Numerical simulation of various electrode configurations in impedance cardiography to identify aortic dissection

Abstract

Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a non-invasive method to evaluate several cardiodynamic parameters. Pathologic changes in the aorta, like an aortic dissection, will alter the aortic shape as well as the blood flow and, consequently, the impedance cardiogram. This fact distorts the evaluated cardiodynamic parameters on the one hand, and offers the possibility to identify aortic pathologies on the other hand. In order to find an appropriate measurement configuration, in particular for the identification of aortic dissections, a 3D simulation model has been used. Various electrode positions have been investigated to reach a high sensitivity with respect to the discrepancy between the healthy and the dissected case.