A novel method for non-invasive imaging for medicine and material testing

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a perspective vital imaging method in medicine. Although the paper deals mainly with medicine application, the potential of EIT is also in the field of a novel material testing. EIT belongs to non-invasive methods. It is used mainly for the area of thorax since thorax exhibits the biggest changes in impedance. The lungs are mostly filled with air while surrounding flesh has impedance similar to water. However EIT has several drawbacks: relatively big measurement inaccuracy, blurred obtained images, difficulties in application of electrodes and problems with repeatability of measurements. Many drawbacks can be limited when an absolute tomography is used, though absolute tomography is very challenging and is rather only a laboratory concept then a real working method. This article deals with a robust method which is closely related to absolute tomography imaging while viable in clinical practice and to non-invasive material description in general. A unique measuring device VERA was developed. Such a device helps with fast application of electrodes and enables to get reproducible and reliable images of thorax or other volumes in engineering. The paper also discusses challenges when choosing a mediator material or liquid for EIT function. The concept of stiff framework for electrodes which is applied to patient is unusual but exhibits many advantages resulting in better images. © 2019 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland.