Noninvasive Blood Flow Sensing from Surface Skin Measurements

Abstract

Electromagnetic flow sensing method is proposed for non-invasive vascular measurements from surface skin. Method is performed by multielectrode voltage measurements acquired over skin surface. A forward 3D electromagnetic, finite element method model (FEM) is developed for skin voltage distribution calculation. FEM model represents the anatomically precise geometrical model of human leg with known blood flow speed in its vessels and tissue electrical conductivities. Induced voltages on leg surface are measured by multielectrode measurement system. Using these data an inverse source problem is formulated and solved. Inverse source problem uses the Green's function for Helmholtz's equation.