Abstract
Electrical impedance plethysmography of the lower leg is now a widely used test for detection of deep vein thrombosis. The origin of the impedance signal is difficult to evaluate in the living subject, and experimental animals have important anatomic differences. A controlled study on human cadavers was therefore undertaken. Conductive and nonconductive fluids were injected into the lower legs of cadavers, while electrical impedance changes were recorded utilising a 4-electrode technique. X-ray studies confirmed the localisation of the injections. Results from ten cadavers showed that significant impedance changes occurred only in response to injections of saline in the region between the electrodes. Injections of nonconductive silicone oil caused a small increase in the measured impedance. It is concluded that electrical impedance plethysmography reflects changes in conductivity confined to the region between the electrodes; and that the ratio of deep to superficial impedance sensitivity is a function of the electrode spacing.
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Anderson, F.A., Penney, B.C., Patwardhan, N.A. et al. Impedance plethysmography: the origin of electrical impedance changes measured in the human calf. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 18, 234–240 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02443300
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02443300