Shlomi; Ivorra, Antoni; Reuter, Victor E; Rubinsky, Boris; Solomon, Stephen B

2010-07-01

The four-electrode method was used to measure the ex vivo complex electrical impedance of tissues from 14 hepatic tumors and the surrounding normal liver from six patients. Measurements were done in the frequency range 1-400 kHz. It was found that the conductivity of the tumor tissue was much higher than that of the normal liver tissue in this frequency range (from 0.14 +/- 0.06 S m(-1) versus 0.03 +/- 0.01 S m(-1) at 1 kHz to 0.25 +/- 0.06 S m(-1) versus 0.15 +/- 0.03 S m(-1) at 400 kHz). The Cole-Cole models were estimated from the experimental data and the four parameters (rho(0), rho(infinity), alpha, f(c)) were obtained using a least-squares fit algorithm. The Cole-Cole parameters for the cancerous and normal liver are 9 +/- 4 Omega m(-1), 2.2 +/- 0.7 Omega m(-1), 0.5 +/- 0.2, 140 +/- 103 kHz and 50 +/- 28 Omega m(-1), 3.2 +/- 0.6 Omega m(-1), 0.64 +/- 0.04, 10 +/- 7 kHz, respectively. These data can contribute to developing bioelectric applications for tissue diagnostics and in tissue treatment planning with electrical fields such as radiofrequency tissue ablation, electrochemotherapy and gene therapy with reversible electroporation, nanoscale pulsing and irreversible electroporation.

Influence of neutron flux, frequency and temperature to electrical impedance of nano silica particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huseynov, Elchin, E-mail: hus.elchin@yahoo.com, E-mail: hus.elchin@gmail.com; Garibov, Adil; Mehdiyeva, Ravan

2014-11-15

We studied electric impedance of SiO{sub 2} nanomaterial at its initial state and after being exposed to continuous neutron irradiation for up to 20 hours. In doing so we employed a flux of neutrons of 2x10{sup 13} n⋅cm{sup −2}s{sup −1} while the frequency and temperature ranges amounted to 0,09 – 2.3 MHz and 100 – 400 K correspondingly. Analysis in terms of the Cole-Cole expression revealed that with increasing irradiation period the polarization and relaxation times decrease as a result of combination of nanoparticles. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the electric conductivity of samples, on the other hand, increases withmore » the increasing irradiation period. At low temperatures formations of clusters at three distinct states with different energies were resolved.« less

Electrical impedance spectroscopy for quality assessment of meat and fish: A review on basic principles, measurement methods, and recent advances

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), as an effective analytical technique for electrochemical system, has shown a wide application for food quality and safety assessment recently. Individual differences of livestock cause high variation in quality of raw meat and fish and their commercialized pr...

Acoustic dipole radiation based electrical impedance contrast imaging approach of magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction.

PubMed

Sun, Xiaodong; Fang, Dawei; Zhang, Dong; Ma, Qingyu

2013-05-01

the conductivity boundaries are displayed in stripes with different contrast and bipolar intensities. Layer effects are demonstrated to have little influence on the collected waveforms and the reconstructed images of the scanned layers for the two new models. The experimental results have good agreements with numerical simulations, and the reconstructed 2D images provide conductivity configurations in the scanned layers of the aluminum foil and the egg models. It can be concluded that the acoustic pressure of MAT-MI is produced by the divergence of the induced Lorentz force, and the collected waveforms comprise wave clusters with bipolar vibration phases and different amplitudes, providing the information of conductivity boundaries in the scanned layer. With the simplified back projection algorithm for diffraction sources, collected waveforms can be used to reconstruct 2D conductivity contrast image and the conductivity configuration in the scanned layer can be obtained in terms of shape and size in stripes with the spatial resolution of the acoustic wavelength. The favorable results further verify the validity and generality of the acoustic dipole radiation based theory and suggest the feasibility of MAT-MI as an effective electrical impedance contrast imaging approach for medical imaging.

[Monitoring of extra- and intra-cellular compartment through total body impedance (author's transl)].

PubMed

Raggueneau, J L; Gambini, D; Levante, A; Riche, F; de Vernejoul, P; Echter, E

1979-01-01

To evaluate the extra-cellular space, we measure the impedance (or resistance) of the extra-cellular electrolyte compartment with an alternating current at a fixed frequency of 5 kHz that can't pass through the cellular membrane. Total water is measured by the impedance to a current of 1 MHz which is conducted by extra and intra cellular hydro-electrolytic space. There is a good correlation between electrical impedance measurements and distribution of isotopic markers. The extra-cellular compartment was evaluated by diffusion of D.T.P.A. marked with 99mTc or with 111In and the total water by the diffusion of Antipyrin marked with 1,311 or 1,231. The findings indicate that there is not a significant difference between the results of the size of extra-cellular water measured by electrical impedance and D.T.P.A. diffusion (r = 0.75). Comparable results have been obtained in the determination of total water by electrical impedance measure and diffusion of Antipyrin (r = 0.90). We have also studied by method of electric impedance:--The state of hydratation in head injured patients and after pituitary surgery.--The lean body mass and hydro-electrolyte compartments in pregnancy. Electrical impedance measure seems to be a simple and reliable method to assess the hydric state of patients.

Electric-Field Sensing with a Scanning Fiber-Coupled Quantum Dot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cadeddu, D.; Munsch, M.; Rossi, N.; Gérard, J.-M.; Claudon, J.; Warburton, R. J.; Poggio, M.

2017-09-01

We demonstrate the application of a fiber-coupled quantum dot (QD) in a tip as a scanning probe for electric-field imaging. We map the out-of-plane component of the electric field induced by a pair of electrodes by the measurement of the quantum-confined Stark effect induced on a QD spectral line. Our results are in agreement with finite-element simulations of the experiment. Furthermore, we present results from analytic calculations and simulations which are relevant to any electric-field sensor embedded in a dielectric tip. In particular, we highlight the impact of the tip geometry on both the resolution and sensitivity.

Superconducting fault current-limiter with variable shunt impedance

DOEpatents

Llambes, Juan Carlos H; Xiong, Xuming

2013-11-19

A superconducting fault current-limiter is provided, including a superconducting element configured to resistively or inductively limit a fault current, and one or more variable-impedance shunts electrically coupled in parallel with the superconducting element. The variable-impedance shunt(s) is configured to present a first impedance during a superconducting state of the superconducting element and a second impedance during a normal resistive state of the superconducting element. The superconducting element transitions from the superconducting state to the normal resistive state responsive to the fault current, and responsive thereto, the variable-impedance shunt(s) transitions from the first to the second impedance. The second impedance of the variable-impedance shunt(s) is a lower impedance than the first impedance, which facilitates current flow through the variable-impedance shunt(s) during a recovery transition of the superconducting element from the normal resistive state to the superconducting state, and thus, facilitates recovery of the superconducting element under load.

Electric and dielectric behavior of copper-chromium layered double hydroxide intercalated with dodecyl sulfate anions using impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elhatimi, Wafaa; Bouragba, Fatima Zahra; Lahkale, Redouane; Sadik, Rachid; Lebbar, Nacira; Siniti, Mostapha; Sabbar, Elmouloudi

2018-05-01

The Cu2Cr-DS-LDH hybrid was successfully prepared by the anion exchange method at room temperature. The structure, the chemical composition and the physico-chemical properties of the sample were determined using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). In this work, the electrical and dielectric properties investigated are determined using impedance spectroscopy (IS) in a frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 MHz. Indeed, the Nyquist diagram modelized by an electrical equivalent circuit showed three contributions attributed respectively to the polarization of grains, grains boundaries and interface electrode-sample. This modelization allowed us to determine the intrinsic electrical parameters of the hybrid (resistance, pseudo-capacitance and relaxation time). The presence of the non-Debye relaxation phenomena was confirmed by the frequency analysis of impedance. Moreover, the evolution of the alternating current conductivity (σac) studied obeys the double power law of Jonscher. The ionic conduction of this material was generated through a jump movement by translation of the charge carriers. As for the dielectric behavior of the material, the evolution of dielectric constant as a function of frequency shows relatively high values in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 1 KHz. The low values of the loss tangent obtained in this frequency zone can valorize this LDH hybrid.

Dependence of Impedance of Embedded Single Cells on Cellular Behaviour.

PubMed

Cho, Sungbo; Castellarnau, Marc; Samitier, Josep; Thielecke, Hagen

2008-02-21

Non-invasive single cell analyses are increasingly required for the medicaldiagnostics of test substances or the development of drugs and therapies on the single celllevel. For the non-invasive characterisation of cells, impedance spectroscopy whichprovides the frequency dependent electrical properties has been used. Recently,microfludic systems have been investigated to manipulate the single cells and tocharacterise the electrical properties of embedded cells. In this article, the impedance ofpartially embedded single cells dependent on the cellular behaviour was investigated byusing the microcapillary. An analytical equation was derived to relate the impedance ofembedded cells with respect to the morphological and physiological change ofextracellular interface. The capillary system with impedance measurement showed afeasibility to monitor the impedance change of embedded single cells caused bymorphological and physiological change of cell during the addition of DMSO. By fittingthe derived equation to the measured impedance of cell embedded at different negativepressure levels, it was able to extrapolate the equivalent gap and gap conductivity betweenthe cell and capillary wall representing the cellular behaviour.

Microfluidic device for trapping and monitoring three dimensional multicell spheroids using electrical impedance spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Luongo, Kevin; Holton, Angela; Kaushik, Ajeet; Spence, Paige; Ng, Beng; Deschenes, Robert; Sundaram, Shankar; Bhansali, Shekhar

2013-01-01

In this paper, we report the design, fabrication, and testing of a lab-on-a-chip based microfluidic device for application of trapping and measuring the dielectric properties of microtumors over time using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) techniques were used to embed opposing electrodes onto the top and bottom surfaces of a microfluidic channel fabricated using Pyrex substrate, chrome gold, SU-8, and polydimethylsiloxane. Differing concentrations of cell culture medium, differing sized polystyrene beads, and MCF-7 microtumor spheroids were used to validate the designs ability to detect background conductivity changes and dielectric particle diameter changes between electrodes. The observed changes in cell medium concentrations demonstrated a linear relation to extracted solution resistance (Rs), while polystyrene beads and multicell spheroids induced changes in magnitude consistent with diameter increase. This design permits optical correlation between electrical measurements and EIS spectra. PMID:24404028

Lung volume changes during cleaning of closed endotracheal suction catheters: a randomized crossover study using electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Corley, Amanda; Sharpe, Nicola; Caruana, Lawrence R; Spooner, Amy J; Fraser, John F

2014-04-01

Airway suctioning in mechanically ventilated patients is required to maintain airway patency. Closed suction catheters (CSCs) minimize lung volume loss during suctioning but require cleaning post-suction. Despite their widespread use, there is no published evidence examining lung volumes during CSC cleaning. The study objectives were to quantify lung volume changes during CSC cleaning and to determine whether these changes were preventable using a CSC with a valve in situ between the airway and catheter cleaning chamber. This prospective randomized crossover study was conducted in a metropolitan tertiary ICU. Ten patients mechanically ventilated via volume-controlled synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV-VC) and requiring manual hyperinflation (MHI) were included in this study. CSC cleaning was performed using 2 different brands of CSC (one with a valve [Ballard Trach Care 72, Kimberly-Clark, Roswell, Georgia] and one without [Portex Steri-Cath DL, Smiths Medical, Dublin, Ohio]). The maneuvers were performed during both SIMV-VC and MHI. Lung volume change was measured via impedance change using electrical impedance tomography. A mixed model was used to compare the estimated means. During cleaning of the valveless CSC, significant decreases in lung impedance occurred during MHI (-2563 impedance units, 95% CI 2213-2913, P < .001), and significant increases in lung impedance occurred during SIMV (762 impedance units, 95% CI 452-1072, P < .001). In contrast, cleaning of the CSC with a valve in situ resulted in non-significant lung volume changes and maintenance of normal ventilation during MHI and SIMV-VC, respectively (188 impedance units, 95% CI -136 to 511, P = .22; and 22 impedance units, 95% CI -342 to 299, P = .89). When there is no valve between the airway and suction catheter, cleaning of the CSC results in significant derangements in lung volume. Therefore, the presence of such a valve should be considered essential in preserving lung volumes

Impedance and electric modulus approaches to investigate four origins of giant dielectric constant in CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Wen-Xiang

2012-03-01

The frequency dependence of electric modulus of polycrystalline CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) ceramics has been investigated. The experimental data have also been analyzed in the complex plane of impedance and electric modulus, and a suitable equivalent circuit has been proposed to explain the dielectric response. Four dielectric responses are first distinguished in the impedance and modulus spectroscopies. The results are well interpreted in terms of a triple insulating barrier capacitor model. Using this model, these four dielectric relaxations are attributed to the domain, domain-boundary, grain-boundary, and surface layer effects with three Maxwell-Wagner relaxations. Moreover, the values of the resistance and capacitance of bulk CCTO phase, domain-boundary, grain-boundary and surface layer contributions have been calculated directly from the peak characteristics of spectroscopic plots.

Reconstruction of apparent orthotropic conductivity tensor image using magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sajib, Saurav Z. K.; Kim, Ji Eun; Jeong, Woo Chul; Kim, Hyung Joong; Kwon, Oh In; Woo, Eung Je

2015-03-01

Magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography visualizes current density and/or conductivity distributions inside an electrically conductive object. Injecting currents into the imaging object along at least two different directions, induced magnetic flux density data can be measured using a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Without rotating the object inside the scanner, we can measure only one component of the magnetic flux density denoted as Bz. Since the biological tissues such as skeletal muscle and brain white matter show strong anisotropic properties, the reconstruction of anisotropic conductivity tensor is indispensable for the accurate observations in the biological systems. In this paper, we propose a direct method to reconstruct an axial apparent orthotropic conductivity tensor by using multiple Bz data subject to multiple injection currents. To investigate the anisotropic conductivity properties, we first recover the internal current density from the measured Bz data. From the recovered internal current density and the curl-free condition of the electric field, we derive an over-determined matrix system for determining the internal absolute orthotropic conductivity tensor. The over-determined matrix system is designed to use a combination of two loops around each pixel. Numerical simulations and phantom experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm stably determines the orthotropic conductivity tensor.

Magneto-acousto-electrical tomography: a potential method for imaging current density and electrical impedance.

PubMed

Haider, S; Hrbek, A; Xu, Y

2008-06-01

Primarily this report outlines our investigation on utilizing magneto-acousto-electrical-tomography (MAET) to image the lead field current density in volume conductors. A lead field current density distribution is obtained when a current/voltage source is applied to a sample via a pair of electrodes. This is the first time a high-spatial-resolution image of current density is presented using MAET. We also compare an experimental image of current density in a sample with its corresponding numerical simulation. To image the lead field current density, rather than applying a current/voltage source directly to the sample, we place the sample in a static magnetic field and focus an ultrasonic pulse on the sample to simulate a point-like current dipole source at the focal point. Then by using electrodes we measure the voltage/current signal which, based on the reciprocity theorem, is proportional to a component of the lead field current density. In the theory section, we derive the equation relating the measured voltage to the lead field current density and the displacement velocity caused by ultrasound. The experimental data include the MAET signal and an image of the lead field current density for a thin sample. In addition, we discuss the potential improvements for MAET especially to overcome the limitation created by the observation that no signal was detected from the interior of a region having a uniform conductivity. As an auxiliary we offer a mathematical formula whereby the lead field current density may be utilized to reconstruct the distribution of the electrical impedance in a piecewise smooth object.

Time-lapse electrical impedance spectroscopy for monitoring the cell cycle of single immobilized S. pombe cells

PubMed Central

Zhu, Zhen; Frey, Olivier; Haandbaek, Niels; Franke, Felix; Rudolf, Fabian; Hierlemann, Andreas

2015-01-01

As a complement and alternative to optical methods, wide-band electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) enables multi-parameter, label-free and real-time detection of cellular and subcellular features. We report on a microfluidics-based system designed to reliably capture single rod-shaped Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells by applying suction through orifices in a channel wall. The system enables subsequent culturing of immobilized cells in an upright position, while dynamic changes in cell-cycle state and morphology were continuously monitored through EIS over a broad frequency range. Besides measuring cell growth, clear impedance signals for nuclear division have been obtained. The EIS system has been characterized with respect to sensitivity and detection limits. The spatial resolution in measuring cell length was 0.25 μm, which corresponds to approximately a 5-min interval of cell growth under standard conditions. The comprehensive impedance data sets were also used to determine the occurrence of nuclear division and cytokinesis. The obtained results have been validated through concurrent confocal imaging and plausibilized through comparison with finite-element modeling data. The possibility to monitor cellular and intracellular features of single S. pombe cells during the cell cycle at high spatiotemporal resolution renders the presented microfluidics-based EIS system a suitable tool for dynamic single-cell investigations. PMID:26608589

Time-lapse electrical impedance spectroscopy for monitoring the cell cycle of single immobilized S. pombe cells.

PubMed

Zhu, Zhen; Frey, Olivier; Haandbaek, Niels; Franke, Felix; Rudolf, Fabian; Hierlemann, Andreas

2015-11-26

As a complement and alternative to optical methods, wide-band electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) enables multi-parameter, label-free and real-time detection of cellular and subcellular features. We report on a microfluidics-based system designed to reliably capture single rod-shaped Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells by applying suction through orifices in a channel wall. The system enables subsequent culturing of immobilized cells in an upright position, while dynamic changes in cell-cycle state and morphology were continuously monitored through EIS over a broad frequency range. Besides measuring cell growth, clear impedance signals for nuclear division have been obtained. The EIS system has been characterized with respect to sensitivity and detection limits. The spatial resolution in measuring cell length was 0.25 μm, which corresponds to approximately a 5-min interval of cell growth under standard conditions. The comprehensive impedance data sets were also used to determine the occurrence of nuclear division and cytokinesis. The obtained results have been validated through concurrent confocal imaging and plausibilized through comparison with finite-element modeling data. The possibility to monitor cellular and intracellular features of single S. pombe cells during the cell cycle at high spatiotemporal resolution renders the presented microfluidics-based EIS system a suitable tool for dynamic single-cell investigations.

Detection of thoracic vascular structures by electrical impedance tomography: a systematic assessment of prominence peak analysis of impedance changes.

PubMed

Wodack, K H; Buehler, S; Nishimoto, S A; Graessler, M F; Behem, C R; Waldmann, A D; Mueller, B; Böhm, S H; Kaniusas, E; Thürk, F; Maerz, A; Trepte, C J C; Reuter, D A

2018-02-28

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive and radiation-free bedside monitoring technology, primarily used to monitor lung function. First experimental data shows that the descending aorta can be detected at different thoracic heights and might allow the assessment of central hemodynamics, i.e. stroke volume and pulse transit time. First, the feasibility of localizing small non-conductive objects within a saline phantom model was evaluated. Second, this result was utilized for the detection of the aorta by EIT in ten anesthetized pigs with comparison to thoracic computer tomography (CT). Two EIT belts were placed at different thoracic positions and a bolus of hypertonic saline (10 ml, 20%) was administered into the ascending aorta while EIT data were recorded. EIT images were reconstructed using the GREIT model, based on the individual's thoracic contours. The resulting EIT images were analyzed pixel by pixel to identify the aortic pixel, in which the bolus caused the highest transient impedance peak in time. In the phantom, small objects could be located at each position with a maximal deviation of 0.71 cm. In vivo, no significant differences between the aorta position measured by EIT and the anatomical aorta location were obtained for both measurement planes if the search was restricted to the dorsal thoracic region of interest (ROIs). It is possible to detect the descending aorta at different thoracic levels by EIT using an intra-aortic bolus of hypertonic saline. No significant differences in the position of the descending aorta on EIT images compared to CT images were obtained for both EIT belts.

The radiation impedance of an electrodynamic tether with end connectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hastings, Daniel E.; Wang, J.

1987-01-01

Electrodynamic tethers are wires deployed across the earth's geomagnetic field through which a current is flowing. The radiation impedance of a tether with end connectors carrying an ac current is computed from classical antenna theory. This simulates the use of a tether on a space structure. It is shown that the current flow pattern at the tether connector is critical to determining the overall radiation impedance. If the tether makes direct electrical contact with the ionosphere then radiation impedances of the order of several thousand Ohms can be expected. If the only electrical contact is through the end connectors then the impedance is only a few Ohms for a dc current rising to several tens of Ohms for an ac current with frequencies in the whistler range.

Bias Voltage-Dependent Impedance Spectroscopy Analysis of Hydrothermally Synthesized ZnS Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dey, Arka; Dhar, Joydeep; Sil, Sayantan; Jana, Rajkumar; Ray, Partha Pratim

2018-04-01

In this report, bias voltage-dependent dielectric and electron transport properties of ZnS nanoparticles were discussed. ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by introducing a modified hydrothermal process. The powder XRD pattern indicates the phase purity, and field emission scanning electron microscope image demonstrates the morphology of the synthesized sample. The optical band gap energy (E g = 4.2 eV) from UV measurement explores semiconductor behavior of the synthesized material. The electrical properties were performed at room temperature using complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) technique as a function of frequency (40 Hz-10 MHz) under different forward dc bias voltages (0-1 V). The CIS analysis demonstrates the contribution of bulk resistance in conduction mechanism and its dependency on forward dc bias voltages. The imaginary part of the impedance versus frequency curve exhibits the existence of relaxation peak which shifts with increasing dc forward bias voltages. The dc bias voltage-dependent ac and dc conductivity of the synthesized ZnS was studied on thin film structure. A possible hopping mechanism for electrical transport processes in the system was investigated. Finally, it is worth to mention that this analysis of bias voltage-dependent dielectric and transport properties of as-synthesized ZnS showed excellent properties for emerging energy applications.

Improvement of Depth Profiling into Biotissues Using Micro Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy on a Needle with Selective Passivation

PubMed Central

Yun, Joho; Kim, Hyeon Woo; Lee, Jong-Hyun

2016-01-01

A micro electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-on-a-needle for depth profiling (μEoN-DP) with a selective passivation layer (SPL) on a hypodermic needle was recently fabricated to measure the electrical impedance of biotissues along with the penetration depths. The SPL of the μEoN-DP enabled the sensing interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) to contribute predominantly to the measurement by reducing the relative influence of the connection lines on the sensor output. The discrimination capability of the μEoN-DP was verified using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at various concentration levels. The resistance and capacitance extracted through curve fitting were similar to those theoretically estimated based on the mixing ratio of PBS and deionized water; the maximum discrepancies were 8.02% and 1.85%, respectively. Depth profiling was conducted using four-layered porcine tissue to verify the effectiveness of the discrimination capability of the μEoN-DP. The magnitude and phase between dissimilar porcine tissues (fat and muscle) were clearly discriminated at the optimal frequency of 1 MHz. Two kinds of simulations, one with SPL and the other with complete passivation layer (CPL), were performed, and it was verified that the SPL was advantageous over CPL in the discrimination of biotissues in terms of sensor output. PMID:28009845

Improvement of Depth Profiling into Biotissues Using Micro Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy on a Needle with Selective Passivation.

PubMed

Yun, Joho; Kim, Hyeon Woo; Lee, Jong-Hyun

2016-12-21

A micro electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-on-a-needle for depth profiling (μEoN-DP) with a selective passivation layer (SPL) on a hypodermic needle was recently fabricated to measure the electrical impedance of biotissues along with the penetration depths. The SPL of the μEoN-DP enabled the sensing interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) to contribute predominantly to the measurement by reducing the relative influence of the connection lines on the sensor output. The discrimination capability of the μEoN-DP was verified using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at various concentration levels. The resistance and capacitance extracted through curve fitting were similar to those theoretically estimated based on the mixing ratio of PBS and deionized water; the maximum discrepancies were 8.02% and 1.85%, respectively. Depth profiling was conducted using four-layered porcine tissue to verify the effectiveness of the discrimination capability of the μEoN-DP. The magnitude and phase between dissimilar porcine tissues (fat and muscle) were clearly discriminated at the optimal frequency of 1 MHz. Two kinds of simulations, one with SPL and the other with complete passivation layer (CPL), were performed, and it was verified that the SPL was advantageous over CPL in the discrimination of biotissues in terms of sensor output.

Sensitivity study of an ultrasound coupled transrectal electrical Impedance Tomography system for prostate imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Y.; Halter, R.; Borsic, A.; Manwaring, P.; Hartov, A.; Paulsen, K.

2010-04-01

In 2009, prostate cancer ranks as the most common cancer and the second most fatal cancer in men in the United States. Unfortunately, the current clinical diagnostic methods (e.g. prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination, endorectal MRI, transrectal ultrasound, biopsy) used for detecting and staging prostate cancer are limited. It has been shown that cancerous prostate tissue has significantly different electrical properties when compared to benign tissues. Based on these electrical property findings, a TransRectal Electrical Impedance Tomography (TREIT) system is proposed as a novel prostate imaging modality. The TREIT system is comprised of an array of electrodes interfaced with a clinical TransRectal UltraSound (TRUS) probe. We evaluate this imaging system through series of phantom imaging experiments to assess the system's ability to image high and low contrast objects at various positions. We found that the TREIT system can easily discern high contrast inclusions of 1 cm in diameter at distances centered at 2 times the radius of the TREIT probe away from the probe surface. Furthermore, this technology's ability to detect low contrast inclusions suggests that it has the potential to successfully detect prostate cancer.

Characterisation of CFRP adhesive bonds by electromechanical impedance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinowski, Pawel H.; Wandowski, Tomasz; Ostachowicz, Wieslaw M.

2014-03-01

In aircraft industry the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) elements are joint using rivets and adhesive bonding. The reliability of the bonding limits the use of adhesive bonding for primary aircraft structures, therefore it is important to assess the bond quality. The performance of adhesive bonds depends on the physico-chemical properties of the adhered surfaces. The contamination leading to weak bonds may have various origin and be caused by moisture, release agent, hydraulic fluid, fuel, poor curing of adhesive and so on. In this research three different causes of possible weak bonds were selected for the investigation: 1. Weak bond due to release agent contamination, 2. Weak bond due to moisture contamination, 3. Weak bond due to poor curing of the adhesive. In order to assess the bond quality electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique was selected and investigation was focused on the influence of bond quality on electrical impedance of piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer was mounted at the middle of each sample surface. Measurements were conducted using HIOKI Impedance Analyzer IM3570. Using the impedance analyzer the electrical parameters were measured for wide frequency band. Due to piezoelectric effect the electrical response of a piezoelectric transducer is related to mechanical response of the sample to which the transducers is attached. The impedance spectra were investigated in order to find indication of the weak bonds. These spectra were compared with measurements for reference sample using indexes proposed in order to assess the bond quality.

Reconstruction of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images based on the expectation maximum (EM) method.

PubMed

Wang, Qi; Wang, Huaxiang; Cui, Ziqiang; Yang, Chengyi

2012-11-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) calculates the internal conductivity distribution within a body using electrical contact measurements. The image reconstruction for EIT is an inverse problem, which is both non-linear and ill-posed. The traditional regularization method cannot avoid introducing negative values in the solution. The negativity of the solution produces artifacts in reconstructed images in presence of noise. A statistical method, namely, the expectation maximization (EM) method, is used to solve the inverse problem for EIT in this paper. The mathematical model of EIT is transformed to the non-negatively constrained likelihood minimization problem. The solution is obtained by the gradient projection-reduced Newton (GPRN) iteration method. This paper also discusses the strategies of choosing parameters. Simulation and experimental results indicate that the reconstructed images with higher quality can be obtained by the EM method, compared with the traditional Tikhonov and conjugate gradient (CG) methods, even with non-negative processing. Copyright © 2012 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

J-substitution algorithm in magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT): phantom experiments for static resistivity images.

PubMed

Khang, Hyun Soo; Lee, Byung Il; Oh, Suk Hoon; Woo, Eung Je; Lee, Soo Yeol; Cho, Min Hyoung; Kwon, Ohin; Yoon, Jeong Rock; Seo, Jin Keun

2002-06-01

Recently, a new static resistivity image reconstruction algorithm is proposed utilizing internal current density data obtained by magnetic resonance current density imaging technique. This new imaging method is called magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT). The derivation and performance of J-substitution algorithm in MREIT have been reported as a new accurate and high-resolution static impedance imaging technique via computer simulation methods. In this paper, we present experimental procedures, denoising techniques, and image reconstructions using a 0.3-tesla (T) experimental MREIT system and saline phantoms. MREIT using J-substitution algorithm effectively utilizes the internal current density information resolving the problem inherent in a conventional EIT, that is, the low sensitivity of boundary measurements to any changes of internal tissue resistivity values. Resistivity images of saline phantoms show an accuracy of 6.8%-47.2% and spatial resolution of 64 x 64. Both of them can be significantly improved by using an MRI system with a better signal-to-noise ratio.

Scattering by a groove in an impedance plane

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bindiganavale, Sunil; Volakis, John L.

1993-01-01

An analysis of two-dimensional scattering from a narrow groove in an impedance plane is presented. The groove is represented by a impedance surface and the problem reduces to that of scattering from an impedance strip in an otherwise uniform impedance plane. On the basis of this model, appropriate integral equations are constructed using a form of the impedance plane Green's functions involving rapidly convergent integrals. The integral equations are solved by introducing a single basis representation of the equivalent current on the narrow impedance insert. Both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations are treated. The resulting solution is validated by comparison with results from the standard boundary integral method (BIM) and a high frequency solution. It is found that the presented solution for narrow impedance inserts can be used in conjunction with the high frequency solution for the characterization of impedance inserts of any given width.

An Effective Measured Data Preprocessing Method in Electrical Impedance Tomography

PubMed Central

Yu, Chenglong; Yue, Shihong; Wang, Jianpei; Wang, Huaxiang

2014-01-01

As an advanced process detection technology, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has widely been paid attention to and studied in the industrial fields. But the EIT techniques are greatly limited to the low spatial resolutions. This problem may result from the incorrect preprocessing of measuring data and lack of general criterion to evaluate different preprocessing processes. In this paper, an EIT data preprocessing method is proposed by all rooting measured data and evaluated by two constructed indexes based on all rooted EIT measured data. By finding the optimums of the two indexes, the proposed method can be applied to improve the EIT imaging spatial resolutions. In terms of a theoretical model, the optimal rooting times of the two indexes range in [0.23, 0.33] and in [0.22, 0.35], respectively. Moreover, these factors that affect the correctness of the proposed method are generally analyzed. The measuring data preprocessing is necessary and helpful for any imaging process. Thus, the proposed method can be generally and widely used in any imaging process. Experimental results validate the two proposed indexes. PMID:25165735

Dependence of Impedance of Embedded Single Cells on Cellular Behaviour

PubMed Central

Cho, Sungbo; Castellarnau, Marc; Samitier, Josep; Thielecke, Hagen

2008-01-01

Non-invasive single cell analyses are increasingly required for the medical diagnostics of test substances or the development of drugs and therapies on the single cell level. For the non-invasive characterisation of cells, impedance spectroscopy which provides the frequency dependent electrical properties has been used. Recently, microfludic systems have been investigated to manipulate the single cells and to characterise the electrical properties of embedded cells. In this article, the impedance of partially embedded single cells dependent on the cellular behaviour was investigated by using the microcapillary. An analytical equation was derived to relate the impedance of embedded cells with respect to the morphological and physiological change of extracellular interface. The capillary system with impedance measurement showed a feasibility to monitor the impedance change of embedded single cells caused by morphological and physiological change of cell during the addition of DMSO. By fitting the derived equation to the measured impedance of cell embedded at different negative pressure levels, it was able to extrapolate the equivalent gap and gap conductivity between the cell and capillary wall representing the cellular behaviour. PMID:27879760

Determination of Cole-Cole parameters using only the real part of electrical impedivity measurements.

PubMed

Miranda, David A; Rivera, S A López

2008-05-01

An algorithm is presented to determine the Cole-Cole parameters of electrical impedivity using only measurements of its real part. The algorithm is based on two multi-fold direct inversion methods for the Cole-Cole and Debye equations, respectively, and a genetic algorithm for the optimization of the mean square error between experimental and calculated data. The algorithm has been developed to obtain the Cole-Cole parameters from experimental data, which were used to screen cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia. The proposed algorithm was compared with different numerical integrations of the Kramers-Kronig relation and the result shows that this algorithm is the best. A high immunity to noise was obtained.

Application of conformal transformation to elliptic geometry for electric impedance tomography.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Atila; Akdoğan, Kurtuluş E; Saka, Birsen

2008-03-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a medical imaging modality that is used to compute the conductivity distribution through measurements on the cross-section of a body part. An elliptic geometry model, which defines a more general frame, ensures more accurate results in reconstruction and assessment of inhomogeneities inside. This study provides a link between the analytical solutions defined in circular and elliptical geometries on the basis of the computation of conformal mapping. The results defined as voltage distributions for the homogeneous case in elliptic and circular geometries have been compared with those obtained by the use of conformal transformation between elliptical and well-known circular geometry. The study also includes the results of the finite element method (FEM) as another approach for more complex geometries for the comparison of performance in other complex scenarios for eccentric inhomogeneities. The study emphasizes that for the elliptic case the analytical solution with conformal transformation is a reliable and useful tool for developing insight into more complex forms including eccentric inhomogeneities.

Regional distribution of ventilation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: the role of thoracic electrical impedance tomography (EIT) monitoring.

PubMed

Bongiovanni, Filippo; Mura, Benedetta; Tagliaferri, Chiara; Bisanti, Alessandra; Testani, Elisa; Maviglia, Riccardo; Della Marca, Giacomo

2016-12-01

The aim of our study was to apply the electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technique to the study of ventilation during wake and NREM and REM sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apneas (OSA). This is a prospective, observational, monocentric, pilot study in a neurology department with a sleep disorder center. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, both gender, and diagnosis of OSA. Exclusion criteria were the contraindications to the thoracic EIT. All patients underwent laboratory-based polysomnography (PSG) alongside thoracic EIT. Primary endpoint was to compare the global impedance (GI) among the conditions: "Wake" vs "Sleep," "NREM" vs "REM," and "OSA" vs "Non-OSA." Secondary endpoint was to measure the regional distribution of impedance in the four regions of interest (ROIs), in each condition. Of the 17 consecutive patients enrolled, two were excluded because of poor-quality EIT tracings. Fifteen were analyzed, 10 men and 5 women, mean age 51.6 ± 14.4 years. GI was higher in Wake vs Sleep (Wake 13.24 ± 11.23; Sleep 12.56 ± 13.36; p < 0.01), in NREM vs REM (NREM 13.48 ± 13.43; REM 0.59 ± 0.01; p < 0.01), and in Non-OSA vs OSA (Non-OSA 10.50 ± 12.99; OSA 18.98 ± 10.06; p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in the regional distribution of impedance between Wake and Sleep (χ 2  = 3.66; p = 0.299) and between Non-OSA and OSA (χ 2  = 1.00; p = 0.799); conversely, a significant difference was observed between NREM and REM sleep (χ 2  = 62.94; p < 0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first study that addresses the issue of regional ventilation in OSA patients during sleep. Thoracic electrical impedance changes through the sleep-wake cycle and during obstructive events. The application of thoracic EIT can prove a valuable additional strategy for the evaluation of OSA patients.

[Research on respiration course of human at different postures by electrical impedance tomography].

PubMed

Chen, Xiaoyan; Wu, Jun; Wang, Huaxiang; Li, Da

2010-10-01

In this paper, the respiration courses of human at different postures are reconstructed by electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Conjugate gradient least squares (CGLS) algorithm is applied to reconstruct the resistivity distribution during respiration courses, and the EIT images taken from human at flat lying, left lying, right lying, sitting and prone postures are reconstructed and compared. The relative changes of the resistivity in region of interest (ROI) are analyzed to evidence the influences caused by different postures. Results show that the changes in postures are the most influential factors for the reconstructions, and the EIT images vary with the postures. In human at flat-lying posture, the left and right lungs have larger pulmonary ventilation volume simultaneously, and the EIT-measured data are of lower variability.

Dynamic imaging in electrical impedance tomography of the human chest with online transition matrix identification.

PubMed

Moura, Fernando Silva; Aya, Julio Cesar Ceballos; Fleury, Agenor Toledo; Amato, Marcelo Britto Passos; Lima, Raul Gonzalez

2010-02-01

One of the electrical impedance tomography objectives is to estimate the electrical resistivity distribution in a domain based only on electrical potential measurements at its boundary generated by an imposed electrical current distribution into the boundary. One of the methods used in dynamic estimation is the Kalman filter. In biomedical applications, the random walk model is frequently used as evolution model and, under this conditions, poor tracking ability of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is achieved. An analytically developed evolution model is not feasible at this moment. The paper investigates the identification of the evolution model in parallel to the EKF and updating the evolution model with certain periodicity. The evolution model transition matrix is identified using the history of the estimated resistivity distribution obtained by a sensitivity matrix based algorithm and a Newton-Raphson algorithm. To numerically identify the linear evolution model, the Ibrahim time-domain method is used. The investigation is performed by numerical simulations of a domain with time-varying resistivity and by experimental data collected from the boundary of a human chest during normal breathing. The obtained dynamic resistivity values lie within the expected values for the tissues of a human chest. The EKF results suggest that the tracking ability is significantly improved with this approach.

Optical Breast Shape Capture and Finite Element Mesh Generation for Electrical Impedance Tomography

PubMed Central

Forsyth, J.; Borsic, A.; Halter, R.J.; Hartov, A.; Paulsen, K.D.

2011-01-01

X-Ray mammography is the standard for breast cancer screening. The development of alternative imaging modalities is desirable because Mammograms expose patients to ionizing radiation. Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) may be used to determine tissue conductivity, a property which is an indicator of cancer presence. EIT is also a low-cost imaging solution and does not involve ionizing radiation. In breast EIT, impedance measurements are made using electrodes placed on the surface of the patient’s breast. The complex conductivity of the volume of the breast is estimated by a reconstruction algorithm. EIT reconstruction is a severely ill-posed inverse problem. As a result, noisy instrumentation and incorrect modelling of the electrodes and domain shape produce significant image artefacts. In this paper, we propose a method that has the potential to reduce these errors by accurately modelling the patient breast shape. A 3D hand-held optical scanner is used to acquire the breast geometry and electrode positions. We develop methods for processing the data from the scanner and producing volume meshes accurately matching the breast surface and electrode locations, which can be used for image reconstruction. We demonstrate this method for a plaster breast phantom and a human subject. Using this approach will allow patient-specific finite element meshes to be generated which has the potential to improve the clinical value of EIT for breast cancer diagnosis. PMID:21646711

Quantum optics in a high impedance environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puertas, Javier; Gheeraert, Nicolas; Krupko, Yuriy; Dassonneville, Remy; Planat, Luca; Foroughui, Farshad; Naud, Cecile; Guichard, Wiebke; Buisson, Olivier; Florens, Serge; Roch, Nicolas; Snyman, Izak

Understanding light matter interaction remains a key topic in fundamental physics. Its strength is imposed by the fine structure constant, α. For most atomic and molecular systems α =e2/ℏc 4 πɛo = 1 / 137 << 1 , giving weak interactions. When dealing with superconducting artificial atoms, α is either proportional to 1 /Zc (magnetic coupling) or Zc (electric coupling), where Zc is the characteristic impedance of the environment. Recent experiments followed the first approach, coupling a flux qubit to a low impedance environment, demonstrating strong interaction (α 1). In our work, we reached the large α regime, following a complementary approach: we couple electrically a transmon qubit to an array of 5000 SQUIDs. This metamaterial provides high characteristic impedance ( 3 kΩ), in-situ flux tunability and full control over its dispersion relation. In this new regime, all usual approximations break down and new phenomena such as frequency conversion at the single photon level are expected.

Electric impedance sensing in cell-substrates for rapid and selective multipotential differentiation capacity monitoring of human mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

Reitinger, Stephan; Wissenwasser, Jürgen; Kapferer, Werner; Heer, Rudolf; Lepperdinger, Günter

2012-04-15

Biosensor systems which enable impedance measurements on adherent cell layers under label-free conditions are considered powerful tools for monitoring specific biological characteristics. A radio frequency identification-based sensor platform was adopted to characterize cultivation and differentiation of human bone marrow-derived multipotent stem cells (bmMSC) over periods of up to several days and weeks. Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing was achieved through fabrication of sensitive elements onto glass substrates which comprised two comb-shaped interdigitated gold electrodes covering an area of 1.8 mm×2 mm. The sensing systems were placed into the wells of a 6-well tissue culture plate, stacked onto a reader unit and could thus be handled and operated under sterile conditions. Continuous measurements were carried out with a sinusoidal voltage of 35 mV at a frequency of 10 kHz. After seeding of human bmMSC, this sensor was able to trace significant impedance changes contingent upon cell spreading and adhesion. The re-usable system was further proven suitable for live examination of cell-substrate attachment or continuous cell monitoring up to several weeks. Induction of either osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation could be validated in bmMSC cultures within a few days, in contrast to state-of-the-art protocols, which require several weeks of cultivation time. In the context of medical cell production in a GMP-compliant process, the here presented interdigitated electric microsensor technology allows the documentation of MSC quality in a fast, efficient and reliable fashion. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An Effective Electrical Resonance-Based Method to Detect Delamination in Thermal Barrier Coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jong Min; Park, Jae-Ha; Lee, Ho Girl; Kim, Hak-Joon; Song, Sung-Jin; Seok, Chang-Sung; Lee, Young-Ze

2017-12-01

This research proposes a simple yet highly sensitive method based on electrical resonance of an eddy-current probe to detect delamination of thermal barrier coating (TBC). This method can directly measure the mechanical characteristics of TBC compared to conventional ultrasonic testing and infrared thermography methods. The electrical resonance-based method can detect the delamination of TBC from the metallic bond coat by shifting the electrical impedance of eddy current testing (ECT) probe coupling with degraded TBC, and, due to this shift, the resonant frequencies near the peak impedance of ECT probe revealed high sensitivity to the delamination. In order to verify the performance of the proposed method, a simple experiment is performed with degraded TBC specimens by thermal cyclic exposure. Consequently, the delamination with growth of thermally grown oxide in a TBC system is experimentally identified. Additionally, the results are in good agreement with the results obtained from ultrasonic C-scanning.

An Effective Electrical Resonance-Based Method to Detect Delamination in Thermal Barrier Coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jong Min; Park, Jae-Ha; Lee, Ho Girl; Kim, Hak-Joon; Song, Sung-Jin; Seok, Chang-Sung; Lee, Young-Ze

2018-02-01

This research proposes a simple yet highly sensitive method based on electrical resonance of an eddy-current probe to detect delamination of thermal barrier coating (TBC). This method can directly measure the mechanical characteristics of TBC compared to conventional ultrasonic testing and infrared thermography methods. The electrical resonance-based method can detect the delamination of TBC from the metallic bond coat by shifting the electrical impedance of eddy current testing (ECT) probe coupling with degraded TBC, and, due to this shift, the resonant frequencies near the peak impedance of ECT probe revealed high sensitivity to the delamination. In order to verify the performance of the proposed method, a simple experiment is performed with degraded TBC specimens by thermal cyclic exposure. Consequently, the delamination with growth of thermally grown oxide in a TBC system is experimentally identified. Additionally, the results are in good agreement with the results obtained from ultrasonic C-scanning.

A power saving protocol for impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bîrlea, Nicolae Marius

2017-12-01

Because power saving is a main concern of wearable devices we present here a transient method with a low power demand for impedance spectroscopy of the skin, but the idea is valid for other test materials. The used signal is an electrical pulse (the ON period) followed by a pause (the OFF period) when the electrodes do not consume current from the power supply. The method has the advantage of being able to measure at once the frequency characteristics of the impedance and is well suited for the time varying bioimpedance. In addition, this kind of measurement creates a more direct and explicit relationship between the lumped elements of the electrical model and the measured signal.

A partially reflecting random walk on spheres algorithm for electrical impedance tomography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maire, Sylvain, E-mail: maire@univ-tln.fr; Simon, Martin, E-mail: simon@math.uni-mainz.de

2015-12-15

In this work, we develop a probabilistic estimator for the voltage-to-current map arising in electrical impedance tomography. This novel so-called partially reflecting random walk on spheres estimator enables Monte Carlo methods to compute the voltage-to-current map in an embarrassingly parallel manner, which is an important issue with regard to the corresponding inverse problem. Our method uses the well-known random walk on spheres algorithm inside subdomains where the diffusion coefficient is constant and employs replacement techniques motivated by finite difference discretization to deal with both mixed boundary conditions and interface transmission conditions. We analyze the global bias and the variance ofmore » the new estimator both theoretically and experimentally. Subsequently, the variance of the new estimator is considerably reduced via a novel control variate conditional sampling technique which yields a highly efficient hybrid forward solver coupling probabilistic and deterministic algorithms.« less

Detection and quantification of intraperitoneal fluid using electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Sadleir, R J; Fox, R A

2001-04-01

A prototype electrical impedance tomography system was evaluated prior to its use for the detection of intraperitoneal bleeding, with the assistance of patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The system was sensitive enough to detect small amounts of dialysis fluid appearing in subtractive images over short time periods. Uniform sensitivity to blood appearing anywhere within the abdominal cavity was produced using a post-reconstructive filter that corrected for changes in apparent resistivity of anomalies with their radial position. The image parameter used as an indication of fluid quantity, the resistivity index, varied approximately linearly with the quantity of fluid added. A test of the system's response to the introduction of conductive fluid out of the electrode plane (when a blood-equivalent fluid was added to the stomach) found that the sensitivity of the system was about half that observed in the electrode plane. Breathing artifacts were found to upset quantitative monitoring of intraperitoneal bleeding, but only on time scales short compared with the fluid administration rate. Longer term breathing changes, such as those due to variations in the functional residual capacity of the lungs, should ultimately limit the sensitivity over long time periods.

Wearable sensors for patient-specific boundary shape estimation to improve the forward model for electrical impedance tomography (EIT) of neonatal lung function.

PubMed

Khor, Joo Moy; Tizzard, Andrew; Demosthenous, Andreas; Bayford, Richard

2014-06-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) could be significantly advantageous to continuous monitoring of lung development in newborn and, in particular, preterm infants as it is non-invasive and safe to use within the intensive care unit. It has been demonstrated that accurate boundary form of the forward model is important to minimize artefacts in reconstructed electrical impedance images. This paper presents the outcomes of initial investigations for acquiring patient-specific thorax boundary information using a network of flexible sensors that imposes no restrictions on the patient's normal breathing and movements. The investigations include: (1) description of the basis of the reconstruction algorithms, (2) tests to determine a minimum number of bend sensors, (3) validation of two approaches to reconstruction and (4) an example of a commercially available bend sensor and its performance. Simulation results using ideal sensors show that, in the worst case, a total shape error of less than 6% with respect to its total perimeter can be achieved.

Electrical impedance spectroscopy of neutron-irradiated nanocrystalline silicon carbide (3C-SiC)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huseynov, Elchin M.

2018-01-01

It the present work, impedance spectra of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC particles have been comparatively analyzed before and after neutron irradiation. Resonance states and shifts were observed at the impedance spectra of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC particles after neutron irradiation. Relaxation time has been calculated from interdependence of real and imaginary parts of impedance of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC particles. Calculated relaxation times have been investigated as a function of neutron irradiation period. Neutron transmutation (31P isotopes production) effects on the impedance spectra and relaxation times have been studied. Moreover, influence of agglomeration and amorphous transformation to the impedance spectra and relaxation times of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC particles have been investigated.

Quantum dots conjugated zinc oxide nanosheets: Impeder of microbial growth and biofilm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patil, Rajendra; Gholap, Haribhau; Warule, Sambhaji; Banpurkar, Arun; Kulkarni, Gauri; Gade, Wasudeo

2015-01-01

The grieving problem of the 21st century has been the antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic microorganisms to conventional antibiotics. Therefore, developments of novel antibacterial materials which effectively inhibit or kill such resistant microorganisms have become the need of the hour. In the present study, we communicate the synthesis of quantum dots conjugated zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO/CdTe) as an impeder of microbial growth and biofilm. The as-synthesized nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The growth impedance property of ZnO and ZnO/CdTe on Gram positive organism, Bacillus subtilis NCIM 2063 and Gram negative, Escherichia coli NCIM 2931 and biofilm impedance activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa O1 was found to occur due to photocatalytical action on the cell biofilm surfaces. The impedance in microbial growth and biofilm formation was further supported by ruptured appearances of cells and dettrered biofilm under field emission scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscope. The ZnO/CdTe nanostructures array synthesized by hydrothermal method has an advantage of low growth temperature, and opportunity to fabricate inexpensive material for nano-biotechnological applications.

Self-sensing cantilevers with integrated conductive coaxial tips for high-resolution electrical scanning probe metrology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haemmerli, Alexandre J.; Pruitt, Beth L., E-mail: pruitt@stanford.edu; Harjee, Nahid

The lateral resolution of many electrical scanning probe techniques is limited by the spatial extent of the electrostatic potential profiles produced by their probes. Conventional unshielded conductive atomic force microscopy probes produce broad potential profiles. Shielded probes could offer higher resolution and easier data interpretation in the study of nanostructures. Electrical scanning probe techniques require a method of locating structures of interest, often by mapping surface topography. As the samples studied with these techniques are often photosensitive, the typical laser measurement of cantilever deflection can excite the sample, causing undesirable changes electrical properties. In this work, we present the design,more » fabrication, and characterization of probes that integrate coaxial tips for spatially sharp potential profiles with piezoresistors for self-contained, electrical displacement sensing. With the apex 100 nm above the sample surface, the electrostatic potential profile produced by our coaxial tips is more than 2 times narrower than that of unshielded tips with no long tails. In a scan bandwidth of 1 Hz–10 kHz, our probes have a displacement resolution of 2.9 Å at 293 K and 79 Å at 2 K, where the low-temperature performance is limited by amplifier noise. We show scanning gate microscopy images of a quantum point contact obtained with our probes, highlighting the improvement to lateral resolution resulting from the coaxial tip.« less

Wavelet-based multiscale analysis of bioimpedance data measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing for classification of cancerous and normal cells.

PubMed

Das, Debanjan; Shiladitya, Kumar; Biswas, Karabi; Dutta, Pranab Kumar; Parekh, Aditya; Mandal, Mahitosh; Das, Soumen

2015-12-01

The paper presents a study to differentiate normal and cancerous cells using label-free bioimpedance signal measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. The real-time-measured bioimpedance data of human breast cancer cells and human epithelial normal cells employs fluctuations of impedance value due to cellular micromotions resulting from dynamic structural rearrangement of membrane protrusions under nonagitated condition. Here, a wavelet-based multiscale quantitative analysis technique has been applied to analyze the fluctuations in bioimpedance. The study demonstrates a method to classify cancerous and normal cells from the signature of their impedance fluctuations. The fluctuations associated with cellular micromotion are quantified in terms of cellular energy, cellular power dissipation, and cellular moments. The cellular energy and power dissipation are found higher for cancerous cells associated with higher micromotions in cancer cells. The initial study suggests that proposed wavelet-based quantitative technique promises to be an effective method to analyze real-time bioimpedance signal for distinguishing cancer and normal cells.

Organic electrochemical transistors for cell-based impedance sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivnay, Jonathan; Ramuz, Marc; Leleux, Pierre; Hama, Adel; Huerta, Miriam; Owens, Roisin M.

2015-01-01

Electrical impedance sensing of biological systems, especially cultured epithelial cell layers, is now a common technique to monitor cell motion, morphology, and cell layer/tissue integrity for high throughput toxicology screening. Existing methods to measure electrical impedance most often rely on a two electrode configuration, where low frequency signals are challenging to obtain for small devices and for tissues with high resistance, due to low current. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are conducting polymer-based devices, which have been shown to efficiently transduce and amplify low-level ionic fluxes in biological systems into electronic output signals. In this work, we combine OECT-based drain current measurements with simultaneous measurement of more traditional impedance sensing using the gate current to produce complex impedance traces, which show low error at both low and high frequencies. We apply this technique in vitro to a model epithelial tissue layer and show that the data can be fit to an equivalent circuit model yielding trans-epithelial resistance and cell layer capacitance values in agreement with literature. Importantly, the combined measurement allows for low biases across the cell layer, while still maintaining good broadband signal.

Organic electrochemical transistors for cell-based impedance sensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rivnay, Jonathan, E-mail: rivnay@emse.fr, E-mail: owens@emse.fr; Ramuz, Marc; Hama, Adel

2015-01-26

Electrical impedance sensing of biological systems, especially cultured epithelial cell layers, is now a common technique to monitor cell motion, morphology, and cell layer/tissue integrity for high throughput toxicology screening. Existing methods to measure electrical impedance most often rely on a two electrode configuration, where low frequency signals are challenging to obtain for small devices and for tissues with high resistance, due to low current. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are conducting polymer-based devices, which have been shown to efficiently transduce and amplify low-level ionic fluxes in biological systems into electronic output signals. In this work, we combine OECT-based drain currentmore » measurements with simultaneous measurement of more traditional impedance sensing using the gate current to produce complex impedance traces, which show low error at both low and high frequencies. We apply this technique in vitro to a model epithelial tissue layer and show that the data can be fit to an equivalent circuit model yielding trans-epithelial resistance and cell layer capacitance values in agreement with literature. Importantly, the combined measurement allows for low biases across the cell layer, while still maintaining good broadband signal.« less

Multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography as a non-invasive tool to characterize and monitor crop root systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigand, Maximilian; Kemna, Andreas

2017-02-01

A better understanding of root-soil interactions and associated processes is essential in achieving progress in crop breeding and management, prompting the need for high-resolution and non-destructive characterization methods. To date, such methods are still lacking or restricted by technical constraints, in particular the charactization and monitoring of root growth and function in the field. A promising technique in this respect is electrical impedance tomography (EIT), which utilizes low-frequency (< 1 kHz)- electrical conduction- and polarization properties in an imaging framework. It is well established that cells and cell clusters exhibit an electrical polarization response in alternating electric-current fields due to electrical double layers which form at cell membranes. This double layer is directly related to the electrical surface properties of the membrane, which in turn are influenced by nutrient dynamics (fluxes and concentrations on both sides of the membranes). Therefore, it can be assumed that the electrical polarization properties of roots are inherently related to ion uptake and translocation processes in the root systems. We hereby propose broadband (mHz to hundreds of Hz) multi-frequency EIT as a non-invasive methodological approach for the monitoring and physiological, i.e., functional, characterization of crop root systems. The approach combines the spatial-resolution capability of an imaging method with the diagnostic potential of electrical-impedance spectroscopy. The capability of multi-frequency EIT to characterize and monitor crop root systems was investigated in a rhizotron laboratory experiment, in which the root system of oilseed plants was monitored in a water-filled rhizotron, that is, in a nutrient-deprived environment. We found a low-frequency polarization response of the root system, which enabled the successful delineation of its spatial extension. The magnitude of the overall polarization response decreased along with the

Experimental impedance investigation of an ultracapacitor at different conditions for electric vehicle applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Hu, Xiaosong; Wang, Zhenpo; Sun, Fengchun; Dorrell, David G.

2015-08-01

Ultracapacitors (UCs) are being increasingly deployed as a short-term energy storage device in various energy systems including uninterruptable power supplies, electrified vehicles, renewable energy systems, and wireless communication. They exhibit excellent power density and energy efficiency. The dynamic behavior of a UC, however, strongly depends on its impedance characteristics. In this paper, the impedance characteristics of a commercial UC are experimentally investigated through the well-adopted Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technique. The implications of the UC operating conditions (i.e., temperature and state of charge (SOC)) to the impedance are systematically examined. The results show that the impedance is highly sensitive to the temperature and SOC; and the temperature effect is more significant. In particular, the coupling effect between the temperature and SOC is illustrated, as well as the high-efficiency SOC window, which is highlighted. To further verify the reliability of the EIS-based investigation and to probe the sensitivity of UC parameters to the operating conditions, a dynamic model is characterized by fitting the collected impedance data. The interdependence of UC parameters (i.e., capacitance and resistance elements) on the temperature and SOC is quantitatively revealed. The impedance-based model is demonstrated to be accurate in two driving-cycle tests.

Assay based on electrical impedance spectroscopy to discriminate between normal and cancerous mammalian cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giana, Fabián Eduardo; Bonetto, Fabián José; Bellotti, Mariela Inés

2018-03-01

In this work we present an assay to discriminate between normal and cancerous cells. The method is based on the measurement of electrical impedance spectra of in vitro cell cultures. We developed a protocol consisting on four consecutive measurement phases, each of them designed to obtain different information about the cell cultures. Through the analysis of the measured data, 26 characteristic features were obtained for both cell types. From the complete set of features, we selected the most relevant in terms of their discriminant capacity by means of conventional statistical tests. A linear discriminant analysis was then carried out on the selected features, allowing the classification of the samples in normal or cancerous with 4.5% of false positives and no false negatives.

Assay based on electrical impedance spectroscopy to discriminate between normal and cancerous mammalian cells.

PubMed

Giana, Fabián Eduardo; Bonetto, Fabián José; Bellotti, Mariela Inés

2018-03-01

In this work we present an assay to discriminate between normal and cancerous cells. The method is based on the measurement of electrical impedance spectra of in vitro cell cultures. We developed a protocol consisting on four consecutive measurement phases, each of them designed to obtain different information about the cell cultures. Through the analysis of the measured data, 26 characteristic features were obtained for both cell types. From the complete set of features, we selected the most relevant in terms of their discriminant capacity by means of conventional statistical tests. A linear discriminant analysis was then carried out on the selected features, allowing the classification of the samples in normal or cancerous with 4.5% of false positives and no false negatives.

Positional dependence of particles in microfludic impedance cytometry.

PubMed

Spencer, Daniel; Morgan, Hywel

2011-04-07

Single cell impedance cytometry is a label-free electrical analysis method that requires minimal sample preparation and has been used to count and discriminate cells on the basis of their impedance properties. This paper shows experimental and numerically simulated impedance signals for test particles (6 μm diameter polystyrene) flowing through a microfluidic channel. The variation of impedance signal with particle position is mapped using numerical simulation and these results match closely with experimental data. We demonstrate that for a nominal 40 μm × 40 μm channel, the impedance signal is independent of position over the majority of the channel area, but shows large experimentally verifiable variation at extreme positions. The parabolic flow profile in the channel ensures that most of the sample flows through the area of uniform signal. At high flow rates inertial focusing is observed; the particles flow in equal numbers through two equilibrium positions reducing the coefficient of variance (CV) in the impedance signals to negligible values.

Electrical impedance tomography in anisotropic media with known eigenvectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abascal, Juan-Felipe P. J.; Lionheart, William R. B.; Arridge, Simon R.; Schweiger, Martin; Atkinson, David; Holder, David S.

2011-06-01

Electrical impedance tomography is an imaging method, with which volumetric images of conductivity are produced by injecting electrical current and measuring boundary voltages. It has the potential to become a portable non-invasive medical imaging technique. Until now, most implementations have neglected anisotropy even though human tissues like bone, muscle and brain white matter are markedly anisotropic. The recovery of an anisotropic conductivity tensor is uniquely determined by boundary measurements only up to a diffeomorphism that fixes the boundary. Nevertheless, uniqueness can be restored by providing information about the diffeomorphism. There are uniqueness results for two constraints: one eigenvalue and a multiple scalar of a general tensor. A useable constraint for medical applications is when the eigenvectors of the underlying tissue are known, which can be approximated from MRI or estimated from DT-MRI, although the eigenvalues are unknown. However there is no known theoretical result guaranteeing uniqueness for this constraint. In fact, only a few previous inversion studies have attempted to recover one or more eigenvalues assuming certain symmetries while ignoring nonuniqueness. In this work, the aim was to undertake a numerical study of the feasibility of the recovery of a piecewise linear finite element conductivity tensor in anisotropic media with known eigenvectors from the complete boundary data. The work suggests that uniqueness holds for this constraint, in addition to proposing a methodology for the incorporation of this prior for general conductivity tensors. This was carried out by performing an analysis of the Jacobian rank and by reconstructing four conductivity distributions: two diagonal tensors whose eigenvalues were linear and sinusoidal functions, and two general tensors whose eigenvectors resembled physiological tissue, one with eigenvectors spherically orientated like a spherical layered structure, and a sample of DT-MRI data of

Microelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy for the Differentiation between Normal and Cancerous Human Urothelial Cell Lines: Real-Time Electrical Impedance Measurement at an Optimal Frequency

PubMed Central

Park, Yangkyu; Kim, Hyeon Woo; Yun, Joho; Seo, Seungwan; Park, Chang-Ju; Lee, Jeong Zoo; Lee, Jong-Hyun

2016-01-01

Purpose. To distinguish between normal (SV-HUC-1) and cancerous (TCCSUP) human urothelial cell lines using microelectrical impedance spectroscopy (μEIS). Materials and Methods. Two types of μEIS devices were designed and used in combination to measure the impedance of SV-HUC-1 and TCCSUP cells flowing through the channels of the devices. The first device (μEIS-OF) was designed to determine the optimal frequency at which the impedance of two cell lines is most distinguishable. The μEIS-OF trapped the flowing cells and measured their impedance at a frequency ranging from 5 kHz to 1 MHz. The second device (μEIS-RT) was designed for real-time impedance measurement of the cells at the optimal frequency. The impedance was measured instantaneously as the cells passed the sensing electrodes of μEIS-RT. Results. The optimal frequency, which maximized the average difference of the amplitude and phase angle between the two cell lines (p < 0.001), was determined to be 119 kHz. The real-time impedance of the cell lines was measured at 119 kHz; the two cell lines differed significantly in terms of amplitude and phase angle (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The μEIS-RT can discriminate SV-HUC-1 and TCCSUP cells by measuring the impedance at the optimal frequency determined by the μEIS-OF. PMID:26998490

Quantitative impedance measurements for eddy current model validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, T. A.; Nakagawa, N.

2000-05-01

This paper reports on a series of laboratory-based impedance measurement data, collected by the use of a quantitatively accurate, mechanically controlled measurement station. The purpose of the measurement is to validate a BEM-based eddy current model against experiment. We have therefore selected two "validation probes," which are both split-D differential probes. Their internal structures and dimensions are extracted from x-ray CT scan data, and thus known within the measurement tolerance. A series of measurements was carried out, using the validation probes and two Ti-6Al-4V block specimens, one containing two 1-mm long fatigue cracks, and the other containing six EDM notches of a range of sizes. Motor-controlled XY scanner performed raster scans over the cracks, with the probe riding on the surface with a spring-loaded mechanism to maintain the lift off. Both an impedance analyzer and a commercial EC instrument were used in the measurement. The probes were driven in both differential and single-coil modes for the specific purpose of model validation. The differential measurements were done exclusively by the eddyscope, while the single-coil data were taken with both the impedance analyzer and the eddyscope. From the single-coil measurements, we obtained the transfer function to translate the voltage output of the eddyscope into impedance values, and then used it to translate the differential measurement data into impedance results. The presentation will highlight the schematics of the measurement procedure, a representative of raw data, explanation of the post data-processing procedure, and then a series of resulting 2D flaw impedance results. A noise estimation will be given also, in order to quantify the accuracy of these measurements, and to be used in probability-of-detection estimation.—This work was supported by the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Program.

Determination of electrical properties of degraded mixed ionic conductors: Impedance studies with applied dc voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayer, T. J. M.; Carter, J. J.; Wang, Jian-Jun; Klein, Andreas; Chen, Long-Qing; Randall, C. A.

2017-12-01

Under electrical bias, mixed ionic conductors such as SrTiO3 are characterized by oxygen vacancy migration which leads to resistance degradation. The defect chemistry to describe the relationship between conductivity and oxygen vacancies is usually obtained by high temperature conductivity data or quenching experiments. These techniques can investigate the equilibrated state only. Here, we introduce a new approach using in-situ impedance studies with applied dc voltage to analyze the temperature dependent electrical properties of degraded SrTiO3 single crystals. This procedure is most beneficial since it includes electric field driven effects. The benefits of the approach are highlighted by comparing acceptor doped and undoped SrTiO3. This approach allows the determination of the temperature activation of both anodic and cathodic conductivity of Fe-doped SrTiO3 in the degraded state. The anodic activation energy matches well with the published results, while the activation energy of the degraded cathode region reported here is not in agreement with earlier assumptions. The specific discrepancies of the experimental data and the published defect chemistry are discussed, and a defect chemistry model that includes the strong temperature dependence of the electron conductivity in the cathode region is proposed.

Study of electrical properties of meridian on human body surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Feng; Uematsu, Haruyuki; Otani, Nobuo

2007-12-01

This paper presents the study of the subcutaneous electrical impedance on the human body surface. Measurements of the electrical impedance on five adult male subjects were carried out and analyzed for the possible detection of the acupuncture meridian lines of ancient Chinese medicine on the human body. The distribution of electrical impedance measured at 40 points over the volar side of the right upper limb of the subjects. The results show that electrical impedance varies at different locations of the human body surface, and the locations with lower electrical impedance coincide with the locations where the meridian is believed to exist.

Tissue type determination by impedance measurement: A bipolar and monopolar comparison

PubMed Central

Sharp, Jack; Bouazza-Marouf, Kaddour; Noronha, Dorita; Gaur, Atul

2017-01-01

Background: In certain medical applications, it is necessary to be able to determine the position of a needle inside the body, specifically with regards to identifying certain tissue types. By measuring the electrical impedance of specific tissue types, it is possible to determine the type of tissue the tip of the needle (or probe) is at. Materials and Methods: Two methods have been investigated for electric impedance detection; bipolar and monopolar. Commercially available needle electrodes are of a monopolar type. Although many patents exist on the bipolar setups, these have not as yet been commercialized. This paper reports a comparison of monopolar and bipolar setups for tissue type determination. In vitro experiments were carried out on pork to compare this investigation with other investigations in this field. Results: The results show that both monopolar and bipolar setups are capable of determining tissue type. However, the bipolar setup showed slightly better results; the difference between the different soft tissue type impedances was greater compared to the monopolar method. Conclusion: Both monopolar and bipolar electrical impedance setups work very similarly in inhomogeneous volumes such as biological tissue. There is a clear potential for clinical applications with impedance-based needle guidance, with both the monopolar and bipolar setups. It is, however, worth noting that the bipolar setup is more versatile. PMID:28217047

A generic screening platform for inhibitors of virus induced cell fusion using cellular electrical impedance

PubMed Central

Watterson, Daniel; Robinson, Jodie; Chappell, Keith J.; Butler, Mark S.; Edwards, David J.; Fry, Scott R.; Bermingham, Imogen M.; Cooper, Matthew A.; Young, Paul R.

2016-01-01

Fusion of the viral envelope with host cell membranes is an essential step in the life cycle of all enveloped viruses. Despite such a clear target for antiviral drug development, few anti-fusion drugs have progressed to market. One significant hurdle is the absence of a generic, high-throughput, reproducible fusion assay. Here we report that real time, label-free measurement of cellular electrical impedance can quantify cell-cell fusion mediated by either individually expressed recombinant viral fusion proteins, or native virus infection. We validated this approach for all three classes of viral fusion and demonstrated utility in quantifying fusion inhibition using antibodies and small molecule inhibitors specific for dengue virus and respiratory syncytial virus. PMID:26976324

Computer code for scattering from impedance bodies of revolution. Part 3: Surface impedance with s and phi variation. Analytical and numerical results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Uslenghi, Piergiorgio L. E.; Laxpati, Sharad R.; Kawalko, Stephen F.

1993-01-01

The third phase of the development of the computer codes for scattering by coated bodies that has been part of an ongoing effort in the Electromagnetics Laboratory of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago is described. The work reported discusses the analytical and numerical results for the scattering of an obliquely incident plane wave by impedance bodies of revolution with phi variation of the surface impedance. Integral equation formulation of the problem is considered. All three types of integral equations, electric field, magnetic field, and combined field, are considered. These equations are solved numerically via the method of moments with parametric elements. Both TE and TM polarization of the incident plane wave are considered. The surface impedance is allowed to vary along both the profile of the scatterer and in the phi direction. Computer code developed for this purpose determines the electric surface current as well as the bistatic radar cross section. The results obtained with this code were validated by comparing the results with available results for specific scatterers such as the perfectly conducting sphere. Results for the cone-sphere and cone-cylinder-sphere for the case of an axially incident plane were validated by comparing the results with the results with those obtained in the first phase of this project. Results for body of revolution scatterers with an abrupt change in the surface impedance along both the profile of the scatterer and the phi direction are presented.

Transoesophageal detection of heart graft rejection by electrical impedance: Using finite element method simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giovinazzo, G.; Ribas, N.; Cinca, J.; Rosell-Ferrer, J.

2010-04-01

Previous studies have shown that it is possible to evaluate heart graft rejection level using a bioimpedance technique by means of an intracavitary catheter. However, this technique does not present relevant advantages compared to the gold standard for the detection of a heart rejection, which is the biopsy of the endomyocardial tissue. We propose to use a less invasive technique that consists in the use of a transoesophageal catheter and two standard ECG electrodes on the thorax. The aim of this work is to evaluate different parameters affecting the impedance measurement, including: sensitivity to electrical conductivity and permittivity of different organs in the thorax, lung edema and pleural water. From these results, we deduce the best estimator for cardiac rejection detection, and we obtain the tools to identify possible cases of false positive of heart rejection due to other factors. To achieve these objectives we have created a thoracic model and we have simulated, with a FEM program, different situations at the frequencies of 13, 30, 100, 300 and 1000 kHz. Our simulation demonstrates that the phase, at 100 and 300 kHz, has the higher sensitivity to changes in the electrical parameters of the heart muscle.

Real-time management of faulty electrodes in electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Hartinger, Alzbeta E; Guardo, Robert; Adler, Andy; Gagnon, Hervé

2009-02-01

Completely or partially disconnected electrodes are a fairly common occurrence in many electrical impedance tomography (EIT) clinical applications. Several factors can contribute to electrode disconnection: patient movement, perspiration, manipulations by clinical staff, and defective electrode leads or electronics. By corrupting several measurements, faulty electrodes introduce significant image artifacts. In order to properly manage faulty electrodes, it is necessary to: 1) account for invalid data in image reconstruction algorithms and 2) automatically detect faulty electrodes. This paper presents a two-part approach for real-time management of faulty electrodes based on the principle of voltage-current reciprocity. The first part allows accounting for faulty electrodes in EIT image reconstruction without a priori knowledge of which electrodes are at fault. The method properly weights each measurement according to its compliance with the principle of voltage-current reciprocity. Results show that the algorithm is able to automatically determine the valid portion of the data and use it to calculate high-quality images. The second part of the approach allows automatic real-time detection of at least one faulty electrode with 100% sensitivity and two faulty electrodes with 80% sensitivity enabling the clinical staff to fix the problem as soon as possible to minimize data loss.

A new method for electric impedance imaging using an eddy current with a tetrapolar circuit.

PubMed

Ahsan-Ul-Ambia; Toda, Shogo; Takemae, Tadashi; Kosugi, Yukio; Hongo, Minoru

2009-02-01

A new contactless technique for electrical impedance imaging, using an eddy current managed along with the tetrapolar circuit method, is proposed. The eddy current produced by a magnetic field is superimposed on a constant current that is normally used in the tetrapolar circuit method, and thus is used to control the current distribution in the body. By changing the current distribution, a set of voltage differences is measured with a pair of electrodes. This set of voltage differences is used in the image reconstruction of the resistivity distribution. The least square error minimization method is used in the reconstruction algorithm. The principle of this method is explained theoretically. A backprojection algorithm was used to get 2-D images. Based on this principle, a measurement system was developed and model experiments were conducted with a saline-filled phantom. The estimated shape of each model in the reconstructed image was similar to that of the corresponding model. From the results of these experiments, it is confirmed that the proposed method is applicable to the realization of electrical conductivity imaging.

Advances in Spectral Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) for Near-Surface Geophysical Exploration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huisman, J. A.; Zimmermann, E.; Kelter, M.; Zhao, Y.; Bukhary, T. H.; Vereecken, H.

2016-12-01

Recent advances in spectral Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) now allow to obtain the complex electrical conductivity distribution in near-surface environments with a high accuracy for a broad range of frequencies (mHz - kHz). One of the key advances has been the development of correction methods to account for inductive coupling effects between wires used for current and potential measurements and capacitive coupling between cables and the subsurface environment. In this study, we first review these novel correction methods and then illustrate how the consideration of capacitive and inductive coupling improves spectral EIT results. For this, borehole EIT measurements were made in a shallow aquifer using a custom-made EIT system with two electrode chains each consisting of eight active electrodes with a separation of 1 m. The EIT measurements were inverted with and without consideration of inductive and capacitive coupling effects. The inversion results showed that spatially and spectrally consistent imaging results can only be obtained when inductive coupling effects are considered (phase accuracy of 1-2 mrad at 1 kHz). Capacitive coupling effects were found to be of secondary importance for the set-up used here, but its importance will increase when longer cables are used. Although these results are promising, the active electrode chains can only be used with our custom-made EIT system. Therefore, we also explored to what extent EIT measurements with passive electrode chains amenable to commercially available EIT measurement systems can be corrected for coupling effects. It was found that EIT measurements with passive unshielded cables could not be corrected above 100 Hz because of the strong but inaccurately known capacitive coupling between the electrical wires. However, it was possible to correct EIT measurements with passive shielded cables, and the final accuracy of the phase measurements was estimated to be 2-4 mrad at 1 kHz.

Investigation of voltage source design's for Electrical Impedance Mammography (EIM) Systems.

PubMed

Qureshi, Tabassum R; Chatwin, Chris R; Zhou, Zhou; Li, Nan; Wang, W

2012-01-01

According to Jossient, interesting characteristics of breast tissues mostly lie above 1MHz; therefore a wideband excitation source covering higher frequencies (i.e. above 1MHz) is required. The main objective of this research is to establish a feasible bandwidth envelope that can be used to design a constant EIM voltage source over a wide bandwidth with low output impedance for practical implementation. An excitation source is one of the major components in bio-impedance measurement systems. In any bio-impedance measurement system the excitation source can be achieved either by injecting current and measuring the resulting voltages, or by applying voltages and measuring the current developed. This paper describes three voltage source architectures and based on their bandwidth comparison; a differential voltage controlled voltage source (VCVS) is proposed, which can be used over a wide bandwidth (>15MHz). This paper describes the performance of the designed EIM voltage source for different load conditions and load capacitances reporting signal-to-noise ratio of approx 90dB at 10MHz frequency, signal phase and maximum of 4.75kΩ source output impedance at 10MHz. Optimum data obtained using Pspice® is used to demonstrate the high-bandwidth performance of the source.

Quantification of blood volume by electrical impedance tomography using a tissue-equivalent phantom.

PubMed

Sadleir, R; Fox, R

1998-11-01

An in vivo electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system was designed to accurately estimate quantities of intra-peritoneal blood in the abdominal cavity. For this it is essential that the response is relatively independent of the position of the high conductivity anomaly (blood) in the body. The sensitivity of the system to the introduction of blood-equivalent resistivity anomalies was assessed by using a cylindrical tissue-equivalent phantom. It was found that a satisfactorily uniform response of the system in both radial (transverse) and axial (longitudinal) directions in the phantom could be achieved by filtering resistivity profile images obtained by EIT measurement, and by using extended electrodes to collect data. Post-processing of single impedance images gave rise to a quantity denoted the resistivity index. A filter was then used to remove the remaining radial variation of the resistivity index. It was calculated by evaluating the resistivity index of a number of theoretically calculated images, and constructing a correction filter similar to those used to remove lens imperfections, such as coma, in optical components. The 30% increase in the resistivity index observed when an anomaly was moved to the maximum extent allowed by the filter calculation (0.75 of the phantom radius) was reduced by the filter to 6%. A study of the axial dependence observed in the resistivity index using electrodes extended in the axial direction by +/-5 cm found that the variation in resistivity index with axial position was about half of that observed using small circular electrodes similar to those used in the Sheffield mark I system.

Unilateral empyema impacts the assessment of regional lung ventilation by electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Bläser, D; Pulletz, S; Becher, T; Schädler, D; Elke, G; Weiler, N; Frerichs, I

2014-06-01

Several studies have shown the ability of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to assess regional ventilation distribution in human lungs. Fluid accumulation in the pleural space as in empyema, typically occurring on one chest side, may influence the distribution of ventilation and the corresponding EIT findings. The aim of our study was to examine this effect on the assessment of regional ventilation by EIT. Six patients suffering from unilateral empyema and intubated with a double-lumen endotracheal tube were studied. EIT data were acquired during volume-controlled ventilation with bilateral (tidal volume (V(T)): 800 ml) and unilateral ventilation (V(T): 400 ml) of the right and left lungs. Mean tidal amplitudes of the EIT signal were calculated in all image pixels. The sums of these values, expressed as relative impedance change (rel. ΔZ), were then determined in whole images and functionally defined regions-of-interest (ROI). The sums of rel. ΔZ calculated during the two cases of one-lung ventilation either on the affected or unaffected side were significantly smaller than during bilateral ventilation. However, in contrast to previous findings in patients with no pleural pathology, very low values of rel. ΔZ were found when the lung on the affected side was ventilated. ROI-based analysis rendered higher values than the whole-image analysis in this case, nonetheless, the values were significantly smaller than when the unaffected side was ventilated in spite of identical VT. In conclusion, our results indicate that the presence of empyema may affect the quantitative evaluation of regional lung ventilation by EIT.

Assembling a prototype resonance electrical impedance spectroscopy system for breast tissue signal detection: preliminary assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumkin, Jules; Zheng, Bin; Gruss, Michelle; Drescher, John; Leader, Joseph; Good, Walter; Lu, Amy; Cohen, Cathy; Shah, Ratan; Zuley, Margarita; Gur, David

2008-03-01

Using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technology to detect breast abnormalities in general and cancer in particular has been attracting research interests for decades. Large clinical tests suggest that current EIS systems can achieve high specificity (>= 90%) at a relatively low sensitivity ranging from 15% to 35%. In this study, we explore a new resonance frequency based electrical impedance spectroscopy (REIS) technology to measure breast tissue EIS signals in vivo, which aims to be more sensitive to small tissue changes. Through collaboration between our imaging research group and a commercial company, a unique prototype REIS system has been assembled and preliminary signal acquisition has commenced. This REIS system has two detection probes mounted in the two ends of a Y-shape support device with probe separation of 60 mm. During REIS measurement, one probe touches the nipple and the other touches to an outer point of the breast. The electronic system continuously generates sweeps of multi-frequency electrical pulses ranging from 100 to 4100 kHz. The maximum electric voltage and the current applied to the probes are 1.5V and 30mA, respectively. Once a "record" command is entered, multi-frequency sweeps are recorded every 12 seconds until the program receives a "stop recording" command. In our imaging center, we have collected REIS measurements from 150 women under an IRB approved protocol. The database includes 58 biopsy cases, 78 screening negative cases, and other "recalled" cases (for additional imaging procedures). We measured eight signal features from the effective REIS sweep of each breast. We applied a multi-feature based artificial neural network (ANN) to classify between "biopsy" and normal "non-biopsy" breasts. The ANN performance is evaluated using a leave-one-out validation method and ROC analysis. We conducted two experiments. The first experiment attempted to classify 58 "biopsy" breasts and 58 "non-biopsy" breasts acquired on 58 women

Quantifying Muscle Asymmetries in Cervical Dystonia with Electrical Impedance: A Preliminary Assessment

PubMed Central

Lungu, Codrin; Tarulli, Andrew W; Tarsy, Daniel; Mongiovi, Phillip; Vanderhorst, Veronique G; Rutkove, Seward B

2010-01-01

Objective Cervical Dystonia (CD) lacks an objective quantitative measure. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a non-invasive assessment method sensitive to changes in muscle structure and physiology. We evaluate the potential role of EIM in quantifying CD, hypothesizing that patients would demonstrate differences in the symmetry of muscle electrical resistance compared to controls, and that this asymmetry would decrease after botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) treatment. Methods EIM was performed on the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and cervical paraspinal (PS) muscles of CD patients and age-matched controls. 50kHz Resistance was analyzed, comparing side-to-side asymmetry in patients and controls, and, in patients, before and after BoNT treatment. Results 16 patients and 10 controls were included. Resistance asymmetry was on average 3-5 times higher in patients than controls. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated 91% accuracy of discriminating CD from normal. From pre-treatment to maximum BoNT effect, asymmetry decreased from 20.8 (13.9-26.1)% to 6.2 (3.1-9.9)% (SCM), and from 16.0(14.3-16.0)% to 8.4(7.0-9.2)% (PS), p<0.05 (median, interquartile range). Conclusions EIM effectively differentiates normal subjects from CD patients by revealing asymmetries in resistance values and detects improvement in muscle symmetry after treatment. Significance These results suggest that EIM, a painless, non-invasive measure, can provide a useful quantitative metric in CD evaluation and deserves further study. PMID:20943436

Quantifying muscle asymmetries in cervical dystonia with electrical impedance: a preliminary assessment.

PubMed

Lungu, Codrin; Tarulli, Andrew W; Tarsy, Daniel; Mongiovi, Phillip; Vanderhorst, Veronique G; Rutkove, Seward B

2011-05-01

Cervical dystonia (CD) lacks an objective quantitative measure. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a non-invasive assessment method sensitive to changes in muscle structure and physiology. We evaluate the potential role of EIM in quantifying CD, hypothesizing that patients would demonstrate differences in the symmetry of muscle electrical resistance compared to controls, and that this asymmetry would decrease after botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) treatment. EIM was performed on the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and cervical paraspinal (PS) muscles of CD patients and age-matched controls. 50 kHz resistance was analyzed, comparing side-to-side asymmetry in patients and controls, and, in patients, before and after BoNT treatment. Sixteen patients and 10 controls were included. Resistance asymmetry was on average 3-5 times higher in patients than controls. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated 91% accuracy of discriminating CD from normal. From pre-treatment to maximum BoNT effect, asymmetry decreased from 20.8(13.9-26.1)% to 6.2(3.1-9.9)% (SCM), and from 16.0(14.3-16.0)% to 8.4(7.0-9.2)% (PS), p<0.05 (median, interquartile range). EIM effectively differentiates normal subjects from CD patients by revealing asymmetries in resistance values and detects improvement in muscle symmetry after treatment. These results suggest that EIM, a painless, non-invasive measure, can provide a useful quantitative metric in CD evaluation and deserves further study. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Sensorless battery temperature measurements based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raijmakers, L. H. J.; Danilov, D. L.; van Lammeren, J. P. M.; Lammers, M. J. G.; Notten, P. H. L.

2014-02-01

A new method is proposed to measure the internal temperature of (Li-ion) batteries. Based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, an intercept frequency (f0) can be determined which is exclusively related to the internal battery temperature. The intercept frequency is defined as the frequency at which the imaginary part of the impedance is zero (Zim = 0), i.e. where the phase shift between the battery current and voltage is absent. The advantage of the proposed method is twofold: (i) no hardware temperature sensors are required anymore to monitor the battery temperature and (ii) the method does not suffer from heat transfer delays. Mathematical analysis of the equivalent electrical-circuit, representing the battery performance, confirms that the intercept frequency decreases with rising temperatures. Impedance measurements on rechargeable Li-ion cells of various chemistries were conducted to verify the proposed method. These experiments reveal that the intercept frequency is clearly dependent on the temperature and does not depend on State-of-Charge (SoC) and aging. These impedance-based sensorless temperature measurements are therefore simple and convenient for application in a wide range of stationary, mobile and high-power devices, such as hybrid- and full electric vehicles.

A dielectrophoresis-impedance method for protein detection and analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamad, Ahmad Sabry; Hamzah, Roszymah; Hoettges, Kai F.; Hughes, Michael Pycraft

2017-01-01

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) has increasingly been used for the assessment of the electrical properties of molecular scale objects including proteins, DNA, nanotubes and nanowires. However, whilst techniques have been developed for the electrical characterisation of frequency-dependent DEP response, biomolecular study is usually limited to observation using fluorescent markers, limiting its applicability as a characterisation tool. In this paper we present a label-free, impedance-based method of characterisation applied to the determination of the electrical properties of colloidal protein molecules, specifically Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). By monitoring the impedance between electrodes as proteins collect, it is shown to be possible to observe multi-dispersion behaviour. A DEP dispersion exhibited at 400 kHz is attributable to the orientational dispersion of the molecule, whilst a second, higher-frequency dispersion is attributed to a Maxwell-Wagner type dispersion; changes in behaviour with medium conductivity suggest that this is strongly influenced by the electrical double layer surrounding the molecule.

Impedance spectroscopy of the oxide films formed during high temperature oxidation of a cobalt-plated ferritic alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velraj, S.; Zhu, J. H.; Painter, A. S.; Du, S. W.; Li, Y. T.

2014-02-01

Impedance spectroscopy was used to evaluate the oxide films formed on cobalt-coated Crofer 22 APU ferritic stainless steel after thermal oxidation at 800 °C in air for different times (i.e. 2, 50, 100 and 500 h). Impedance spectra of the oxide films exhibited two or three semicircles depending on the oxidation time, which correspond to the presence of two or three individual oxide layers. Coupled with scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the individual oxide layer corresponding to each semicircle was determined unambiguously. Impedance spectrum analysis of the oxide films formed on the sample after thermal exposure at 800 °C in air for 2 h led to the identification of the low-frequency and high-frequency semicircles as being from Cr2O3 and Co3O4, respectively. SEM/EDS and XRD analysis of the 500-h sample clearly revealed the presence of three oxide layers, analyzed to be Co3-xCrxO4, CoCr2O4, and Cr2O3. Although the SEM images of the 50-h and 100-h samples did not clearly show the CoCr2O4 layer, impedance plots implied their presence. The oxide scales were assigned to their respective semicircles and the electrical properties of Co3-xCrxO4, CoCr2O4 and Cr2O3 were determined from the impedance data.

Processing and electrical properties of gallium-substituted lead zirconate titanate ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajra, Sugato; Sharma, Pulkit; Sahoo, Sushrisangita; Rout, P. K.; Choudhary, R. N. P.

2017-12-01

In the present paper, the effect of gallium (Ga) substitution on structural, microstructural, electrical conductivity of Pb(ZrTi)O3 (PZT) in the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region (i.e., Pb0.96Ga0.04(Zr0.48Ti0.52)0.99O3 (PGaZT-4)) was investigated. Increased grain density increases the resistivity of the Ga-modified PZT system. Preliminary structural analysis using X-ray diffraction pattern and data showed the existence of two phases [major tetragonal (T) and minor monoclinic (M)]. Field emission scanning electron micrograph (FESEM) showed the distribution of spherical as well as platelet type grains with small pores. The behavior of dielectric constant with temperature of PGaZT-4 exhibited the suppression of the ferroelectric phase transition [i.e., disappearance of Curie temperature ( T c)]. The complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) technique helped to investigate the impedance parameters of PGaZT-4 in MPB region in a wide range of temperature (250-500 °C) and frequency (1-1000 kHz) region. The impedance parameters of the material are found to be strongly dependent on frequency of AC electric field and temperature. The substitution of gallium at the Pb site of PZT generally enhances the dielectric constant and decreases loss tangent. The AC conductivity vs frequency ( f = ω2 π) in the region of dispersion follows the universal response of Jonscher's equation. Enhanced resistive characteristics were observed for Ga-substituted PZT in comparison to the pure PZT, which was well ensured from the studies of electrical parameters, such as impedance and AC conductivity.

Energy storage cell impedance measuring apparatus, methods and related systems

DOEpatents

Morrison, John L.; Morrison, William H.; Christophersen, Jon P.

2017-12-26

Energy storage cell impedance testing devices, circuits, and related methods are disclosed. An energy storage cell impedance measuring device includes a sum of sinusoids (SOS) current excitation circuit including differential current sources configured to isolate a ground terminal of the differential current sources from a positive terminal and a negative terminal of an energy storage cell. A method includes applying an SOS signal comprising a sum of sinusoidal current signals to the energy storage cell with the SOS current excitation circuit, each of the sinusoidal current signals oscillating at a different one of a plurality of different frequencies. The method also includes measuring an electrical signal at a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the energy storage cell, and computing an impedance of the energy storage cell at each of the plurality of different frequencies using the measured electrical signal.

Uniqueness and reconstruction in magnetic resonance-electrical impedance tomography (MR-EIT).

PubMed

Ider, Y Ziya; Onart, Serkan; Lionheart, William R B

2003-05-01

Magnetic resonance-electrical impedance tomography (MR-EIT) was first proposed in 1992. Since then various reconstruction algorithms have been suggested and applied. These algorithms use peripheral voltage measurements and internal current density measurements in different combinations. In this study the problem of MR-EIT is treated as a hyperbolic system of first-order partial differential equations, and three numerical methods are proposed for its solution. This approach is not utilized in any of the algorithms proposed earlier. The numerical solution methods are integration along equipotential surfaces (method of characteristics), integration on a Cartesian grid, and inversion of a system matrix derived by a finite difference formulation. It is shown that if some uniqueness conditions are satisfied, then using at least two injected current patterns, resistivity can be reconstructed apart from a multiplicative constant. This constant can then be identified using a single voltage measurement. The methods proposed are direct, non-iterative, and valid and feasible for 3D reconstructions. They can also be used to easily obtain slice and field-of-view images from a 3D object. 2D simulations are made to illustrate the performance of the algorithms.

Ultrasound guided electrical impedance tomography for 2D free-interface reconstruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Guanghui; Ren, Shangjie; Dong, Feng

2017-07-01

The free-interface detection problem is normally seen in industrial or biological processes. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive technique with advantages of high-speed and low cost, and is a promising solution for free-interface detection problems. However, due to the ill-posed and nonlinear characteristics, the spatial resolution of EIT is low. To deal with the issue, an ultrasound guided EIT is proposed to directly reconstruct the geometric configuration of the target free-interface. In the method, the position of the central point of the target interface is measured by a pair of ultrasound transducers mounted at the opposite side of the objective domain, and then the position measurement is used as the prior information for guiding the EIT-based free-interface reconstruction. During the process, a constrained least squares framework is used to fuse the information from different measurement modalities, and the Lagrange multiplier-based Levenberg-Marquardt method is adopted to provide the iterative solution of the constraint optimization problem. The numerical results show that the proposed ultrasound guided EIT method for the free-interface reconstruction is more accurate than the single modality method, especially when the number of valid electrodes is limited.

Evaluation and Refinement of a Field-Portable Drinking Water Toxicity Sensor Utilizing Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing and a Fluidic Biochip

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

Potential interferences tested were chlorine and chloramine (commonly used for drinking water disinfection ), geosmin and 2-methyl-isoborneol (MIB...Protection Agency maximum residual disinfectant level for chlorine and chloramine is set at 4 mg l1 under the Safe Drinking Water Act and thus would...Evaluation and refinement of a field-portable drinking water toxicity sensor utilizing electric cell–substrate impedance sensing and a fluidic

Impedance spectroscopy of water soluble resin modified by zirconium sulphate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joseph, Anandraj; Joshi, Girish M.

2018-04-01

We successfully modified water soluble resin polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by loading zirconium sulphate (ZrSO4). We demonstrated the measurement of electrical properties by using impedance analyser across frequency range (10 Hz-1 MHz) and the temperature range of (30°C to 150°C). The impedance spectroscopy demonstrates decrease in bulk resistance as a function of temperature loading of zirconia 2.5 wt. %. Increase in AC (10-5 S/cm and DC conductivity (10- 2 S/m) observed due to ionic contribution of zirconia. However, the electrical properties of PVA/ZrSO4 composite useful to develop battery electrolyte applications.

Sensing of NO2 with Zirconium Hydroxide via Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, Coleman; Soliz, Jennifer; Klevitch, Andrew; Rossin, Joseph; Fountain, Augustus, III; Peterson, Gregory; Hauser, Adam

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a brown gas mainly produced as a byproduct of burning fossil fuels, such as automobiles and power plants. Nitrogen oxides can form acid rain and smog by reacting with air, can form toxic organic nitrates by reacting with soil, and can react with oxygen in water, destroying marine life due to a lack of breathable oxygen. Any concentration beyond 53 ppb (air quality standard) can cause irritation to the lungs and respiratory infections, and higher dosages can be fatal. As such, research in NO2 detection is incredibly important to human welfare. Zirconium hydroxide (Zr(OH)4) has been investigated as a candidate NO2 dielectric sensor using impedance spectroscopy analysis. Impedance changes of several orders of magnitude are seen down to our dosage minimum of 50 ppmhr. Changes in impedance correlate with nitrogen and oxygen atomic ratio increases observed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that Zr(OH)4 may be a strong candidate for use in impedance-based NO2 detection devices. A.J.H., J.R.S., A.W.F. and G.W. P. acknowledge funding under Army Research Office STIR Award #W911F-15-1-0104. J.R.S. acknowledges funding under a NRC fellowship and is advised by Dr. Christopher Karwacki, ECBC.

Linearized image reconstruction method for ultrasound modulated electrical impedance tomography based on power density distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Xizi; Xu, Yanbin; Dong, Feng

2017-04-01

Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) is a promising measurement technique with important industrial and clinical applications. However, with limited effective measurements, it suffers from poor spatial resolution due to the ill-posedness of the inverse problem. Recently, there has been an increasing research interest in hybrid imaging techniques, utilizing couplings of physical modalities, because these techniques obtain much more effective measurement information and promise high resolution. Ultrasound modulated electrical impedance tomography (UMEIT) is one of the newly developed hybrid imaging techniques, which combines electric and acoustic modalities. A linearized image reconstruction method based on power density is proposed for UMEIT. The interior data, power density distribution, is adopted to reconstruct the conductivity distribution with the proposed image reconstruction method. At the same time, relating the power density change to the change in conductivity, the Jacobian matrix is employed to make the nonlinear problem into a linear one. The analytic formulation of this Jacobian matrix is derived and its effectiveness is also verified. In addition, different excitation patterns are tested and analyzed, and opposite excitation provides the best performance with the proposed method. Also, multiple power density distributions are combined to implement image reconstruction. Finally, image reconstruction is implemented with the linear back-projection (LBP) algorithm. Compared with ERT, with the proposed image reconstruction method, UMEIT can produce reconstructed images with higher quality and better quantitative evaluation results.

In vitro differential diagnosis of clavus and verruca by a predictive model generated from electrical impedance.

PubMed

Hung, Chien-Ya; Sun, Pei-Lun; Chiang, Shu-Jen; Jaw, Fu-Shan

2014-01-01

Similar clinical appearances prevent accurate diagnosis of two common skin diseases, clavus and verruca. In this study, electrical impedance is employed as a novel tool to generate a predictive model for differentiating these two diseases. We used 29 clavus and 28 verruca lesions. To obtain impedance parameters, a LCR-meter system was applied to measure capacitance (C), resistance (Re), impedance magnitude (Z), and phase angle (θ). These values were combined with lesion thickness (d) to characterize the tissue specimens. The results from clavus and verruca were then fitted to a univariate logistic regression model with the generalized estimating equations (GEE) method. In model generation, log ZSD and θSD were formulated as predictors by fitting a multiple logistic regression model with the same GEE method. The potential nonlinear effects of covariates were detected by fitting generalized additive models (GAM). Moreover, the model was validated by the goodness-of-fit (GOF) assessments. Significant mean differences of the index d, Re, Z, and θ are found between clavus and verruca (p<0.001). A final predictive model is established with Z and θ indices. The model fits the observed data quite well. In GOF evaluation, the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve is 0.875 (>0.7), the adjusted generalized R2 is 0.512 (>0.3), and the p value of the Hosmer-Lemeshow GOF test is 0.350 (>0.05). This technique promises to provide an approved model for differential diagnosis of clavus and verruca. It could provide a rapid, relatively low-cost, safe and non-invasive screening tool in clinic use.

Creation of stable molecular junctions with a custom-designed scanning tunneling microscope.

PubMed

Lee, Woochul; Reddy, Pramod

2011-12-02

The scanning tunneling microscope break junction (STMBJ) technique is a powerful approach for creating single-molecule junctions and studying electrical transport in them. However, junctions created using the STMBJ technique are usually mechanically stable for relatively short times (<1 s), impeding detailed studies of their charge transport characteristics. Here, we report a custom-designed scanning tunneling microscope that enables the creation of metal-single molecule-metal junctions that are mechanically stable for more than 1 minute at room temperature. This stability is achieved by a design that minimizes thermal drift as well as the effect of environmental perturbations. The utility of this instrument is demonstrated by performing transition voltage spectroscopy-at the single-molecule level-on Au-hexanedithiol-Au, Au-octanedithiol-Au and Au-decanedithiol-Au junctions.

Biomedical engineering meets acupuncture - development of a miniaturized 48-channel skin impedance measurement system for needle and laser acupuncture

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Due to controversially discussed results in scientific literature concerning changes of electrical skin impedance before and during acupuncture a new measurement system has been developed. Methods The prototype measures and analyzes the electrical skin impedance computer-based and simultaneously in 48 channels within a 2.5×3.5 cm matrix. Preliminary measurements in one person were performed using metal needle and violet laser (405 nm) acupuncture at the acupoint Kongzui (LU6). The new system is an improvement on devices previously developed by other researchers for this purpose. Results Skin impedance in the immediate surroundings of the acupoint was lowered reproducibly following needle stimulation and also violet laser stimulation. Conclusions A new instrumentation for skin impedance measurements is presented. The following hypotheses suggested by our results will have to be tested in further studies: Needle acupuncture causes significant, specific local changes of electrical skin impedance parameters. Optical stimulation (violet laser) at an acupoint causes direct electrical biosignal changes. PMID:21092296

Nature of Dielectric Properties, Electric Modulus and AC Electrical Conductivity of Nanocrystalline ZnIn2Se4 Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Nahass, M. M.; Attia, A. A.; Ali, H. A. M.; Salem, G. F.; Ismail, M. I.

2018-02-01

The structural characteristics of thermally deposited ZnIn2Se4 thin films were indexed utilizing x-ray diffraction as well as scanning electron microscopy techniques. Dielectric properties, electric modulus and AC electrical conductivity of ZnIn2Se4 thin films were examined in the frequency range from 42 Hz to 106 Hz. The capacitance, conductance and impedance were measured at different temperatures. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss decrease with an increase in frequency. The maximum barrier height was determined from the analysis of the dielectric loss depending on the Giuntini model. The real part of the electric modulus revealed a constant maximum value at higher frequencies and the imaginary part of the electric modulus was characterized by the appearance of dielectric relaxation peaks. The AC electrical conductivity obeyed the Jonscher universal power law. Correlated barrier hopping model was the appropriate mechanism for AC conduction in ZnIn2Se4 thin films. Estimation of the density of states at the Fermi level and activation energy, for AC conduction, was carried out based on the temperature dependence of AC electrical conductivity.

Multichannel intraluminal impedance: general principles and technical issues.

PubMed

Tutuian, Radu; Castell, Donald O

2005-04-01

Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) is a new technology that allows detection of bolus movement without the use of external radiation or radiolabeled substances. The principles of MII are based on changes in resistance to alternating electrical current (impedance) induced by the presence of various boluses within the esophagus. The timing of changes in multiple impedance-measuring segments in the esophagus allows determination of the direction of bolus movement. Combined MII and manometry (MII-EM) provides simultaneous information on intraesophageal pressures and bolus transit, offers the ability to monitor all types of reflux, and allows the detection of the physical (liquid, gas, or mixed) and chemical (acid, nonacid) characteristics of the gastroesophageal refluxate.

Temperature dependent dielectric relaxation and ac-conductivity of alkali niobate ceramics studied by impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Abhinav; Mantry, Snigdha Paramita; Fahad, Mohd.; Sarun, P. M.

2018-05-01

Sodium niobate (NaNbO3) ceramics is prepared by conventional solid state reaction method at sintering temperature 1150 °C for 4 h. The structural information of the material has been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The XRD analysis of NaNbO3 ceramics shows an orthorhombic structure. The FE-SEM micrograph of NaNbO3 ceramics exhibit grains with grain sizes ranging between 1 μm to 5 μm. The surface coverage and average grain size of NaNbO3 ceramics are found to be 97.6 % and 2.5 μm, respectively. Frequency dependent electrical properties of NaNbO3 is investigated from room temperature to 500 °C in wide frequency range (100 Hz-5 MHz). Dielectric constant, ac-conductivity, impedance, modulus and Nyquist analysis are performed. The observed dielectric constant (1 kHz) at transition temperature (400 °C) are 975. From conductivity analysis, the estimated activation energy of NaNbO3 ceramics is 0.58 eV at 10 kHz. The result of Nyquist plot shows that the electrical behavior of NaNbO3 ceramics is contributed by grain and grain boundary responses. The impedance and modulus spectrum asserts that the negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behavior and non-Debye type relaxation in NaNbO3.

Impedance Changes Indicate Proximal Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Obstruction In Vitro.

PubMed

Basati, Sukhraaj; Tangen, Kevin; Hsu, Ying; Lin, Hanna; Frim, David; Linninger, Andreas

2015-12-01

Extracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt obstruction is one of the most important problems in hydrocephalus patient management. Despite ongoing research into better shunt design, robust and reliable detection of shunt malfunction remains elusive. The authors present a novel method of correlating degree of tissue ingrowth into ventricular CSF drainage catheters with internal electrical impedance. The impedance based sensor is able to continuously monitor shunt patency using intraluminal electrodes. Prototype obstruction sensors were fabricated for in-vitro analysis of cellular ingrowth into a shunt under static and dynamic flow conditions. Primary astrocyte cell lines and C6 glioma cells were allowed to proliferate up to 7 days within a shunt catheter and the impedance waveform was observed. During cell ingrowth a significant change in the peak-to-peak voltage signal as well as the root-mean-square voltage level was observed, allowing the impedance sensor to potentially anticipate shunt malfunction long before it affects fluid drainage. Finite element modeling was employed to demonstrate that the electrical signal used to monitor tissue ingrowth is contained inside the catheter lumen and does not endanger tissue surrounding the shunt. These results may herald the development of "next generation" shunt technology that allows prediction of malfunction before it affects patient outcome.

Effect of psychological stress on gastric motility assessed by electrical bio-impedance.

PubMed

Huerta-Franco, María Raquel; Vargas-Luna, Miguel; Montes-Frausto, Juana Berenice; Morales-Mata, Ismael; Ramirez-Padilla, Lorena

2012-09-28

To evaluate gastric motility using electrical bio-impedance (EBI) and gastric changes as a result of stress induced by psychological tests. A group of 57 healthy women, aged 40-60 years, was recruited, and a clinical history and physical examination were performed. The women were free from severe anxiety, chronic or acute stress, severe depression, mental diseases and conditions that affect gastric activity. The women were evaluated under fasting conditions, and using a four-electrode configuration, the gastric signals were obtained through a BIOPAC MP-150 system. The volunteers were evaluated using the following paradigm: basal state, recording during the Stroop Test, intermediate resting period, recording during the Raven Test, and a final resting period. We analyzed the relative areas of the frequency spectrum: A1 (1-2 cpm), A2 (2-4 cpm), A3 (4-8 cpm), and A4 (8-12 cpm), as well as the median of area A2 + A3. The data were analyzed by an autoregressive method using a Butterworth filter with MatLab and Origin. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Friedman ANOVA (for nonparametric variables) were performed; in addition, pairs of groups were compared using the T dependent and Wilcoxon T tests. The results of the main values of area A2 were not significantly different comparing the five steps of the experimental paradigm. Nevertheless, there was a tendency of this A2 region to decrease during the stress tests, with recuperation at the final resting step. When an extended gastric region was considered (1-4 cpm), significant differences with the psychological stress tests were present (F = 3.85, P = 0.005). The A3 region also showed significant changes when the stress psychological tests were administered (F = 7.25, P < 0.001). These differences were influenced by the changes in the adjacent gastric region of A2. The parameter that we proposed in previous studies for the evaluation of gastric motility by electrical bio-impedance (EBI) was the median of the area under the

Quantitative Imaging of Microwave Electric Fields through Near-Field Scanning Microwave Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, S. K.; Vlahacos, C. P.; Steinhauer, D. E.; Thanawalla, A.; Feenstra, B. J.; Wellstood, F. C.; Anlage, Steven M.; Newman, H. S.

1998-03-01

The ability to non-destructively image electric field patterns generated by operating microwave devices (e.g. filters, antennas, circulators, etc.) would greatly aid in the design and testing of these structures. Such detailed information can be used to reconcile discrepancies between simulated behavior and experimental data (such as scattering parameters). The near-field scanning microwave microscope we present uses a coaxial probe to provide a simple, broadband method of imaging electric fields.(S. M. Anlage, et al.) IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. 7, 3686 (1997).^,(See http://www.csr.umd.edu/research/hifreq/micr_microscopy.html) The signal that is measured is related to the incident electric flux normal to the face of the center conductor of the probe, allowing different components of the field to be measured by orienting the probe appropriately. By using a simple model of the system, we can also convert raw data to absolute electric field. Detailed images of standing waves on copper microstrip will be shown and compared to theory.

Basal electrical impedance in relation to sodium lauryl sulphate-induced skin reactions--a comparison of patients with eczema and healthy controls.

PubMed

Kuzmina, Natalia; Hagströmer, Lena; Nyrén, Miruna; Emtestam, Lennart

2003-11-01

Identification of subjects at risk for contact dermatitis by screening tests is desirable in order to adjust the preventive measures to individual skin susceptibility. The present study aimed to examine the effects of basic physiological features, such as baseline electrical impedance (IMP) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), on reactivity to sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). On the basis of two previous studies, we re-evaluated the experimental irritant skin reactions (50 microL of 2% SLS in large Finn Chambers for 24 h) on the volar forearms of 29 patients with eczema and 19 healthy controls. We found definite differences in the baseline values of IMP, between the patients and the controls. Moreover, patients with eczema showed higher TEWL and lower MIX values on day 3 after exposure to SLS, which may indicate differences in SLS reactivity. After the study, the biophysical parameters of the eczema patients did not return to baseline, which suggests that their skin heals more slowly than that of normal subjects. Our findings indicate that the IMP technique may help to 'detect' chemically vulnerable skin. However, more studies are needed to determine the value of the basal electrical impedance parameters in assessing the risk of developing irritant contact dermatitis.

Tissue electrical properties measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis among healthy and sportsmen population

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kapica, Dominik; Warchulińska, Joanna; Jakubiak, Monika; Teter, Mariusz; Mlak, Radosław; Hałabiś, Magdalena; Wójcik, Waldemar; Małecka-Massalska, Teresa

2015-09-01

Introduction: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a useful tool to asses human body composition and nutrition status; multi-frequency BIA has a higher accuracy than single-frequency BIA. In our study a difference of impedance values (Z) at 5, 100 and 200 kHz and Z200/Z5 index between professional athletes and control group were determined. Methods: In this research 105 people were tested, divided into control group (72 people: 35 males and 37 females) and professional athletes (33 people: 16 males and 17 females). Impedance was measured at three frequency values - 5, 100 and 200 kHz; with received values the Z200/Z5 index was calculated. Results: In most compared subgroups impedance values showed significantly lower values in athletes than in control group (5 kHz - males: p=0.136, females: p=0.001, 100 kHz - males: p=0.039, females: p<0.0001, 200 kHz - males: p=0.047, females: p<0.0001) Z200/Z5 index also showed lower value in athletes than in control group (p=0.016 for males, p<0.0001 for females). Conclusion: Lower values of impedance and Z200/Z5 index indicates a better nutrition status and general health condition of athletes than in control group.

Rotor damage detection by using piezoelectric impedance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Y.; Tao, Y.; Mao, Y. F.

2016-04-01

Rotor is a core component of rotary machinery. Once the rotor has the damage, it may lead to a major accident. Thus the quantitative rotor damage detection method based on piezoelectric impedance is studied in this paper. With the governing equation of piezoelectric transducer (PZT) in a cylindrical coordinate, the displacement along the radius direction is derived. The charge of PZT is calculated by the electric displacement. Then, by the use of the obtained displacement and charge, an analytic piezoelectric impedance model of the rotor is built. Given the circular boundary condition of a rotor, annular elements are used as the analyzed objects and spectral element method is used to set up the damage detection model. The Electro-Mechanical (E/M) coupled impedance expression of an undamaged rotor is deduced with the application of a low-cost impedance test circuit. A Taylor expansion method is used to obtain the approximate E/M coupled impedance expression for the damaged rotor. After obtaining the difference between the undamaged and damaged rotor impedance, a rotor damage detection method is proposed. This method can directly calculate the change of bending stiffness of the structural elements, it follows that the rotor damage can be effectively detected. Finally, a preset damage configuration is used for the numerical simulation. The result shows that the quantitative damage detection algorithm based on spectral element method and piezoelectric impedance proposed in this paper can identify the location and the severity of the damaged rotor accurately.

[The functional assessment of the upper urinary tract by the methods of 2-frequency impedance measurement and multichannel impedance ureterography].

PubMed

Mudraia, I S; Kirpatovskiĭ, V I

1993-01-01

The paper describes impedance methods of investigating upper urinary tracts (UUT) which may serve adjuvants in the diagnosis of the urinary tract wall disturbances due to diseases caused by impaired urine evacuation from the kidney and which may prove helpful in the choice of therapeutic policy, evaluation of the postoperative period and outcomes prognosis. UUT impedance tests can be performed during endoscopic manipulations or under open operative interventions. Two-frequency impedancemetry allows rapid detection of non-functioning UUT parts or sclerosal sites of the UUT wall, relevant criteria being the ratio of basic impedances of the site under low and high scanning current. This value is computed by an urological two-frequency impedancemeter IDU-M. To assess the UUT wall functionally, use should be made of 6-channel urological rheograph REUR-6 providing multichannel registration of immediate impedance ureterograms. In this manner one can obtain qualitative and quantitative assessment of the ureteral peristalsis through its all length, the criteria being the amplitude of impedance ureterographic complexes, their shape, duration, frequency, rhythm, sequence and rate of distribution. Loading tests increase the accuracy of UUT impedance measurements, are able to define compensatory reserves of the wall contractility. The introduction of rheological methods in urological practice makes broader the armory of diagnostic techniques in urology, upgrade pathogenetic validity of surgical and therapeutic measures.

Advanced electric-field scanning probe lithography on molecular resist using active cantilever

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaestner, Marcus; Aydogan, Cemal; Lipowicz, Hubert-Seweryn; Ivanov, Tzvetan; Lenk, Steve; Ahmad, Ahmad; Angelov, Tihomir; Reum, Alexander; Ishchuk, Valentyn; Atanasov, Ivaylo; Krivoshapkina, Yana; Hofer, Manuel; Holz, Mathias; Rangelow, Ivo W.

2015-03-01

The routine "on demand" fabrication of features smaller than 10 nm opens up new possibilities for the realization of many novel nanoelectronic, NEMS, optical and bio-nanotechnology-based devices. Based on the thermally actuated, piezoresistive cantilever technology we have developed a first prototype of a scanning probe lithography (SPL) platform able to image, inspect, align and pattern features down to single digit nano regime. The direct, mask-less patterning of molecular resists using active scanning probes represents a promising path circumventing the problems in today's radiation-based lithography. Here, we present examples of practical applications of the previously published electric field based, current-controlled scanning probe lithography on molecular glass resist calixarene by using the developed tabletop SPL system. We demonstrate the application of a step-and-repeat scanning probe lithography scheme including optical as well as AFM based alignment and navigation. In addition, sequential read-write cycle patterning combining positive and negative tone lithography is shown. We are presenting patterning over larger areas (80 x 80 μm) and feature the practical applicability of the lithographic processes.

Ventilation inhomogeneity in obstructive lung diseases measured by electrical impedance tomography: a simulation study.

PubMed

Schullcke, B; Krueger-Ziolek, S; Gong, B; Jörres, R A; Mueller-Lisse, U; Moeller, K

2017-10-10

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has mostly been used in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to monitor ventilation distribution but is also promising for the diagnosis in spontaneously breathing patients with obstructive lung diseases. Beside tomographic images, several numerical measures have been proposed to quantitatively assess the lung state. In this study two common measures, the 'Global Inhomogeneity Index' and the 'Coefficient of Variation' were compared regarding their capability to reflect the severity of lung obstruction. A three-dimensional simulation model was used to simulate obstructed lungs, whereby images were reconstructed on a two-dimensional domain. Simulations revealed that minor obstructions are not adequately recognized in the reconstructed images and that obstruction above and below the electrode plane may result in misleading values of inhomogeneity measures. EIT measurements on several electrode planes are necessary to apply these measures in patients with obstructive lung diseases in a promising manner.

Impedance study of undoped, polycrystalline diamond layers obtained by HF CVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paprocki, Kazimierz; Fabisiak, Kazimerz; Dychalska, Anna; Szybowicz, Mirosław; Dudkowiak, Alina; Iskaliyeva, Aizhan

2017-04-01

In this paper, we report results of impedance measurements in polycrystalline diamond films deposited on n-Si using HF CVD method. The temperature was changed from 170 K up to RT and the scan frequency from 42 Hz to 5 MHz. The results of impedance measurement of the real and imaginary parts were presented in the form of a Cole-Cole plot in the complex plane. In the temperatures below RT, the observed impedance response of polycrystalline diamond was in the form of a single semicircular form. In order to interpret the observed response, a double resistor-capacitor parallel circuit model was used which allow for interpretation physical mechanisms responsible for such behavior. The impedance results were correlated with Raman spectroscopy measurements.

The study of electrical conductivity of DNA molecules by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharipov, T. I.; Bakhtizin, R. Z.

2017-10-01

An interest to the processes of charge transport in DNA molecules is very high, due to perspective of their using in nanoelectronics. The original sample preparation for studying electrical conductivity of DNA molecules by scanning tunneling spectroscopy has been proposed and tested. The DNA molecules immobilized on gold surface have been imaged clearly and their current-voltage curves have been measured.

Early Detection of Cervical Intraepitelial Neoplasia in a Heterogeneos Group of Colombian Women Using Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy and the Miranda-López Algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miranda, David A.; Corzo, Sandra P.; González-Correa, Carlos-A.

2012-12-01

Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) allows the study of the electrical properties of materials and structures such as biological tissues. EIS can be used as a diagnostic tool for the identification of pathological conditions such as cervical cancer. We used EIS in combination with genetic algorithms to characterize cervical epithelial squamous tissue in a heterogeneous sample of 56 Colombian women. All volunteers had a cytology taken for Papanicolau test and biopsy taken for histopathological analysis from those with a positive result (9 subjects). ROC analysis of the results suggest a sensitivity and specificity in the order of 0.73 and 0.86, respectively.

ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF THE SQUID GIANT AXON DURING ACTIVITY

PubMed Central

Cole, Kenneth S.; Curtis, Howard J.

1939-01-01

Alternating current impedance measurements have been made over a wide frequency range on the giant axon from the stellar nerve of the squid, Loligo pealii, during the passage of a nerve impulse. The transverse impedance was measured between narrow electrodes on either side of the axon with a Wheatstone bridge having an amplifier and cathode ray oscillograph for detector. When the bridge was balanced, the resting axon gave a narrow line on the oscillograph screen as a sweep circuit moved the spot across. As an impulse passed between impedance electrodes after the axon had been stimulated at one end, the oscillograph line first broadened into a band, indicating a bridge unbalance, and then narrowed down to balance during recovery. From measurements made during the passage of the impulse and appropriate analysis, it was found that the membrane phase angle was unchanged, the membrane capacity decreased about 2 per cent, while the membrane conductance fell from a resting value of 1000 ohm cm.2 to an average of 25 ohm cm.2 The onset of the resistance change occurs somewhat after the start of the monophasic action potential, but coincides quite closely with the point of inflection on the rising phase, where the membrane current reverses in direction, corresponding to a decrease in the membrane electromotive force. This E.M.F. and the conductance are closely associated properties of the membrane, and their sudden changes constitute, or are due to, the activity which is responsible for the all-or-none law and the initiation and propagation of the nerve impulse. These results correspond to those previously found for Nitella and lead us to expect similar phenomena in other nerve fibers. PMID:19873125

Experimental evaluation of electrical conductivity imaging of anisotropic brain tissues using a combination of diffusion tensor imaging and magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sajib, Saurav Z. K.; Jeong, Woo Chul; Oh, Tong In

Anisotropy of biological tissues is a low-frequency phenomenon that is associated with the function and structure of cell membranes. Imaging of anisotropic conductivity has potential for the analysis of interactions between electromagnetic fields and biological systems, such as the prediction of current pathways in electrical stimulation therapy. To improve application to the clinical environment, precise approaches are required to understand the exact responses inside the human body subjected to the stimulated currents. In this study, we experimentally evaluate the anisotropic conductivity tensor distribution of canine brain tissues, using a recently developed diffusion tensor-magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography method. At lowmore » frequency, electrical conductivity of the biological tissues can be expressed as a product of the mobility and concentration of ions in the extracellular space. From diffusion tensor images of the brain, we can obtain directional information on diffusive movements of water molecules, which correspond to the mobility of ions. The position dependent scale factor, which provides information on ion concentration, was successfully calculated from the magnetic flux density, to obtain the equivalent conductivity tensor. By combining the information from both techniques, we can finally reconstruct the anisotropic conductivity tensor images of brain tissues. The reconstructed conductivity images better demonstrate the enhanced signal intensity in strongly anisotropic brain regions, compared with those resulting from previous methods using a global scale factor.« less

Impedance-estimation methods, modeling methods, articles of manufacture, impedance-modeling devices, and estimated-impedance monitoring systems

DOEpatents

Richardson, John G [Idaho Falls, ID

2009-11-17

An impedance estimation method includes measuring three or more impedances of an object having a periphery using three or more probes coupled to the periphery. The three or more impedance measurements are made at a first frequency. Three or more additional impedance measurements of the object are made using the three or more probes. The three or more additional impedance measurements are made at a second frequency different from the first frequency. An impedance of the object at a point within the periphery is estimated based on the impedance measurements and the additional impedance measurements.

A Deformable Smart Skin for Continuous Sensing Based on Electrical Impedance Tomography.

PubMed

Visentin, Francesco; Fiorini, Paolo; Suzuki, Kenji

2016-11-16

In this paper, we present a low-cost, adaptable, and flexible pressure sensor that can be applied as a smart skin over both stiff and deformable media. The sensor can be easily adapted for use in applications related to the fields of robotics, rehabilitation, or costumer electronic devices. In order to remove most of the stiff components that block the flexibility of the sensor, we based the sensing capability on the use of a tomographic technique known as Electrical Impedance Tomography. The technique allows the internal structure of the domain under study to be inferred by reconstructing its conductivity map. By applying the technique to a material that changes its resistivity according to applied forces, it is possible to identify these changes and then localise the area where the force was applied. We tested the system when applied to flat and curved surfaces. For all configurations, we evaluate the artificial skin capabilities to detect forces applied over a single point, over multiple points, and changes in the underlying geometry. The results are all promising, and open the way for the application of such sensors in different robotic contexts where deformability is the key point.

A Deformable Smart Skin for Continuous Sensing Based on Electrical Impedance Tomography

PubMed Central

Visentin, Francesco; Fiorini, Paolo; Suzuki, Kenji

2016-01-01

In this paper, we present a low-cost, adaptable, and flexible pressure sensor that can be applied as a smart skin over both stiff and deformable media. The sensor can be easily adapted for use in applications related to the fields of robotics, rehabilitation, or costumer electronic devices. In order to remove most of the stiff components that block the flexibility of the sensor, we based the sensing capability on the use of a tomographic technique known as Electrical Impedance Tomography. The technique allows the internal structure of the domain under study to be inferred by reconstructing its conductivity map. By applying the technique to a material that changes its resistivity according to applied forces, it is possible to identify these changes and then localise the area where the force was applied. We tested the system when applied to flat and curved surfaces. For all configurations, we evaluate the artificial skin capabilities to detect forces applied over a single point, over multiple points, and changes in the underlying geometry. The results are all promising, and open the way for the application of such sensors in different robotic contexts where deformability is the key point. PMID:27854325

Real-time imaging of subarachnoid hemorrhage in piglets with electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Dai, Meng; Wang, Liang; Xu, Canhua; Li, Lianfeng; Gao, Guodong; Dong, Xiuzhen

2010-09-01

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is one of the most severe medical emergencies in neurosurgery. Early detection or diagnosis would significantly reduce the rate of disability and mortality, and improve the prognosis of the patients. Although the present medical imaging techniques generally have high sensitivity to identify bleeding, the use of an additional, non-invasive imaging technique capable of continuously monitoring SAH is required to prevent contingent bleeding or re-bleeding. In this study, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) was applied to detect the onset of SAH modeled on eight piglets in real time, with the subsequent process being monitored continuously. The experimental SAH model was introduced by one-time injection of 5 ml fresh autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna. Results showed that resistivity variations within the brain caused by the added blood could be detected using the EIT method and may be associated not only with the resistivity difference among brain tissues, but also with variations of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. In conclusion, EIT has unique potential for use in clinical practice to provide invaluable real-time neuroimaging data for SAH after the improvement of electrode design, anisotropic realistic modeling and instrumentation.

Nanoscale electrical property studies of individual GeSi quantum rings by conductive scanning probe microscopy.

PubMed

Lv, Yi; Cui, Jian; Jiang, Zuimin M; Yang, Xinju

2012-11-29

The nanoscale electrical properties of individual self-assembled GeSi quantum rings (QRs) were studied by scanning probe microscopy-based techniques. The surface potential distributions of individual GeSi QRs are obtained by scanning Kelvin microscopy (SKM). Ring-shaped work function distributions are observed, presenting that the QRs' rim has a larger work function than the QRs' central hole. By combining the SKM results with those obtained by conductive atomic force microscopy and scanning capacitance microscopy, the correlations between the surface potential, conductance, and carrier density distributions are revealed, and a possible interpretation for the QRs' conductance distributions is suggested.

Ventilation mapping of chest using Focused Impedance Method (FIM)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadir, M. Abdul; Ferdous, Humayra; Baig, Tanvir Noor; Siddique-e-Rabbani, K.

2010-04-01

Focused Impedance Method (FIM) provides an opportunity for localized impedance measurement down to reasonable depths within the body using surface electrodes, and has a potential application in localized lung ventilation study. This however needs assessment of normal values for healthy individuals. In this study, localized ventilation maps in terms of electrical impedance in a matrix formation around the thorax, both from the front and the back, were obtained from two normal male subjects using a modified configuration of FIM. For this the focused impedance values at full inspiration and full expiration were measured and the percentage difference with respect to the latter was used. Some of the measured values would have artefacts due to movements of the heart and the diaphragm in the relevant anatomical positions which needs to be considered with due care in any interpretation.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis for bovine milk: Preliminary results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertemes-Filho, P.; Valicheski, R.; Pereira, R. M.; Paterno, A. S.

2010-04-01

This work reports the investigation and analysis of bovine milk quality by using biological impedance measurements using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The samples were distinguished by a first chemical analysis using Fourier transform midinfrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and flow citometry. A set of milk samples (100ml each) obtained from 17 different cows in lactation with and without mastitis were analyzed with the proposed technique using EIS. The samples were adulterated by adding distilled water and hydrogen peroxide in a controlled manner. FTIR spectroscopy and flow cytometry were performed, and impedance measurements were made in a frequency range from 500Hz up to 1MHz with an implemented EIS system. The system's phase shift was compensated by measuring saline solutions. It was possible to show that the results obtained with the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) technique may detect changes in the milk caused by mastitis and the presence of water and hydrogen peroxide in the bovine milk.

A high frequency electromagnetic impedance imaging system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tseng, Hung-Wen; Lee, Ki Ha; Becker, Alex

2003-01-15

Non-invasive, high resolution geophysical mapping of the shallow subsurface is necessary for delineation of buried hazardous wastes, detecting unexploded ordinance, verifying and monitoring of containment or moisture contents, and other environmental applications. Electromagnetic (EM) techniques can be used for this purpose since electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity are representative of the subsurface media. Measurements in the EM frequency band between 1 and 100 MHz are very important for such applications, because the induction number of many targets is small and the ability to determine the subsurface distribution of both electrical properties is required. Earlier workers were successful in developing systemsmore » for detecting anomalous areas, but quantitative interpretation of the data was difficult. Accurate measurements are necessary, but difficult to achieve for high-resolution imaging of the subsurface. We are developing a broadband non-invasive method for accurately mapping the electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of the shallow subsurface using an EM impedance approach similar to the MT exploration technique. Electric and magnetic sensors were tested to ensure that stray EM scattering is minimized and the quality of the data collected with the high-frequency impedance (HFI) system is good enough to allow high-resolution, multi-dimensional imaging of hidden targets. Additional efforts are being made to modify and further develop existing sensors and transmitters to improve the imaging capability and data acquisition efficiency.« less

Optimal distance of multi-plane sensor in three-dimensional electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Hao, Zhenhua; Yue, Shihong; Sun, Benyuan; Wang, Huaxiang

2017-12-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a visual imaging technique for obtaining the conductivity and permittivity distributions in the domain of interest. As an advanced technique, EIT has the potential to be a valuable tool for continuously bedside monitoring of pulmonary function. The EIT applications in any three-dimensional (3 D) field are very limited to the 3 D effects, i.e. the distribution of electric field spreads far beyond the electrode plane. The 3 D effects can result in measurement errors and image distortion. An important way to overcome the 3 D effect is to use the multiple groups of sensors. The aim of this paper is to find the best space resolution of EIT image over various electrode planes and select an optimal plane spacing in a 3 D EIT sensor, and provide guidance for 3 D EIT electrodes placement in monitoring lung function. In simulation and experiment, several typical conductivity distribution models, such as one rod (central, midway and edge), two rods and three rods, are set at different plane spacings between the two electrode planes. A Tikhonov regularization algorithm is utilized for reconstructing the images; the relative error and the correlation coefficient are utilized for evaluating the image quality. Based on numerical simulation and experimental results, the image performance at different spacing conditions is evaluated. The results demonstrate that there exists an optimal plane spacing between the two electrode planes for 3 D EIT sensor. And then the selection of the optimal plane spacing between the electrode planes is suggested for the electrodes placement of multi-plane EIT sensor.

Consideration of impedance matching techniques for efficient piezoelectric energy harvesting.

PubMed

Kim, Hyeoungwoo; Priya, Shashank; Stephanou, Harry; Uchino, Kenji

2007-09-01

This study investigates multiple levels of impedance-matching methods for piezoelectric energy harvesting in order to enhance the conversion of mechanical to electrical energy. First, the transduction rate was improved by using a high piezoelectric voltage constant (g) ceramic material having a magnitude of g33 = 40 x 10(-3) V m/N. Second, a transducer structure, cymbal, was optimized and fabricated to match the mechanical impedance of vibration source to that of the piezoelectric transducer. The cymbal transducer was found to exhibit approximately 40 times higher effective strain coefficient than the piezoelectric ceramics. Third, the electrical impedance matching for the energy harvesting circuit was considered to allow the transfer of generated power to a storage media. It was found that, by using the 10-layer ceramics instead of the single layer, the output current can be increased by 10 times, and the output load can be reduced by 40 times. Furthermore, by using the multilayer ceramics the output power was found to increase by 100%. A direct current (DC)-DC buck converter was fabricated to transfer the accumulated electrical energy in a capacitor to a lower output load. The converter was optimized such that it required less than 5 mW for operation.

Impedance dispersion analysis of drug-membrane interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tacheva, Bilyana; Paarvanova, Boyana; Ivanov, Ivan T.; Karabaliev, Miroslav

2017-11-01

Thin lipid films modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) were used in this work as model system for studying the interactions between two antipsychotic phenothiazine drugs, chlorpromazine and thioridazine, and the lipid fraction of the biomembranes. The lipid films on the electrode surface were obtained through the thinning of film-forming lipid solution deposited between an electrolyte phase and the working GC electrode. The effects of the drugs on the lipid film structure were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). To characterize the electric properties of the lipid film the impedance of the working GCE is modeled with an equivalent circuit consisting of parallel capacitance Cp and resistance Rp. These capacitance and resistance are not frequency independent but could be calculated as equivalent Cp and Rp for each measured frequency of the impedance spectrum and presented as functions of the frequency f, Cp = Cp(f) and Rp= Rp(f). For the lipid films used in this work, it is demonstrated that both Cp(f) and Rp(f) are well approximated with power-law functions. This behavior implies that the impedance Z of the films could be analysed in terms of the well-known constant-phase angle element (CPE), which is often used to describe the interfacial impedance of solid working electrodes.

Dielectric and impedance properties of NiFe1.95R0.05O4 (R = Y, Yb and Lu)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ugendar, Kodam; Kumar, Hanuma; Markaneyulu, G.; Rani, G. Neeraja

2018-04-01

The dielectric and impedance spectroscopic properties of NiFe1.95R0.05O4 (R = Y, Yb and Lu) were investigated. The materials were prepared by solid state reaction and crystallized in the cubic inverse spinel phase with a very small amount additional phase of RFeO3 (R = Y, Yb and Lu) as secondary phase. The scanning electron micrograph images clearly show grains (˜2μm) which are separated by thin grain boundaries. The presences of all elements were confirmed by the energy dispersive X-ray elemental mapping. The frequency variation of ɛ' shows the dispersion, following the Koop's phenomenological theory, which considers the dielectric structure as an inhomogeneous medium of two-layers of the Maxwell-Wagner type. Impedance spectroscopic analysis indicates the different relaxation mechanisms, which corresponds to bulk grain and grain-boundaries. Their contributions to the electrical conductivity and capacitance of these materials were discussed in detailed.

TRANSVERSE ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF NITELLA

PubMed Central

Curtis, Howard J.; Cole, Kenneth S.

1937-01-01

Alternating current measurements have been taken on single Nitella cells over a frequency range from 30 to 2,500,000 cycles per second with the current flow perpendicular to the axis of the cell. The measuring cells were so constructed that electrolytes of any desired concentration could be circulated during the course of the measurements. The cellulose wall which surrounds the cell is found to play an important part in the interpretation of the results obtained. In a mature cell, this cellulose has a specific resistance of about 1000 ohm cm. which is independent of the medium in which the cell is suspended. The thickness of the wall is computed to be about 10 µ. The cell membrane is found to be virtually non-conducting, and to have a capacity of 0.94 µf./cm.2 ± 10 per cent and a phase angle of 80° ± 4°. The specific resistances of the sap were difficult to compute from data on living cells and were unsatisfactory because they were very much dependent upon the medium, while measurements on extracted sap gave 58 ohm cm. ± 8 per cent which was independent of the medium. There are indications that the chloroplasts have impedance properties similar to those of living cells. PMID:19873046

Adaptive approach for on-board impedance parameters and voltage estimation of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farmann, Alexander; Waag, Wladislaw; Sauer, Dirk Uwe

2015-12-01

Robust algorithms using reduced order equivalent circuit model (ECM) for an accurate and reliable estimation of battery states in various applications become more popular. In this study, a novel adaptive, self-learning heuristic algorithm for on-board impedance parameters and voltage estimation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in electric vehicles is introduced. The presented approach is verified using LIBs with different composition of chemistries (NMC/C, NMC/LTO, LFP/C) at different aging states. An impedance-based reduced order ECM incorporating ohmic resistance and a combination of a constant phase element and a resistance (so-called ZARC-element) is employed. Existing algorithms in vehicles are much more limited in the complexity of the ECMs. The algorithm is validated using seven day real vehicle data with high temperature variation including very low temperatures (from -20 °C to +30 °C) at different Depth-of-Discharges (DoDs). Two possibilities to approximate both ZARC-elements with finite number of RC-elements on-board are shown and the results of the voltage estimation are compared. Moreover, the current dependence of the charge-transfer resistance is considered by employing Butler-Volmer equation. Achieved results indicate that both models yield almost the same grade of accuracy.

Structure, electrical characteristics, and high-temperature stability of aerosol jet printed silver nanoparticle films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, Md Taibur; McCloy, John; Ramana, C. V.; Panat, Rahul

2016-08-01

Printed electronics has emerged as a versatile eco-friendly fabrication technique to create sintered nanoparticle (NP) films on arbitrary surfaces with an excellent control over the film microstructure. While applicability of such films for high-temperature applications is not explored previously, herein we report the high-temperature electrical stability of silver (Ag) metal NP films fabricated using an Aerosol Jet based printing technique and demonstrate that this behavior is dictated by changes in the film microstructure. In-situ high temperature (24-500 °C) impedance spectroscopy measurements show that the real part of the impedance increases with increasing temperature up to 150 °C, at which point a decreasing trend prevails until 300 °C, followed again by an increase in impedance. The electrical behavior is correlated with the in-situ grain growth of the Ag NP films, as observed afterwards by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and could be tailored by controlling the initial microstructure through sintering conditions. Using combined diffraction and spectroscopic analytical methods, it is demonstrated the Aerosol Jet printed Ag NP films exhibit enhanced thermal stability and oxidation resistance. In addition to establishing the conditions for stability of Ag NP films, the results provide a fundamental understanding of the effect of grain growth and reduction in grain boundary area on the electrical stability of sintered NP films.

Optically coupled methods for microwave impedance microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnston, Scott R.; Ma, Eric Yue; Shen, Zhi-Xun

2018-04-01

Scanning Microwave Impedance Microscopy (MIM) measurement of photoconductivity with 50 nm resolution is demonstrated using a modulated optical source. The use of a modulated source allows for the measurement of photoconductivity in a single scan without a reference region on the sample, as well as removing most topographical artifacts and enhancing signal to noise as compared with unmodulated measurement. A broadband light source with a tunable monochrometer is then used to measure energy resolved photoconductivity with the same methodology. Finally, a pulsed optical source is used to measure local photo-carrier lifetimes via MIM, using the same 50 nm resolution tip.

Theoretical models for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and local ζ-potential of unfolded proteins in nanopores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitarelli, Michael J.; Talaga, David S.

2013-09-01

Single solid-state nanopores find increasing use for electrical detection and/or manipulation of macromolecules. These applications exploit the changes in signals due to the geometry and electrical properties of the molecular species found within the nanopore. The sensitivity and resolution of such measurements are also influenced by the geometric and electrical properties of the nanopore. This paper continues the development of an analytical theory to predict the electrochemical impedance spectra of nanopores by including the influence of the presence of an unfolded protein using the variable topology finite Warburg impedance model previously published by the authors. The local excluded volume of, and charges present on, the segment of protein sampled by the nanopore are shown to influence the shape and peak frequency of the electrochemical impedance spectrum. An analytical theory is used to relate the capacitive response of the electrical double layer at the surface of the protein to both the charge density at the protein surface and the more commonly measured zeta potential. Illustrative examples show how the theory predicts that the varying sequential regions of surface charge density and excluded volume dictated by the protein primary structure may allow for an impedance-based approach to identifying unfolded proteins.

Development of a combined ultrasound and electrical impedance imaging system for prostate cancer detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Yuqing

Approximately 240,890 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 33,720 men were expected to die from it in the year of 2011 in the United States. Unfortunately, the current clinical diagnostic methods (e.g. prostate-specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examination, ultrasound guided biopsy) used for detecting and staging prostate cancer are limited. It has been shown that cancerous prostate tissue has significantly different electrical properties when compared to benign tissues. Based on these electrical property findings, a transrectal electrical impedance tomography (TREIT) system is proposed as a novel prostate imaging modality. An ultrasound probe is incorporated with TREIT to achieve anatomic information of the prostate and guide electrical property reconstruction. Without the guidance of the ultrasound, the TREIT system can easily discern high contrast inclusions of 1 cm in diameter at distances centered at two times the radius of the TREIT probe away from the probe surface. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that our system is able to detect low contrast inclusions. With the guidance of the ultrasound, our system is capable of detecting a plastic inclusion embedded in a gelatin phantom, indicating the potential to detect cancer. In addition, the results of preliminary in vivo clinical trials using the imaging system are also presented in the thesis. After collecting data for a total 66 patients, we demonstrated that the in vivo conductivity of cancerous tissue is significantly greater than that of benign tissue (p=0.0015 at 400 Hz) and the conductivity of BPH tissue is significantly lower than that of normal tissue (p=0.0009 at 400 Hz). Additionally at 25.6 kHz, the dual-modal imaging system is able to differentiate cancerous tissue from benign tissue with sensitivity of 0.6012 and specificity of 0.5498, normal tissue from BPH tissue with sensitivity of 0.6085 and specificity of 0.5813 and differentiate cancerous tissue from BPH tissue with sensitivity of

Structural and electrical properties of LiCo3/5Cu2/5VO4 ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ram, Moti

2010-05-01

The LiCo3/5Cu2/5VO4 compound is prepared by a solution-based chemical method and characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and complex impedance spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction study shows an orthorhombic unit cell structure of the material with lattice parameters a=13.8263 (30) Å, b=8.7051 (30) Å and c=3.1127 (30) Å. The nature of scanning electron micrographs of a sintered pellet of the material reveals that grains of unequal sizes (˜0.2-3 μm) present an average grain size with a polydisperse distribution on the surface of the sample. Complex plane diagrams indicate grain interior and grain boundary contributions to the electrical response in the material. The electrical conductivity study reveals that electrical conduction in the material is a thermally activated process. The frequency dependence of the a.c. conductivity obeys Jonscher’s universal law.

Accurate position estimation methods based on electrical impedance tomography measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vergara, Samuel; Sbarbaro, Daniel; Johansen, T. A.

2017-08-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a technology that estimates the electrical properties of a body or a cross section. Its main advantages are its non-invasiveness, low cost and operation free of radiation. The estimation of the conductivity field leads to low resolution images compared with other technologies, and high computational cost. However, in many applications the target information lies in a low intrinsic dimensionality of the conductivity field. The estimation of this low-dimensional information is addressed in this work. It proposes optimization-based and data-driven approaches for estimating this low-dimensional information. The accuracy of the results obtained with these approaches depends on modelling and experimental conditions. Optimization approaches are sensitive to model discretization, type of cost function and searching algorithms. Data-driven methods are sensitive to the assumed model structure and the data set used for parameter estimation. The system configuration and experimental conditions, such as number of electrodes and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), also have an impact on the results. In order to illustrate the effects of all these factors, the position estimation of a circular anomaly is addressed. Optimization methods based on weighted error cost functions and derivate-free optimization algorithms provided the best results. Data-driven approaches based on linear models provided, in this case, good estimates, but the use of nonlinear models enhanced the estimation accuracy. The results obtained by optimization-based algorithms were less sensitive to experimental conditions, such as number of electrodes and SNR, than data-driven approaches. Position estimation mean squared errors for simulation and experimental conditions were more than twice for the optimization-based approaches compared with the data-driven ones. The experimental position estimation mean squared error of the data-driven models using a 16-electrode setup was less

Electrical impedance tomography in 3D using two electrode planes: characterization and evaluation.

PubMed

Wagenaar, Justin; Adler, Andy

2016-06-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) uses body surface electrical stimulation and measurements to create conductivity images; it shows promise as a non-invasive technology to monitor the distribution of lung ventilation. Most applications of EIT have placed electrodes in a 2D ring around the thorax, and thus produced 2D cross-sectional images. These images are unable to distinguish out-of-plane contributions, or to image volumetric effects. Volumetric EIT can be calculated using multiple electrode planes and a 3D reconstruction algorithm. However, while 3D reconstruction algorithms are available, little has been done to understand the performance of 3D EIT in terms of the measurement configurations available. The goal of this paper is to characterize the phantom and in vivo performance of 3D EIT with two electrode planes. First, phantom measurements are used to measure the reconstruction characteristics of seven stimulation and measurement configurations. Measurements were then performed on eight healthy volunteers as a function of body posture, postures, and with various electrode configurations. Phantom results indicate that 3D EIT using two rings of electrodes provides reasonable resolution in the electrode plane but low vertical resolution. For volunteers, functional EIT images are created from inhalation curve features to analyze the effect of posture (standing, sitting, supine and decline) on regional lung behaviour. An ability to detect vertical changes in lung volume distribution was shown for two electrode configurations. Based on tank and volunteer results, we recommend the use of the 'square' stimulation and measurement pattern for two electrode plane EIT.

Visceral fat estimation method by bioelectrical impedance analysis and causal analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakajima, Hiroshi; Tasaki, Hiroshi; Tsuchiya, Naoki; Hamaguchi, Takehiro; Shiga, Toshikazu

2011-06-01

It has been clarified that abdominal visceral fat accumulation is closely associated to the lifestyle disease and metabolic syndrome. The gold standard in medical fields is visceral fat area measured by an X-ray computer tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging. However, their measurements are high invasive and high cost; especially a CT scan causes X-ray exposure. They are the reasons why medical fields need an instrument for viscera fat measurement with low invasive, ease of use, and low cost. The article proposes a simple and practical method of visceral fat estimation by employing bioelectrical impedance analysis and causal analysis. In the method, abdominal shape and dual impedances of abdominal surface and body total are measured to estimate a visceral fat area based on the cause-effect structure. The structure is designed according to the nature of abdominal body composition to be fine-tuned by statistical analysis. The experiments were conducted to investigate the proposed model. 180 subjects were hired to be measured by both a CT scan and the proposed method. The acquired model explained the measurement principle well and the correlation coefficient is 0.88 with the CT scan measurements.

NOTE: Impedance magnetocardiogram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kandori, Akihiko; Miyashita, Tsuyoshi; Suzuki, Daisuke; Yokosawa, Koichi; Tsukada, Keiji

2001-02-01

We have developed an impedance magnetocardiogram (IMCG) system to detect the change of magnetic field corresponding to changes in blood volume in the heart. A low magnetic field from the electrical activity of the human heart - the so-called magnetocardiogram (MCG) - can be simultaneously detected by using this system. Because the mechanical and electrical functions in the heart can be monitored by non-invasive and non-contact measurements, it is easy to observe the cardiovascular functions from an accurate sensor position. This system uses a technique to demodulate induced current in a subject. A flux-locked circuit of a superconducting quantum interference device has a wide frequency range (above 1 MHz) because a constant current (40 kHz) is fed through the subject. It is shown for the first time that the system could measure IMCG signals at the same time as MCG signals.

Impedance microflow cytometry for viability studies of microorganisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Berardino, Marco; Hebeisen, Monika; Hessler, Thomas; Ziswiler, Adrian; Largiadèr, Stephanie; Schade, Grit

2011-02-01

Impedance-based Coulter counters and its derivatives are widely used cell analysis tools in many laboratories and use normally DC or low frequency AC to perform these electrical analyses. The emergence of micro-fabrication technologies in the last decade, however, provides a new means of measuring electrical properties of cells. Microfluidic approaches combined with impedance spectroscopy measurements in the radio frequency (RF) range increase sensitivity and information content and thus push single cell analyses beyond simple cell counting and sizing applications towards multiparametric cell characterization. Promising results have been shown already in the fields of cell differentiation and blood analysis. Here we emphasize the potential of this technology by presenting new data obtained from viability studies on microorganisms. Impedance measurements of several yeast and bacteria strains performed at frequencies around 10 MHz enable an easy discrimination between dead and viable cells. Moreover, cytotoxic effects of antibiotics and other reagents, as well as cell starvation can also be monitored easily. Control analyses performed with conventional flow cytometers using various fluorescent dyes (propidium iodide, oxonol) indicate a good correlation and further highlight the capability of this device. The label-free approach makes on the one hand the use of usually expensive fluorochromes obsolete, on the other hand practically eliminates laborious sample preparation procedures. Until now, online cell monitoring was limited to the determination of viable biomass, which provides rather poor information of a cell culture. Impedance microflow cytometry, besides other aspects, proposes a simple solution to these limitations and might become an important tool for bioprocess monitoring applications in the biotech industry.

Electrical Impedance Tomography: a new study method for neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome?

PubMed Central

Chatziioannidis, I; Samaras, T; Nikolaidis, N

2011-01-01

Treatment of cardiorespiratory system diseases is a procedure that usually demands data collection on terms of the anatomy and the operation of the organs that are under study. Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is an alternative approach, in comparison to existing techniques. With EIT electrodes are placed in the perimeter of the human body and images of the estimated organ are reconstructed, using the measurement of its impendence (or resistance) distribution and determining its alteration through time, while at the same time the patient is not exposed to ionizing radiation. Its clinical use presupposes the correct placement of the electrodes over the perimeter of the human body, the rapid data collection and electrical safety. It is a low cost technique and it is implemented near the patient. It is able to determine the distribution of ventilation, blood supply, diffused or localized lung defects, but it can also estimate therapeutic interventions or alteration to assisted ventilation of the neonate. EIT was developed at the beginning of the 1980s, but it has only recently begun to be implemented on neonates, and especially in the study of their respiratory system function. The low rate of image analysis is considered to be a drawback, but it is offset by the potential offered for the estimation of lungs' function (both under normal and pathological conditions), since ventilation and resistance are two quite similar concepts. In this review the most important studies about EIT are mentioned as a method of estimating respiratory distress syndrome in neonates. In terms of the above mentioned development, it is supposed that this technique will offer a great amount of help to the doctor in his / her estimations of the cardiorespiratory system and to his / her selection of the best intervening strategies. PMID:22435017

Respiratory-gated electrical impedance tomography: a potential technique for quantifying stroke volume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arshad, Saaid H.; Murphy, Ethan K.; Halter, Ryan J.

2016-03-01

Telemonitoring is becoming increasingly important as the proportion of the population living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases. Currently used health parameters in the suite of telemonitoring tools lack the sensitivity and specificity to accurately predict heart failure events, forcing physicians to play a reactive versus proactive role in patient care. A novel cardiac output (CO) monitoring device is proposed that leverages a custom smart phone application and a wearable electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system. The purpose of this work is to explore the potential of using respiratory-gated EIT to quantify stroke volume (SV) and assess its feasibility using real data. Simulations were carried out using the 4D XCAT model to create anatomically realistic meshes and electrical conductivity profiles representing the human thorax and the intrathoracic tissue. A single 5-second period respiration cycle with chest/lung expansion was modeled with end-diastole (ED) and end-systole (ES) heart volumes to evaluate how effective EIT-based conductivity changes represent clinically significant differences in SV. After establishing a correlation between conductivity changes and SV, the applicability of the respiratory-gated EIT was refined using data from the PhysioNet database to estimate the number of useful end-diastole (ED) and end-systole (ES) heart events attained over a 3.3 minute period. The area associated with conductivity changes was found to correlate to SV with a correlation coefficient of 0.92. A window of 12.5% around peak exhalation was found to be the optimal phase of the respiratory cycle from which to record EIT data. Within this window, ~47 useable ED and ES were found with a standard deviation of 28 using 3.3 minutes of data for 20 patients.

Advanced electric-field scanning probe lithography on molecular resist using active cantilever

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaestner, Marcus; Aydogan, Cemal; Ivanov, Tzvetan; Ahmad, Ahmad; Angelov, Tihomir; Reum, Alexander; Ishchuk, Valentyn; Krivoshapkina, Yana; Hofer, Manuel; Lenk, Steve; Atanasov, Ivaylo; Holz, Mathias; Rangelow, Ivo W.

2015-07-01

The routine "on demand" fabrication of features smaller than 10 nm opens up new possibilities for the realization of many devices. Driven by the thermally actuated piezoresistive cantilever technology, we have developed a prototype of a scanning probe lithography (SPL) platform which is able to image, inspect, align, and pattern features down to the single digit nanoregime. Here, we present examples of practical applications of the previously published electric-field based current-controlled scanning probe lithography. In particular, individual patterning tests are carried out on calixarene by using our developed table-top SPL system. We have demonstrated the application of a step-and-repeat SPL method including optical as well as atomic force microscopy-based navigation and alignment. The closed-loop lithography scheme was applied to sequentially write positive and negative tone features. Due to the integrated unique combination of read-write cycling, each single feature is aligned separately with the highest precision and inspected after patterning. This routine was applied to create a pattern step by step. Finally, we have demonstrated the patterning over larger areas, over existing topography, and the practical applicability of the SPL processes for lithography down to 13-nm pitch patterns. To enhance the throughput capability variable beam diameter electric field, current-controlled SPL is briefly discussed.

Study of the Dynamics of Transcephalic Cerebral Impedance Data during Cardio-Vascular Surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atefi, S. R.; Seoane, F.; Lindecrantz, K.

2013-04-01

Postoperative neurological deficits are one of the risks associated with cardio vascular surgery, necessitating development of new techniques for cerebral monitoring. In this study an experimental observation regarding the dynamics of transcephalic Electrical Bioimpedance (EBI) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with and without extracorporeal circulation (ECC) was conducted to investigate the potential use of electrical Bioimpedance for cerebral monitoring in cardio vascular surgery. Tetrapolar transcephalic EBI measurements at single frequency of 50 kHz were recorded prior to and during cardio vascular surgery. The obtained results show that the transcephalic impedance decreases in both groups of patients as operation starts, however slight differences in these two groups were also observed with the cerebral impedance reduction in patients having no ECC being less common and not as pronounced as in the ECC group. Changes in the cerebral impedance were in agreement with changes of haematocrit and temperature. The origin of EBI changes is still unexplained however these results encourage us to continue investigating the application of electrical bioimpedance cerebral monitoring clinically.

Dielectrophoresis and dielectrophoretic impedance detection of adenovirus and rotavirus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakano, Michihiko; Ding, Zhenhao; Suehiro, Junya

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is the electrical detection of pathogenic viruses, namely, adenovirus and rotavirus, using dielectrophoretic impedance measurement (DEPIM). DEPIM consists of two simultaneous processes: dielectrophoretic trapping of the target and measurement of the impedance change and increase in conductance with the number of trapped targets. This is the first study of applying DEPIM, which was originally developed to detect bacteria suspended in aqueous solutions, to virus detection. The dielectric properties of the viruses were also investigated in terms of their dielectrophoretic behavior. Although their estimated dielectric properties were different from those of bacteria, the trapped viruses increased the conductance of the microelectrode in a manner similar to that in bacteria detection. We demonstrated the electrical detection of viruses within 60 s at concentrations as low as 70 ng/ml for adenovirus and 50 ng/ml for rotavirus.

Prototype development of an electrical impedance based simultaneous respiratory and cardiac monitoring system for gated radiotherapy.

PubMed

Kohli, Kirpal; Liu, Jeff; Schellenberg, Devin; Karvat, Anand; Parameswaran, Ash; Grewal, Parvind; Thomas, Steven

2014-10-14

In radiotherapy, temporary translocations of the internal organs and tumor induced by respiratory and cardiac activities can undesirably lead to significantly lower radiation dose on the targeted tumor but more harmful radiation on surrounding healthy tissues. Respiratory and cardiac gated radiotherapy offers a potential solution for the treatment of tumors located in the upper thorax. The present study focuses on the design and development of simultaneous acquisition of respiratory and cardiac signal using electrical impedance technology for use in dual gated radiotherapy. An electronic circuitry was developed for monitoring the bio-impedance change due to respiratory and cardiac motions and extracting the cardiogenic ECG signal. The system was analyzed in terms of reliability of signal acquisition, time delay, and functionality in a high energy radiation environment. The resulting signal of the system developed was also compared with the output of the commercially available Real-time Position Management™ (RPM) system in both time and frequency domains. The results demonstrate that the bioimpedance-based method can potentially provide reliable tracking of respiratory and cardiac motion in humans, alternative to currently available methods. When compared with the RPM system, the impedance-based system developed in the present study shows similar output pattern but different sensitivities in monitoring different respiratory rates. The tracking of cardiac motion was more susceptible to interference from other sources than respiratory motion but also provided synchronous output compared with the ECG signal extracted. The proposed hardware-based implementation was observed to have a worst-case time delay of approximately 33 ms for respiratory monitoring and 45 ms for cardiac monitoring. No significant effect on the functionality of the system was observed when it was tested in a radiation environment with the electrode lead wires directly exposed to high-energy X

Assessment of regional ventilation distribution: comparison of vibration response imaging (VRI) with electrical impedance tomography (EIT).

PubMed

Shi, Chang; Boehme, Stefan; Bentley, Alexander H; Hartmann, Erik K; Klein, Klaus U; Bodenstein, Marc; Baumgardner, James E; David, Matthias; Ullrich, Roman; Markstaller, Klaus

2014-01-01

Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a bedside technology to monitor ventilation by detecting lung sound vibrations. It is currently unknown whether VRI is able to accurately monitor the local distribution of ventilation within the lungs. We therefore compared VRI to electrical impedance tomography (EIT), an established technique used for the assessment of regional ventilation. Simultaneous EIT and VRI measurements were performed in the healthy and injured lungs (ALI; induced by saline lavage) at different PEEP levels (0, 5, 10, 15 mbar) in nine piglets. Vibration energy amplitude (VEA) by VRI, and amplitudes of relative impedance changes (rel.ΔZ) by EIT, were evaluated in seven regions of interest (ROIs). To assess the distribution of tidal volume (VT) by VRI and EIT, absolute values were normalized to the VT obtained by simultaneous spirometry measurements. Redistribution of ventilation by ALI and PEEP was detected by VRI and EIT. The linear correlation between pooled VT by VEA and rel.ΔZ was R(2) = 0.96. Bland-Altman analysis showed a bias of -1.07±24.71 ml and limits of agreement of -49.05 to +47.36 ml. Within the different ROIs, correlations of VT-distribution by EIT and VRI ranged between R(2) values of 0.29 and 0.96. ALI and PEEP did not alter the agreement of VT between VRI and EIT. Measurements of regional ventilation distribution by VRI are comparable to those obtained by EIT.

Detection of Alzheimer’s disease amyloid-beta plaque deposition by deep brain impedance profiling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Béduer, Amélie; Joris, Pierre; Mosser, Sébastien; Fraering, Patrick C.; Renaud, Philippe

2015-04-01

Objective. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative disease in elderly people. Toxic brain amyloid-beta (Aß) aggregates and ensuing cell death are believed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, we investigated if we could monitor the presence of these aggregates by performing in situ electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements in AD model mice brains. Approach. In this study, electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed post-mortem in APPPS1 transgenic mice brains. This transgenic model is commonly used to study amyloidogenesis, a pathological hallmark of AD. We used flexible probes with embedded micrometric electrodes array to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting senile plaques composed of Aß peptides by localized impedance measurements. Main results. We particularly focused on deep brain structures, such as the hippocampus. Ex vivo experiments using brains from young and old APPPS1 mice lead us to show that impedance measurements clearly correlate with the percentage of Aβ plaque load in the brain tissues. We could monitor the effects of aging in the AD APPPS1 mice model. Significance. We demonstrated that a localized electrical impedance measurement constitutes a valuable technique to monitor the presence of Aβ-plaques, which is complementary with existing imaging techniques. This method does not require prior Aβ staining, precluding the risk of variations in tissue uptake of dyes or tracers, and consequently ensuring reproducible data collection.

A shape-based quality evaluation and reconstruction method for electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Antink, Christoph Hoog; Pikkemaat, Robert; Malmivuo, Jaakko; Leonhardt, Steffen

2015-06-01

Linear methods of reconstruction play an important role in medical electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and there is a wide variety of algorithms based on several assumptions. With the Graz consensus reconstruction algorithm for EIT (GREIT), a novel linear reconstruction algorithm as well as a standardized framework for evaluating and comparing methods of reconstruction were introduced that found widespread acceptance in the community. In this paper, we propose a two-sided extension of this concept by first introducing a novel method of evaluation. Instead of being based on point-shaped resistivity distributions, we use 2759 pairs of real lung shapes for evaluation that were automatically segmented from human CT data. Necessarily, the figures of merit defined in GREIT were adjusted. Second, a linear method of reconstruction that uses orthonormal eigenimages as training data and a tunable desired point spread function are proposed. Using our novel method of evaluation, this approach is compared to the classical point-shaped approach. Results show that most figures of merit improve with the use of eigenimages as training data. Moreover, the possibility of tuning the reconstruction by modifying the desired point spread function is shown. Finally, the reconstruction of real EIT data shows that higher contrasts and fewer artifacts can be achieved in ventilation- and perfusion-related images.

Highly sensitive three-dimensional interdigitated microelectrode for microparticle detection using electrical impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Fu-Yu; Chen, Ming-Kun; Wang, Min-Haw; Jang, Ling-Sheng

2016-02-01

Cell impedance analysis is widely used for monitoring biological and medical reactions. In this study, a highly sensitive three-dimensional (3D) interdigitated microelectrode (IME) with a high aspect ratio on a polyimide (PI) flexible substrate was fabricated for microparticle detection (e.g. cell quantity detection) using electroforming and lithography technology. 3D finite element simulations were performed to compare the performance of the 3D IME (in terms of sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio) to that of a planar IME for particles in the sensing area. Various quantities of particles were captured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium and their impedances were measured. With the 3D IME, the particles were arranged in the gap, not on the electrode, avoiding the noise due to particle position. For the maximum particle quantities, the results show that the 3D IME has at least 5-fold higher sensitivity than that of the planar IME. The trends of impedance magnitude and phase due to particle quantity were verified using the equivalent circuit model. The impedance (1269 Ω) of 69 particles was used to estimate the particle quantity (68 particles) with 98.6% accuracy using a parabolic regression curve at 500 kHz.

No change in the regional distribution of tidal volume during lateral posture in mechanically ventilated patients assessed by electrical impedance tomography

PubMed Central

Bein, Thomas; Ploner, Franz; Ritzka, Markus; Pfeifer, Michael; Schlitt, Hans J; Graf, Bernhard M

2010-01-01

We assessed the distribution of regional lung ventilation during moderate and steep lateral posture using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in mechanically ventilated patients. Seven patients were placed on a kinetic treatment table. An elastic belt containing 16 electrodes was placed around the chest and was connected to the EIT device. Patients were moved to left and right lateral positions in a stepwise (10°) mode up to 60°. EIT images [arbitrary units (AU)] were generated and scanned for assessment of relative ventilation distribution changes [tidal volume (VT)]. A calibration procedure of arbitrary units (AUs) versus ventilator-derived VT performed in all patients during three predefined positions (supine, 60°-left dependent and 60°-right-dependent) showed a significant correlation between VT in supine, left and right lateral positions with the corresponding AUs (r2 = 0·356, P<0·05). Changes in VT were calculated and compared to supine position, and specific regions of interest (ROIs) were analysed. In our study, in contrast to recent findings, a change in lateral positions did not induce a significant change in regional tidal volume distribution. In right lateral positions, a broader variation of VT with a trend towards an increase in the dependently positioned lung was observed in comparison with supine. Lateral positioning promotes the redistribution of ventilation to the ventral regions of the lung. The use of EIT technology might become a helpful tool for understanding and guiding posture therapy in mechanically ventilated patients. PMID:20491842

Sonic impedance technique detects flaws in polyurethane foam spray-on insulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haralson, H. S.; Haynes, J. L.

1970-01-01

Sonic impedance testing detects voids and unbonded regions as small as 1 inch in diameter by 0.03 inch thick. Measurements are made manually or by automatic scanning and the readout is made by meter or recorder.

Portable bioimpedance monitor evaluation for continuous impedance measurements. Towards wearable plethysmography applications.

PubMed

Ferreira, J; Seoane, F; Lindecrantz, K

2013-01-01

Personalised Health Systems (PHS) that could benefit the life quality of the patients as well as decreasing the health care costs for society among other factors are arisen. The purpose of this paper is to study the capabilities of the System-on-Chip Impedance Network Analyser AD5933 performing high speed single frequency continuous bioimpedance measurements. From a theoretical analysis, the minimum continuous impedance estimation time was determined, and the AD5933 with a custom 4-Electrode Analog Front-End (AFE) was used to experimentally determine the maximum continuous impedance estimation frequency as well as the system impedance estimation error when measuring a 2R1C electrical circuit model. Transthoracic Electrical Bioimpedance (TEB) measurements in a healthy subject were obtained using 3M gel electrodes in a tetrapolar lateral spot electrode configuration. The obtained TEB raw signal was filtered in MATLAB to obtain the respiration and cardiogenic signals, and from the cardiogenic signal the impedance derivative signal (dZ/dt) was also calculated. The results have shown that the maximum continuous impedance estimation rate was approximately 550 measurements per second with a magnitude estimation error below 1% on 2R1C-parallel bridge measurements. The displayed respiration and cardiac signals exhibited good performance, and they could be used to obtain valuable information in some plethysmography monitoring applications. The obtained results suggest that the AD5933-based monitor could be used for the implementation of a portable and wearable Bioimpedance plethysmograph that could be used in applications such as Impedance Cardiography. These results combined with the research done in functional garments and textile electrodes might enable the implementation of PHS applications in a relatively short time from now.

Translational-circular scanning for magneto-acoustic tomography with current injection.

PubMed

Wang, Shigang; Ma, Ren; Zhang, Shunqi; Yin, Tao; Liu, Zhipeng

2016-01-27

Magneto-acoustic tomography with current injection involves using electrical impedance imaging technology. To explore the potential applications in imaging biological tissue and enhance image quality, a new scan mode for the transducer is proposed that is based on translational and circular scanning to record acoustic signals from sources. An imaging algorithm to analyze these signals is developed in respect to this alternative scanning scheme. Numerical simulations and physical experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this scheme. An experiment using a graphite sheet as a tissue-mimicking phantom medium was conducted to verify simulation results. A pulsed voltage signal was applied across the sample, and acoustic signals were recorded as the transducer performed stepped translational or circular scans. The imaging algorithm was used to obtain an acoustic-source image based on the signals. In simulations, the acoustic-source image is correlated with the conductivity at the sample boundaries of the sample, but image results change depending on distance and angular aspect of the transducer. In general, as angle and distance decreases, the image quality improves. Moreover, experimental data confirmed the correlation. The acoustic-source images resulting from the alternative scanning mode has yielded the outline of a phantom medium. This scan mode enables improvements to be made in the sensitivity of the detecting unit and a change to a transducer array that would improve the efficiency and accuracy of acoustic-source images.

Nuclear radiation-warning detector that measures impedance

DOEpatents

Savignac, Noel Felix; Gomez, Leo S; Yelton, William Graham; Robinson, Alex; Limmer, Steven

2013-06-04

This invention is a nuclear radiation-warning detector that measures impedance of silver-silver halide on an interdigitated electrode to detect light or radiation comprised of alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, X rays, and/or neutrons. The detector is comprised of an interdigitated electrode covered by a layer of silver halide. After exposure to alpha particles, beta particles, X rays, gamma rays, neutron radiation, or light, the silver halide is reduced to silver in the presence of a reducing solution. The change from the high electrical resistance (impedance) of silver halide to the low resistance of silver provides the radiation warning that detected radiation levels exceed a predetermined radiation dose threshold.

Electrical impedance tomography during major open upper abdominal surgery: a pilot-study

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) of the lungs facilitates visualization of ventilation distribution during mechanical ventilation. Its intraoperative use could provide the basis for individual optimization of ventilator settings, especially in patients at risk for ventilation-perfusion mismatch and impaired gas exchange, such as patients undergoing major open upper abdominal surgery. EIT throughout major open upper abdominal surgery could encounter difficulties in belt positioning and signal quality. Thus, we conducted a pilot-study and tested whether EIT is feasible in patients undergoing major open upper abdominal surgery. Methods Following institutional review board’s approval and written informed consent, we included patients scheduled for major open upper abdominal surgery of at least 3 hours duration. EIT measurements were conducted prior to intubation, at the time of skin incision, then hourly during surgery until shortly prior to extubation and after extubation. Number of successful intraoperative EIT measurements and reasons for failures were documented. From the valid measurements, a functional EIT image of changes in tidal impedance was generated for every time point. Regions of interest were defined as horizontal halves of the picture. Monitoring of ventilation distribution was assessed using the center of ventilation index, and also using the total and dorsal ventilated lung area. All parameter values prior to and post intubation as well as extubation were compared. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 120 intraoperative EIT measurements during major abdominal surgery lasting 4-13 hours were planned in 14 patients. The electrode belt was attached between the 2nd and 4th intercostal space. Consecutive valid measurements could be acquired in 13 patients (93%). 111 intraoperative measurements could be retrieved as planned (93%). Main obstacle was the contact of skin electrodes. Despite the high belt

Electrical properties of polycrystalline methane hydrate

USGS Publications Warehouse

Du Frane, W. L.; Stern, L.A.; Weitemeyer, K.A.; Constable, S.; Pinkston, J.C.; Roberts, J.J.

2011-01-01

Electromagnetic (EM) remote-sensing techniques are demonstrated to be sensitive to gas hydrate concentration and distribution and complement other resource assessment techniques, particularly seismic methods. To fully utilize EM results requires knowledge of the electrical properties of individual phases and mixing relations, yet little is known about the electrical properties of gas hydrates. We developed a pressure cell to synthesize gas hydrate while simultaneously measuring in situ frequency-dependent electrical conductivity (σ). Synthesis of methane (CH4) hydrate was verified by thermal monitoring and by post run cryogenic scanning electron microscope imaging. Impedance spectra (20 Hz to 2 MHz) were collected before and after synthesis of polycrystalline CH4 hydrate from polycrystalline ice and used to calculate σ. We determined the σ of CH4 hydrate to be 5 × 10−5 S/m at 0°C with activation energy (Ea) of 30.6 kJ/mol (−15 to 15°C). After dissociation back into ice, σ measurements of samples increased by a factor of ~4 and Ea increased by ~50%, similar to the starting ice samples.

Feasibility of imaging evoked activity throughout the rat brain using electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Faulkner, Mayo; Hannan, Sana; Aristovich, Kirill; Avery, James; Holder, David

2018-05-10

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is an emerging technique which has been used to image evoked activity during whisker displacement in the cortex of an anaesthetised rat with a spatiotemporal resolution of 200 μm and 2 ms. The aim of this work was to extend EIT to image not only from the cortex but also from deeper structures active in somatosensory processing, specifically the ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus. The direct response in the cortex and VPL following 2 Hz forepaw stimulation were quantified using a 57-channel epicortical electrode array and a 16-channel depth electrode. Impedance changes of -0.16 ± 0.08% at 12.9 ± 1.4 ms and -0.41 ± 0.14% at 8.8±1.9 ms were recorded from the cortex and VPL respectively. For imaging purposes, two 57-channel epicortical electrode arrays were used with one placed on each hemisphere of the rat brain. Despite using parameters optimised toward measuring thalamic activity and undertaking extensive averaging, reconstructed activity was constrained to the cortical somatosensory forepaw region and no significant activity at a depth greater than 1.6 mm below the surface of the cortex could be reconstructed. An evaluation of the depth sensitivity of EIT was investigated in simulations using estimates of the conductivity change and noise levels derived from experiments. These indicate that EIT imaging with epicortical electrodes is limited to activity occurring 2.5 mm below the surface of the cortex. This depth includes the hippocampus and so EIT has the potential to image activity, such as epilepsy, originating from this structure. To image deeper activity, however, alternative methods such as the additional implementation of depth electrodes will be required to gain the necessary depth resolution. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Thermal behaviors of Ni-MH batteries using a novel impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Pu; Gao, Wenying; Qiu, Xinping; Zhu, Wentao; Sun, Jie; Chen, Liquan

In this paper, a novel impedance spectroscopy was used to describe the thermal behaviors of Ni-MH batteries. The impedance functions were derived similarly to electric impedance functions. The square of current was treated as a current equivalent and heat-flow as a voltage equivalent. The impedance spectra of batteries during charge showed that the combination of hydrogen and oxygen increased rapidly when charge rate was higher than 0.5 C. Thermal runaway might happen when battery was charged at temperature above 348 K even at a low charge rate. The cycling test showed that the charge efficiency of battery was the highest after cycling at high-rate for 10-100 cycles and decreased after more cycles. Different batteries showed different thermal behaviors which may be caused by the different structures of batteries.

A mixed-mode traffic assignment model with new time-flow impedance function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Gui-Hua; Hu, Yu; Zou, Yuan-Yang

2018-01-01

Recently, with the wide adoption of electric vehicles, transportation network has shown different characteristics and been further developed. In this paper, we present a new time-flow impedance function, which may be more realistic than the existing time-flow impedance functions. Based on this new impedance function, we present an optimization model for a mixed-mode traffic network in which battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and gasoline vehicles (GVs) are chosen. We suggest two approaches to handle the model: One is to use the interior point (IP) algorithm and the other is to employ the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm. Three numerical examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency of these approaches. In particular, our numerical results show that more travelers prefer to choosing BEVs when the distance limit of BEVs is long enough and the unit operating cost of GVs is higher than that of BEVs, and the SQP algorithm is faster than the IP algorithm.

Non-invasive determination of absolute lung resistivity in adults using electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Patterson, Robert

2010-08-01

Lung resistivity is a physiological parameter that describes the electrical characteristics of the lungs. Lung composition changes due to changes in the lung tissues, fluid and air volume. Various diseases that can cause a change in lung composition may be monitored by measuring lung resistivity. Currently, there is no accepted non-invasive method to measure lung resistivity. In this study, we presented a method and framework to non-invasively determine lung resistivity using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). By comparing actual measurements from subjects with data from a 3D human thorax model, an EIT image can be reconstructed to show a resistivity difference between the model and the subject. By adjusting the lung resistivity in the model, the resistivity difference in the lung regions can be reduced to near zero. This resistivity value then is the estimation of the lung resistivity of the subject. Using the proposed method, the lung resistivities of four normal adult males (43 +/- 13 years, 78 +/- 10 kg) in the supine position at air volumes starting at functional residual capacity (FRC--end expiration) and increasing in 0.5 l steps to 1.5 l were studied. The averaged lung resistivity changes 12.59%, from 1406 Omega cm to 1583 Omega cm, following the inspiration of 1.5 l air from FRC. The coefficients of variation (CV) of precision for the four subjects are less than 10%. The experiment was repeated five times at each air volume on a subject to test the reproducibility. The CVs are less than 3%. The results show that it is feasible to determine absolute lung resistivity using an EIT-based method.

Structure, electrical characteristics, and high-temperature stability of aerosol jet printed silver nanoparticle films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rahman, Md Taibur; McCloy, John; Panat, Rahul, E-mail: rahul.panat@wsu.edu, E-mail: rvchintalapalle@utep.edu

Printed electronics has emerged as a versatile eco-friendly fabrication technique to create sintered nanoparticle (NP) films on arbitrary surfaces with an excellent control over the film microstructure. While applicability of such films for high-temperature applications is not explored previously, herein we report the high-temperature electrical stability of silver (Ag) metal NP films fabricated using an Aerosol Jet based printing technique and demonstrate that this behavior is dictated by changes in the film microstructure. In-situ high temperature (24–500 °C) impedance spectroscopy measurements show that the real part of the impedance increases with increasing temperature up to 150 °C, at which point a decreasingmore » trend prevails until 300 °C, followed again by an increase in impedance. The electrical behavior is correlated with the in-situ grain growth of the Ag NP films, as observed afterwards by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and could be tailored by controlling the initial microstructure through sintering conditions. Using combined diffraction and spectroscopic analytical methods, it is demonstrated the Aerosol Jet printed Ag NP films exhibit enhanced thermal stability and oxidation resistance. In addition to establishing the conditions for stability of Ag NP films, the results provide a fundamental understanding of the effect of grain growth and reduction in grain boundary area on the electrical stability of sintered NP films.« less

Design of electrodes and current limits for low frequency electrical impedance tomography of the brain.

PubMed

Gilad, O; Horesh, L; Holder, D S

2007-07-01

For the novel application of recording of resistivity changes related to neuronal depolarization in the brain with electrical impedance tomography, optimal recording is with applied currents below 100 Hz, which might cause neural stimulation of skin or underlying brain. The purpose of this work was to develop a method for application of low frequency currents to the scalp, which delivered the maximum current without significant stimulation of skin or underlying brain. We propose a recessed electrode design which enabled current injection with an acceptable skin sensation to be increased from 100 muA using EEG electrodes, to 1 mA in 16 normal volunteers. The effect of current delivered to the brain was assessed with an anatomically realistic finite element model of the adult head. The modelled peak cerebral current density was 0.3 A/m(2), which was 5 to 25-fold less than the threshold for stimulation of the brain estimated from literature review.

Electrokinetics Models for Micro and Nano Fluidic Impedance Sensors

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-01

primitive Differential-Algebraic Equations (DAEs), used to process and interpret the experimentally measured electrical impedance data (Sun and Morgan...field, and species respectively. A second-order scheme was used to calculate the ionic species distribution. The linearized algebraic equations were...is governed by the Poisson equation 2 0 0 r i i i F z cε ε φ∇ + =∑ where ε0 and εr are, respectively, the electrical permittivity in the vacuum

Variable electrical properties in composites: Application to vanadium dioxide pigments in a polyethylene host

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alfred-Duplan, C.; Musso, J.; Gavarri, J.R.

1994-05-01

Composite pellets were prepared from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and vanadium dioxide powders. The VO[sub 2] pigments are used for their insulating-to-metallic transition at 341 K in order to obtain electrically variable composite materials. The volume fractions of VO[sub 2] powders vary from [phi] = 0 to [phi] = 0.55. The composite samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Complex impedance analysis in the frequency range 10[sup [minus]1] to 10[sup 6]. Hz is carried out at room temperature and at T = 363 K, to observe the insulator-metal transition of VO[sub 2] pigments dispersed in the polymer host.more » The variation of the complex impedance modulus [vert bar]Z[vert bar] with frequency and with VO[sub 2] volume fraction ([phi]) is discussed. A specific (R, C) impedance model permits interpretation of the experimental results in terms of percolation; the observed variations can be accounted for.« less

A High Performance Impedance-based Platform for Evaporation Rate Detection.

PubMed

Chou, Wei-Lung; Lee, Pee-Yew; Chen, Cheng-You; Lin, Yu-Hsin; Lin, Yung-Sheng

2016-10-17

This paper describes the method of a novel impedance-based platform for the detection of the evaporation rate. The model compound hyaluronic acid was employed here for demonstration purposes. Multiple evaporation tests on the model compound as a humectant with various concentrations in solutions were conducted for comparison purposes. A conventional weight loss approach is known as the most straightforward, but time-consuming, measurement technique for evaporation rate detection. Yet, a clear disadvantage is that a large volume of sample is required and multiple sample tests cannot be conducted at the same time. For the first time in literature, an electrical impedance sensing chip is successfully applied to a real-time evaporation investigation in a time sharing, continuous and automatic manner. Moreover, as little as 0.5 ml of test samples is required in this impedance-based apparatus, and a large impedance variation is demonstrated among various dilute solutions. The proposed high-sensitivity and fast-response impedance sensing system is found to outperform a conventional weight loss approach in terms of evaporation rate detection.

Development of a portable electrical impedance tomography data acquisition system for near-real-time spatial sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Shieh-Kung; Loh, Kenneth J.

2015-04-01

The main goal of this study was to develop and validate the performance of a miniature and portable data acquisition (DAQ) system designed for interrogating carbon nanotube (CNT)-based thin films for real-time spatial structural sensing and damage detection. Previous research demonstrated that the electrical properties of CNT-based thin film strain sensors were linearly correlated with applied strains. When coupled with an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) algorithm, the detection and localization of damage was possible. In short, EIT required that the film or "sensing skin" be interrogated along its boundaries. Electrical current was injected across a pair of boundary electrodes, and voltage was simultaneously recorded along the remaining electrode pairs. This was performed multiple times to obtain a large dataset needed for solving the EIT spatial conductivity mapping inverse problem. However, one of the main limitations of this technique was the large amount of time required for data acquisition. In order to facilitate the adoption of this technology and for field implementation purposes, a miniature DAQ that could interrogate these CNT-based sensing skins at high sampling rates was designed and tested. The prototype DAQ featured a Howland current source that could generate stable and controlled direct current. Measurement of boundary electrode voltages and the switching of the input, output, and measurement channels were achieved using multiplexer units. The DAQ prototype was fabricated on a two-layer printed circuit board, and it was designed for integration with a prototype wireless sensing system, which is the next phase of this research.

Realization of an Ultra-thin Metasurface to Facilitate Wide Bandwidth, Wide Angle Beam Scanning.

PubMed

Bah, Alpha O; Qin, Pei-Yuan; Ziolkowski, Richard W; Cheng, Qiang; Guo, Y Jay

2018-03-19

A wide bandwidth, ultra-thin, metasurface is reported that facilitates wide angle beam scanning. Each unit cell of the metasurface contains a multi-resonant, strongly-coupled unequal arm Jerusalem cross element. This element consists of two bent-arm, orthogonal, capacitively loaded strips. The wide bandwidth of the metasurface is achieved by taking advantage of the strong coupling within and between its multi-resonant elements. A prototype of the proposed metasurface has been fabricated and measured. The design concept has been validated by the measured results. The proposed metasurface is able to alleviate the well-known problem of impedance mismatch caused by mutual coupling when the main beam of an array is scanned. In order to validate the wideband and wide scanning ability of the proposed metasurface, it is integrated with a wideband antenna array as a wide angle impedance matching element. The metasurface-array combination facilitates wide angle scanning over a 6:1 impedance bandwidth without the need for bulky dielectrics or multi-layered structures.

A new lithium-ion battery internal temperature on-line estimate method based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, J. G.; Sun, Z. C.; Wei, X. Z.; Dai, H. F.

2015-01-01

The power battery thermal management problem in EV (electric vehicle) and HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) has been widely discussed, and EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) is an effective experimental method to test and estimate the status of the battery. Firstly, an electrochemical-based impedance matrix analysis for lithium-ion battery is developed to describe the impedance response of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Then a method, based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement, has been proposed to estimate the internal temperature of power lithium-ion battery by analyzing the phase shift and magnitude of impedance at different ambient temperatures. Respectively, the SoC (state of charge) and temperature have different effects on the impedance characteristics of battery at various frequency ranges in the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experimental study. Also the impedance spectrum affected by SoH (state of health) is discussed in the paper preliminary. Therefore, the excitation frequency selected to estimate the inner temperature is in the frequency range which is significantly influenced by temperature without the SoC and SoH. The intrinsic relationship between the phase shift and temperature is established under the chosen excitation frequency. And the magnitude of impedance related to temperature is studied in the paper. In practical applications, through obtaining the phase shift and magnitude of impedance, the inner temperature estimation could be achieved. Then the verification experiments are conduced to validate the estimate method. Finally, an estimate strategy and an on-line estimation system implementation scheme utilizing battery management system are presented to describe the engineering value.

Development of an Arduino-based electrical impedance tomography system with application to dam internal erosion detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masi, Matteo; Ferdos, Farzad; Losito, Gabriella; Solari, Luca

2016-04-01

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a technique for the imaging of the electrical properties of conductive materials. In EIT, the spatial distribution of the electrical resistivity or electrical conductivity within a domain is reconstructed using measurements made with electrodes placed at the boundaries of the domain. Data acquisition is typically made by applying an electrical current to the object under investigation using a set of electrodes, and measuring the developed voltage between the other electrodes. The tomographic image is then obtained using an inversion algorithm. This work describes the implementation of a simple and low cost 3D EIT measurement system suitable for laboratory-scale studies. The system was specifically developed for the time-lapse imaging of soil samples subjected to erosion processes during laboratory tests. The tests reproduce the process of internal erosion of soil particles by water flow within a granular media; this process is one of the most common causes of failure of earthen levees and embankment dams. The measurements needed strict requirements of speed and accuracy due to the varying time scale and magnitude of these processes. The developed EIT system consists of a PC which controls I/O cards (multiplexers) through the Arduino micro-controller, an external current generator, a digital acquisition device (DAQ), a power supply and the electrodes. The ease of programming of the Arduino interface greatly helped the implementation of custom acquisition software, increasing the overall flexibility of the system and the creation of specific acquisition schemes and configurations. The system works with a multi-electrode configuration of up to 48 channels but it was designed to be upgraded to an arbitrary large number of electrodes by connecting additional multiplexer cards (> 96 electrodes). The acquisition was optimized for multi-channel measurements so that the overall time of acquisition is dramatically reduced compared to

Dielectric relaxation and electrical conduction mechanism in A2HoSbO6 (A=Ba, Sr, Ca) Double Perovskite Ceramics: An impedance spectroscopic analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halder, Saswata; Dutta, Alo; Sinha, T. P.

2017-03-01

The AC electrical properties of polycrystalline double perovskite oxides A2HoSbO6 (A=Ba, Sr, Ca; AHS) synthesized by solid state reaction technique has been explored by using impedance spectroscopic studies. The Rietveld refinement of the room temperature X-ray diffraction data show that Ba2HoSbO6 (BHS) has cubic phase and Sr2HoSbO6 (SHS) and Ca2HoSbO6 (CHS) crystallize in monoclinic phase. The samples show significant frequency dispersion in their dielectric properties. The polydispersive nature of the relaxation mechanism is explained by the modified Cole-Cole model. The scaling behavior of dielectric loss indicate the temperature independence of the relaxation mechanism. The magnitude of the activation energy indicates that the hopping mechanism is responsible for carrier transport in AHS. The frequency dependent conductivity spectra follow the double power law. Impedance spectroscopic data presented in the Nyquist plot (Z" versus Z‧) are used to identify an equivalent circuit along with to know the grain, grain boundary and interface contributions. The constant phase element (CPE) is used to analyze the experimental response of BHS, SHS and CHS comprehending the contribution of different microstructural features to the conduction process. The temperature dependent electrical conductivity shows a semiconducting behavior.

Assessment of Regional Ventilation Distribution: Comparison of Vibration Response Imaging (VRI) with Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT)

PubMed Central

Bentley, Alexander H.; Hartmann, Erik K.; Klein, Klaus U.; Bodenstein, Marc; Baumgardner, James E.; David, Matthias; Ullrich, Roman; Markstaller, Klaus

2014-01-01

Background Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a bedside technology to monitor ventilation by detecting lung sound vibrations. It is currently unknown whether VRI is able to accurately monitor the local distribution of ventilation within the lungs. We therefore compared VRI to electrical impedance tomography (EIT), an established technique used for the assessment of regional ventilation. Methodology/Principal Findings Simultaneous EIT and VRI measurements were performed in the healthy and injured lungs (ALI; induced by saline lavage) at different PEEP levels (0, 5, 10, 15 mbar) in nine piglets. Vibration energy amplitude (VEA) by VRI, and amplitudes of relative impedance changes (rel.ΔZ) by EIT, were evaluated in seven regions of interest (ROIs). To assess the distribution of tidal volume (VT) by VRI and EIT, absolute values were normalized to the VT obtained by simultaneous spirometry measurements. Redistribution of ventilation by ALI and PEEP was detected by VRI and EIT. The linear correlation between pooled VT by VEA and rel.ΔZ was R2 = 0.96. Bland-Altman analysis showed a bias of −1.07±24.71 ml and limits of agreement of −49.05 to +47.36 ml. Within the different ROIs, correlations of VT-distribution by EIT and VRI ranged between R2 values of 0.29 and 0.96. ALI and PEEP did not alter the agreement of VT between VRI and EIT. Conclusions/Significance Measurements of regional ventilation distribution by VRI are comparable to those obtained by EIT. PMID:24475160

Insulator-based DEP with impedance measurements for analyte detection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davalos, Rafael V.; Simmons, Blake A.; Crocker, Robert W.

2010-03-16

Disclosed herein are microfluidic devices for assaying at least one analyte specie in a sample comprising at least one analyte concentration area in a microchannel having insulating structures on or in at least one wall of the microchannel which provide a nonuniform electric field in the presence of an electric field provided by off-chip electrodes; and a pair of passivated sensing electrodes for impedance detection in a detection area. Also disclosed are assay methods and methods of making.

Synthesis of structures of electric small-sized radiators using impedance matching materials for millimeter waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klimov, Konstantin N.; Epaneshnikova, Irina K.; Belevtsev, Andrey M.; Godin, Andrey S.; Drize, Artemiy D.

2017-10-01

The usage of impedance matching materials for millimeters waves in antenna systems is a promising direction in the development of modern radar stations that allows unifying nomenclature of radiating elements. One of possible appliances of impedance matching materials is transfer of working frequencies of radiating elements to bands with greater wavelength. The usage of several impedance matching mediums, for example, with ɛr=μr=2, ɛr=μr=4, ɛr=μr=8, ɛr=μr=10 allows to extend waveband of the radiating element by 2, 4, 8 and 10 times.

Impedance spectroscopy for the detection and identification of unknown toxins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riggs, B. C.; Plopper, G. E.; Paluh, J. L.; Phamduy, T. B.; Corr, D. T.; Chrisey, D. B.

2012-06-01

Advancements in biological and chemical warfare has allowed for the creation of novel toxins necessitating a universal, real-time sensor. We have used a function-based biosensor employing impedance spectroscopy using a low current density AC signal over a range of frequencies (62.5 Hz-64 kHz) to measure the electrical impedance of a confluent epithelial cell monolayer at 120 sec intervals. Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells were grown to confluence on thin film interdigitated gold electrodes. A stable impedance measurement of 2200 Ω was found after 24 hrs of growth. After exposure to cytotoxins anthrax lethal toxin and etoposide, the impedance decreased in a linear fashion resulting in a 50% drop in impedance over 50hrs showing significant difference from the control sample (~20% decrease). Immunofluorescent imaging showed that apoptosis was induced through the addition of toxins. Similarities of the impedance signal shows that the mechanism of cellular death was the same between ALT and etoposide. A revised equivalent circuit model was employed in order to quantify morphological changes in the cell monolayer such as tight junction integrity and cell surface area coverage. This model showed a faster response to cytotoxin (2 hrs) compared to raw measurements (20 hrs). We demonstrate that herein that impedance spectroscopy of epithelial monolayers serves as a real-time non-destructive sensor for unknown pathogens.

Measuring nanometre-scale electric fields in scanning transmission electron microscopy using segmented detectors.

PubMed

Brown, H G; Shibata, N; Sasaki, H; Petersen, T C; Paganin, D M; Morgan, M J; Findlay, S D

2017-11-01

Electric field mapping using segmented detectors in the scanning transmission electron microscope has recently been achieved at the nanometre scale. However, converting these results to quantitative field measurements involves assumptions whose validity is unclear for thick specimens. We consider three approaches to quantitative reconstruction of the projected electric potential using segmented detectors: a segmented detector approximation to differential phase contrast and two variants on ptychographical reconstruction. Limitations to these approaches are also studied, particularly errors arising from detector segment size, inelastic scattering, and non-periodic boundary conditions. A simple calibration experiment is described which corrects the differential phase contrast reconstruction to give reliable quantitative results despite the finite detector segment size and the effects of plasmon scattering in thick specimens. A plasmon scattering correction to the segmented detector ptychography approaches is also given. Avoiding the imposition of periodic boundary conditions on the reconstructed projected electric potential leads to more realistic reconstructions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of grain size and structural changes on magnetic, dielectric, electrical, impedance and modulus spectroscopic characteristics of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by honey mediated sol-gel combustion method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh Yadav, Raghvendra; Kuřitka, Ivo; Vilcakova, Jarmila; Havlica, Jaromir; Masilko, Jiri; Kalina, Lukas; Tkacz, Jakub; Švec, Jiří; Enev, Vojtěch; Hajdúchová, Miroslava

2017-12-01

In this work CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by honey mediated sol-gel combustion method and further annealed at higher temperature 500 °C, 700 °C, 900 °C and 1100 °C. The synthesized spinel ferrite nanoparticles is investigated by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC), field emission scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The x-ray diffraction study reveals face-centered cubic spinel cobalt ferrite crystal phase formation. The crystallite size and lattice parameter are increased with annealing temperature. Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectra also confirm spinel ferrite crystal structure of synthesized nanoparticles. The existence of cation at octahedral and tetrahedral site in cobalt ferrite nanoparticles is confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Magnetic measurement shows increased saturation magnetization 74.4 emu g-1 at higher annealing temperature 1100 °C, high coercivity 1347.3 Oe at lower annealing temperature 500 °C, and high remanent magnetization 32.3 emu g-1 at 900 °C annealing temperature. The magnetic properties of synthesized ferrite nanoparticles can be tuned by adjusting sizes through annealing temperature. Furthermore, the dielectric constant and ac conductivity shows variation with frequency (1-107 Hz), grain size and cation redistribution. The modulus spectroscopy study reveals the role of bulk grain and grain boundary towards the resistance and capacitance. The cole-cole plots in modulus formalism also well support the electrical response of nanoparticles originated from both grain and grain boundaries. The dielectric, electrical, magnetic, impedance and modulus spectroscopic characteristics of synthesized CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles demonstrate the applicability of these nanoparticles for magnetic recording, memory

An evaluation of a bioelectrical impedance analyser for the estimation of body fat content.

PubMed Central

Maughan, R J

1993-01-01

Measurement of body composition is an important part of any assessment of health or fitness. Hydrostatic weighing is generally accepted as the most reliable method for the measurement of body fat content, but is inconvenient. Electrical impedance analysers have recently been proposed as an alternative to the measurement of skinfold thickness. Both these latter methods are convenient, but give values based on estimates obtained from population studies. This study compared values of body fat content obtained by hydrostatic weighing, skinfold thickness measurement and electrical impedance on 50 (28 women, 22 men) healthy volunteers. Mean(s.e.m.) values obtained by the three methods were: hydrostatic weighing, 20.5(1.2)%; skinfold thickness, 21.8(1.0)%; impedance, 20.8(0.9)%. The results indicate that the correlation between the skinfold method and hydrostatic weighing (0.931) is somewhat higher than that between the impedance method and hydrostatic weighing (0.830). This is, perhaps, not surprising given the fact that the impedance method is based on an estimate of total body water which is then used to calculate body fat content. The skinfold method gives an estimate of body density, and the assumptions involved in the conversion from body density to body fat content are the same for both methods. PMID:8457817

Electrical impedance tomography can rapidly detect small pneumothoraces in surfactant-depleted piglets.

PubMed

Bhatia, Risha; Schmölzer, Georg M; Davis, Peter G; Tingay, David G

2012-02-01

Diagnosis of pneumothorax relies on clinical suspicion and chest X-ray, and is often delayed. We aimed to determine whether electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can accurately identify the presence of surgically created pneumothoraces before significant changes in clinical parameters. Six anesthetized and muscle-relaxed piglets with surfactant-depleted lungs were studied. Following chest drain insertion into the right ventral chest, 10-20 ml aliquots of air were instilled into the pleural space to a maximum volume of 200 ml. The pneumothorax was drained by attaching a Heimlich valve to the chest drain. At each instillation and after draining the pneumothorax, global and regional end-expiratory intra-thoracic volumes (EEV) were measured using respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP) and EIT concurrently with [Formula: see text], heart rate and blood pressure. A significantly greater change in both global EEV(RIP) and EEV within the right ventral quadrant was seen at all volume instillations, from as little as 10 ml, compared with all other quadrants. There was no difference in EEV within the left ventral and both dorsal quadrants. Sp(O)(2) fell below 90% at 100 ml instillation. Tachycardia occurred at 140 ml instillation. EIT identified a 60% resolution of pneumothoraces within 60 s of attachment of the Heimlich valve. EIT accurately detects very small pneumothoraces before physiological parameters change.

Online impedance spectroscopy of lead acid batteries for storage management of a standalone power plant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Depernet, Daniel; Ba, Oumar; Berthon, Alain

2012-12-01

This paper presents a contribution to implementation of hybrid power plants in rural areas without electricity in Senegal. Wind and photovoltaic generators coupling is used to benefit from renewable energy resources in this country. Lead acid storage batteries are coupled with the generators to ensure smoothness of the electricity generation. This work is focused in particular on the development of a low cost online impedance spectroscopy method to address the problem of limited lifetime of batteries and the difficulties of their maintenance in isolated areas. Control of static converter associated with the battery is adapted to integrate the functionality of characterization of batteries by impedance spectroscopy. An experimental platform developed in the laboratory has validated the method for online measurement of battery impedance spectrum and to initiate a phase of data monitoring.

[An instrument for estimating human body composition using impedance measurement].

PubMed

Yin, J; Peng, C

1997-03-01

According to the impedance feature of biological tissue, the instrument was designed at 1, 5, 10, 50, 100kHz to measure human impedance, and then to calculate human FAT, FFM, FAT%, TBW, ECW, ICW and so on. A 8031 singlechip microprocessor contacuting used as a control center in the instrument. The part of electric circuit contacuting human body in the instrument was unreally earthing. The instrument was safty, effective, repeatable, and easily manpulative. Prelimintary clinical experiment showed the results measured with the instrument could effectively reflect practical, status of human composition.

Towards the development of a wearable Electrical Impedance Tomography system: A study about the suitability of a low power bioimpedance front-end.

PubMed

Menolotto, Matteo; Rossi, Stefano; Dario, Paolo; Della Torre, Luigi

2015-01-01

Wearable systems for remote monitoring of physiological parameter are ready to evolve towards wearable imaging systems. The Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) allows the non-invasive investigation of the internal body structure. The characteristics of this low-resolution and low-cost technique match perfectly with the concept of a wearable imaging device. On the other hand low power consumption, which is a mandatory requirement for wearable systems, is not usually discussed for standard EIT applications. In this work a previously developed low power architecture for a wearable bioimpedance sensor is applied to EIT acquisition and reconstruction, to evaluate the impact on the image of the limited signal to noise ratio (SNR), caused by low power design. Some anatomical models of the chest, with increasing geometric complexity, were developed, in order to evaluate and calibrate, through simulations, the parameters of the reconstruction algorithms provided by Electrical Impedance Diffuse Optical Reconstruction Software (EIDORS) project. The simulation results were compared with experimental measurements taken with our bioimpedance device on a phantom reproducing chest tissues properties. The comparison was both qualitative and quantitative through the application of suitable figures of merit; in this way the impact of the noise of the low power front-end on the image quality was assessed. The comparison between simulation and measurement results demonstrated that, despite the limited SNR, the device is accurate enough to be used for the development of an EIT based imaging wearable system.

Determining bonding, thickness, and density via thermal wave impedance NDE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, D. R.

1985-01-01

Bonding, density, and thickness of coatings have a vital effect on their performance in many applications. Pioneering development work on thermal wave nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods during the past 25 years has resulted in an array of useful techniques for performing bonding, density, and thickness measurements in a practical shop environment. The most useful thermal wave methods for this purpose are based on thermal wave surface impedance measurement or scanning. A pulse of heat from either a thermal transducer or a hot gas pulse is projected onto the surface, and the resulting temperature response is analyzed to unfold the bonding, density, and thickness of the coating. An advanced emissivity independent infrared method was applied to detect the temperature response. These methods were recently completely computerized and can automatically provide information on coating quality in near real-time using the proper equipment. Complex shapes such as turbine blades can be scanned. Microscopic inhomogeneities such as microstructural differences and small, normal, isolated voids do not cause problems but are seen as slight differences in the bulk thermal properties. Test objects with rough surfaces can be effectively nondestructively evaluated using proper thermal surface impedance methods. Some of the basic principles involved, as well as metallographic results illustrating the ability of the thermal wave surface impedance method to detect natural nonbonds under a two-layer thermally sprayed coating, will be presented.

Electrical and impedance spectroscopy analysis of sol-gel derived spin coated Cu2ZnSnS4 solar cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Goutam Kumar; Garg, Ashish; Dixit, Ambesh

2018-01-01

We carried out electrical and impedance studies on solution derived Al:ZnO/ZnO/CdS/Cu2ZnSnS4/Mo/Glass multilayered solar cell structures to understand their impact on photovoltaic performance. The Cu2ZnSnS4 layer is synthesized on a molybdenum (Mo) coated soda lime glass substrate as an absorber and characterized intensively to optimize the absorber physical properties. The optimized Cu2ZnSnS4 is p-type with 5.8 × 1017 cm-3 hole carrier concentration. The depletion width of the junction is around 20.5 nm and the diffusion capacitance is ˜35.5 nF for these devices. We observed relatively large minority carrier life time ˜23 μs for these structures using open voltage decay analysis. The measured Cu2ZnSnS4/MoS2 and Cu2ZnSnS4/CdS interface resistances are 7.6 kΩ and 12.5 kΩ, respectively. The spatial inhomogeneities are considered and the corresponding resistance is ˜11.4 kΩ. The impedance measurements suggest that in conjunction with series resistance ˜350 Ω, the interface and spatial inhomogeneity resistances also give a significant contribution to the photovoltaic performance.

Studies on the Electrical Properties of Graphene Oxide-Reinforced Poly (4-Styrene Sulfonic Acid) and Polyvinyl Alcohol Blend Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deshmukh, Kalim; Sankaran, Sowmya; Basheer Ahamed, M.; Khadheer Pasha, S. K.; Sadasivuni, Kishor Kumar; Ponnamma, Deepalekshmi; Al-Ali Almaadeed, Mariam; Chidambaram, K.

In the present study, graphene oxide (GO)-reinforced poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSSA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend composite films were prepared using colloidal blending technique at various concentrations of GO (0-3wt.%). The morphological investigations of the prepared composites were carried out using polarized optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The electrical properties of composites were evaluated using an impedance analyzer in the frequency range 50Hz to 20MHz and temperature in the range 40-150∘C. Morphological studies infer that GO was homogeneously dispersed in the PSSA/PVA blend matrix. Investigations of electrical property indicate that the incorporation of GO into PSSA/PVA blend matrix resulted in the enhancement of the impedance (Z) and the quality factor (Q-factor) values. A maximum impedance of about 4.32×106Ω was observed at 50Hz and 90∘C for PSSA/PVA/GO composites with 3wt.% GO loading. The Q-factor also increased from 8.37 for PSSA/PVA blend to 59.8 for PSSA/PVA/GO composites with 3wt.% GO loading. These results indicate that PSSA/PVA/GO composites can be used for high-Q capacitor applications.

Complex Impedance of Fast Optical Transition Edge Sensors up to 30 MHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hattori, K.; Kobayashi, R.; Numata, T.; Inoue, S.; Fukuda, D.

2018-03-01

Optical transition edge sensors (TESs) are characterized by a very fast response, of the order of μs, which is 10^3 times faster than TESs for X-ray and gamma-ray. To extract important parameters associated with the optical TES, complex impedances at high frequencies (> 1 MHz) need to be measured, where the parasitic impedance in the circuit and reflections of electrical signals due to discontinuities in the characteristic impedance of the readout circuits become significant. This prevents the measurements of the current sensitivity β , which can be extracted from the complex impedance. In usual setups, it is hard to build a circuit model taking into account the parasitic impedances and reflections. In this study, we present an alternative method to estimate a transfer function without investigating the details of the entire circuit. Based on this method, the complex impedance up to 30 MHz was measured. The parameters were extracted from the impedance and were compared with other measurements. Using these parameters, we calculated the theoretical limit on an energy resolution and compared it with the measured energy resolution. In this paper, the reasons for the deviation of the measured value from theoretically predicted values will be discussed.

Electrical characteristics of mammalian cells on porous supports

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Guo

2003-10-01

The quantification of epithelial barrier functions by measuring the trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TER) and using the Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) has been complicated by the current flowing inside the narrow space underneath cells. This thesis work, by examining the electrical characteristics of epithelial cells on porous supports, is aimed to tackle this problem. A mathematical model has been constructed to quantify the impedance from the various sources within a cell/electrode system. This model presents three cell-related parameters, alpha, Rb and Cm: alpha stands for the impedance contribution from the above-mentioned current underneath cells, Rb is an equivalent representation of epithelial barrier functions and Cm denotes the capacitive impedance of cell membranes. Analysis of the three parameters as well as the electrode impedance (Z e) has revealed two experimental approaches to reduce or eliminate the complication of alpha to the deduction of Rb: lowering alpha down to zero or lowering both Ze and alpha. The experimental realization of the first approach has been studied by examining the electrical characteristics of the African green monkey kidney (BS-C-1) and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK-II) cells on porous filters of mixed esters of cellulose or nitrocellulose. A unique setup featuring a plastic/filter/plastic triple-layer structure was constructed to measure the impedance of cells on filters. With the extremely low alpha, all the electrical characteristics can be explained by using an equivalent circuit and Rb can be directly obtained from the resistance difference in the low frequency range. The second approach has been experimentally investigated by examining the electrical characteristics of BS-C-1 cells on porous/rough electrodes, i.e. the gold ECIS electrodes electrochemically coated with conducting polypyrrole/heparin composites or platinum black. Ze and alpha, especially the former, were found to be significantly

Electrode-Skin contact impedance: In vivo measurements on an ovine model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, D. T.; Kosobrodov, R.; Barry, M. A.; Chik, W.; Jin, C.; Oh, T. I.; Thiagalingam, A.; McEwan, A.

2013-04-01

The problem of electrical impedance between the skin and the electrode is an on-going challenge in bio-electronics. This is particularly true in the case of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), which uses a large number of skin-contact electrodes and is very sensitive to noise. In the present article, contact impedance is measured and compared for a range of electrodes placed on the thorax of an ovine model. The study has been approved by the Westmead Hospital Animal Ethics Committee. The electrode models that were employed in the research are Ag/AgCl electrodes (E1), commonly used for ECG and EIT measurements in both humans and animal models, stainless steel crocodile clips (E2), typically used on animal models, and novel multi-point dry electrodes in two modifications: bronze plated (E3) and nickel plated (E4). Further, since the contact impedance is mostly attributed to the acellular outer layer of the skin, in our experiment, we attempted to study the effect of this layer by comparing the results when the skin is intact and when electrodes are introduced underneath the skin through small cuts. This boundary effect was assessed by comparison of measurements obtained during E2 skin surface contact, and sub-cutaneous contact (E5). Twelve gauge intradermal needles were also tested as an electrode (E6). The full impedance spectrum, from 500 Hz to 300 kHz, was recorded, analysed and compared. As expected, the contact impedance in the more invasive cases, i.e the electrodes under the skin, is significantly lower than in the non-invasive cases. At the frequency of 50 kHz which is commonly used in lung EIT acquisition, electrodes E3, E4 and E6 demonstrated contact impedance of less than 200 Ω, compared to more than 400 Ω measured for electrodes E1, E2 and E5. In conclusion, the novel multipoint electrodes proved to be best suited for EIT purposes, because they are non-invasive and have lower contact impedance than Ag/AgCl and crocodile clips, in both invasive and

No change in the regional distribution of tidal volume during lateral posture in mechanically ventilated patients assessed by electrical impedance tomography.

PubMed

Bein, Thomas; Ploner, Franz; Ritzka, Markus; Pfeifer, Michael; Schlitt, Hans J; Graf, Bernhard M

2010-07-01

We assessed the distribution of regional lung ventilation during moderate and steep lateral posture using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in mechanically ventilated patients. Seven patients were placed on a kinetic treatment table. An elastic belt containing 16 electrodes was placed around the chest and was connected to the EIT device. Patients were moved to left and right lateral positions in a stepwise (10 degrees ) mode up to 60 degrees. EIT images [arbitrary units (AU)] were generated and scanned for assessment of relative ventilation distribution changes [tidal volume (V(T))]. A calibration procedure of arbitrary units (AUs) versus ventilator-derived V(T) performed in all patients during three predefined positions (supine, 60 degrees-left dependent and 60 degrees-right-dependent) showed a significant correlation between V(T) in supine, left and right lateral positions with the corresponding AUs (r(2) = 0.356, P<0.05). Changes in V(T) were calculated and compared to supine position, and specific regions of interest (ROIs) were analysed. In our study, in contrast to recent findings, a change in lateral positions did not induce a significant change in regional tidal volume distribution. In right lateral positions, a broader variation of V(T) with a trend towards an increase in the dependently positioned lung was observed in comparison with supine. Lateral positioning promotes the redistribution of ventilation to the ventral regions of the lung. The use of EIT technology might become a helpful tool for understanding and guiding posture therapy in mechanically ventilated patients.

Towards Biofilm Spectroscopy - A Novel Microfluidic Approach for Characterizing Biofilm Subpopulation by Microwave-Based Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richter, Christiane; Schneider, Stefan; Rapp, Bastian E.; Schmidt, Sönke; Schüßler, Martin; Jakoby, Rolf; Bruchmann, Julia; Bischer, Moritz; Schwartz, Thomas

2018-03-01

In this work three disciplines - microfluidics, microbiology and microwave engineering - are utilized to develop a system for analyzing subpopulations of biofilms and their reaction to antibiotic treatment. We present handling strategies to destabilize a biofilm inside a microfluidic system down to aggregate sizes of<10 µm2 as well as microfluidic structures for the flow-through filtration of the resulting cell suspensions. For the analysis of the cell populations by microwave electrical impedance spectroscopy, two novel calibration schemes are demonstrated to cover both, reflection as well as transmission measurements of dielectric fluids. The broadband calibration strategies are solely based on liquid standards and allow a precise long-term monitoring with a resolution up to Δ ɛ = 6 Δ = 1.5 ‰ at H 5 GHz. Combining these three research topics therefore will open up new ways for analyzing biofilm effects.

Development of Biological Acoustic Impedance Microscope and its Error Estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hozumi, Naohiro; Nakano, Aiko; Terauchi, Satoshi; Nagao, Masayuki; Yoshida, Sachiko; Kobayashi, Kazuto; Yamamoto, Seiji; Saijo, Yoshifumi

This report deals with the scanning acoustic microscope for imaging cross sectional acoustic impedance of biological soft tissues. A focused acoustic beam was transmitted to the tissue object mounted on the "rear surface" of plastic substrate. A cerebellum tissue of rat and a reference material were observed at the same time under the same condition. As the incidence is not vertical, not only longitudinal wave but also transversal wave is generated in the substrate. The error in acoustic impedance assuming vertical incidence was estimated. It was proved that the error can precisely be compensated, if the beam pattern and acoustic parameters of coupling medium and substrate had been known.

Measurement of changes in impedance of DNA nanowires due to radiation induced structural damage. A novel approach for a DNA-based radiosensitive device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heimbach, Florian; Arndt, Alexander; Nettelbeck, Heidi; Langner, Frank; Giesen, Ulrich; Rabus, Hans; Sellner, Stefan; Toppari, Jussi; Shen, Boxuan; Baek, Woon Yong

2017-08-01

The ability of DNA to conduct electric current has been the topic of numerous investigations over the past few decades. Those investigations indicate that this ability is dependent on the molecular structure of the DNA. Radiation-induced damages, which lead to an alteration of the molecular structure, should therefore change the electrical impedance of a DNA molecule. In this paper, the damage due to ionising radiation is shown to have a direct effect on the electrical transport properties of DNA. Impedance measurements of DNA samples were carried out by an AC impedance spectrometer before, during and after irradiation. The samples comprised of DNA segments, which were immobilized between gold electrodes with a gap of 12 μm. The impedance of all DNA samples exhibited rising capacitive behaviour with increasing absorbed dose.

Cell-substrate impedance fluctuations of single amoeboid cells encode cell-shape and adhesion dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonhardt, Helmar; Gerhardt, Matthias; Höppner, Nadine; Krüger, Kirsten; Tarantola, Marco; Beta, Carsten

2016-01-01

We show systematic electrical impedance measurements of single motile cells on microelectrodes. Wild-type cells and mutant strains were studied that differ in their cell-substrate adhesion strength. We recorded the projected cell area by time-lapse microscopy and observed irregular oscillations of the cell shape. These oscillations were correlated with long-term variations in the impedance signal. Superposed to these long-term trends, we observed fluctuations in the impedance signal. Their magnitude clearly correlated with the adhesion strength, suggesting that strongly adherent cells display more dynamic cell-substrate interactions.

Absolute electrical impedance tomography (aEIT) guided ventilation therapy in critical care patients: simulations and future trends.

PubMed

Denaï, Mouloud A; Mahfouf, Mahdi; Mohamad-Samuri, Suzani; Panoutsos, George; Brown, Brian H; Mills, Gary H

2010-05-01

Thoracic electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive, radiation-free monitoring technique whose aim is to reconstruct a cross-sectional image of the internal spatial distribution of conductivity from electrical measurements made by injecting small alternating currents via an electrode array placed on the surface of the thorax. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the fundamentals of EIT and demonstrate the principles of mechanical ventilation, lung recruitment, and EIT imaging on a comprehensive physiological model, which combines a model of respiratory mechanics, a model of the human lung absolute resistivity as a function of air content, and a 2-D finite-element mesh of the thorax to simulate EIT image reconstruction during mechanical ventilation. The overall model gives a good understanding of respiratory physiology and EIT monitoring techniques in mechanically ventilated patients. The model proposed here was able to reproduce consistent images of ventilation distribution in simulated acutely injured and collapsed lung conditions. A new advisory system architecture integrating a previously developed data-driven physiological model for continuous and noninvasive predictions of blood gas parameters with the regional lung function data/information generated from absolute EIT (aEIT) is proposed for monitoring and ventilator therapy management of critical care patients.

Dielectric, Impedance and Conduction Behavior of Double Perovskite Pr2CuTiO6 Ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahato, Dev K.; Sinha, T. P.

2017-01-01

Polycrystalline Pr2CuTiO6 (PCT) ceramics exhibits dielectric, impedance and modulus characteristics as a possible material for microelectronic devices. PCT was synthesized through the standard solid-state reaction method. The dielectric permittivity, impedance and electric modulus of PCT have been studied in a wide frequency (100 Hz-1 MHz) and temperature (303-593 K) range. Structural analysis of the compound revealed a monoclinic phase at room temperature. Complex impedance Cole-Cole plots are used to interpret the relaxation mechanism, and grain boundary contributions towards conductivity have been estimated. From electrical modulus formalism polarization and conductivity relaxation behavior in PCT have been discussed. Normalization of the imaginary part of impedance ( Z″) and the normalized imaginary part of modulus ( M″) indicates contributions from both long-range and localized relaxation effects. The grain boundary resistance along with their relaxation frequencies are plotted in the form of an Arrhenius plot with activation energy 0.45 eV and 0.46 eV, respectively. The ac conductivity mechanism has been discussed.

Carrier Propagation Dependence on Applied Potentials in Pentacene Organic Field Effect Transistors Investigated by Impedance Spectroscopy and Electrical Time-of-Flight Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Jack; Weis, Martin; Taguchi, Dai; Manaka, Takaaki; Iwamoto, Mitsumasa

2011-04-01

Transient measurements of impedance spectroscopy and electrical time-of-flight (TOF) techniques were used for the evaluation of carrier propagation dependence on applied potentials in a pentacene organic field effect transistor (OFET). These techniques are based on carrier propagation, thus isolates the effect of charge density. The intrinsic mobility which is free from contact resistance effects was obtained by measurement of various channel lengths. The obtained intrinsic mobility shows good correspondence with steady-state current-voltage measurement's saturation mobility. However, their power law relations on mobility vs applied potential resulted in different exponents, suggesting different carrier propagation mechanisms, which is attributable to filling of traps or space charge field in the channel region. The hypothesis was verified by a modified electrical TOF experiment which demonstrated how the accumulated charges in the channel influence the effective mobility.

Accuracy and reliability of noninvasive stroke volume monitoring via ECG-gated 3D electrical impedance tomography in healthy volunteers

PubMed Central

Proença, Martin; Adler, Andy; Riedel, Thomas; Thiran, Jean-Philippe; Solà, Josep

2018-01-01

Cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV) are parameters of key clinical interest. Many techniques exist to measure CO and SV, but are either invasive or insufficiently accurate in clinical settings. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been suggested as a noninvasive measure of SV, but inconsistent results have been reported. Our goal is to determine the accuracy and reliability of EIT-based SV measurements, and whether advanced image reconstruction approaches can help to improve the estimates. Data were collected on ten healthy volunteers undergoing postural changes and exercise. To overcome the sensitivity to heart displacement and thorax morphology reported in previous work, we used a 3D EIT configuration with 2 planes of 16 electrodes and subject-specific reconstruction models. Various EIT-derived SV estimates were compared to reference measurements derived from the oxygen uptake. Results revealed a dramatic impact of posture on the EIT images. Therefore, the analysis was restricted to measurements in supine position under controlled conditions (low noise and stable heart and lung regions). In these measurements, amplitudes of impedance changes in the heart and lung regions could successfully be derived from EIT using ECG gating. However, despite a subject-specific calibration the heart-related estimates showed an error of 0.0 ± 15.2 mL for absolute SV estimation. For trending of relative SV changes, a concordance rate of 80.9% and an angular error of −1.0 ± 23.0° were obtained. These performances are insufficient for most clinical uses. Similar conclusions were derived from lung-related estimates. Our findings indicate that the key difficulty in EIT-based SV monitoring is that purely amplitude-based features are strongly influenced by other factors (such as posture, electrode contact impedance and lung or heart conductivity). All the data of the present study are made publicly available for further investigations. PMID:29373611

Accuracy and reliability of noninvasive stroke volume monitoring via ECG-gated 3D electrical impedance tomography in healthy volunteers.

PubMed

Braun, Fabian; Proença, Martin; Adler, Andy; Riedel, Thomas; Thiran, Jean-Philippe; Solà, Josep

2018-01-01

Cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV) are parameters of key clinical interest. Many techniques exist to measure CO and SV, but are either invasive or insufficiently accurate in clinical settings. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been suggested as a noninvasive measure of SV, but inconsistent results have been reported. Our goal is to determine the accuracy and reliability of EIT-based SV measurements, and whether advanced image reconstruction approaches can help to improve the estimates. Data were collected on ten healthy volunteers undergoing postural changes and exercise. To overcome the sensitivity to heart displacement and thorax morphology reported in previous work, we used a 3D EIT configuration with 2 planes of 16 electrodes and subject-specific reconstruction models. Various EIT-derived SV estimates were compared to reference measurements derived from the oxygen uptake. Results revealed a dramatic impact of posture on the EIT images. Therefore, the analysis was restricted to measurements in supine position under controlled conditions (low noise and stable heart and lung regions). In these measurements, amplitudes of impedance changes in the heart and lung regions could successfully be derived from EIT using ECG gating. However, despite a subject-specific calibration the heart-related estimates showed an error of 0.0 ± 15.2 mL for absolute SV estimation. For trending of relative SV changes, a concordance rate of 80.9% and an angular error of -1.0 ± 23.0° were obtained. These performances are insufficient for most clinical uses. Similar conclusions were derived from lung-related estimates. Our findings indicate that the key difficulty in EIT-based SV monitoring is that purely amplitude-based features are strongly influenced by other factors (such as posture, electrode contact impedance and lung or heart conductivity). All the data of the present study are made publicly available for further investigations.

Ability of Impedance-Based Health Monitoring To Detect Structural Damage of Propulsion System Components Assessed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, Richard E.; Gyekenyesi, Andrew L.; Sawicki, Jerzy T.; Baaklini, George Y.

2005-01-01

Impedance-based structural-health-monitoring uses piezoelectric (PZT) patches that are bonded onto or embedded in a structure. Each individual patch behaves as both an actuator of the surrounding structural area as well as a sensor of the structural response. The size of the excited area varies with the geometry and material composition of the structure, and an active patch is driven by a sinusoidal voltage sweep. When a PZT patch is subjected to an electric field, it produces a mechanical strain; and when it is stressed, it produces an electric charge. Since the patch is bonded to the structure, driving a patch deforms and vibrates the structure. The structure then produces a localized dynamic response. This structural system response is transferred back to the PZT patch, which in turn produces an electrical response. The electromechanical impedance method is based on the principle of electromechanical coupling between the active sensor and the structure, which allows researchers to assess local structural dynamics directly by interrogating a distributed sensor array. Because of mechanical coupling between the sensor and the host structure, this mechanical effect is picked up by the sensor and, through electromechanical coupling inside the active element, is reflected in electrical impedance measured at the sensor s terminals.

Indirect measurement of lung density and air volume from electrical impedance tomography (EIT) data.

PubMed

Nebuya, Satoru; Mills, Gary H; Milnes, Peter; Brown, Brian H

2011-12-01

This paper describes a method for estimating lung density, air volume and changes in fluid content from a non-invasive measurement of the electrical resistivity of the lungs. Resistivity in Ω m was found by fitting measured electrical impedance tomography (EIT) data to a finite difference model of the thorax. Lung density was determined by comparing the resistivity of the lungs, measured at a relatively high frequency, with values predicted from a published model of lung structure. Lung air volume can then be calculated if total lung weight is also known. Temporal changes in lung fluid content will produce proportional changes in lung density. The method was implemented on EIT data, collected using eight electrodes placed in a single plane around the thorax, from 46 adult male subjects and 36 adult female subjects. Mean lung densities (±SD) of 246 ± 67 and 239 ± 64 kg m(-3), respectively, were obtained. In seven adult male subjects estimates of 1.68 ± 0.30, 3.42 ± 0.49 and 4.40 ± 0.53 l in residual volume, functional residual capacity and vital capacity, respectively, were obtained. Sources of error are discussed. It is concluded that absolute differences in lung density of about 30% and changes over time of less than 30% should be detected using the current technology in normal subjects. These changes would result from approximately 300 ml increase in lung fluid. The method proposed could be used for non-invasive monitoring of total lung air and fluid content in normal subjects but needs to be assessed in patients with lung disease.

Evaluation of Motor Neuron Excitability by CMAP Scanning with Electric Modulated Current

PubMed Central

Araújo, Tiago; Candeias, Rui; Nunes, Neuza; Gamboa, Hugo

2015-01-01

Introduction. Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) scan is a noninvasive promissory technique for neurodegenerative pathologies diagnosis. In this work new CMAP scan protocols were implemented to study the influence of electrical pulse waveform on peripheral nerve excitability. Methods. A total of 13 healthy subjects were tested. Stimulation was performed with an increasing intensities range from 4 to 30 mA. The procedure was repeated 4 times per subject, using a different single pulse stimulation waveform: monophasic square and triangular and quadratic and biphasic square. Results. Different waveforms elicit different intensity-response amplitude curves. The square pulse needs less current to generate the same response amplitude regarding the other waves and this effect is gradually decreasing for the triangular, quadratic, and biphasic pulse, respectively. Conclusion. The stimulation waveform has a direct influence on the stimulus-response slope and consequently on the motoneurons excitability. This can be a new prognostic parameter for neurodegenerative disorders. PMID:26413499

System Description and First Application of an FPGA-Based Simultaneous Multi-Frequency Electrical Impedance Tomography

PubMed Central

Aguiar Santos, Susana; Robens, Anne; Boehm, Anna; Leonhardt, Steffen; Teichmann, Daniel

2016-01-01

A new prototype of a multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography system is presented. The system uses a field-programmable gate array as a main controller and is configured to measure at different frequencies simultaneously through a composite waveform. Both real and imaginary components of the data are computed for each frequency and sent to the personal computer over an ethernet connection, where both time-difference imaging and frequency-difference imaging are reconstructed and visualized. The system has been tested for both time-difference and frequency-difference imaging for diverse sets of frequency pairs in a resistive/capacitive test unit and in self-experiments. To our knowledge, this is the first work that shows preliminary frequency-difference images of in-vivo experiments. Results of time-difference imaging were compared with simulation results and shown that the new prototype performs well at all frequencies in the tested range of 60 kHz–960 kHz. For frequency-difference images, further development of algorithms and an improved normalization process is required to correctly reconstruct and interpreted the resulting images. PMID:27463715

Visualization of the meridian of traditional Chinese medicine with electrical impedance tomography: An initial experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Yanli; Lu, Xiaozuo; Wang, Xuemin

2010-04-01

The meridian is a concept central to traditional Chinese medical techniques such as acupuncture. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of meridians. In Chinese medicine, the meridians are channels along which the energy of the psychological system is considered to flow. It has been proven that the resistance along the meridian channels is lower compared to other paths. Based on this knowledge, we proposed using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to visualize the meridians of human being. A simplified three dimensional (3D) mathematical model of the forearm developed. Current was injected in the direction perpendicular to the cross-section where eight electrodes were equally placed around the surface of the forearm for the voltage measurements. The model was solved using Finite Element Method (FEM) and dynamic image was reconstructed using truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) regularization method. The conductivity distributions were compared with different current injections, along the meridian channel and channels around respectively. We also conducted experiments on models and the meridians were shown in final reconstructed images.

High Frequency Electromagnetic Impedance Measurements for Characterization, Monitoring and Verification Efforts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Ki Ha; Becker, Alex; Framgos, William

1999-06-01

Non-invasive, high-resolution imaging of the shallow subsurface is needed for delineation of buried waste, detection of unexploded ordinance, verification and monitoring of containment structures, and other environmental applications. Electromagnetic measurements at frequencies between 1 and 100 MHz are important for such applications, because the induction number of many targets is small and the ability to determine the dielectric permittivity in addition to electrical conductivity of the subsurface is possible. Earlier workers were successful in developing systems for detecting anomalous areas, but no quantifiable information was accurately determined. For high-resolution imaging, accurate measurements are necessary so the field data can bemore » mapped into the space of the subsurface parameters. We are developing a non-invasive method for accurately imaging the electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of the shallow subsurface using the plane wave impedance approach. Electric and magnetic sensors are being tested in a known area against theoretical predictions, thereby insuring that the data collected with the high-frequency impedance (HFI) system will support high-resolution, multi-dimensional imaging techniques.« less

High-Frequency Electromagnetic Impedance Measurements for Characterization, Monitoring, and Verification Efforts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Ki Ha; Becker, Alex

2000-06-01

Non-invasive, high-resolution imaging of the shallow subsurface is needed for delineation of buried waste, detection of unexploded ordinance, verification and monitoring of containment structures, and other environmental applications. Electromagnetic measurements at frequencies between 1 and 100 MHz are important for such applications, because the induction number of many targets is small and the ability to determine the dielectric permittivity in addition to electrical conductivity of the subsurface is possible. Earlier workers were successful in developing systems for detecting anomalous areas, but no quantifiable information was accurately determined. For high-resolution imaging, accurate measurements are necessary so the field data can bemore » mapped into the space of the subsurface parameters. We are developing a non-invasive method for accurately imaging the electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of the shallow subsurface using the plane wave impedance approach (Song et al., 1997). Electric and magnetic sensors are being tested in a known area against theoretical predictions, thereby insuring that the data collected with the high-frequency impedance (HFI) system will support high-resolution, multi-dimensional imaging techniques.« less

High-Frequency Electromagnetic Impedance Measurements for Characterization, Monitoring and Verification Efforts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Ki Ha; Becker, Alex; Tseng, Hung-Wen

2001-06-10

Non-invasive, high-resolution imaging of the shallow subsurface is needed for delineation of buried waste, detection of unexploded ordinance, verification and monitoring of containment structures, and other environmental applications. Electromagnetic (EM) measurements at frequencies between 1 and 100 MHz are important for such applications, because the induction number of many targets is small and the ability to determine the dielectric permittivity in addition to electrical conductivity of the subsurface is possible. Earlier workers were successful in developing systems for detecting anomalous areas, but no quantifiable information was accurately determined. For high-resolution imaging, accurate measurements are necessary so the field data canmore » be mapped into the space of the subsurface parameters. We are developing a non-invasive method for accurately mapping the electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of the shallow subsurface using the EM impedance approach (Frangos, 2001; Lee and Becker, 2001). Electric and magnetic sensors are being tested in a known area against theoretical predictions, thereby insuring that the data collected with the high-frequency impedance (HFI) system will support high-resolution, multi-dimensional imaging techniques.« less

Assessment of distribution of ventilation by electrical impedance tomography in standing horses.

PubMed

Ambrisko, T D; Schramel, J P; Adler, A; Kutasi, O; Makra, Z; Moens, Y P S

2016-02-01

The aim was to evaluate the feasibility of using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in horses. Thoracic EIT was used in nine horses. Thoracic and abdominal circumference changes were also measured with respiratory ultrasound plethysmography (RUP). Data were recorded during baseline, rebreathing of CO2 and sedation. Three breaths were selected for analysis from each recording. During baseline breathing, horses regularly took single large breaths (sighs), which were also analysed. Functional EIT images were created using standard deviations (SD) of pixel signals and correlation coefficients (R) of each pixel signal with a reference respiratory signal. Left-to-right ratio, centre-of-ventilation and global-inhomogeneity-index were calculated. RM-ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were used (P < 0.05). Distribution of ventilation shifted towards right during sighs and towards dependent regions during sighs, rebreathing and sedation. Global-inhomogeneity-index did not change for SD but increased for R images during sedation. The sum of SDs for the respiratory EIT signals correlated well with thoracic (r(2) = 0.78) and abdominal (r(2) = 0.82) tidal circumferential changes. Inverse respiratory signals were identified on the images at sternal location and based on reviewing CT images, seemed to correspond to location of gas filled intestines. Application of EIT in standing non-sedated horses is feasible. EIT images may provide physiologically useful information even in situations, such as sighs, that cannot easily be tested by other methods.

Printed circuit board impedance matching step for microwave (millimeter wave) devices

DOEpatents

Pao, Hsueh-Yuan; Aguirre, Jerardo; Sargis, Paul

2013-10-01

An impedance matching ground plane step, in conjunction with a quarter wave transformer section, in a printed circuit board provides a broadband microwave matching transition from board connectors or other elements that require thin substrates to thick substrate (>quarter wavelength) broadband microwave (millimeter wave) devices. A method of constructing microwave and other high frequency electrical circuits on a substrate of uniform thickness, where the circuit is formed of a plurality of interconnected elements of different impedances that individually require substrates of different thicknesses, by providing a substrate of uniform thickness that is a composite or multilayered substrate; and forming a pattern of intermediate ground planes or impedance matching steps interconnected by vias located under various parts of the circuit where components of different impedances are located so that each part of the circuit has a ground plane substrate thickness that is optimum while the entire circuit is formed on a substrate of uniform thickness.

Origin of electrically heterogeneous microstructure in CuO from scanning tunneling spectroscopy study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarkar, Sudipta; Jana, Pradip Kumar; Chaudhuri, B. K.

2008-04-01

We report electronic structure of the grains and grain boundaries (GBs) of the high permittivity (κ˜104) ceramic CuO from scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) studies. The p-type semiconducting character of the CuO grains and insulating behavior of the corresponding GBs, observed from STS studies, have been explained. This type of electrically inhomogeneous microstructure leads to the formation of barrier layer capacitance elements in CuO and, hence, provides an explanation of the colossal-κ response exhibited by CuO.

Novel microfluidic system for online monitoring of biofilm dynamics by electrical impedance spectroscopy and amperometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruchmann, Julia; Sachsenheimer, Kai; Schwartz, Thomas; Rapp, Bastian E.

2016-03-01

Biofilm formation is ubiquitous in nature where microorganisms attach to surfaces and form highly adapted and protected communities. In technical and industrial systems like drinking water supply, food production or shipping industry biofilms are a major cause of product contamination, biofouling, and biocorrosion. Therefore, understanding of biofilm formation and means of preventing biofilm formation is important to develop novel biofilm treatment strategies. A system allowing directly online detection and monitoring biofilm formation is necessary. However, until today, there are little to none technical systems featuring a non-destructive real-time characterization of biofilm formation in a highthroughput manner. This paper presents such a microfluidic system based on electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and amperomertic current measurement. The sensor consists of four modules, each housing 24 independent electrodes within 12 microfluidic channels. Attached biomass on the electrodes is monitored as increased inhibition in charge transfer by EIS and a change in metabolic activity is measured as change in produced electric current by amperometry. This modular sensor system is highly adaptable and suitable for a broad range of microbiological applications. Among others, biofilm formation processes can be characterized online, biofilm manipulation like inactivation or destabilization can be monitored in real-time and gene expression can be analyzed in parallel. The use of different electrode designs allows effective biofilm studies during all biofilm phases. The whole system was recently extended by an integrated pneumatic microfluidic pump which enables easy handling procedures. Further developments of this pumping module will allow a fully- automated computer-controlled valving and pumping.

Impedance characterization of AlGaN/GaN Schottky diodes with metal contacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donahue, M.; Lübbers, B.; Kittler, M.; Mai, P.; Schober, A.

2013-04-01

To obtain detailed information on structural and electrical properties of AlGaN/GaN Schottky diodes and to determine an appropriate equivalent circuit, impedance spectroscopy and impedance voltage profiling are employed over a frequency range of 1 MHz-1 Hz. In contrast to the commonly assumed parallel connection of capacitive and resistive elements, an equivalent circuit is derived from impedance spectra which utilizes the constant phase element and accounts for frequency dispersion and trap states. The trap density is estimated and is in good agreement with the literature values. The resulting reduced equivalent circuit consists of a capacitor and resistor connected in series.

Relationship between frequency and impedance change in an infusion rate measurement system employing a capacitance sensor - biomed 2011.

PubMed

Amano, Hikaru; Ogawa, Hidekuni; Maki, Hiromichi; Tsukamoto, Sosuke; Yonezawa, Yoshiharu; Hahn, Allen W; Caldwell, W Morton

2011-01-01

We have been searching for a suitable frequency range for an electrical impedance measurement infusion solution drip monitoring system, which we have previously reported. This electrical impedance, which is formed between two electrodes wrapped around the infusion supply polyvinyl-chloride tube and around the drip chamber, is changed by the growth and fall of each drop of fluid. Thus, the drip rate can be detected by measuring this impedance. However, many different kinds of infusion solutions such as glucose, amino acid, soya oil, and lactated Ringer’s solution are used in hospitals and care facilities. Therefore, it was necessary to find a suitable frequency for driving the capacitance-change sensor with a wide range of infusion solutions. In this study, the sensor electrical impedance change of 16 infusion solutions was measured from 1 kHz up to 1 MHz. The drip impedance produced by 5% glucose solution, 10% glucose solution and soya oil indicated the maximum sensor output change at 10 kHz, 20 kHz, and 70 kHz, respectively. The other 13 infusion solutions increased up to 10 kHz, and were constant from 10 kHz to 1 MHz. However, the growth, fall, and drip rate of the drops of all the infusion solutions were monitored by measuring the impedance change from 10 kHz to 30 kHz. Our experimental results indicated that most suitable excitation range for the infusion monitoring system is from 10 kHz to 30 kHz. Thus, we can now “fine-tune” the system for optimal sensing.

From impedance theory to needle electrode guidance in tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalvøy, Håvard; Høyum, Per; Grimnes, Sverre; Martinsen, Ørjan G.

2010-04-01

Fast access to blood vessels or other tissues/organs can be crucial in clinical or acute medical treatment. We have developed a method for needle guidance for use in different types of applications. The feasibility of an automatic application for fast access to blood vessels during acute cardiac arrest, based on this method, has been evaluated. Suited electrode setups were found by development of needle electrode models used in simulation and sensitivity analyses. In vitro measurements were done both to determine the fundamental properties of the electrodes for use in the models and to confirm the simulation results. Development of algorithms for tissue characterization and differentiation was based on in vivo impedance measurement in porcine models and confirmed in human tissue in vivo. Feasibility was proven by application prototyping and impedance data presented as invasive Electrical Impedance Tomography (iEIT). Our conclusion is that this method can be utilized in a wide range of clinical applications.

Ventilation distribution in rats: Part 2 – A comparison of electrical impedance tomography and hyperpolarised helium magnetic resonance imaging

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Hyperpolarised helium MRI (He3 MRI) is a new technique that enables imaging of the air distribution within the lungs. This allows accurate determination of the ventilation distribution in vivo. The technique has the disadvantages of requiring an expensive helium isotope, complex apparatus and moving the patient to a compatible MRI scanner. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) a non-invasive bedside technique that allows constant monitoring of lung impedance, which is dependent on changes in air space capacity in the lung. We have used He3MRI measurements of ventilation distribution as the gold standard for assessment of EIT. Methods Seven rats were ventilated in supine, prone, left and right lateral position with 70% helium/30% oxygen for EIT measurements and pure helium for He3 MRI. The same ventilator and settings were used for both measurements. Image dimensions, geometric centre and global in homogeneity index were calculated. Results EIT images were smaller and of lower resolution and contained less anatomical detail than those from He3 MRI. However, both methods could measure positional induced changes in lung ventilation, as assessed by the geometric centre. The global in homogeneity index were comparable between the techniques. Conclusion EIT is a suitable technique for monitoring ventilation distribution and inhomgeneity as assessed by comparison with He3 MRI. PMID:22966835

Comparison of three rf plasma impedance monitors on a high phase angle planar inductively coupled plasma source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchiyama, H.; Watanabe, M.; Shaw, D. M.; Bahia, J. E.; Collins, G. J.

1999-10-01

Accurate measurement of plasma source impedance is important for verification of plasma circuit models, as well as for plasma process characterization and endpoint detection. Most impedance measurement techniques depend in some manner on the cosine of the phase angle to determine the impedance of the plasma load. Inductively coupled plasmas are generally highly inductive, with the phase angle between the applied rf voltage and the rf current in the range of 88 to near 90 degrees. A small measurement error in this phase angle range results in a large error in the calculated cosine of the angle, introducing large impedance measurement variations. In this work, we have compared the measured impedance of a planar inductively coupled plasma using three commercial plasma impedance monitors (ENI V/I probe, Advanced Energy RFZ60 and Advanced Energy Z-Scan). The plasma impedance is independently verified using a specially designed match network and a calibrated load, representing the plasma, to provide a measurement standard.

Electricity generation from defective tomatoes.

PubMed

Shrestha, Namita; Fogg, Alex; Wilder, Joseph; Franco, Daniel; Komisar, Simeon; Gadhamshetty, Venkataramana

2016-12-01

The United States faces a significant burden in treating 0.61billionkg of defective tomatoes (culls) every year. We present a proof-of-concept for generating electricity from culled tomatoes in microbial-electrochemical systems (MESs). This study delineates impedance behavior of the culled tomatoes in MESs and compares its impedance spectra with that of soluble substrates (dextrose, acetate, and wastewater). A series of AC and DC diagnostic tests have revealed the superior performance of the culled tomatoes compared to the pure substrates. Cyclic voltammetry results have indicated the active role of indigenous, diffusible redox-active pigments in the culled tomatoes on overall electricity production. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results have elucidated the role of peel and seed on the oxidation behavior of the culled tomatoes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of photoelectron effect on the antenna impedance via Particle-In-Cell simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyake, Y.; Usui, H.

2008-08-01

We present photoelectron effects on the impedance of electric field antennas used for plasma wave investigations. To illustrate the photoelectron effects, we applied electromagnetic Particle-In-Cell simulation to the self-consistent antenna impedance analysis. We confirmed the formation of a dense photoelectron region around the sunlit surfaces of the antenna and the spacecraft. The dense photoelectrons enhance the real part, and decrease the absolute value of the imaginary part, of antenna impedance at low frequencies. We also showed that the antenna conductance can be analytically calculated from simulation results of the electron current flowing into or out of the antenna. The antenna impedance in the photoelectron environment is represented by a parallel equivalent circuit consisting of a capacitance and a resistance, which is consistent with empirical knowledge. The results also imply that the impedance varies with the spin of the spacecraft, which causes the variation of the photoelectron density around the antenna.

Non-Intrusive Impedance-Based Cable Tester

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Medelius, Pedro J. (Inventor); Simpson, Howard J. (Inventor)

1999-01-01

A non-intrusive electrical cable tester determines the nature and location of a discontinuity in a cable through application of an oscillating signal to one end of the cable. The frequency of the oscillating signal is varied in increments until a minimum, close to zero voltage is measured at a signal injection point which is indicative of a minimum impedance at that point. The frequency of the test signal at which the minimum impedance occurs is then employed to determine the distance to the discontinuity by employing a formula which relates this distance to the signal frequency and the velocity factor of the cable. A numerically controlled oscillator is provided to generate the oscillating signal, and a microcontroller automatically controls operation of the cable tester to make the desired measurements and display the results. The device is contained in a portable housing which may be hand held to facilitate convenient use of the device in difficult to access locations.

A Robust Current Pattern for the Detection of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Neonates Using Electrical Impedance Tomography

PubMed Central

Tang, T.; Oh, Sungho; Sadleir, R. J.

2010-01-01

We compared two 16-electrode electrical impedance tomography (EIT) current patterns on their ability to reconstruct and quantify small amounts of bleeding inside a neonatal human head using both simulated and phantom data. The current patterns used were an adjacent injection RING pattern (with electrodes located equidistantly on the equator of a sphere) and an EEG current pattern based on the 10–20 EEG electrode layout. Structures mimicking electrically important structures in the infant skull were included in a spherical numerical forward model and their effects on reconstructions were determined. The EEG pattern was found to be a better topology to localize and quantify anomalies within lateral ventricular regions. The RING electrode pattern could not reconstruct anomaly location well, as it could not distinguish different axial positions. The quantification accuracy of the RING pattern was as good as the EEG pattern in noise-free environments. However, the EEG pattern showed better quantification ability than the RING pattern when noise was added. The performance of the EEG pattern improved further with respect to the RING pattern when a fontanel was included in forward models. Significantly better resolution and contrast of reconstructed anomalies was achieved when generated from a model containing such an opening and 50 dB added noise. The EEG method was further applied to reconstruct data from a realistic neonatal head model. Overall, acceptable reconstructions and quantification results were obtained using this model and the homogeneous spherical forward model. PMID:20238166

A novel post-processing scheme for two-dimensional electrical impedance tomography based on artificial neural networks

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Objective Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a powerful non-invasive technique for imaging applications. The goal is to estimate the electrical properties of living tissues by measuring the potential at the boundary of the domain. Being safe with respect to patient health, non-invasive, and having no known hazards, EIT is an attractive and promising technology. However, it suffers from a particular technical difficulty, which consists of solving a nonlinear inverse problem in real time. Several nonlinear approaches have been proposed as a replacement for the linear solver, but in practice very few are capable of stable, high-quality, and real-time EIT imaging because of their very low robustness to errors and inaccurate modeling, or because they require considerable computational effort. Methods In this paper, a post-processing technique based on an artificial neural network (ANN) is proposed to obtain a nonlinear solution to the inverse problem, starting from a linear solution. While common reconstruction methods based on ANNs estimate the solution directly from the measured data, the method proposed here enhances the solution obtained from a linear solver. Conclusion Applying a linear reconstruction algorithm before applying an ANN reduces the effects of noise and modeling errors. Hence, this approach significantly reduces the error associated with solving 2D inverse problems using machine-learning-based algorithms. Significance This work presents radical enhancements in the stability of nonlinear methods for biomedical EIT applications. PMID:29206856

Electrical transport properties of LiNiV O ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ram, Moti

2009-08-01

The LiNiV O 4 fine powder has been synthesized by chemical "pyrophoric reaction process". The formation of LiNiV O 4 is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray analysis shows that the compound has cubic crystal structure with lattice constant ( a=8.2243(2) Å). Microstructure of the sintered pellet is identified by taking the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) pictures, which reveals the grain size as ˜0.2-2 μm. Electrical properties are measured using complex impedance spectroscopy technique. Bulk contribution to electrical response is identified by the analysis of complex plane diagrams. The activation energy calculated from σ vs 10 3/T graph is ˜0.06 eV (25-225 ∘C) and ˜0.55 eV (225-375 ∘C). Complex modulus study shows non-Debye type (polydispersive) conductivity relaxation in the compound.

Determination of the electrical resistivity of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes by scanning probe microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ageev, O. A.; Il'in, O. I.; Rubashkina, M. V.; Smirnov, V. A.; Fedotov, A. A.; Tsukanova, O. G.

2015-07-01

Techniques are developed to determine the resistance per unit length and the electrical resistivity of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA CNTs) using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). These techniques are used to study the resistance of VA CNTs. The resistance of an individual VA CNT calculated with the AFM-based technique is shown to be higher than the resistance of VA CNTs determined by the STM-based technique by a factor of 200, which is related to the influence of the resistance of the contact of an AFM probe to VA CNTs. The resistance per unit length and the electrical resistivity of an individual VA CNT 118 ± 39 nm in diameter and 2.23 ± 0.37 μm in height that are determined by the STM-based technique are 19.28 ± 3.08 kΩ/μm and 8.32 ± 3.18 × 10-4 Ω m, respectively. The STM-based technique developed to determine the resistance per unit length and the electrical resistivity of VA CNTs can be used to diagnose the electrical parameters of VA CNTs and to create VA CNT-based nanoelectronic elements.

Electrical and absorption properties of fresh cassava tubers and cassava starch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harnsoongnoen, S.; Siritaratiwat, A.

2015-09-01

The objective of this study was to analyze the electrical and absorption properties of fresh cassava tubers and cassava starch at various frequencies using electric impedance spectroscopy and near-infrared spectroscopy, as well as determine the classification of the electrical parameters of both materials using the principle component analysis (PCA) method. All samples were measured at room temperature. The electrical and absorption parameters consisted of dielectric constant, dissipation factor, parallel capacitance, resistance, reactance, impedance and absorbance. It was found that the electrical and absorption properties of fresh cassava tubers and cassava starch were a function of frequency, and there were significant differences between the materials. The dielectric constant, parallel capacitance, resistance and impedance of fresh cassava tubers and cassava starch had similar dramatic decreases with increasing frequency. However, the reactance of both materials increased with an increasing frequency. The electrical parameters of both materials could be classified into two groups. Moreover, the dissipation factor and phase of impedance were the parameters that could be used in the separation of both materials. According to the absorbance patterns of the fresh cassava tubers and cassava starch, there were significant differences.

Determination of Peukert's Constant Using Impedance Spectroscopy: Application to Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Mills, Edmund Martin; Kim, Sangtae

2016-12-15

Peukert's equation is widely used to model the rate dependence of battery capacity, and has recently attracted attention for application to supercapacitors. Here we present a newly developed method to readily determine Peukert's constant using impedance spectroscopy. Impedance spectroscopy is ideal for this purpose as it has the capability of probing electrical performance of a device over a wide range of time-scales within a single measurement. We demonstrate that the new method yields consistent results with conventional galvanostatic measurements through applying it to commercially available supercapacitors. Additionally, the novel method is much simpler and more precise, making it an attractive alternative for the determination of Peukert's constant.

Electrical impedance myography for the assessment of children with muscular dystrophy: a preliminary study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rutkove, S. B.; Darras, B. T.

2013-04-01

Electrical impedance myography (EIM) provides a non-invasive approach for quantifying the severity of neuromuscular disease. Here we determine how well EIM data correlates to functional and ultrasound (US) measures of disease in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and healthy subjects. Thirteen healthy boys, aged 2-12 years and 14 boys with DMD aged 4-12 years underwent both EIM and US measurements of deltoid, biceps, wrist flexors, quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius. EIM measurements were performed with a custom-designed probe using a commercial multifrequency bioimpedance device. US luminosity data were quantified using a gray-scale analysis approach. Children also underwent the 6-minute walk test, timed tests and strength measurements. EIM and US data were combined across muscles. EIM 50 kHz phase was able to discriminate DMD children from healthy subjects with 98% accuracy. In the DMD patients, average EIM phase measurements also correlated well with standard functional measures. For example the 50 kHz phase correlated with the Northstar Ambulatory Assessment test (R = 0.83, p = 0.02). EIM 50 kHz phase and US correlated as well, with R = -0.79 (p < 0.001). These results show that EIM provides valuable objective measures Duchenne muscular dystrophy severity.

Revisiting the Characterization of the Losses in Piezoelectric Materials from Impedance Spectroscopy at Resonance.

PubMed

González, Amador M; García, Álvaro; Benavente-Peces, César; Pardo, Lorena

2016-01-26

Electronic devices using the piezoelectric effect contain piezoelectric materials: often crystals, but in many cases poled ferroelectric ceramics (piezoceramics), polymers or composites. On the one hand, these materials exhibit non-negligible losses, not only dielectric, but also mechanical and piezoelectric. In this work, we made simulations of the effect of the three types of losses in piezoelectric materials on the impedance spectrum at the resonance. We analyze independently each type of loss and show the differences among them. On the other hand, electrical and electronic engineers include piezoelectric sensors in electrical circuits to build devices and need electrical models of the sensor element. Frequently, material scientists and engineers use different languages, and the characteristic material coefficients do not have a straightforward translation to those specific electrical circuit components. To connect both fields of study, we propose the use of accurate methods of characterization from impedance measurements at electromechanical resonance that lead to determination of all types of losses, as an alternative to current standards. We introduce a simplified equivalent circuit model with electrical parameters that account for piezoceramic losses needed for the modeling and design of industrial applications.

Revisiting the Characterization of the Losses in Piezoelectric Materials from Impedance Spectroscopy at Resonance

PubMed Central

González, Amador M.; García, Álvaro; Benavente-Peces, César; Pardo, Lorena

2016-01-01

Electronic devices using the piezoelectric effect contain piezoelectric materials: often crystals, but in many cases poled ferroelectric ceramics (piezoceramics), polymers or composites. On the one hand, these materials exhibit non-negligible losses, not only dielectric, but also mechanical and piezoelectric. In this work, we made simulations of the effect of the three types of losses in piezoelectric materials on the impedance spectrum at the resonance. We analyze independently each type of loss and show the differences among them. On the other hand, electrical and electronic engineers include piezoelectric sensors in electrical circuits to build devices and need electrical models of the sensor element. Frequently, material scientists and engineers use different languages, and the characteristic material coefficients do not have a straightforward translation to those specific electrical circuit components. To connect both fields of study, we propose the use of accurate methods of characterization from impedance measurements at electromechanical resonance that lead to determination of all types of losses, as an alternative to current standards. We introduce a simplified equivalent circuit model with electrical parameters that account for piezoceramic losses needed for the modeling and design of industrial applications. PMID:28787872

Alternating current scanning electrochemical microscopy with simultaneous fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.

PubMed

Koch, Jason A; Baur, Melinda B; Woodall, Erica L; Baur, John E

2012-11-06

Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is combined with alternating current scanning electrochemical microscopy (AC-SECM) for simultaneous measurements of impedance and faradaic current. Scan rates of 10-1000 V s(-1) were used for voltammetry, while a high-frequency (100 kHz), low-amplitude (10 mV rms) sine wave was added to the voltammetric waveform for the ac measurement. Both a lock-in amplifier and an analog circuit were used to measure the amplitude of the resultant ac signal. The effect of the added sine wave on the voltammetry at a carbon fiber electrode was investigated and found to have negligible effect. The combined FSCV and ac measurements were used to provide simultaneous chemical and topographical information about a substrate using a single carbon fiber probe. The technique is demonstrated in living cell culture, where cellular respiration and topography were simultaneously imaged without the addition of a redox mediator. This approach promises to be useful for the topographical and multidimensional chemical imaging of substrates.

Singular value decomposition based impulsive noise reduction in multi-frequency phase-sensitive demodulation of electrical impedance tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Zhenhua; Cui, Ziqiang; Yue, Shihong; Wang, Huaxiang

2018-06-01

As an important means in electrical impedance tomography (EIT), multi-frequency phase-sensitive demodulation (PSD) can be viewed as a matched filter for measurement signals and as an optimal linear filter in the case of Gaussian-type noise. However, the additive noise usually possesses impulsive noise characteristics, so it is a challenging task to reduce the impulsive noise in multi-frequency PSD effectively. In this paper, an approach for impulsive noise reduction in multi-frequency PSD of EIT is presented. Instead of linear filters, a singular value decomposition filter is employed as the pre-stage filtering module prior to PSD, which has advantages of zero phase shift, little distortion, and a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in digital signal processing. Simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method can effectively eliminate the influence of impulsive noise in multi-frequency PSD, and it was capable of achieving a higher SNR and smaller demodulation error.

High-Frequency Electromagnetic Impedance Measurements for Characterization, Monitoring and Verification Efforts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Ki Ha; Becker, Alex; Tseng, Hung-Wen

2004-06-16

Non-invasive, high-resolution imaging of the shallow subsurface is needed for delineation of buried waste, detection of unexploded ordinance, verification and monitoring of containment structures, and other environmental applications. Electromagnetic (EM) measurements at frequencies between 0.1 and 100 MHz are important for such applications, because the induction number of many targets is small and the ability to determine the dielectric permittivity in addition to electrical conductivity of the subsurface is possible. Earlier workers were successful in developing systems for detecting anomalous areas, but no quantifiable information was accurately determined. For high-resolution imaging, accurate measurements are necessary so the field data canmore » be mapped into the space of the subsurface parameters. We are developing a non-invasive method for accurately mapping the electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of the shallow subsurface using the EM impedance approach (Frangos, 2001; Lee and Becker, 2001; Song et al., 2002, Tseng et al., 2003). Electric and magnetic sensors are being tested and calibrated on sea water and in a known area against theoretical predictions, thereby insuring that the data collected with the high-frequency impedance (HFI) system will support high-resolution, multi-dimensional imaging techniques.« less

High-Frequency Electromagnetic Impedance Measurements for Characterization, Monitoring and Verification Efforts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Ki Ha; Becker, Alex; Tseng, Hung-Wen

2002-11-20

Non-invasive, high-resolution imaging of the shallow subsurface is needed for delineation of buried waste, detection of unexploded ordinance, verification and monitoring of containment structures, and other environmental applications. Electromagnetic (EM) measurements at frequencies between 1 and 100 MHz are important for such applications, because the induction number of many targets is small and the ability to determine the dielectric permittivity in addition to electrical conductivity of the subsurface is possible. Earlier workers were successful in developing systems for detecting anomalous areas, but no quantifiable information was accurately determined. For high-resolution imaging, accurate measurements are necessary so the field data canmore » be mapped into the space of the subsurface parameters. We are developing a non-invasive method for accurately mapping the electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of the shallow subsurface using the EM impedance approach (Frangos, 2001; Lee and Becker, 2001; Song et al., 2002). Electric and magnetic sensors are being tested in a known area against theoretical predictions, thereby insuring that the data collected with the high-frequency impedance (HFI) system will support high-resolution, multi-dimensional imaging techniques.« less

Through-vial impedance spectroscopy of critical events during the freezing stage of the lyophilization cycle: the example of the impact of sucrose on the crystallization of mannitol.

PubMed

Arshad, Muhammad Sohail; Smith, Geoff; Polygalov, Eugene; Ermolina, Irina

2014-08-01

The aim of this work was to evaluate the application of through-vial impedance spectroscopy in the measurement of eutectic crystallization during the freezing stage of the lyophilisation cycle. Impedance measurements of various sugar solutions (mannitol 5%, 10% and 15% w/v, sucrose 5% w/v and mannitol 5% w/v, and sucrose 5% w/v solutions) were taken during a freeze-thaw cycle, over a frequency range 10-10(6) Hz with a scan interval of 1.5 min, using measurement vials with externally attached electrodes connected to a high resolution impedance analyzer. Estimates for the electrical resistance of the mannitol solutions record the exothermic crystallization of mannitol at a temperature of -24 °C during the temperature ramp down stage of the freezing cycle, which is in close agreement with the off-line DSC measurement of -22 °C. The freezing profile of a 5% mannitol solution with 5% sucrose (a component that does not crystallize in the frozen solution) demonstrated the inhibition of mannitol crystallization (with the implication that the product will then require sub-Tg' freezing and drying). The work suggests a role for through-vial impedance spectroscopy in the concurrent development of the product formulation and freeze drying cycle without the uncertainty introduced when using off-line date to define the critical process parameters. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurement of low temperature plasma properties using non-invasive impedance measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillman, Eric; Amatucci, Bill; Tejero, Erik; Blackwell, David

2017-10-01

A plasma discharge can be modeled electrically as a combination of capacitors, resistors, and inductors. The plasma, much like an RLC circuit, will have resonances at particular frequencies. The location in frequency space of these resonances provides information about the plasma parameters. These resonances can be detected using impedance measurements, where the AC impedance of the plasma is measured by sweeping the frequency of an AC voltage applied to a sensor and determining the magnitude and phase of the measured current. In this work, an electrode used to sustain a glow discharge is also used as an impedance probe. The novelty of this method is that insertion of a physical probe, which can introduce perturbation and/or contamination, is not necessary. This non-invasive impedance probe method is used to measure the plasma discharge density in various regimes of plasma operation. Experimental results are compared to the basic circuit model results. The potential applications of this diagnostic method and regimes over which this measurement method is valid will be discussed.

Enhanced tunability of magneto-impedance and magneto-capacitance in annealed Metglas/PZT magnetoelectric composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leung, Chung Ming; Zhuang, Xin; Xu, Junran; Li, Jiefang; Zhang, Jitao; Srinivasan, G.; Viehland, D.

2018-05-01

This report is on a new class of magnetostatically tunable magneto-impedance and magneto-capacitance devices based on a composite of ferromagnetic Metglas and ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT). Layered magneto-electric (ME) composites with annealed Metglas and PZT were studied in a longitudinal in-plane magnetic field-transverse electric field (L-T) mode. It was found that the degree of tunability was dependent on the annealing temperature of Metglas. An impedance tunability (ΔZ/Z0) of ≥400% was obtained at the electromechanical resonance (EMR) frequency (fr) for a sample with Metglas layers annealed at Ta = 500oC. This tunability is a factor of two higher than for composites with Metglas annealed at 350oC. The tunability of the capacitance, (ΔC/C0), was found to be 290% and -135k% at resonance and antiresonance, respectively, for Ta = 500oC. These results provide clear evidence for improvement in static magnetic field tunability of impedance and capacitance of ME composites with the use of annealed Metglas and are of importance for their potential use in tunable electronic applications.

Methods for calculating the electrode position Jacobian for impedance imaging.

PubMed

Boyle, A; Crabb, M G; Jehl, M; Lionheart, W R B; Adler, A

2017-03-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) or electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) current and measure voltages at the boundary of a domain through electrodes. The movement or incorrect placement of electrodes may lead to modelling errors that result in significant reconstructed image artifacts. These errors may be accounted for by allowing for electrode position estimates in the model. Movement may be reconstructed through a first-order approximation, the electrode position Jacobian. A reconstruction that incorporates electrode position estimates and conductivity can significantly reduce image artifacts. Conversely, if electrode position is ignored it can be difficult to distinguish true conductivity changes from reconstruction artifacts which may increase the risk of a flawed interpretation. In this work, we aim to determine the fastest, most accurate approach for estimating the electrode position Jacobian. Four methods of calculating the electrode position Jacobian were evaluated on a homogeneous halfspace. Results show that Fréchet derivative and rank-one update methods are competitive in computational efficiency but achieve different solutions for certain values of contact impedance and mesh density.

Pathogen identification using peptide nanotube biosensors and impedance AFM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maccuspie, Robert I.

Pathogen identification at highly sensitive levels is crucial to meet urgent needs in fighting the spread of disease or detecting bioterrorism events. Toward that end, a new method for biosensing utilizing fluorescent antibody nanotubes is proposed. Fundamental studies on the self-assembly of these peptide nanotubes are performed, as are applications of aligning these nanotubes on surfaces. As biosensors, these nanotubes incorporate recognition units with antibodies at their ends and fluorescent signaling units at their sidewalls. When viral pathogens were mixed with these antibody nanotubes in solution, the nanotubes rapidly aggregated around the viruses. The size of the aggregates increased as the concentration of viruses increased, as detected by flow cytometry on the order of attomolar concentrations by changes in fluorescence and light scattering intensities. This enabled determination of the concentrations of viruses at trace levels (102 to 106 pfu/mL) within 30 minutes from the receipt of samples to the final quantitative data analysis, as demonstrated on Adenovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus, Influenza, and Vaccinia virus. As another separate approach, impedance AFM is used to study the electrical properties of individual viruses and nanoparticles used as model systems. The design, development, and implementation of the impedance AFM for an Asylum Research platform is described, as well as its application towards studying the impedance of individual nanoparticles as a model system for understanding the fundamental science of how the life cycle of a virus affects its electrical properties. In combination, these approaches fill a pressing need to quantify viruses both rapidly and sensitively.

Optical scanning tests of complex CMOS microcircuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levy, M. E.; Erickson, J. J.

1977-01-01

The new test method was based on the use of a raster-scanned optical stimulus in combination with special electrical test procedures. The raster-scanned optical stimulus was provided by an optical spot scanner, an instrument that combines a scanning optical microscope with electronic instrumentation to process and display the electric photoresponse signal induced in a device that is being tested.

The IMPACT shirt: textile integrated and portable impedance cardiography.

PubMed

Ulbrich, Mark; Mühlsteff, Jens; Sipilä, Auli; Kamppi, Merja; Koskela, Anne; Myry, Manu; Wan, Tingting; Leonhardt, Steffen; Walter, Marian

2014-06-01

Measurement of hemodynamic parameters such as stroke volume (SV) via impedance cardiography (ICG) is an easy, non-invasive and inexpensive way to assess the health status of the heart. We present a possibility to use this technology for monitoring risk patients at home. The IMPACT Shirt (IMPedAnce Cardiography Textile) has been developed with integrated textile electrodes and textile wiring, as well as with portable miniaturized hardware. Several textile materials were characterized in vitro and in vivo to analyze their performance with regard to washability, and electrical characteristics such as skin-electrode impedance, capacitive coupling and subjective tactile feeling. The small lightweight hardware measures ECG and ICG continuously and transmits wireless data via Bluetooth to a mobile phone (Android) or PC for further analysis. A lithium polymer battery supplies the circuit and can be charged via a micro-USB. Results of a proof-of-concept trial show excellent agreement between SV assessed by a commercial device and the developed system. The IMPACT Shirt allows monitoring of SV and ECG on a daily basis at the patient's home.

Complex numbers in chemometrics: examples from multivariate impedance measurements on lipid monolayers.

PubMed

Geladi, Paul; Nelson, Andrew; Lindholm-Sethson, Britta

2007-07-09

Electrical impedance gives multivariate complex number data as results. Two examples of multivariate electrical impedance data measured on lipid monolayers in different solutions give rise to matrices (16x50 and 38x50) of complex numbers. Multivariate data analysis by principal component analysis (PCA) or singular value decomposition (SVD) can be used for complex data and the necessary equations are given. The scores and loadings obtained are vectors of complex numbers. It is shown that the complex number PCA and SVD are better at concentrating information in a few components than the naïve juxtaposition method and that Argand diagrams can replace score and loading plots. Different concentrations of Magainin and Gramicidin A give different responses and also the role of the electrolyte medium can be studied. An interaction of Gramicidin A in the solution with the monolayer over time can be observed.

Electrical conduction of organic ultrathin films evaluated by an independently driven double-tip scanning tunneling microscope.

PubMed

Takami, K; Tsuruta, S; Miyake, Y; Akai-Kasaya, M; Saito, A; Aono, M; Kuwahara, Y

2011-11-02

The electrical transport properties of organic thin films within the micrometer scale have been evaluated by a laboratory-built independently driven double-tip scanning tunneling microscope, operating under ambient conditions. The two tips were used as point contact electrodes, and current in the range from 0.1 pA to 100 nA flowing between the two tips through the material can be detected. We demonstrated two-dimensional contour mapping of the electrical resistance on a poly(3-octylthiophene) thin films as shown below. The obtained contour map clearly provided an image of two-dimensional electrical conductance between two point electrodes on the poly(3-octylthiophene) thin film. The conductivity of the thin film was estimated to be (1-8) × 10(-6) S cm(-1). Future prospects and the desired development of multiprobe STMs are also discussed.

TRANSVERSE IMPEDANCE OF THE SQUID GIANT AXON DURING CURRENT FLOW

PubMed Central

Cole, Kenneth S.; Baker, Richard F.

1941-01-01

The change in the transverse impedance of the squid giant axon caused by direct current flow has been measured at frequencies from 1 kc. per second to 500 kc. per second. The impedance change is equivalent to an increase of membrane conductance at the cathode to a maximum value approximately the same as that obtained during activity and a decrease at the anode to a minimum not far from zero. There is no evidence of appreciable membrane capacity change in either case. It then follows that the membrane has the electrical characteristics of a rectifier. Interpreting the membrane conductance as a measure of ion permeability, this permeability is increased at the cathode and decreased at the anode. PMID:19873233

Surface morphology and improved electrical conductivity of camphorsulfonic acid surfactant based PANI nano composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niranjana, M.; Yesappa, L.; Ashokkumar, S. P.; Vijeth, H.; Devendrappa, H.

2018-05-01

Polyaniline and its composites at different wt. % of Copper oxide nano (PCC1 and PCC5) were prepared by in-situ chemical reaction method. The composites were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and the impedance measurement was carried out at different temperature. FTIR and SEM image reveals the presence of copper metal ions uniformly embedded into PANI. The dc electrical conductivity increases with increasing nano concentration in PANI and achieved high conductivity for PCC5. These results are suggesting PCC composite is a prominent candidate for supercapacitor properties and optoelectronics devices applications.

Scan blindness in infinite phased arrays of printed dipoles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pozar, D. M.; Schaubert, D. H.

1984-01-01

A comprehensive study of infinite phased arrays of printed dipole antennas is presented, with emphasis on the scan blindness phenomenon. A rigorous and efficient moment method procedure is used to calculate the array impedance versus scan angle. Data are presented for the input reflection coefficient for various element spacings and substrate parameters. A simple theory, based on coupling from Floquet modes to surface wave modes on the substrate, is shown to predict the occurrence of scan blindness. Measurements from a waveguide simulator of a blindness condition confirm the theory.

Scanning Electron Microscopy with Samples in an Electric Field

PubMed Central

Frank, Ludĕk; Hovorka, Miloš; Mikmeková, Šárka; Mikmeková, Eliška; Müllerová, Ilona; Pokorná, Zuzana

2012-01-01

The high negative bias of a sample in a scanning electron microscope constitutes the “cathode lens” with a strong electric field just above the sample surface. This mode offers a convenient tool for controlling the landing energy of electrons down to units or even fractions of electronvolts with only slight readjustments of the column. Moreover, the field accelerates and collimates the signal electrons to earthed detectors above and below the sample, thereby assuring high collection efficiency and high amplification of the image signal. One important feature is the ability to acquire the complete emission of the backscattered electrons, including those emitted at high angles with respect to the surface normal. The cathode lens aberrations are proportional to the landing energy of electrons so the spot size becomes nearly constant throughout the full energy scale. At low energies and with their complete angular distribution acquired, the backscattered electron images offer enhanced information about crystalline and electronic structures thanks to contrast mechanisms that are otherwise unavailable. Examples from various areas of materials science are presented.

Calculating realistic voltages across the US power grid utilizing measured impedances and magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucas, G.; Love, J. J.; Kelbert, A.; Bedrosian, P.; Rigler, E. J.

2017-12-01

Space weather induces significant geoelectric fields within Earth's subsurface that can adversely affect electric power grids. The complex interaction between space weather and the solid Earth has traditionally been approached with the use of simple 1-D impedance functions relating the inducing magnetic field to the induced geoelectric field. Ongoing data collection through the NSF EarthScope program has produced measured impedance data across much of the continental US. In this work, impedance data are convolved with magnetic field variations, obtained from USGS magnetic observatories, during a geomagnetic storm. This convolution produces geoelectric fields within the earth. These geoelectric fields are then integrated across power transmission lines to determine the voltage generated within each power line as a function of time during a geomagnetic storm. The voltages generated within the electric power grid will be shown for several historic geomagnetic storms. The estimated voltages calculated from 1-D and 3-D impedances differ by more than 100 V across some transmission lines. In combination with grounding resistance data and network topology, these voltage estimates can be utilized by power companies to estimate geomagnetically-induced currents throughout the network. These voltage estimates can provide information on which power lines are most vulnerable to geomagnetic storms, and assist power grid companies investigating where to install additional protections within their grid.

Impedance Analysis of Ion Transport Through Supported Lipid Membranes Doped with Ionophores: A New Kinetic Approach

PubMed Central

Alvarez, P. E.; Vallejo, A. E.

2008-01-01

Kinetics of facilitated ion transport through planar bilayer membranes are normally analyzed by electrical conductance methods. The additional use of electrical relaxation techniques, such as voltage jump, is necessary to evaluate individual rate constants. Although electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is recognized as the most powerful of the available electric relaxation techniques, it has rarely been used in connection with these kinetic studies. According to the new approach presented in this work, three steps were followed. First, a kinetic model was proposed that has the distinct quality of being general, i.e., it properly describes both carrier and channel mechanisms of ion transport. Second, the state equations for steady-state and for impedance experiments were derived, exhibiting the input–output representation pertaining to the model’s structure. With the application of a method based on the similarity transformation approach, it was possible to check that the proposed mechanism is distinguishable, i.e., no other model with a different structure exhibits the same input–output behavior for any input as the original. Additionally, the method allowed us to check whether the proposed model is globally identifiable (i.e., whether there is a single set of fit parameters for the model) when analyzed in terms of its impedance response. Thus, our model does not represent a theoretical interpretation of the experimental impedance but rather constitutes the prerequisite to select this type of experiment in order to obtain optimal kinetic identification of the system. Finally, impedance measurements were performed and the results were fitted to the proposed theoretical model in order to obtain the kinetic parameters of the system. The successful application of this approach is exemplified with results obtained for valinomycin–K+ in lipid bilayers supported onto gold substrates, i.e., an arrangement capable of emulating biological membranes. PMID:19669528

Rough Gold Electrodes for Decreasing Impedance at the Electrolyte/Electrode Interface

PubMed Central

Koklu, Anil; Sabuncu, Ahmet C.; Beskok, Ali

2016-01-01

Electrode polarization at the electrolyte/electrode interface is often undesirable for bio-sensing applications, where charge accumulated over an electrode at constant potential causes large potential drop at the interface and low measurement sensitivity. In this study, novel rough electrodes were developed for decreasing electrical impedance at the interface. The electrodes were fabricated using electrochemical deposition of gold and sintering of gold nanoparticles. The performances of the gold electrodes were compared with platinum black electrodes. A constant phase element model was used to describe the interfacial impedance. Hundred folds of decrease in interfacial impedance were observed for fractal gold electrodes and platinum black. Biotoxicity, contact angle, and surface morphology of the electrodes were investigated. Relatively low toxicity and hydrophilic nature of the fractal and granulated gold electrodes make them suitable for bioimpedance and cell electromanipulation studies compared to platinum black electrodes which are both hydrophobic and toxic. PMID:27695132

[In vivo spetrometric analysis of the electrical impedance of the first leaf of maize (Zea mays L.) as a function of soil and atmosphere hydrous conditions].

PubMed

Laarabi, Saïd; El Kinani, Khalifa; Ettouhami, Aziz; Limouri, Mohammed

2005-05-01

In vivo spectrometric analysis of the electrical impedance of the first leaf of maize (Zea mays L.) as a function of soil and atmosphere hydrous conditions. We have measured the electrical resistance and capacitance of the first leaf of maize aged 14 days. The plants were cultivated at different levels of soil and atmospheric humidity and submitted to quiet or agitated air. In 'control' plants cultivated in quiet air under moderate relative humidity (HRA) (50 to 60%), the amplitude of the spectrometric bioimpedance spectrum (CSB) increased with the quantity of water available to the roots. Agitated air or elevated HRA increased the magnitude of the CSB in plants cultivated at 40% of the maximal retention capacity (CRM) of the soil. On the other hand, the CSB decreased in plants cultivated at 60% of the CRM or in hydroponics. This was accompanied by a dramatic decrease in the electrical resistance. The action of the atmospheric factors studied depends on the quantity of water where the roots are bathing.

Comparison of Acoustic Impedance Eduction Techniques for Locally-Reacting Liners

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, M. G.; Parrott, T. L.; Watson, W. R.

2003-01-01

Typical acoustic liners used in current aircraft inlets and aft-fan ducts consist of some type of perforated facesheet bonded to a honeycomb core. A number of techniques for determining the acoustic impedance of these locallyreacting liners have been developed over the last five decades. In addition, a number of models have been developed to predict the acoustic impedance of locallyreacting liners in the presence of grazing flow, and to use that information together with aeroacoustic propagation codes to assess the noise absorption provided by these liners. These prediction models have incorporated the results from databases acquired with specific impedance eduction techniques. Thus, while these prediction models are acceptable for liners that are similar to those tested in these databases, their application to new liner configurations must be viewed with caution. The primary purpose of this paper is to provide a comparison of impedance eduction techniques that have been implemented at various aerospace research laboratories in the United States (NASA Langley Research Center, General Electric Aircraft Engines, B. F. Goodrich and Boeing). A secondary purpose is to provide data for liner configurations that extend the porosity range beyond that which has been previously used in common aircraft engine nacelles. Two sets of liners were designed to study the effects of three parameters: perforate hole diameter, facesheet thickness and porosity. These two sets of liners were constructed for testing in each of the laboratories listed above. The first set of liners was designed to fit into the NASA Langley and Boeing test facilities. The second set was designed to fit into the General Electric Aircraft Engines and B. F. Goodrich test facilities. By using the same parent material, both sets of liners were identical to within the limits of material and fabrication variability. Baseline data were obtained in the normal incidence impedance tubes at NASA Langley and B. F

Optimizing electrode configuration for electrical impedance measurements of muscle via the finite element method.

PubMed

Jafarpoor, Mina; Li, Jia; White, Jacob K; Rutkove, Seward B

2013-05-01

Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a technique for the evaluation of neuromuscular diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. In this study, we evaluated how alterations in the size and conductivity of muscle and thickness of subcutaneous fat impact the EIM data, with the aim of identifying an optimized electrode configuration for EIM measurements. Finite element models were developed for the human upper arm based on anatomic data; material properties of the tissues were obtained from rat and published sources. The developed model matched the frequency-dependent character of the data. Of the three major EIM parameters, resistance, reactance, and phase, the reactance was least susceptible to alterations in the subcutaneous fat thickness, regardless of electrode arrangement. For example, a quadrupling of fat thickness resulted in a 375% increase in resistance at 35 kHz but only a 29% reduction in reactance. By further optimizing the electrode configuration, the change in reactance could be reduced to just 0.25%. For a fixed 30 mm distance between the sense electrodes centered between the excitation electrodes, an 80 mm distance between the excitation electrodes was found to provide the best balance, with a less than 1% change in reactance despite a doubling of subcutaneous fat thickness or halving of muscle size. These analyses describe a basic approach for further electrode configuration optimization for EIM.

Optical Vector Near-Field Imaging for the Design of Impedance Matched Optical Antennas and Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olmon, Robert L.

Antennas control and confine electromagnetic energy, transforming free-space propagating modes to localized regions. This is not only true for the traditional classical radio antenna, but also for structures that interact resonantly at frequencies throughout the visible regime, that are on the micro- and nanometer size scales. The investigation of these optical antennas has increased dramatically in recent years. They promise to bring the transformative capabilities of radio antennas to the nanoscale in fields such as plasmonics, photonics, spectroscopy, and microscopy. However, designing optical antennas with desired properties is not straightforward due to different material properties and geometric considerations in the optical regime compared to the RF. New antenna characterization tools and techniques must be developed for the optical frequency range. Here, the optical analogue of the vector network analyzer, based on a scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscope, is described and demonstrated for the investigation of the electric and magnetic properties of optical antennas through their electromagnetic vector near-field. Specifically, bringing this microwave frequency tool to the optical regime enables the study of antenna resonant length scaling, optical frequency electromagnetic parameters including current density and impedance, optical antenna coupling to waveguides and nanoloads, local electric field enhancement, and electromagnetic duality of complementary optical antenna geometries.

Highly Sensitive and Practical Detection of Plant Viruses via Electrical Impedance of Droplets on Textured Silicon-Based Devices

PubMed Central

Ambrico, Marianna; Ambrico, Paolo Francesco; Minafra, Angelantonio; De Stradis, Angelo; Vona, Danilo; Cicco, Stefania R.; Palumbo, Fabio; Favia, Pietro; Ligonzo, Teresa

2016-01-01

Early diagnosis of plant virus infections before the disease symptoms appearance may represent a significant benefit in limiting disease spread by a prompt application of appropriate containment steps. We propose a label-free procedure applied on a device structure where the electrical signal transduction is evaluated via impedance spectroscopy techniques. The device consists of a droplet suspension embedding two representative purified plant viruses i.e., Tomato mosaic virus and Turnip yellow mosaic virus, put in contact with a highly hydrophobic plasma textured silicon surface. Results show a high sensitivity of the system towards the virus particles with an interestingly low detection limit, from tens to hundreds of attomolar corresponding to pg/mL of sap, which refers, in the infection time-scale, to a concentration of virus particles in still-symptomless plants. Such a threshold limit, together with an envisaged engineering of an easily manageable device, compared to more sophisticated apparatuses, may contribute in simplifying the in-field plant virus diagnostics. PMID:27869726

Structural, electrical, optical and magneto-electric characteristics of chemically synthesized CaCu3Ti4O12 dielectric ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parida, Kalpana; Choudhary, R. N. P.

2017-07-01

CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) was prepared by a chemical reaction method. The pellets prepared from the calcined powder of the material were sintered at 1100 °C. Analysis of x-ray diffraction pattern, recorded on CCTO powder, confirms the phase formation of CCTO. Studies of dielectric (ɛ r, tanδ) and impedance parameters using dielectric and impedance spectroscopy of the compound have provided information about the electrical properties and the dielectric relaxation mechanism of the material. Detailed studies on the variation of electrical conductivity (dc) with temperature show semi-conducting nature of the material. Study of frequency (of applied electric field) dependence of ac conductivity at different temperatures suggests that the compound follows the Jonscher’s power law. Complex impedance spectroscopic analysis suggests that the semicircles formed in the Nyquist plot are connected to the grains, grain boundary and interface effects. An optical energy band gap of ~1.9 eV is obtained from the UV-visible absorbance spectrum. The magnetic data related to magneto-electric (ME) coefficient, measured by varying dc bias magnetic field, have been obtained at room temperature.

Fast focus-scanning head in two-photon photoacoustic microscopy with electrically controlled liquid lens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamaoka, Yoshihisa; Kimura, Yuka; Harada, Yoshinori; Takamatsu, Tetsuro; Takahashi, Eiji

2018-02-01

Conventional one-photon photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) utilizes high-frequency components of generated photoacoustic waves to improve the depth resolution. However, to obtain optically-high resolution in PAM in the depth direction, the use of high-frequency ultrasonic waves is to be avoided. It is because that the propagation distance is shortened as the frequency of ultrasonic waves becomes high. To overcome this drawback, we have proposed and developed two-photon photoacoustic microscopy (TP-PAM). Two-photon absorption occurs only at the focus point. TPPAM does not need to use the high-frequency components of photoacoustic waves. Thus, TP-PAM can improve the penetration depth while preserving the spatial resolution. However, the image acquisition time of TP-PAM is longer than that of conventional PAM, because TP-PAM needs to scan the laser spot both in the depth and transverse directions to obtain cross-sectional images. In this paper, we have introduced a focus-tunable electrically-controlled liquid lens in TP-PAM. Instead of a mechanical stepping-motor stage, we employed electrically-controlled liquid lens so that the depth of the focus spot can be quickly changed. In our system, the imaging speed of TP-PAM using the liquid lens and one-axis stepping-motor stage was 10 times faster than that using a two-axis stepping-motor stage only. TP-PAM with focus-scanning head consisting of the liquid lens and stepping-motor stage will be a promising method to investigate the inside of living tissues.

Experimental study of two-phase fluid flow in two different porosity types of sandstone by P-wave velocity and electrical Impedance measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Honda, H.; Mitani, Y.; Kitamura, K.; Ikemi, H.; Takaki, S.

2015-12-01

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (CCS) is recently expected as the promising method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to investigate CO2 behavior in the reservoir, to evaluate the safety and to account the stored CO2 volume. In this study, experimental investigation is conducted to discuss the relationships between injected fluid speed (Flow rate: FR) or capillary number (Ca) and non-wetting fluid flow by compressional wave velocity (Vp) and electrical impedance (Z). In the experiment, N2 and supercritical CO2 were injected into the two sandstones with different porosity (φ), Berea sandstone (φ: 18 %), and Ainoura sandstone (φ: 11.9 %). The dimension of the rock specimens is cored cylinder with a 35 mm diameter and 70 mm height. Experimental conditions are nearly same as the reservoir of deep underground (Confining pressure:15MPa, 40℃). Initial conditions of the specimen are brine (0.1wt%-KCl) saturated. Four piezo-electrical transducers (PZTs) are set on the each surface of the top, middle, lower of the specimen to monitor the CO2 bahavior by Vp. To measuring Z, we use for electrodes method with Ag-AgCl electrodes. Four electrodes are wounded around specimen on the both sides of PZTs. We measured the changes of these parameters with injecting N2, injected fluid speed (FR), the differential pore pressure (DP), N2 saturation (SN2), P-wave velocity (Vp) and electrical impedance (Z), respectively. We also estimated the Ca from measured FR. From these experimental results, there are no obvious Vp changes with increasing Ca, while Z measurement indicates clear and continuous increment. In regards to Vp, Vp reduced at the small FR (0.1 to 0.2 ml/min). As the Ca increases, Vp doesn't indicate large reduction. On the other hand, Z is more sensitive to change the fluid saturation than Vp. It is well-known that both of Vp and Z are the function of fluid saturation. Though, these experimental results are not consistent with previous studies. In

Footwear scanning systems and methods

DOEpatents

Fernandes, Justin L.; McMakin, Douglas L.; Sheen, David M.; Tedeschi, Jonathan R.

2017-07-25

Methods and apparatus for scanning articles, such as footwear, to provide information regarding the contents of the articles are described. According to one aspect, a footwear scanning system includes a platform configured to contact footwear to be scanned, an antenna array configured to transmit electromagnetic waves through the platform into the footwear and to receive electromagnetic waves from the footwear and the platform, a transceiver coupled with antennas of the antenna array and configured to apply electrical signals to at least one of the antennas to generate the transmitted electromagnetic waves and to receive electrical signals from at least another of the antennas corresponding to the electromagnetic waves received by the others of the antennas, and processing circuitry configured to process the received electrical signals from the transceiver to provide information regarding contents within the footwear.

Rotational electrical impedance tomography using electrodes with limited surface coverage provides window for multimodal sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehti-Polojärvi, Mari; Koskela, Olli; Seppänen, Aku; Figueiras, Edite; Hyttinen, Jari

2018-02-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging method that could become a valuable tool in multimodal applications. One challenge in simultaneous multimodal imaging is that typically the EIT electrodes cover a large portion of the object surface. This paper investigates the feasibility of rotational EIT (rEIT) in applications where electrodes cover only a limited angle of the surface of the object. In the studied rEIT, the object is rotated a full 360° during a set of measurements to increase the information content of the data. We call this approach limited angle full revolution rEIT (LAFR-rEIT). We test LAFR-rEIT setups in two-dimensional geometries with computational and experimental data. We use up to 256 rotational measurement positions, which requires a new way to solve the forward and inverse problem of rEIT. For this, we provide a modification, available for EIDORS, in the supplementary material. The computational results demonstrate that LAFR-rEIT with eight electrodes produce the same image quality as conventional 16-electrode rEIT, when data from an adequate number of rotational measurement positions are used. Both computational and experimental results indicate that the novel LAFR-rEIT provides good EIT with setups with limited surface coverage and a small number of electrodes.

Probing the biocompatibility of MoS2 nanosheets by cytotoxicity assay and electrical impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, Pratikkumar; Narayanan, Tharangattu N.; Li, Chen-Zhong; Alwarappan, Subbiah

2015-08-01

Transition metal dichalgogenides such as MoS2 have recently emerged as hot two-dimensional (2D) materials due to their superior electronic and catalytic properties. Recently, we have reported the usefulness of MoS2 nanosheets toward the electrochemical detection of neurotransmitters and glucose (Narayanan et al 2014 Nanotechnology 25 335702). Furthermore, there are reports available in the literature that demonstrate the usefulness of MoS2 nanosheets for biosensing and energy storage applications (Zhu et al 2013 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 135 5998-6001 Pumera and Loo 2014 Trends Anal. Chem. 61 49-53 Lee et al 2014 Sci. Rep. 4 7352; Stephenson et al 2014 Energy Environ. Sci. 7 209-31). Understanding the cytotoxic effect of any material is very important prior to employing them for any in vivo biological applications such as implantable sensors, chips, or carriers for drug delivery and cell imaging purposes. Herein, we report the cytotoxicity of the MoS2 nanosheets based on the cytotoxic assay results and electrical impedance analysis using rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) and rat adrenal medulla endothelial cells (RAMEC). Our results indicated that the MoS2 nanosheets synthesized in our work are safe 2D nanosheets for futuristic biomedical applications.

An approach to the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome by the multi-electrode impedance method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furuya, N.; Sakamoto, K.; Kanai, H.

2010-04-01

It is well known that metabolic syndrome can induce myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. So, it is very important to measure the visceral fat volume. In the electric impedance method, information in the vicinity of the electrodes is strongly reflected. Therefore, we propose a new multi-electrode arrangement method based on the impedance sensitivity theorem to measure the visceral fat volume. This electrode arrangement is designed to enable high impedance sensitivity in the visceral and subcutaneous fat regions. Currents are simultaneously applied to several current electrodes on the body surface, and one voltage electrode pair is arranged on the body surface near the organ of interest to obtain the visceral fat information and another voltage electrode pair is arranged on the body surface near the current electrodes to obtain the subcutaneous fat information. A simulation study indicates that by weighting the impedance sensitivity distribution, as in our method, a high-sensitivity region in the visceral and the subcutaneous fat regions can be formed. In addition, it was confirmed that the visceral fat volume can be estimated by the measured impedance data.

Impedance-based cellular assays for regenerative medicine.

PubMed

Gamal, W; Wu, H; Underwood, I; Jia, J; Smith, S; Bagnaninchi, P O

2018-07-05

Therapies based on regenerative techniques have the potential to radically improve healthcare in the coming years. As a result, there is an emerging need for non-destructive and label-free technologies to assess the quality of engineered tissues and cell-based products prior to their use in the clinic. In parallel, the emerging regenerative medicine industry that aims to produce stem cells and their progeny on a large scale will benefit from moving away from existing destructive biochemical assays towards data-driven automation and control at the industrial scale. Impedance-based cellular assays (IBCA) have emerged as an alternative approach to study stem-cell properties and cumulative studies, reviewed here, have shown their potential to monitor stem-cell renewal, differentiation and maturation. They offer a novel method to non-destructively assess and quality-control stem-cell cultures. In addition, when combined with in vitro disease models they provide complementary insights as label-free phenotypic assays. IBCA provide quantitative and very sensitive results that can easily be automated and up-scaled in multi-well format. When facing the emerging challenge of real-time monitoring of three-dimensional cell culture dielectric spectroscopy and electrical impedance tomography represent viable alternatives to two-dimensional impedance sensing.This article is part of the theme issue 'Designer human tissue: coming to a lab near you'. © 2018 The Author(s).

Evaluation and refinement of a field-portable drinking water toxicity sensor utilizing electric cell-substrate impedance sensing and a fluidic biochip.

PubMed

Widder, Mark W; Brennan, Linda M; Hanft, Elizabeth A; Schrock, Mary E; James, Ryan R; van der Schalie, William H

2015-07-01

The US Army's need for a reliable and field-portable drinking water toxicity sensor was the catalyst for the development and evaluation of an electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) device. Water testing technologies currently available to soldiers in the field are analyte-specific and have limited capabilities to detect broad-based water toxicity. The ECIS sensor described here uses rainbow trout gill epithelial cells seeded on fluidic biochips to measure changes in impedance for the detection of possible chemical contamination of drinking water supplies. Chemicals selected for testing were chosen as representatives of a broad spectrum of toxic industrial compounds. Results of a US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-sponsored evaluation of the field portable device were similar to previously published US Army testing results of a laboratory-based version of the same technology. Twelve of the 18 chemicals tested following USEPA Technology Testing and Evaluation Program procedures were detected by the ECIS sensor within 1 h at USEPA-derived human lethal concentrations. To simplify field-testing methods further, elimination of a procedural step that acclimated cells to serum-free media streamlined the test process with only a slight loss of chemical sensitivity. For field use, the ECIS sensor will be used in conjunction with an enzyme-based sensor that is responsive to carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

cAmp activation of apical membrane Cl(-) channels: theoretical considerations for impedance analysis.

PubMed Central

Păunescu, T G; Helman, S I

2001-01-01

Transepithelial electrical impedance analysis provides a sensitive method to evaluate the conductances and capacitances of apical and basolateral plasma membranes of epithelial cells. Impedance analysis is complicated, due not only to the anatomical arrangement of the cells and their paracellular shunt pathways, but also in particular to the existence of audio frequency-dependent capacitances or dispersions. In this paper we explore implications and consequences of anatomically related Maxwell-Wagner and Cole-Cole dielectric dispersions that impose limitations, approximations, and pitfalls of impedance analysis when tissues are studied under widely ranging spontaneous rates of transport, and in particular when apical membrane sodium and chloride channels are activated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in A6 epithelia. We develop the thesis that capacitive relaxation processes of any origin lead not only to dependence on frequency of the impedance locus, but also to the appearance of depressed semicircles in Nyquist transepithelial impedance plots, regardless of the tightness or leakiness of the paracellular shunt pathways. Frequency dependence of capacitance precludes analysis of data in traditional ways, where capacitance is assumed constant, and is especially important when apical and/or basolateral membranes exhibit one or more dielectric dispersions. PMID:11463629

[In vivo measurement of rabbits brain impedance frequency response and the elementary imaging of EIT].

PubMed

Wu, Xiaoming; Dong, Xiuzhen; Qin, Mingxin; Fu, Feng; Wang, Yuemin; You, Fusheng; Xiang, Haiyan; Liu, Ruigang; Shi, Xuetao

2003-03-01

The in vivo measurements of rabbit brain tissue impedance were taken under both normal and ischemic conditions by using two-electrode measurement method in the frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 1 MHz. The dynamic images about the resistivity of cerebral ischemia were reconstructed based on a 16-electrode system. The results of in vivo measurement showed that the ratio of impedance increased can be as high as 75% at frequencies lower than 10 Hz. In the range from 1 KHz to 1 MHz, the ratio showed a constant value of 15%. The electrical impedance tomography (EIT) images obtained suggested that the regions of impedance changes highly correspond to the position of ischemia. It is confirmed that the brain function changes caused by local deficiency of blood can be detected and imaged by EIT method.

Experimental demonstration of invisible electromagnetic impedance matching cylindrical transformation optics cloak shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Mingji; Wang, Changxian; Cheng, Xiaodong; Gong, Congcheng; Song, Weili; Yuan, Xujin; Fang, Daining

2018-04-01

The realization of an ideal invisible cloak implementing transformation optics is still missing. An impedance matching concept is implanted into transformation optics cloak to generate an impedance matching cloak (IMC) shell. In this work, it is proved that impedance matching structure reduces the cloaking structure’s disturbance to a propagating electromagnetic field and improves its invisibility measured by scattering field intensity. Such a cylindrical IMC shell is designed, fabricated with proposed rounded rectangular split-ring-resonators (RR-SRRs), and experimental measurements show the total scattering field of a perfect electric conductor (PEC) cylinder surrounded by an IMC shell is improved greatly compared to the PEC cylinder showing electromagnetic wave front ripple suppression and a considerable scattering shrinking effect. IMC shell backward scattering field is suppressed down to 7.29%, compared to the previous value of 86.7% due to its impedance matching character, and overall scattering field intensity shrinking is down to 19.3% compared to the previously realized value of 56.4%. Sideward scattering field recorded in the experiment also has a remarkable improvement compared to the PEC cylinder. The impedance matching concept might enlighten the realization of an ideal cloak and other novel electromagnetic cloaking and shielding structures.

Baseline impedance measured during high-resolution esophageal impedance manometry reliably discriminates GERD patients.

PubMed

Ravi, K; Geno, D M; Vela, M F; Crowell, M D; Katzka, D A

2017-05-01

Baseline impedance measured with ambulatory impedance pH monitoring (MII-pH) and a mucosal impedance catheter detects gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, these tools are limited by cost or patient tolerance. We investigated whether baseline impedance measured during high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) distinguishes GERD patients from controls. Consecutive patients with clinical HRIM and MII-pH testing were identified. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was defined by esophageal pH <4 for ≥5% of both the supine and total study time, whereas controls had an esophageal pH <4 for ≤3% of the study performed off PPI. Baseline impedance was measured over 15 seconds during the landmark period of HRIM and over three 10 minute intervals during the overnight period of MII-pH. Among 29 GERD patients and 26 controls, GERD patients had a mean esophageal acid exposure time of 22.7% compared to 1.2% in controls (P<.0001). Mean baseline impedance during HRIM was lower in GERD (1061 Ω) than controls (2814 Ω) (P<.0001). Baseline mucosal impedance measured during HRIM and MII-pH correlated (r=0.59, P<.0001). High-resolution esophageal manometry baseline impedance had high diagnostic accuracy for GERD, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.931 on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. A HRIM baseline impedance threshold of 1582 Ω had a sensitivity of 86.2% and specificity of 88.5% for GERD, with a positive predictive value of 89.3% and negative predictive value of 85.2%. Baseline impedance measured during HRIM can reliably discriminate GERD patients with at least moderate esophageal acid exposure from controls. This diagnostic tool may represent an accurate, cost-effective, and less invasive test for GERD. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Monitoring state-of-charge of Ni-MH and Ni-Cd batteries using impedance spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammouche, Abderrezak; Karden, Eckhard; De Doncker, Rik W.