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A Romsauerova

Publications and source records attributed to A Romsauerova.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Design and calibration of a compact multi-frequency EIT system for acute stroke imaging.

A new, compact UCLH Mk 2.5 EIT system has been developed and calibrated for EIT imaging of the head. Improvements include increased input and output impedances, increased bandwidth and improved CMRR (80 dB) and linearity over frequencies and load (0.2% on a single channel, +/-0.7% on a saline tank over 20 Hz-256 kHz and 10-65 Omega). The accuracy of the system is sufficient to image severe acute stroke according to the specification from recent detailed anatomical modelling (Horesh et al 2005 3rd European Medical and Biological Engineering Conference EMBEC'05). A preliminary human study has validated the main specifications of the modelling, the range of trans-impedance from the head (8-70 Omega) using a 32 electrode, 258 combination protocol and contact impedances of 300 Omega to 2.7 kOmega over 20 Hz to 256 kHz.

Acute Disease↗

Identification of a suitable current waveform for acute stroke imaging.

MFEIT (multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography) has the potential to provide a portable non-invasive neuroimaging method ideal for use in acute stroke. Skin perception has not previously occurred in MFEIT with injected frequencies above 2 kHz, but use in brain imaging requires applied current below 100 Hz, which could stimulate cutaneous nerve endings. The purpose of this work was to find the most suitable current pattern that could be employed in MFEIT measurements in the adult head with the UCLH Mk2.5 system, which applies currents from 20 Hz-1.6 MHz. Single frequency current waveforms of 0.28 mA peak-to-peak at 20 Hz-80 Hz were applied to the forearms of three volunteers; although the skin was abraded, none of these were perceived, which agrees with similar studies in the literature. When a full frequency pattern at 20 Hz-1.6 MHz was applied to the forearm or head in four healthy subjects, with the same current amplitude of 0.28 mA for each component, an unpleasant tingling sensation was perceived, due to summation of the applied currents. The sensation was reduced or abolished by attenuation or removal of frequencies below 100 Hz; the optimal compromise was a pattern with absence of 40 Hz, and with 80 and 20 Hz respectively reduced to 75% and 50%.

Electric Impedance↗

Multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography (EIT) of the adult human head: initial findings in brain tumours, arteriovenous malformations and chronic stroke, development of an analysis method and calibration.

MFEIT (multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography) could distinguish between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke and permit the urgent use of thrombolytic drugs in patients with ischaemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to characterize the UCLH Mk 2 MFEIT system, designed for this purpose, with 32 electrodes and a multiplexed 2 kHz to 1.6 MHz single impedance measuring circuit. Data were collected in seven subjects with brain tumours, arteriovenous malformations or chronic stroke, as these resembled the changes in haemorrhagic or ischaemic stroke. Calibration studies indicated that the reliable bandwidth was only 16-64 kHz because of front-end components placed to permit simultaneous EEG recording. In raw in-phase component data, the SD of 16-64 kHz data for one electrode combination across subjects was 2.45 +/- 0.9%, compared to a largest predicted change of 0.35% estimated using the FEM of the head. Using newly developed methods of examining the most sensitive channels from the FEM, and nonlinear imaging constrained to the known site of the lesion, no reproducible changes between pathologies were observed. This study has identified a specification for accuracy in EITS in acute stroke, identified the size of variability in relation to this in human recordings, and presents new methods for analysis of data. Although no reproducible changes were identified, we hope this will provide a foundation for future studies in this demanding but potentially powerful novel application.

Adult↗