A reconstruction algorithm for electrical impedance tomography data collected on rectangular electrode arrays

A three-dimensional reconstruction algorithm in electrical impedance imaging is presented for determining the conductivity distribution beneath the surface of a medium, given surface voltage data measured on a rectangular array of electrodes. Such an electrode configuration may be desirable for using electrical impedance tomography to detect tumors in the human breast. The algorithm is based on linearizing the conductivity about a constant value. Here, the authors describe a simple implementation of the algorithm on a four electrode-by-four-electrode array and the reconstructions obtained from numerical and experimental tank data. The results demonstrate significantly better spatial resolution in the plane of the electrodes than with respect to depth.