Electrical impedance myography method of measuring anisotropic tongue tissue

Abstract

Abstract Objective. To date, measurement of the conductivity and relative permittivity properties of anisotropic biological tissues using electrical impedance myography (EIM) has only been possible through an invasive ex vivo biopsy procedure. Here, we present a novel forward and inverse theoretical modeling framework to estimate these properties combining surface and needle EIM measurements. Methods. The framework here presented models the electrical potential distribution within a monodomain, homogeneous, and three-dimensional anisotropic tissue. Finite-element method (FEM) simulations and tongue experimental results verify the validity of our method to reverse-engineer three-dimensional conductivity and relative permittivity properties from EIM measurements. Results. FEM-based simulations confirm the validity of our analytical framework, with relative errors between analytical predictions and simulations smaller than 0.12% and 2.6% in a cuboid and tongue model, respectively. Experimental results confirm qualitative differences in the conductivity and the relative permittivity properties in the x, y, and z directions. Conclusion. Our methodology enables EIM technology to reverse-engineer the anisotropic tongue tissue conductivity and relative permittivity properties, thus unfolding full forward and inverse EIM predictability capabilities. Significance. This new method of evaluating anisotropic tongue tissue will lead to a deeper understanding of the role of biology necessary for the development of new EIM tools and approaches for tongue health measurement and monitoring.