Electrical Impedance Tomography in Medical Applications: Brain and Lung

Abstract

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an emerging medical imaging technology that involves injecting excitation current into a patient's skin through electrodes and then reconstructing the internal conductivity distribution from the voltage data collected by the different electrodes. EIT boasts several notable advantages over other imaging methods, including its non-invasive nature that does not utilize ionizing radiation, making it safer for patients. Additionally, it offers high temporal resolution, allowing for real-time monitoring of physiological changes, and its low cost and high portability make it suitable for real-time monitoring in emergency rescue and bedside situations. However, EIT also has some technical limitations that lead to poor spatial resolution. The possibility of designing wearable devices incorporating EIT has recently propelled this technology. In this article, we review the principles, hardware design, and main clinical applications of EIT. Wireless wearable EIT technology extends beyond clinical use, proving equally effective in emergency response scenarios, and is adaptable to various operational environments because of its portable monitoring capabilities.