METHOD FOR IMPROVING IMAGING RESOLUTION OF ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY
First Claim
1. A method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) using a plurality of conducting electrodes on the surrounding of or inside a tissue structure, comprising the steps of:
- (1) inputting an electric current into the tissue structure through at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes, and outputting the electric current from at least other one of the plurality of conducting electrodes;
(2) forming a virtual electrode between the at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes by inputting an electric current ratio to control the electric current via an electric current steering device;
(3) measuring an electric potential using the at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes, except these conducting electrodes for inputting and outputting the electric current, to obtain electric current and electric potential distributions corresponding to the plurality of conducting electrodes and the virtual electrode in the tissue structure; and
(4) performing an image conversion processing according to the electric current and electric potential distributions to profile an image for a specific region in the tissue structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). More specifically, the present disclosure forms virtual electrode(s) using an electric current steering technique, which is used to improve imaging resolution of an EIT system without physically increasing a number of conducting electrodes. The EIT system of the present disclosure may includes a plurality of conducting electrodes, at least one signal generator, at least one signal receiver and at least one electric current steering device. In other words, the present disclosure applies both the electric current steering technique and the virtual electrode technique to EIT. Consequently, imaging resolution of EIT can be improved without physically increasing the number of conducting electrodes.
17 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) using a plurality of conducting electrodes on the surrounding of or inside a tissue structure, comprising the steps of:
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(1) inputting an electric current into the tissue structure through at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes, and outputting the electric current from at least other one of the plurality of conducting electrodes; (2) forming a virtual electrode between the at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes by inputting an electric current ratio to control the electric current via an electric current steering device; (3) measuring an electric potential using the at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes, except these conducting electrodes for inputting and outputting the electric current, to obtain electric current and electric potential distributions corresponding to the plurality of conducting electrodes and the virtual electrode in the tissue structure; and (4) performing an image conversion processing according to the electric current and electric potential distributions to profile an image for a specific region in the tissue structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) using a plurality of conducting electrodes on the surrounding of or inside a tissue structure, comprising the steps of:
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(1) inputting an electric current into the tissue structure through at least one of the plurality of conducting electrodes, and outputting the electric current from at least other two of the plurality of conducting electrodes; (2) forming a virtual electrode between the at least other two of the plurality of conducting electrodes for outputting an electric current ratio to control the electric current via an electric current steering device; (3) measuring an electric potential using the at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes, except these conducting electrodes for inputting and outputting the electric current, to obtain electric current and electric potential distributions corresponding to the plurality of conducting electrodes and the virtual electrode in the tissue structure; and (4) performing an image conversion processing according to the electric current and electric potential distributions to profile an image of a specific region in the tissue structure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) using a plurality of conducting electrodes on the surrounding or inside a tissue structure, comprising the steps of:
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(1) inputting an electric current into the tissue structure through at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes, and outputting the electric current from at least other two of the conducting electrodes; (2) forming a virtual electrode between the at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes for inputting an electric current ratio to control the electric current via an electric current steering device; (3) measuring an electric potential using the at least two of the plurality of conducting electrodes, except these conducting electrodes for inputting and outputting the electric current, to obtain electric current and electric potential distributions corresponding to the plurality of conducting electrodes and the virtual electrodes in the tissue structure; and (4) performing an image conversion processing according to the electric current and electric potential distributions to profile an image of a specific region in the tissue structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A 3D electrical impedance tomography (EIT) system, comprising:
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a plurality of conducting electrode devices, wherein each of the conducting electrode devices has a plurality of conducting electrodes; a tissue structure located between the plurality of conducting electrode devices; an electric current inputted into the tissue structure by at least two of the plurality of conducting electrode devices during performing EIT; and an electric current ratio adjusted and applied to control the electric current for profiling a 3D image of the tissue structure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification