A 3-D Hybrid Finite Element Model to Characterize the Electrical Behavior of Cutaneous Tissues

• Published in: IEEE transactions on biomedical engineering 2010-04, Vol.57 (4), p.780-789
• Main Authors: Hartinger, Alzbeta E., Guardo, Robert, Kokta, Victor, Gagnon, Hervé
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Assembly; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical instrumentation; Biomembranes; Cancer; Cellular Structures - physiology; Computerized, statistical medical data processing and models in biomedicine; Current distribution; Dermatology; Electric Impedance; electrical impeda-nce tomography; Electrodes; Epidermis - cytology; Epidermis - physiology; Extracellular; Finite Element Analysis; Finite element method; finite element method (FEM) model; Finite element methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Impedance; Lesions; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Medical sciences; Melanoma - physiopathology; Membranes; Meshing; Models and simulation; Models, Biological; Skin; skin cancer; Skin Neoplasms - physiopathology; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Studies; Three dimensional; Tomography - methods; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Vertebrates: skin, associated glands, phaneres, light organs, various exocrine glands (salt gland, uropygial gland...), adipose tissue, connective tissue
• ISSN: 0018-9294; 1558-2531
• DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2009.2036371

Finite element modeling of the skin is useful to study the electrical properties of cutaneous tissues and gain a better understanding of the current distribution within the skin. Such an epithelial finite element model comprises extremely thin structures like cellular membranes, nuclear membranes, and the extracellular fluid. Meshing such narrow spaces considerably increases the number of elements leading to longer computing time. This also greatly reduces the number of epithelial cells that can be assembled before reaching computing limitations. To avoid the problem of meshing extremely narrow spaces while unnecessarily increasing the number of elements, we present a new hybrid modeling approach to develop a 3-D finite element model of the skin. This skin model comprises all skin layers, different lesion types, and a complete electrode model. It is used to analyze the complex electrical behavior of normal and malignant skin tissues. The current distribution within this model is also simulated to assess the depth of field achievable by an electrical impedance tomography system at different operating frequencies.