Arbitrary geometry patient interfaces for breast cancer detection and monitoring with electrical impedance tomography

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a promising technology enabling the detection or observation of many biological processes. This is typically accomplished by applying currents at known locations on an outer surface (in this case skin) and measuring voltages at other locations. This information is then used to determine electrical properties of tissue found between the electrodes by solving the associated Laplace equation. Such problems depend upon knowing the exact boundary conditions (BC). Unfortunately BCs are not always easily determined and approximations are accepted out of necessity due to problem complexity or time constraints. The EIT group at Dartmouth College has developed two new patient interfaces for breast cancer detection and monitoring both of which speed acquisition time and allow for precision BC information in natural and arbitrary geometries. Preliminary experimental results are presented.