ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY

• US 20090084674A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timpel Medical B.V.
• Original Assignee: Dixtal Biomedica Industria E Comercio LTDA Manaus-Am Brail
• Inventors: Boehm, Stephan H., Branchini, Diogo Moretti, Holzhacker, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/286.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0536 Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/417 the bone marrow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

An electrode assembly for electrical impedance tomography comprising a plurality of different electrode modules, each containing a support strap made of a flexible material that presents a reduced longitudinal deformability and carrying a predetermined number of electrodes, each support strap being dimensioned to be seated and retained onto a respective extension portion of a body segment of a patient. Each electrode module presents the number of electrodes and a distance ‘De’ between each two consecutive electrodes predetermined as a function of a specific operational pattern to be obtained from each electrode module. The assembly can further comprise an electrical conducting cable having an end connected to a monitoring apparatus and a free end provided with a connector to be coupled to a respective electrode of an electrode module.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly for electrical impedance tomography (EIT), characterized in that it comprises a plurality of different electrode modules (10), each comprising a support strap (11) made of a flexible material that presents a reduced longitudinal deformability and carrying a desired number of electrodes (20) to be electrically connected to a monitoring apparatus (M), one of the electrode modules (10) comprising at least two electrodes (20), each electrode module (10) having its respective support strap (11) dimensioned to be seated and retained onto a respective extension portion of a body segment of a patient, according to a plane of interest sectioning said body segment (C), each of the different electrode modules (10) presenting the number of electrodes (20) and a distance (De) between each two consecutive electrodes predetermined as a function of a specific operational pattern to be obtained from each electrode module (10).

2. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (20) of a first group of electrode modules (10) are spaced from one another by the same distance (De) and provided in the same number in each of said electrode modules (10).

3. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (20) of a second group of electrode modules (10) are spaced from one another by the same distance (De) and provided in different numbers in each of said electrode modules (10).

4. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (20) of a third group of electrode modules (10) are provided in the same number in each electrode modules (10), but spaced from one another by different distances (De).

5. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (20) of a fourth group of electrode modules (10) are provided in different numbers and also spaced from one another by different distances (De) in each of said electrode modules (10).

6. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that each electrode module (10) is provided with an individual identification code (13).

7. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the number of electrodes (20) of each electrode module (10) varies from 1 to 32.

8. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the support strap (11) of each electrode module (10) is provided with a positioning means (12) in one of the ends of the respective support strap (11).

9. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that each positioning means (12) comprises a prolongation (12a) incorporated in one of the ends of the respective support strap (11) and provided with marks (12b) indicative of the relative positioning between two electrode modules (10).

10. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that the marks (12b) of the positioning means (12) of each support strap (11) define respective spacing distances (Da) between two adjacent electrodes (20) for each two consecutive electrode modules (10).

11. The electrode assembly, as set forth in any one of the claims 1 or 8, characterized in that the support strap (11) of each electrode module (10) is provided, in one of the ends, with a coupling means (14) and, in the other end, with a coupling receiving means (15), the coupling means (14) of an electrode modules (10) being connectable to the coupling receiving means (15) of another electrode module (10).

12. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 11, when depending from claim 8, characterized in that the coupling means (14) is defined in the positioning means (12), taking the form of a prolongation (12a) of one of the ends of the support strap (11).

13. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the electrode modules (10) are each formed by a respective extension of support strap (11), previously defined with a pattern length predetermined for that module and in which is mounted an also standardized and predetermined number of electrodes (20) spaced from one another by predetermined distances (De).

14. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the electrode modules (10) are each formed by a respective extension of support strap (11), previously defined with a pattern length predetermined for that module and provided with a median longitudinal alignment of holes (18) spaced from one another by a predetermined distance (De), at least one hole (18) of the extension of support strap (11) receiving and retaining the respective electrode (20).

15. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that each electrode module (10) is formed by an extension of support strap (11) presenting a length determined by the EIT system operator as a function of a specific dimensioning desired in one application, said extension of support strap (11) carrying electrodes (20) spaced from one another by the same predetermined distance (De).

16. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 15, characterized in that the extension of support strap (11) of each electrode module (10) is cut from a continuous support strap carrying electrodes (20) that are mounted spaced from one another by the same predetermined distance (De).

17. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that each electrode module (10) is formed by an extension of support strap (11) provided with a median longitudinal alignment of holes (18) which are spaced from one another by the same predetermined distance (De), said extension of support strap (11) presenting a length determined by the EIT system operator as a function of a specific dimensioning desired in one application, each hole (18) of the extension of support strap (11) receiving and retaining one electrode (20).

18. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 17, characterized in that the extension of support strap (11) of each electrode module (10) is cut from a continuous support strap provided with a median longitudinal alignment of holes (18).

19. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that each support strap (11) presents, between the positions of each two consecutive electrodes (20), a pair of longitudinal slots (11a) spaced from one another and from the adjacent longitudinal lateral edges of the extension of support strap (11), so as to define therebetween a lug (11b), selectively deformable outwardly from the plane of the adjacent region of the support strap (11) upon the introduction of a spacer (19) between the lower face of the lug (11b) and the upper face of the adjacent lateral regions of the support strap (11).

20. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the electrical conducting cables (30) connecting each electrode of an electrode module (10) to the monitoring apparatus (M) and being distributed to the different electrodes (20) of each electrode module (10) by means of connecting legs (32) projecting from a distribution box (31).

21. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 20, characterized in that the connecting legs (32) have their end portions retained, at predetermined spacings, to a positioning plate (34).

22. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that at least two consecutive support straps (11) are longitudinally connected to each other, by means of a connecting module (60) defined by a predetermined extension of support strap (11).

23. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 22, characterized in that the support strap (11) of each electrode module (10) is provided, in one of the ends, with a coupling means (14) and, in the other end, with a coupling receiving means (15), the connecting module (60) being provided, in one of its ends, with a coupling means (14) and, in the other end, with a coupling receiving means (15), the coupling means (14) of the connecting module (60) being connectable to the coupling receiving means (15) of a support strap (11) and the coupling receiving means (15) of the connecting module (60) to receive the coupling means (15) of another support strap (11).

24. The electrode assembly, as set forth in claim 23, characterized in that the coupling means (14) and the coupling receiving means (15) are formed by a rod that is bent in the form of a hook and by a rod, which are respectively affixed to the opposite ends of the support straps (11) and to the connecting modules (60).