Electrical Properties Mapping

Abstract

Abstract Conductivity and permittivity can be determined quantitatively in vivo using standard MR systems and standard MR sequences. In contrast to earlier approaches, this is possible without the need for applying external currents or mounting electrodes on the patient. Instead, the complex B1 map (containing B1 magnitude and B1 phase) is measured and post-processed according to Maxwell's equations, yielding an approach called “Electrical Properties Tomography” (EPT). A simplified version of EPT allows us to measure only the B1 phase and deriving only the conductivity. Using this simplified version, first clinical studies have been successfully performed, particularly in the framework of tumor characterization.