Numerical simulations of magnetic induction tomography system based on a 3D head model

Abstract

Magnetic induction tomography (MIT) has been proposed as a novel, non-invasive, and non-contact technique for diagnosing brain injuries. The design of the hardware system of MIT is a challenging research area. In this study, we constructed a 16-coil MIT simulation model with an actual cranio-cerebral anatomical structure in COMSOL. We analysed the factors which influence the MIT signal by constructing different types of haemorrhagic stroke models. In addition, the safety of MIT devices was evaluated in detail using the specific absorption rate. The results show that the phase noise of the hardware data acquisition system should be less than 0.001° for the detection of a small peripheral haemorrhage with 5 mL. The result of the specific absorption rate shows that the security of MIT equipment should not be overlooked, and we need to establish a trade-off between signal intensity and device security. This study can provide data to support additional improvements in the performance of hardware systems in the future.