BRPI0604479B1 - ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrode impedance tomography electrode assembly The electrode assembly in question comprises a plurality of different electrode modules (10), each comprising a support strip (11) formed of flexible and longitudinally undeformable material and carrying a predetermined number of electrodes. electrodes (20), each support strip (11) being sized to be seated and retained on a respective extension portion of a patient's body segment o). each electrode module (10) has the number of electrodes (20) and a distance of "between" two consecutive electrodes (20) predetermined as a function of a specific operating pattern to be obtained from each electrode module (10). The assembly may further comprise an electrical conductor cable (30) having one end connected to a monitoring apparatus (m) and one free end provided with a connector (33) coupling to a respective electrode (20) of an electrode module (10). ).

Description

(54) Title: ELECTRODES SET FOR ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY (51) Int.CI .: A61B 5/053 (73) Holder (s): TIMPEL S.A.

(72) Inventor (s): ALBERT HOLZHACKER; STEPHAN H. BÓHM; DIOGO MORETTI BRANCHINI · * · · * ♦ · ·· · »·· ♦ · ··» · · · »· · · · ··· • · · · ··· · * · · · · · · · • · »♦ ♦ · · · · ···· · · <» «* ···» «♦ · *» ·· * ·· · • ** · ·· ·· ·· · · ···

SET OF ELECTRODES FOR IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY ^ ELECTRICAL.

Field of invention

The present invention relates to the provision of electrode modules, each containing a plurality of electrodes and to be applied around a segment of the body of a patient or even an animal, to perform Electrical Impedance Tomography ( TIE).

History of the invention

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) allows visualization and monitoring of a cross section of parts of the human body, by capturing its electrical potential. An electrical current around the surface is conducted inside the body in a rotating pattern, generating a gradient of electrical potential on the surface. The distribution of the electrical impedance measured in parts of the body is transformed, with the aid of an image reconstruction algorithm, into a two-dimensional image. For this reason, EIT has great potential to be used in the medical field, mainly for viewing real-time images of cardiopulmonary functions, for example, in situations of patients who need to be ventilated and who have suffered some type of accident. , trauma, etc.

A typical biomedical EIT apparatus uses the concept of allocating a plurality of spaced electrodes, evenly spaced, totally involving a part of the body. Generally, in the monitoring system it is necessary to place 16 to 32 electrodes precisely around the desired surface. As it is necessary to use multiple electrodes, it is difficult to precisely place electrodes one by one around the body, even more evenly and in the same cross section. Furthermore, it is a laborious process that requires time, attention and qualified people.

A solution to the above problem makes use of an elastic band with electrodes. The basic idea of the • 9 9 * 9 9 «· 9 Φ 9 strap

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9 9 electrodes is the installation of a plurality of electrodes in an elastic material. This way, the placement of the electrodes around a body would be fast, at the same time that the elastic material would provide an equidistance of the electrodes. However, it is difficult to guarantee an equidistant position of the electrodes through the use of an elastic material. Furthermore, so that the electrodes do not move around the body during data acquisition, this strap must be placed tightly and tightly against the desired surface. Consequently, this elastic force applied to surfaces of the chest can cause bed sores and make breathing difficult. For a good fixation of the belt, different sizes of belts are necessary due, for example, to the existence of several chest perimeters, which ends up generating a high cost of inventory and the need for a large stock. Another problem is a possible poor contact of the electrodes with the outer part of the body under observation, due to the existence of different chest anatomies, which cannot be overcome with the use of an elastic material. Such differences occur due to the patient's sex and muscular structure: for example, male patients who have developed chest muscles, present a depression in the middle of the chest and, similarly, this also occurs in the middle of the back due to the muscular structure of the back; in women, there are anatomical variations of the chest, mainly related to different breast sizes.

Situations in which there is a need for a discontinuity in the electrode line around the chest or situations that do not allow the total involvement of electrodes around a body, cannot be monitored by current TIE systems. Examples are situations such as post-35 cardiac surgery; injuries from bladed or firearms; burns; skin lesions resulting in bloody areas due to diseases

• · · · · · ·· ♦ · ♦ · • · ♦ · · «· ····· ·» · · ···· · ·· * »····· · * ·» «« « ·· · · ····· · · · · · · · dermatological or infectious; situation in which there is no access to a part of the body, cases where the victim is trapped at the accident site and injured in the backbone, making it difficult or even preventing their movement.

Furthermore, the current state of the art does not allow optimizing the resolution and definition of images in a region of interest. For example, US patent application 2004/0260167 A1 describes an elastic electrode band that can be formed from the junction of band segments, the segments having the same number of electrodes that can be equally spaced from each other. According to the teachings of this previous document, the formation of the electrode belt, in multiple segments connected to each other, has the advantage of reducing the number of electrical conductive cables arranged along the belt, in addition to leading to a quick and easy application of the electrodes in unconscious patients or those that cannot be moved.

Despite the benefits of ease of application and of reducing the length of the conductive cables along the electrode belt, this prior art solution proposes an electrode distribution totally involving a body segment, making it impossible to use it in situations in which the electrode belt electrodes have to be interrupted in one or more regions of the body segment.

Due to the constructive shape of the electrode elastic band, it is not possible to concentrate electrodes in specific regions, that is, an irregular distribution of the electrodes, aiming to obtain images with greater definition in certain areas of interest, even in situations in which the electrode band electrodes have to be interrupted in one or more regions of the body segment.

Summary of the invention

The present invention addresses the problem in a different way. Rather than focusing on how to allocate the equidistant electrodes and totally involving an object

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• · · · · ♦ · · · · • * »» ·· »· * ·» defined by a segment of the body of a patient or even an animal, an apparatus for the EIT was developed that allows planning and informing the position relative to the electrodes. Thus, this apparatus allows the use of a variable number of electrodes and spacings, and can be used in situations where there is also a discontinuity in the electrode line, in addition to not requiring the placement of electrodes around the entire outer contour of a body segment under analysis.

main objective of the present invention is to provide a set of electrodes arranged in modules that can be applied, in a practical and precise way, in different formats and perimeter of the chest, including neonates, children, adults and even animals.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a set of electrodes in a modular arrangement, as mentioned above, with a small number of items capable of covering a wide range of morphological characteristics of the body segments to be analyzed. Consequently, there is a reduction in inventory costs and greater operational ease. Furthermore, failure of electrodes in a belt requires replacement of the entire belt; in the case of a modular configuration, only the worn or defective module is replaced.

It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a set of electrodes as mentioned above and that allows to maximize resolution and image quality in regions of interest such as: heart, right or left lung, parts subject to infection, etc., through positioning of the electrodes in relation to the region of interest.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a set of electrodes as mentioned above and that allows a practical, precise and quick application, even in situations where there are restrictions on access to the perimeter of the body segment to be analyzed, for example, due to accidents, injuries, traumas or

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According to the invention, the set of electrodes comprises a plurality of different electrode modules, each comprising a support strip formed of flexible and longitudinally little deformable material and carrying a desired number of electrodes to be electrically connected to a monitoring device , one of the modules comprising at least two electrodes, each electrode module having its respective support strip dimensioned to be seated and retained over a respective extension portion of a segment of the body to be analyzed, according to a plan of interest sectioning said segment body, each of the different electrode modules having the number of electrodes and a distance between each two consecutive electrodes predetermined according to a pattern

operational specific to be obtained in each module in electrode. In a way of achievement , each electrode in a module in electrode is electrically connected The one apparatus in

monitoring by means of an electrical conductor cable.

According to the invention, each electrode module comprises a number of electrodes arranged, with a spacing between each two consecutive electrodes, which may be of the same value or of different values, allowing some modules to have electrodes equally spaced along each other along a median longitudinal alignment of the module, and other electrode modules have the electrodes concentrated in one or more regions of the module and dispersed in others.

The constructive variations that exist between the modules, with regard to the number, the disposition and the extension of the respective support strip, allow to have a module suitable for each region of the patient's body segment and the degree of resolution desired for that. or that region.

For example, a situation where it is not possible to place • · «·« «· · · ♦ · * ·

«♦ ♦ ♦ · · · ♦ ♦ · ♦ · ♦ ·· ♦ · ·· ·« · ♦ «# ·· ♦ · ♦ ·« »« ♦ ·· ** ♦ · ·· ♦ · ** «« » · · · Electrode modules in the right chest region, a possible solution to this problem would be the allocation of

a module of 8 electrodes on left pectoral and one module with 12 electrodes installed on the back of patient. 0 set in electrodes of the present invention was developed to be applied in a TXE system what

it is preferable to use an image reconstruction algorithm that works analogously as a finite element mesh with which the resolution of the images generated by TIE will be optimized, increasing the number of electrodes close to the desired region. On the other hand, the smaller the number of electrodes, the lower the resolution of the generated image.

Therefore, the combinations of different modules allow the EIT system to be used, in the case of a pulmonary tomography, in a more precise, practical and fast way for any patient, neonate and adult perimeter and in any chest format, both female and male and for different clinical situations, even those requiring interference in the electrode line.

For the correct functioning of the EIT apparatus, the position of the electrodes must be informed to it, and this can be done both electronically by the algorithm and by the identification code present in each electrode module and by the combination of these identification codes and their respective distances. For that, each electrode module can have a device to provide and indicate an accurate spacing and an identification code.

The spacing device, if any, may comprise a material with a distance graduation installed at one end of the module. Then the distance between the electrodes will be informed by the value indicated by the spacing system. This spacing system is a practical and simple tool that • · φ φ φ φ φ φ φφφ φ # Φ Φ Φ * φ φφφ φφφφφφφφ φφ φ

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allows ο correct spacing of the electrode modules. A more complex system can be manufactured with a variable resistance installed in the spacing device. As a variable resistance has a specific value, in ohms, for each distance, then the distance between the electrodes will be determined by the value of that resistance, which can be informed by the electrode itself to the monitoring system.

The identification codes inform the characteristics 10 of the electrode modules by means of numbers or bar codes, said characteristics comprising, for example: distance between the electrodes of each module, the size of the module, the disposition, concentrated or not, of the electrodes in the module, and if the distances between the electrodes occur equidistant.

Therefore, these last two tools make it possible to inform the monitoring system of the exact position of each electrode in relation to a reference point on the body under examination.

The operation of the image reconstruction algorithm can be based on a finite element mesh adapted to each particular case.

One of the aspects related to the operation of the set of electrodes of the present invention refers to the insertion of the actual arrangement of the electrodes in the reconstruction algorithm, whether the said two-dimensional or three-dimensional arrangement. With the exception of the classic back-projection algorithm, most image reconstruction algorithms model the plane using a finite element mesh that represents the body section to be studied. Necessarily, the position of the measurement electrodes is identified, consisting of a priori information from the model. An interesting aspect of the model based on the finite element mesh is that the distance between

5 the electrodes have to be informed only, but need not be the same among all electrodes.

The application of a greater number of electrodes allows the

··· «·» · * * · · · · · · · * · «·· · · · t ·» · * · ···· ···· *** ···· «·· · «·· ·« obtaining a greater number of independent measures, leading to a higher spatial resolution of the image, which justifies the use of a finer element finite mesh. As part of the present invention, it is envisaged to place a higher density of modular electrodes close to a region of interest, choosing the most appropriate electrode module.

For example, if the priority is cardiac monitoring, you can work with a greater number of electrodes close to the sternum, and you can even expand their number in other spatial planes, obtaining information in three spatial dimensions, which allows for a better estimation of volumetric calculations (for example, estimate of stroke volume for each cardiac cycle).

Another interesting aspect is the placement of electrodes only in the frontal region of the chest, a procedure that is useful in emergency or trauma situations, when the patient cannot be moved at risk of aggravating a pre-existing spinal cord injury.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as an example of possible configurations of the invention and in which:

Figures la, lb and lc illustrate schematic views, in bottom plan, of three different lengths of electrode modules, presenting the same number of electrodes, equally spaced from each other in each module, but by different and specific distances for each module;

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate schematic views, in bottom plan, of two electrode modules of the same length, but containing different numbers of electrodes;

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate schematic views, bottom plan ^ of two electrode modules of different lengths and with different numbers of ·· · * ·· * · ···· ·· • · · · · · · · · · ·· • · · · · · ♦ · ········· · · · · * ······ * · * · ····· ·· · · * · ··· Electrodes in each, but the electrodes of the two modules are equally spaced by the same distance;

Figure 4 represents a schematic bottom plan view 5 of the two electrode modules engaged longitudinally with each other, to form an extension of the electrode belt;

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate schematic bottom plan views of two electrode modules with the same length and number of electrodes, but with the latter arranged in different ways in terms of distribution along the support strip;

Figures 6a and 6b represent schematic and plan views of two different arrangements of electrical conductive cables with their respective end connectors;

Figure 7 represents a perspective view, somewhat schematic, of another arrangement of electrical conductive cables with the respective end connectors;

Figure 8 represents a front view of a patient's trunk, to which a plurality of electrodes are applied, spaced apart by a distance that can vary along the contour of the body segment, with an interruption being provided in the sequence of electrode modules in the frontal region of the chest, in which there is an injury, an interruption that defines a certain interruption distance between the electrodes adjacent to the said interruption and belonging to the two modules spaced apart from each other;

Figure 8a represents a simplified cross-sectional view of the body trunk illustrated in Figure 8, showing the arrangement of thirty-one electrodes around the body segment, said section having been taken according to line A-A in Figure 8;

Figure 8b is a view similar to that of Figure 8a, but schematically illustrating the arrangement of the electrodes in the finite element mesh on which the image reconstruction algorithm is based;

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Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e and 9f are seen similar to that of figure 8a, but illustrating different combinations of the electrode modules to involve the illustrated body segment in cross section, some of the modules having the same number of electrodes and the same distance between the electrodes; and

Figure 10 represents a plan view of a support strip extension provided with holes, arranged according to a median longitudinal alignment, and in at least one of which an electrode is subsequently mounted;

Figure 11 represents a bottom plan view of a support strip extension similar to that of Figure 10, but with latching means and latching receivers at its ends and still electrode retaining elements around the holes of the support strip;

Figure 12 represents a diametrical sectional view of an electrode mounted through a respective hole in the support strip of Figure 11;

Figure 13 represents a bottom plan view of the electrode of Figure 12;

Figure 14 represents a bottom plan view of the support strip of Figure 11, carrying an electrode in each hole;

Figure 15 represents a perspective view of a continuous support strip, provided with a median longitudinal alignment of holes and exemplarily presented in the form of a coil;

Figure 16 represents a perspective view of a strip extension for forming an electrode module, showing a construction that allows the longitudinal extension of each support strip to be adjusted; e Figure 17 represents a perspective view, partially cut out, of an assembly comprising two support strips, of the type illustrated in Figure 10, and provided with coupling means and extreme coupling receivers, and also a connection module interconnecting the two support strips.

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Description of the invention

Figures la, lb and lc illustrate three electrode modules 10 each comprising a respective extension of support strip 11 constructed of any suitable material that presents flexibility without, however, showing elastic deformation in the longitudinal direction. In the aforementioned figures, each of the electrode modules 10 has a certain length different from that of the other electrode modules 10, each module comprising the same number of five electrodes 20 equidistant from each other over a certain distance, which generally varies between said electrode modules

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presenting lengths

Thus, the electrodes 20 of the support strip 11 of shorter length are equally spaced, but with a distribution according to which the electrodes are closer in relation to the mutual spacing of the electrodes 20 from the other two electrode modules 10.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate two electrode modules 10 formed by support strips ll of the same length, one of which carries five electrodes 20, while the other carries only three electrodes 20 which maintain a greater distance from each other than that electrodes 20 of the other electrode module 10.

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate two more examples of electrode modules 10 showing support strips 11 with different, said electrode modules 10 different numbers of electrodes 20, but equally spaced apart from each other.

Figure 4 represents an extension of the electrode belt defined by the longitudinal junction of the two support strips 11, said extension of the electrode belt being dimensioned to cover a respective extension of a body segment C of the patient.

As will be discussed further below, the different electrode modules 10 are dimensioned in length, number and distribution of electrodes 20 to meet • 99 * 99 · 9 • 9 99 99 999999999 9

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9999 «99 49 9 9 9 different conditions of application to the body to be analyzed. It should be understood that the electrode modules 10 can be applied separately from each other along the same plane of interest by sectioning said body segment C or even in different generally parallel planes, in order to produce a three-dimensional image of the body section being analyzed. In situations where the electrode modules 10 are applied in the same plane, said electrode modules 10 can be provided with a positioning means 12 which, as illustrated in figures 1 through 5b, takes the form of an extension 12a incorporated in a of the ends of the support strip 11 and provided with markings 12b to allow the determination of the distance of distance Da between two adjacent electrodes 20, of each two consecutive electrode modules 10. In certain circumstances, the different electrode modules 10 can be engaged longitudinally with each other, by their adjacent ends, (see figure 4). In this sense, one end of each support strip 11 can incorporate, in the longitudinal direction, a latching means 14 constructed in different ways such as, for example, by a strip in material known by the Velcro brand. The other end of each support strip 11 carries an engaging coupling means 15, schematically illustrated in the drawings, and which is constructed to receive and lock the engaging means 14 from another electrode module 10. Thus, the receiving means latch 15 can take the form of a strip of material adhering to the latch 14.

In the configuration illustrated in figures 1 to 5b, the engagement means 14 is defined in the positioning means 12 of the support strip itself, being confused with the respective extension 12a of the support strip 11. However, it must be understood that the engagement means 14 is not necessarily built in conjunction with the positioning means 12.

As will be discussed later, each «« »♦« ·· · ♦ * · ···· Γ · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ···· ····· · ··· · · · · * ·· »» »« · · · · · ♦ electrodes 10 may contain, on their support strip 11, an individual identification code 13 which may take the form of a bar code and or alphanumeric identification. The reading of the said individual identification code 13 allows the determination of the longitudinal extension of the module, the number of electrodes 20 and the arrangement of the electrodes 20 along the extension of the support strip 11, since the disposition of the modules on each respective strip of support 11 can vary from module to module as illustrated in figures 5a and 5b.

It should be understood that the provision of the individual identification codes 13 of the support strips 11 is not mandatory, since the number of electrodes, the distance between electrodes 20 of each electrode module 10 and the spacing distance Da between each two 10 consecutive electrode modules can be measured and reported to a monitoring apparatus (not shown), before the start of the tomography.

Considering the possibility of providing electrode modules 10 showing more concentrated or more dispersed electrode arrangements 20 on the respective support strips 11, it is possible for the operator to select the most suitable electrode modules 10 to provide a clearer image of a given region of interest for the body segment C. In the regions of least interest, an electrode module 10 with a smaller number of 20 electrodes can be used, while in the regions of greater interest, electrode modules 10 containing a higher concentration can be used. of electrodes 20 or even a localized concentration of electrodes, as shown in figures 5a and 5b. The electrode modules 10 can be engaged longitudinally with each other or just seated against the body segment C, according to different combinations of number and concentration of electrodes 20. The retention of the support strips 11 against the patient's body segment C can be performed in different ways, with or without the aid of a strap • · tftf • «tf • tf · · tf · tf · · tf tf tf · • tf ··· tf ···· • tf tf tf · ····· ···· • tf tf tftf tf tf tf • tf tftf ·· · tf • tf • tftf •

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The support strips 11 of each electrode module 10 can be formed of any suitable, non-conductive material, such as, for example, non-woven fabric, foam, and polymers that impart flexibility characteristics to the support strips 11.

Although not illustrated here and described in detail, as it is not the object of the invention, each electrode 20 can be constructed in different ways, known or not from the state of the art, as long as they are presented as shown in figures 12, 13 and 14, a contact portion 21 surrounded by a seating ring 22 and to be seated against the body segment C and a connecting portion 23, projecting over the support strip 11 and configured to receive and retain an end connector of a respective electrical conductor cable 30, arranged to connect each electrode 20 to a monitoring apparatus M, schematically shown in figures 6a and 6b.

Figures 6a and 6b illustrate two different arrangements of electrical conductive cables 30 which, passing together through a distribution box 31, are distributed on respective connection legs 32 whose free ends each carry a respective connector 33 to be reliably coupled to the connection portion of a respective electrode 20. Due to the flexibility of the connection legs 32 of the electrical conductor cables 30, they can be used to adapt the electrical conductor cables 30 of electrode modules of different lengths and electrode distribution arrangements 20. In Figure 7, an arrangement of five connecting legs 32 projecting out of a distribution box 31 is shown to have in the extreme portions retained, at predetermined spacings, a positioning plate 34 that holds the connectors 33 in a position predetermined. In this case, the positioning plate 34 causes the electrical conductor cable arrangement 30 to

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Figures 8, 8a and 8b illustrate the application of electrode modules to a body segment C defined by the patient's chest that has an F wound in the right region of his chest. To avoid placing electrodes 20 on the injured region of the patient, the arrangement of electrode modules 10 around said body segment C presents an interruption, causing the two electrodes 20, adjacent to the interruption, to define, among themselves, an interruption distance Di sufficient to leave the region of said wound free F. The distribution of the electrodes in the configuration of these figures follows a pattern of different distances between the electrodes 20, with a greater concentration of the electrodes in the left front region of the segment of body C (figure 8a). Figure 8b illustrates how the image reconstruction algorithm works based on the insertion of the actual array of electrodes 20 in the finite element mesh. The resolution of the thoracic image of the wound region will be different if the electrodes 20 are positioned equidistantly.

An interesting aspect of the model based on the finite element mesh is that the distance De, Da and Di between the electrodes 20 of the same module and of different modules has only to be informed to the monitoring apparatus M, not needing to be constant.

Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e and 9f illustrate different combinations of electrode modules 10 involving a body segment C.

Figure 9a shows the positioning of a pair of electrode modules 10 around a segment of body C of a neonate with a chest of about 25cm in circumference, the two electrode modules 10 being ♦ · · «• ♦ * • ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・.

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In figure 9b a positioning different from that shown in figure 9a is illustrated, but also using a pair of electrode modules 10 of the same construction.

Figures 9c and 9d illustrate two different arrangements containing three electrode modules 10 arranged around a body segment C, the electrodes of the modules having different number and distribution.

Figures 9e and 9f illustrate the use of four and six electrode modules 10, respectively, with the electrodes 20 of the modules of figure 9e provided in the same number and arranged equidistant from each other. Figure 9f illustrates the arrangement of electrode modules 10 around an adult chest, about 80 cm in circumference, with one of the modules differing from the others by the number and distance between the electrodes.

The electrode module constructions 10 discussed above refer to embodiments in which each module is formed by an extension of support strip 11 previously cut to a standard and predetermined length for that module and in which a also standardized and predetermined number is mounted of electrodes 20 arranged over distances De, the same or different, but also predetermined.

However, as shown in figure 10, each electrode module can be formed, either by the operator himself or by the TIE application team, from a support strip extension 11 cut from a continuous strip, which can be, for example, supplied in a coil as illustrated in figure 15. The continuous support strip 11 is provided with a median longitudinal alignment of holes 18 spaced apart by the same distance From which can correspond to the minimum possible distance between two electrodes 20 or at a distance From predetermined as a basic standard of electrode concentration 20 in an extension of body segment C to be analyzed.

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After defining the extension strip 11 of the module to be formed, the operator can fix the electrodes 20 in the holes 18 of the support strip 11.

The support strip extension 11, illustrated in figures 10, 11 and 14, has five holes 18, each of which can receive a respective electrode 20. In the example of figures 11 and 14, each of the five holes of the support strip 11 receives an electrode 20. However, it should be understood that the electrodes 20 can be mounted in only one or some of the holes 18, depending on the operational pattern to be obtained by the module to be formed.

In case the strip extension 11 is cut from a continuous strip already provided with the holes 18, each support strip extension 11 does not normally incorporate the positioning means 12, of the coupling 14 and of the coupling receiver 15, as shown in figure 10. However, as illustrated in figures 11 and 14, the support strip extensions 11 already perforated, can receive and fix, at their opposite ends, by any suitable system, a positioning means 12, a latching means 14 and a half coupling receiver 15.

It should also be understood that the continuous support strip 11 can be supplied to the operator of the TIE system already with the electrodes 20 mounted in the holes 18 of the support strip 11. In this case, different patterns of continuous support strips 11 must be provided, each pattern defining a particular distance for electrodes 20, but allowing the operator to choose the number of electrodes 20 in each desired module.

In figure 11 an extension of support strip 11 is illustrated under which, around each hole 18, a respective electrode 20 is applied, an adhesive element 25 that can be defined by an annular portion of double-sided adhesive strip. The adhesive element 25 holds the seating ring 22 of an electrode 20 against the underside of the support strip 11, while the connecting portion 23 of the electrode 20 is fitted through the respective hole 18, ·· «··· ·· · »» · «« ··· »· · * · · · · · · · · ··· · · ·» »· ··« · • «··« «« ·· «··· ·· · · ·· · ···· ·· • · • · · · ·> ···· · ··· strip of electrical drawings can be projected upwards from the upper face of the support 11, to be coupled to a cable driver 30.

As can be seen from figure 16 of the annexes, each extension of support strip 11, provided, between each two consecutive electrodes 20, or between each two consecutive holes 18 for subsequent mounting of the respective electrodes 20, of a pair of slots 11a, longitudinal, parallel and spaced from each other and from adjacent longitudinal side edges of the support strip extension 11.

In this figure 16 an extension of the support strip 11 of the type illustrated in figure 10 is exemplified, that is, an extension of the support strip 11 cut from a continuous strip or otherwise produced, and showing only the holes 18 for placing the electrodes , but without the latter, for a better visualization of the constructive variant now proposed. In this constructive variant of figure 16, each two slots 11a of the support strip extension 11 define a median handle 11b incorporated, by its ends, in the strip itself, only one of these handles 11b being deformed by the insertion of a wedge 19 fitted between a handle 11b and the adjacent side portions of the support strip 11, causing both the handle 11b and the adjacent region of the support strip 11 to be deformed, in order to reduce the extension of the support strip 11.

Thus, an extremely simple constructive solution is obtained, which allows an easy and quick adaptation of the support strip 11 to the circumferential extension of a patient's C-body segment. The placement of the support strip extension 11 on a body segment C of the patient, with one or more of the handles 11b being deformed by a respective shim 19, can thus be carried out with the support strip 11 having a more or less contracted dimension depending on the number of shims 19 adapted under the respective handles 11b. After • · · * · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ··· · ♦ · * ♦ · · · · · · · · · · adaptation of the support strips 11, the shims 19 can be removed to allow the support strips 11 to have a longitudinal extension suitable for the circumferential extension of the body segment C, considering the patient's respiratory movement.

It should also be understood that the shims 19 can be placed to produce a dimensional adjustment in order to reduce the longitudinal extension of each support strip, to better adapt it to a reduction in the contour of said body segment C after the placement of the strip in a respiratory condition or in an anomalous body volume condition.

As shown in figure 17, two consecutive support strips 11 can be hooked together by means of a connection module 60, generally defined by an extension of support strips in material identical to those of the support strips 11, which define the modules of electrodes, or even made of any suitable material, said connection modules 60 being dimensioned to establish a certain predetermined distance, in different values, between two consecutive support strips 11 and still provided, at their opposite ends, with a medium hitch 14 and a hitch receiving means 15, constructed in accordance with the hitch means 14 and hitch receivers 15, provided on the support strips 11.

In the illustrated configuration, the latching means 14 and the latching receiving means 15 take the form of small hooks and rods, respectively, to be mutually engaged when joining two support strip extensions 11 directly to each other or with the intermediation connection module 60.

As described above, the set of electrodes provided by the present invention makes it possible to provide the TIE system operator with different electrode modules built to provide specific operational patterns in the system, patterns predetermined in the design of the TF

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Claims (24)

1. Set of electrodes for electrical impedance tomography (TIE), characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of different electrode modules (10), each comprising a support strip (11) formed of flexible and longitudinal material with little deformability and carrying a desired number of electrodes (20), to be electrically connected to a monitoring apparatus (M), one of the electrode modules (10) comprising at least two electrodes (20), each electrode module (10) having its respective strip support (11) dimensioned to be seated and retained over a respective extension portion of a segment of a patient's body, according to a plane of interest, sectioning said body segment (C), each of the different electrode modules (10) shows the number of electrodes (20) and a distance (De) between each two consecutive electrodes, predetermined according to a specific operational pattern to be obtained from each module of it trode (10). 2. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the electrodes (20), of a first group of electrode modules (10), are spaced apart by the same distance (De) and provided in a same number in each of said electrode modules (10). 3. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the electrodes (20), of a second group of electrode modules (10), are spaced apart by the same distance (De) and provided in numbers different in each of said electrode modules (10). 4. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the electrodes (20), of a third group of electrode modules (10), are provided in the same number in each electrode module (10), but separated from each other by different distances (De). 99 999 * 9 99 99 * · 999 »99 •« 9 · · 9 Ο 9 9 Μ · 99 «9 99 99 999999999 9» 99 • 999999 9 9 9 9 99 ·· 9 99 * 9 9 9 9 99 5. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the electrodes (20), of a fourth group of electrode modules (10) _z are provided in different numbers and still spaced apart by different distances (From ) in each of said electrode modules (10). 6. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each electrode module (10) is provided with an individual identification code (13). 7. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the number of electrodes (20) for each electrode module (10) varies from 1 to 32. 8. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the support strip (11) of each electrode module (10) is provided with a positioning means (12) at one end of the respective support strip (11). 9. Set of electrodes, according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that each positioning means (12) comprises an extension (12a) incorporated in one of the ends of the respective support strip (11) and provided with markings (12b) indicative of the relative positioning between two electrode modules (10) . 10. Set of electrodes, according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the markings (12b) of the positioning means (12) of each strip and support (11) define respective spacing distances (Da) between two adjacent electrodes (20), of each two electrode modules (10) consecutive. 11. Electrode set according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that the support strip (11) of each electrode module (10) is provided, at one end, with a latching means (14) and, at the other end, of a coupling receiving means (15), the coupling means (14) of an electrode module (10) being coupled to the coupling receiving means (15) of another coupling module 4 · · · 4 4 * 44 4 · 4 4 44 4444 44444 4 ·· 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4444 4444 4 44 44 44 4 4 4 4 44444 44 44 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 electrodes (10). 12. Electrode set according to claim 11, when depending on claim 8, characterized by the fact that the engagement means (14) is defined in the positioning means (12), taking the form of an extension (12a) of a the ends of the support strip (11). 13. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the electrode modules (10) are each formed by a respective support strip extension (11), previously defined with a standard and predetermined length for that module and on which a standardized and predetermined number of electrodes (20) spaced apart by predetermined distances (De) is mounted. 14. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode modules (10) are each formed by a respective support strip extension (11), previously defined with a standard and predetermined length for that module provided with a median longitudinal alignment of holes (18), spaced apart by a predetermined distance (De), at least one hole (18) of the support strip extension (11) receiving and retaining a respective electrode (20 ). 15. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each electrode module (10) is formed by a support strip extension (11) presenting a length determined by the TIE system operator, depending on a specific dimensioning desired in an application, said support strip extension (11) carrying electrodes (20) spaced apart by the same predetermined distance (De). 16. Electrode set according to claim 15, characterized in that the support strip extension (11) of each electrode module (10) is cut from a continuous support strip, carrying electrodes (20) mounted apart each other over the same distance 44 4 4 4 4 4 44 44 4 4 4 4444 444 4 * 44 4444 44444 4 44 4 4 44 4 «444444444 4 44 44 44 4 4 4 4 444 * 4 44 44 4 4 4 4 44 4 4 4 • 4 4 4 44 4 4 (From) predetermined. 17. Electrode set according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each electrode module (10) is formed by a support strip extension (11) provided with a median longitudinal alignment of holes (18) spaced from each other for the same predetermined distance (De), said support strip extension (11) presenting a length determined by the TIE system operator, according to a specific design desired in an application, each hole (18) of the strip extension support (11) receiving and retaining an electrode (20). 18. Electrode set according to claim 17, characterized in that the support strip extension (11) of each electrode module (10) is cut from a continuous support strip, provided with a longitudinal alignment median of holes (18). 19. Set of electrodes, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each support strip (11) has, between the positions of each two consecutive electrodes (20), a pair of longitudinal grooves (11a) spaced apart and with respect to the adjacent longitudinal side edges of the strip extension (11), in order to define a loop (11b) between them, selectively deformable out of the plane of the adjacent region of the support strip (11) when inserting a wedge ( 19) between the lower face of the handle (11b) and the upper face of the adjacent lateral regions of the support strip (11). 20. Electrode set, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises the electrical conductive cables (30), connecting each electrode (20) of an electrode module (10) to the monitoring apparatus (M) and being distributed to the different electrodes (20) of each electrode module (10) by means of connecting legs (32) that protrude from a distribution box (31). 21. Set of electrodes according to claim • Φ ΦΦΦΦΦ φφ φφφ φφφ ΦΦΦ · φ φ • φ 4 ΦΦ Φ Φ Φ ΦΦΦΦΦ Φ ΦΦ · Φ ΦΦ ΦΦ ΦΦΦΦΙΦΦΦΦ Φ ΦΦ ΦΦ ΦΦ Φ Φ Φ · ΦΦ «« Φ ΦΦ ΦΦ Φ Φ Φ Φ Φ ΦΦΦ Φ Φ Φ 20, characterized by the fact that the connecting legs (32) have their extreme portions retained, at predetermined spacings, to a positioning plate (34). 22. Electrode set according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two consecutive support strips (11) are engaged longitudinally with each other, by means of a connection module (60) defined by a predetermined length of support strip (11). 23. Electrode set according to claim 22, characterized by the fact that the support strip (11) of each electrode module (10) is provided, at one end, with an engaging means (14) and, at the other end, with an engaging receiving means ( 15), the connection module (60) being provided, at one end, with a coupling means (14) and, at the other end, with a coupling receiving means (15), the coupling means (14) of the connection module (60) being attachable to the coupling receiving means (15) of a support strip (11), and the coupling receiving means (15) of the connecting module (60) receiving the coupling of the coupling means ( 14) from another support strip (11). 24. Set of electrodes according to claim 23, characterized by the fact that the coupling means (14) and the coupling receiving means (15) are formed by a hook-folded rod and a rod, respectively, fixed at the opposite ends of the support strips (11) and connection modules (60). • * 999 9 9 99 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 · 9 · 9 9 9 9 9 «ΜΙ 9 ·· 9 9 9 9 9 · 9 «9 · 9 9 9 9 9 9999 999 * 9 999 • •« 99 ··· 9 9 · 999 99 99 999 9 * 1/10 12 Λ