A ARTICLE L TEX BIOIMPEDANCE APPLICATION ON HUMAN SKIN, APRIL 2012

Bioimpedance, measurement techniques applied to human skin.

Abstract The following paper presents a brief review of the electrical properties of biological tissues. The points of greatest interest to study and work are the most current measurement techniques, as well as some of the commercial circulation devices. Examining issues relating to the properties of Bioimpedance and bioelectricity. Index Terms Bioimpedance, biological tissue, electrical measurement, electrical properties.

investigate. New noninvasive methods, improvement in the characteristics of the electrodes, and more mathematical developments of the study contactless methods are just some of the themes may ultimately strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of conditions for different parts of the body. April 20, 2012 A. Techniques and study of biological tissue. Before beginning the analysis of the various techniques, we know the environment on which these will be applied. The cell is a complex structure consisting of a closed membrane exhibits a intelligent behavior (semipermeable and selective) consists essentially of a double protein lipid layer. The various molecules that are inserted in them have different afnities and phobias, especially water (Rigaud et al., 1996). when grouped cells with a specic function are formed tissues, leaving spaces between them lled with the extracellular uid. each one of these structures and regions have electrical properties very specic depending on your constitution and state determine the behavior of the electrical properties depending on a frequency (Schwan Foster, 1996). [1] Bioimpedance technique, as already mentioned is to pass a ow of current from an external source through living tissue within a frequency range allowed. It should be mentioned that the tissue may behave as a conductor or a dielectric for its physical composition, so that by making use of this technique is very important to consider two parameters, the conductivity and permittivity of biological tissues . Permittivity implies a considerable effect protector for electric eld, although the conductivity originates the circulation of induced currents in tissues. [3] The early study of the bioimpedance technique started from the consideration of the human body as a single homogeneous cylinder. See (g. 1). Consider a cylinder of length L and cross section A, which is applied a potential difference V between its

I. I NTRODUCTION The methods for measurement of electrical impedance in tissue biological have been investigated for many years in medical areas and biological applied (Jossinet, 1988; Geddes et al., 1990; Gabriel Gabriel, 1996, Martinsen et al., 2000, Salazar et al., 2004; Gonzalez et al., 2006, 2007, Katz et al., 2006, Moncada et. al, 2008). Most research and publications have been directed mainly to the development of measurement protocols suitable, the use of contact electrodes, to improve the instrumentation and better interpretation of results. The method of measuring electrical properties bioimpedance is inexpensive, quick measurement and presents application to many parts of the body. One of the more prominent techniques in the area measurements, bioimpedance measurement is by means of noninvasive electrodes (Salazar, 2004), the currents induced by elds magnetic (Hagmann, 1993; Gandhi Chen, 1990; Blackwell, 1990) and hybrid methods that combine the two techniques (Gencer et al., 1994; Zlochiver et al., 2002). [1] Bioelectrical impedance is a technique used to measure body composition, based on the ability of the body to conduct an electrical current. The technique is a test that measures the resistance that has a body to a weak stream, and provides information about body composition due to different levels of strength and muscle mass of living tissue. All evidence and found application in the development of bioimpedance measurements make this area an area continuous training and even with much to explore and

A ARTICLE L TEX BIOIMPEDANCE APPLICATION ON HUMAN SKIN, APRIL 2012

* single frequency Its principle is based on the use of an electric current with a xed frequency (typically 50 KHz.), To measure the resistance and reactance of the body. Such systems were rst developed. These data t by linear regression and compared with other methods such as densitometry or the use of solutions of tracer atoms. By bioimpedance vector analysis arises from this technology. Its main disadvantage to Multifrequency methods are unable to calculate the parameter ICW (intracellular water), as it can only make estimates of that value, which results in signicant errors in obtaining the full-body composition model. [2] * multiple frequencies Represents the method that best correlates with the results obtained from densitometry or the use of tracer atoms. Is the use of multiple frequencies to determine the characteristics of body uids, taking advantage that at low frequencies by the current path is extracellular, while at high frequencies the current is a mixed way. [2]

Fig. 1.

Current circulation through a cylinder

ends and through which ows a current I. The impedance offered by the cylinder to the passage of this current can be written as :

Z = pL/A

(1)

where p represents the resistivity of the cylinder, characteristic of the nature of the material. When talking about biological materials, the impedance Z, is the opposition that these materials show the passage of an electric current. The electrical impedance is formed by two very prominent in the analysis by bioelectrical impedance: resistance (R) and reactance (Xc), related both to each other by the phase angle. [2] Resistance determines the response of biological materials to the passage of an electric current through electrolyte solutions intra-and extracellular. Furthermore, the reactance determines the dielectric properties of the tissues or the temporary accumulation of charges on the cell membranes or other interfaces immersed in the electrolytic solution (capacitive behavior). At present, the body composition analyzers, using the bioimpedance technique may use a single frequency or several. This distinction explains the technological gap between the devices called single frequency (limited information about biological tissue that may present) and multifrequency (capable of showing full information about biological tissue). Classication based on the number of frequencies :

B. Methods of contact It is said that consist of bioimpedance techniques, but what about the equipment used for measurements described above. there are now equipment applied to the eld of medicine, used primarily for body composition analysis, cell mass, extracellular mass, fat, liquids and various parameters depending on body hydration. Also allow the detection and treatment of various diseases such as diabetes and dermatological problems. Both the input and output signals that have been injected into living tissue, are performed via electrodes that are in physical contact therewith. Measuring systems may be designed to work with 2 or more electrodes. Methodology using 2 electrodes, circulates constant (Io) via two electrodes with impedance Ze (higher the impedance to be measured) and the voltage Vo is obtained (depending on the impedance between electrodes and physiological changes). The measured impedance relates :

A ARTICLE L TEX BIOIMPEDANCE APPLICATION ON HUMAN SKIN, APRIL 2012

Ze = V o/Io or Ze = Ze 1 + Ze 2 + Ze 3

(2) (3)

for eliminating noise and interference generated by the amplier stage. The potential benets of the impedance measurement in medicine and biology are obviously great, and new applications are under continuous research and development. Earn a great interest both in the medical and technological community, where both parties work together to create new methods and tools to assist the treatment of various diseases related to skin hydration, body composition and microscopic cell movement.

If one considers that the electrodes have the same characteristics (Ze1 + Ze2 ) and surface electrodes are used, where the skin impedance is in series with the impedance of electrode, the equation (3) is reduced. But for information of a particular tissue can not be considered the skin impedance. This requirement led to the development of method of measuring electrodes 4. The method of 4 electrodes, see (Fig. 2) to apply a current Io across two electrodes and reads the value of the potential of two different electrodes. This method can eliminate the impedance electrodes provided with an impedance small compared with the input impedance of the circuit used to detect the voltage Vo and does not induce an saturation of the injected current circuits Io. [1]

II. C ONCLUSION The article is a compilation of various papers and studies presented above at several universities and conferences devoted to the study of the BIA (bioelectrical impedance), with the purpose of acquiring knowledge of the issues presented here, in order to apply to the development of my thesis, but the work was also developed with the intent to use a tool for writing scientic papers A and reports of disclosure, LTEX. ACKNOWLEDGMENT I thank those who contributed their knowledge and progress through various websites, intended to inform a public interested in learning and not so, but we need to learn to achieve a goal. R EFERENCES
[1] Technological journals No. 25, ISSN 0123-7799, December 2010, pp. 53-71 [2] http://www.med-estetica.com/Cientica/Revista/n46 /composicioncorporal.html [3] S. Grimnes and Q.G. Martinsen, Bioimpedance and Bioelectricity Basics, Copyright (c) 2000 by ACADEMIC PRESS.

Fig. 2.

Conguring the 4-electrode method (Salazar, 2004)

Measuring the bioelectrical impedance of biological tissues and demodulation of signals modulated bioresponse complex, demanding inject AC excitations (stimuli) through through tissue or biomaterials under observation (Grimnes Martinsen, 2000). The waveforms for the excitation can be different and the signal processing may be digital or analog ( Grimnes Martinsen, 2000; Pallas Webster, 1993). To render the signals acquired during the measurement, use is made of some microprocessors analog and digital signals also through computer equipment and specialized software. The signals before they are processed, amplied or attenuated above are in addition to being ltered by analog lters responsible