APPLICATION OF THE KELVIN PROBE TECHINIQUE TO MAMMALIAN SKIN AND OTHER EPITHELIAL STRUCTURES

摘要

A system and method is disclosed for obtaining measurements of the electric fields around skin wounds and lesions on mammals noninvasively. The system and method is comprised of a vibrating metallic probe tip that is placed close to the skin in the air. By applying a series of known voltages to the metal probe tip or to the skin beneath it, the skin's local surface potential can be measured and the lateral electric field can be calculated from the spatial distribution of surface potential measurements. Surface artifacts that can affect the measurements are removed and active feedback is used to maintain a constant distance between the probe and the skin surface.