Simulation research on gastric emptying measurement experiment by electrical impedance tomography with three-layer electrodes

Abstract

Objective To verify the effectiveness of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) with multi-layer electrodes in gastric emptying measurement by simulation experiments using EIT with three-layer electrodes. Methods Firstly, EIT system with three-layer electrodes and gastric emptying measurement simulation equipment was designed and constructed to simulate gastric emptying process and obtain EIT reconstruction images. Secondly, the region where the electrical characteristic of gastric changes was selected as region of interest. Finally, the relative impedance change rate in region of interest for every image obtained from all three layers was consecutively recorded, then the gastric emptying curve was formed and gastric emptying time was calculated. Results There are obvious differences among the sharp of impedance change curves of interested region for three layers, and the gastric emptying time and process of each layer is also different from one another. It is suggested that the passing path and emptying manner of food in gastric emptying process reflected by EIT images varied from layer to layer. Therefore, the necessity and feasibility of using EIT with three-layer electrodes in gastric emptying measurement study is verified. Conclusions EIT with three-layer electrodes can provide more abundant information of gastric motility function associated with gastric emptying pathology and physiology state. It is likely to be a noninvasive, convenient and effective imaging method for the detection and evaluation research on gastric emptying and gastric motility. Key words: Electrical impedance tomography; Three-layer imaging; Gastric emptying; Simulation experiments