A new linear algebra based mathematical technique for electrical impedance spectroscopy guided biopsy

Abstract

In this theoretical study we use a new linear algebra manipulation on electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements to provide real time control on the insertion path of a needle into a particular non-homogeneity tissue target. We demonstrate the concept using Comsol Multiphysics in a three dimensional model and show how a tissue inhomogeneity can be targeted without any previous knowledge of the electrical properties of the different tissues, except that they should not be linear in a certain frequency range. This method may have applications in guiding biopsy needles, radiation seeds or in minimally invasive surgery and can reduce the number of CT or MRI images. The technology is also of the type we have previously used for cellular phone enabled imaging. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.