Method for measuring of edema

摘要

The invention relates to a method for measuring tissue edema. By a method in accordance with the invention an electromagnetic probe (24) is placed on the skin, and the capacitance of the probe is proportional to the dielectric constant of the skin and subcutaneous fat, which is proportional to the water content of the skin. The edema is scored by measuring the capacitance of the electromagnetic probe, so called open-ended coaxial cable, at a high frequency, approximately 20-500 MHz.

主权项

1. A method for measuring tissue edema, comprising:
placing an open-ended coaxial probe on a skin surface; transmitting an electromagnetic field through the skin surface; measuring a capacitance of the probe, wherein the measured capacitance of the probe is proportional to a dielectric constant of skin tissue and subcutaneous fat tissue, which is further proportional to a water content of the skin tissue and the subcutaneous fat tissue, the probe having two concentric electrodes separated by a distance configured such that the electromagnetic field penetrates past the skin tissue to the subcutaneous fat tissue underneath the skin tissue, wherein said distance is 6 mm to 10 mm, wherein said distance is along a radial direction, wherein the two concentric electrodes comprise an inner electrode and outer electrode, and wherein said distance is from an outer edge of the inner electrode to an inner edge of the outer electrode; scoring the edema by measuring the capacitance of the probe at a frequency of 20-500 MHz.