Haematoma detection using EIT in a sheep model

Performance evaluation of a portable digital electrical impedance tomography system to detect haematomas using a sheep model is presented. Two different experiments have been performed using 8-electrode full array configuration. Artificial haematomas were introduced in the first experiment by injecting blood-like conductivity solution via the brainstem, and in the second by placing blood-like conductivity gel at a certain position on top of the parietal lobes of the brain on the left and right sides. For the first experiment, the Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) images were reconstructed sequentially for different injection volumes and the quantity index (QI) was calculated as a function of the injected solution volume. The results show a linear relationship of QI to the injected volume. For the second experiment, the images were successfully reconstructed and haematoma was clearly detected and localised using our developed system. The promising results of sheep experiments prove that our developed EIT system is able to detect and quantify small haematomas in head.