SENSOR DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING, ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING INSTRUMENT AND ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY METHOD

• US 20130190577A1
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swisscom AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Original Assignee: Swisscom AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Brunner, Josef X., Gaggero, Pascal Olivier, Robitaille, Nicolas
• Granted Patent: US 10,548,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0536 Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/061 Determining position of a probe within the body employing means separate from the probe, e.g. sensing internal probe position employing impedance electrodes on the surface of the body A61B1/00158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise

Abstract

A sensor device for EIT imaging comprises an electrode array for measuring an impedance distribution, with at least one sensor for determining spatial orientation of the electrode array coupled to the electrode array. An EIT imaging instrument is connectable to a sensor for determining spatial orientation of a test person, and optionally in addition connectable to a sensor for gathering information on electrical and/or acoustic activity and/or a sensor for gathering information on dilation. A computing device is connected or integrated for adjusting impedance data based on spatial data, which spatial data describe the spatial orientation of a test subject. An EIT imaging method for measuring an impedance distribution and adjusting said measured impedance distribution comprises measuring impedance distribution by using an impedance distribution measuring device comprising an electrode array, and transforming the measured impedance distribution into EIT images.

Claims

1. A sensor device for EIT imaging comprising:

an electrode array for measuring an impedance distribution, and

at least one sensor for determining a spatial orientation of a test person coupled to the electrode array.

2. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor for determining the spatial orientation determines said spatial orientation with respect to the direction of a gravity vector.

3. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor for determining the spatial orientation comprises a three-dimensional acceleration sensor.

4. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of electrodes of the electrode array are arranged on a belt-like structure.

5. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor for gathering information on electrical activity coupled to the electrode array.

6. The sensor device of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor for gathering information on electrical activity comprises an electro-cardiography sensor.

7. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor for gathering information on acoustic activity is coupled to the electrode array.

8. The sensor device of claim 7, wherein the at least one additional sensor for gathering information on acoustic activity comprises a microphone or a phonocardiography sensor.

9. The sensor device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor for gathering information on changes in dilation of the electrode array integrated in or attached to the electrode array.

10. The sensor device of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor for gathering information on changes in the dilation comprises a strain gauge.

11. An EIT imaging instrument, comprising:

a first sensor connectable to the EIT imaging instrument for determining a spatial orientation of a test subject;

at least one optional second sensor connectable to the EIT imaging instrument for gathering information on at least one of electrical activity, acoustic activity and dilation; and

a computing device connected to or integrated in the EIT imaging instrument for adjusting impedance data based on spatial data, which spatial data describe the spatial orientation of the test subject.

12. The EIT imaging instrument of claim 11, wherein the spatial data describe the spatial orientation of the test subject with respect to a direction of a gravity vector.

13. The EIT imaging instrument of claim 11, wherein the computing device is configured for adjusting the impedance data based on at least one of dilation data, acoustic activity data and electrical activity data.

14. An EIT imaging method for measuring an impedance distribution and adjusting a measured impedance distribution, comprising:

measuring impedance distribution by using an impedance distribution measuring device comprising an electrode array,

transforming the measured impedance distribution into EIT images,

determining a spatial orientation of a test subject, and

adjusting values of the measured impedance distribution according to said spatial orientation in order to account for gravitational influences.

15. The EIT imaging method of claim 14, further comprising determining the spatial orientation of a test subject by measuring the spatial orientation of an electrode array of the impedance distribution measuring device.

16. The EIT imaging method of claim 14, further comprising determining the spatial orientation of the test subject with respect to a direction of a gravity vector.

17. The EIT imaging method of claim 14, further comprising determining the spatial orientation of the test subject during the measurement of the impedance distribution.

18. The EIT imaging method of claim 14, further comprising determining the spatial orientation of the test subject approximately simultaneously with the measurement of the impedance distribution.

19. The EIT imaging method of claim 14, further comprising measuring values of the impedance distribution and determining the spatial orientation of the test subject within at least one of 1 second, 500 milliseconds, 100 milliseconds, and 10 milliseconds.

21. The EIT imaging method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the measured impedance distribution according to at least one of:

electrical activity,

acoustic activity and

dilation of an observation area.

20. (canceled)

22-26. -26. (canceled)