Abstract
Lymphoedema is a disease associated with abnormal functioning of the lymph that leads to swelling of the body due to accumulation of tissue fluid on the affected area. Tissue fluid contains ions and electrolytes that affect electrical conductivity. The flow of tissue fluid helps to distribute vital nutrients and other important elements necessary for healthy living. When tissue fluid is stagnated, a high concentration of electrolytes accumulate on the affected area, which in turn affects an electrical signal passing through that area to be minimally attenuated in relation to a free-flowing fluid. We demonstrate that a galvanic coupled signal propagating along a lymphoedema affected limb could capture these changes by the amount of attenuation the propagating signal experiences in time. Our results show that average rate of signal attenuation on a lymphoedema affected part of the body could be as slow as 0.16 dB/min, while the rate of signal attenuation on a healthy part is as high as 1.83 dB/min. This means that fluid accumulation could slow down the exchange of body electrolytes up to twice less the rate on an unaffected contralateral part of the body. Monitoring these changes by observing the average rate of change of a galvanic coupled signal attenuation on the affected body part can be used for diagnosing early developments of oedema in the body and for evaluating recovery in response to treatment procedures.
Highlights
Lymphoedema is a chronic disorder of the lymphatic system whereby lymphatic vessels and/or nodes malfunction and accumulate fluid and other elements in the surrounding tissue spaces [1]
Lymphoedema is progressive in nature; early diagnosis is important because it helps timely intervention mostly because there is not yet a standard solution for treatment [5,6], and efforts are mainly focused on management, to minimize swelling, restore functionality of the affected area of the body and prevent potential complications associated with the disease [7]
In body fluid disorders, such as lymphoedema, there is a notable fluid retention caused by leakage or lymphatic vessel damage that leads to accumulation or stagnation of fluid on the affected body part [34]
Summary
Lymphoedema is a chronic disorder of the lymphatic system whereby lymphatic vessels and/or nodes malfunction and accumulate fluid and other elements in the surrounding tissue spaces [1]. In lymphoedema disease, leaked fluids containing high molecular protein from lymphatic vessel remain stagnant under the skin and, if undiagnosed early and left untreated, can lead to progressive inflammation and damage to the affected body part [3,4]. Lymphoedema is progressive in nature; early diagnosis is important because it helps timely intervention mostly because there is not yet a standard solution for treatment [5,6], and efforts are mainly focused on management, to minimize swelling, restore functionality of the affected area of the body and prevent potential complications associated with the disease [7]. A current study in Australia suggests a growing prevalence of lymphoedema [2]. These reports draw attention to the Electronics 2017, 6, 47; doi:10.3390/electronics6020047 www.mdpi.com/journal/electronics
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