Electrical Impedance Tomography of brain function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Imaging Stroke, Epilepsy and Evoked Potentials in the brain using Electrical Impedance Tomography
IRAS ID
168765
Contact name
David Holder
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a new medical imaging system which enables 3D imaging of the internal electrical properties of a subject using rings of external ECG-like electrodes. It is completely safe. It comprises a box of electronics similar in size to a video recorder, laptop computer and leads which link typically to 16 or 32 electrodes placed around the subject. Images are generated by applying tiny electrical signals through some electrodes and recording the resulting signals at others. The signals applied are completely safe, within established British and EU safety limits and cannot be felt.
It has the unique ability in the brain to produce images every thousandth of a second and so image electrical circuit behaviour in a way not possible with any existing method. It can also provide a small portable imaging system for measuring other aspects of brain function or disease.
Applications include :
1. Acute stroke or head injury. EIT could provide continuous monitoring at the bedside after head injury or diagnosis in the back of an ambulance or GP surgery and so permit rapid deployment of thrombolytic (clot-dissolving) therapy.
2. Imaging of epilepsy in human patients. EIT could transform epilepsy treatment by giving better understanding of the mechanism of epilepsy. It could help classification, surgical treatment and the use of seizure suppression by electrical stimulation with deep electrodes.
3. Imaging of physiologically evoked response. EIT could also generate images of normal brain activity which would provide a unique insight into brain function in health and also neurological and psychiatric disease.
There have been no adverse incidents in 20 years of studies at UCH and UCL. This application is to combine previous permissions under one umbrella. Studies will make recordings with EIT and compare these to gold standard imaging methods such as MRI.REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0092
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion