Application of Bioimpedance for

Edema Monitoring
Jovan Popovich1 & Mike Moeller1

Faculty Advisor: Mansoor Nasir1

Technical Advisor: Kenneth Cook2

1: Biomedical Engineering ; 2: Engineering Technology 1

 Project Goal

Develop a diagnostic tool for continuously

monitoring peripheral edema using
impedance analysis

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 Background on Edema

Peripheral edema is a chronic, often painful swelling due

to a buildup of fluid in the interstitium.

Affects 4.4 Million people in the United States alone

Caused by many serious ailments

● Heart Failure
● Kidney Disease
● Liver Disease
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 Effects of Edema

• Poor blood circulation and vessel elasticity

• Increased Local Pressure
• Painful swelling
• Problems with constricting clothes/shoes
• Loss of full mobility
• Reduction in quality of life
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 Current Monitoring Techniques

● Check for patient weight changes (10% increase)

● No standard for determining edema severity
● Can result in improper medication

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 Impedance Background

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 Meaurement Methods: 2 vs. 4 Electrodes

~AC~ ~AC~

• Sensitive to surface change • Whole tissue measurement

• Effective @ > 50 kHz • Effective @ > 1kHz
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 BMI Scale - Similar Technique

● Numbers fluctuate based on

total weight, regardless of
composition

● Categories consistent on a
daily basis, but can be
manipulated

● Ideally tested on actual

patients with edema
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 PBS Tests at Varying Lengths
● 2 analyzer electrodes
used

● Resistance measured in
pure PBS at 1” increments

Resistance increases as the length increases

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 Testing Setup and Methods

• Pig legs are a very good analogue to human

tissue

• Electrodes placed on same side of

the tissue as well as opposite sides

• PBS was injected 10 mL at a time evenly

throughout the leg

• Electrodes hooked up to impedance analyzer

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 Two Electrode Test

• LCR meter used to compare • Data does not follow trend

– Not a good match
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 Four Electrode Needle Test

• Comparative Proof-of-Concept

• Needles bypass skin impedance

• 22.5 gauge needle tips

• Volume  Resistance change

easily seen
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 Four Electrode Needle Test

• Top curve shows surface

measurement

• PBS levels tested at 0, 20,

and 80 mL

• Fluid increase results in resistance decrease

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 Four Dry Electrodes Test

Measurements taken roughly every 10 seconds as

PBS (20 mL total) was continuously injected

• Frequency set at 10 KHz

• Electrode Characteristics
– Reusable
– Non-irritating
– Very Sticky (Doesn’t Remove Hair!)

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 Four Dry Electrodes Test: Results

Signal: 10 kHz

• Resistance steadily dropped as more PBS was added

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 Challenges

• Motion can affect electrical measurements

– Muscle Activity
– Electrode Contact

• Physiological Differences (skin composition)

– 4 electrode system eliminates

• Electrical noise
– 60Hz mains power
– Radio frequency
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 Conclusions

Impedance analysis is a viable method for monitoring

edema severity

Four electrode method provides higher accuracy

The more severe the condition, the lower the resistance

will be (relative to individual baseline level)

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 Future Directions

• Obtain data from patients suffering from edema for

severity comparison

• Design a wearable sensor for impedance measurement

• Explore non-impedance based techniques such as strain
gauges or PZT film

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 Strain Gauge Testing

• Simple wearable concept

• Volume change translates to band length change (strain)

Drawbacks
• Requires bridge circuit
• Heat compensation
• Matching elastic material

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Example of Strain Gauge Data

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 Group Responsibilities

Jovan Popovich Mike Moeller

-Pig Leg Testing -Pig Leg Testing
-Provided Matlab Code -Assisted with Matlab
-Ordered Materials -Ordered Materials
-Prepared Electrodes -Poster Design

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 Special Thanks

Dr. Mansoor Nasir - Faculty Advisor

Dr. Kenneth Cook - Technical Advisor

LESA - Providing Funding

Everyone else who provided input (students and faculty)

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Questions?

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 References

• http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-96855550/stock-vector-set-of-
human-heart-kidneys-and-liver-models.html
• http://www.rosecityveincenter.com/images/leg_swelling_lrg.jpg
• http://soundlab.cs.princeton.edu/learning/tutorials/sensors/img29.gif
• http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/imgele/zrc.gif
• http://soundlab.cs.princeton.edu/learning/tutorials/sensors/img29.gif
• http://2.imimg.com/data2/MQ/PF/MY-2601779/handheld-
capacitance-lcr-meter-250x250.jpg
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_-A8fRN6EU

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Additional Information: Wheatstone Bridge

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Four Electrode Setup

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