A Novel Approach to Thromboembolic Event Detection: An Initial Evaluation

Electrical impedance tomography utilizes the electrical conductivity of a material to generate non-ionizing continuous cross-sectional imaging between a group of electrodes placed equidistant from each other in a conductive solution. Here we explore the use of electrical impedance tomography for detection of thromboembolic events through integration with inferior vena cava filters. We constructed a proof of concept prototype with electrodes spaced around the periphery of a simulated vessel and created software to control AC injection patterns through the electrodes in order to generate cross-sectional maps of relative resistance across the vessel. This initial study focused on quantifying the sensitivity of the initial device by utilizing a low-conductivity material in a conductive fluid to represent a thromboembolus in blood. The prototype successfully created cross-sectional, two-dimensional electrical resistance maps that detected both the presence and the general location of low-conductivity test materials within a conductive fluid. These results demonstrate the potential to utilize intravascular electrical impedance tomography to detect thromboemboli caught within an intravascular filter.