Multifrequency Analysis of Single Inductive Coil Measurements Across a Gel Phantom Simulation of Internal Bleeding in the Brain

Abstract

The present study is part of an ongoing effort to develop a simple diagnostic technology for detecting internal bleeding in the brain, which can be used in lieu or in support of medical imaging and thereby reduce the cost of diagnostics in general, and in particular, would make diagnostics accessible to economically disadvantaged populations. The study deals with a single coil inductive device to be used for detecting cerebral hemorrhage. It presents a first-order experimental study that examines the predictions of our recently published theoretical study. The experimental model employs a homogeneous cylindrical phantom in which internal head bleeding was simulated by way of a fluid inclusion. We measured the changes in amplitude and phase across the coil with a network vector analyzer as a function of frequency (100-1,000 MHz), volume of blood simulating fluid, and the site of the fluid injection. We have developed a new mathematical model to statistically analyze the complex data produced in this experiment. We determined that the resolution for the fluid volume increase following fluid injection is strongly dependent on frequency as well as the location of liquid accumulation. The experimental data obtained in this study supports the predictions of our previous theoretical study, and the statistical analysis shows that the simple single coil device is sensitive enough to detect changes due to fluid volume alteration of two milliliters. Bioelectromagnetics. 2020;41:21-33 © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.