Electrical Impedance Tomography of Epilepsy

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine if Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) can produce reproducible and accurate images in people with epilepsy compared to existing standards such as MRI, CT or EEG. Electrical Impedance Tomography is a relatively new medical imaging method, which has the potential to provide novel images of brain function. It is fast, portable, safe and inexpensive, but currently has a relatively poor spatial resolution. It produces images of the internal electrical impedance of a subject with epilepsy using rings of ECG like electrodes on the skin, intracranial electrode mats or deep electrodes implemented surgically as part of clinical assessment. EIT recording will take place in parallel with the routine recording on the ward. Following completion of the recording, the EIT images will subsequently be analysed and compared to other imaging data for accuracy.

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a novel medical imaging method in which tomographic images are rapidly produced using electrodes placed around the body. The principal applicant's group has demonstrated that EIT can rapidly image functional brain activity in stroke, epilepsy and normal activity in animal models and has developed instrumentation and image reconstruction algorithms which work well in head-shaped tanks. The principal aim of this research is to optimise and assess accuracy of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) using scalp electrodes, intracranial electrode mats or deep electrodes in imaging epilepsy in human participants. If successful, EIT has the potential to provide a new portable imaging unit. It could be used with scalp electrodes and enable imaging of the onset and propagation of seizures in 3D. Image quality would be better with intracranial electrode mats or depth electrodes that are already implanted in people with severe epilepsy who are being evaluated for epilepsy surgery. For both electrode types, the new 3D information will enable better diagnosis and so targeting of drug treatment. It could also pave the way to suppression of seizures by deep brain electrical stimulation which could transform management in severe intractable epilepsy.It can offer the same benefits in imaging in epilepsy in neonates and infants. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy will be asked to participate in the epilepsy EIT study, then up to 32 electrodes will be applied on the subjects' scalp or the EIT systems will be linked to the existing EEG video recording systems and EIT will be recorded at the same time using some or all of the available intracranial electrodes. It may also use some scalp EEG electrode placed on the scalp for clinical or research purposes. Following completion of the recording, scalp electrodes and any paste will be removed, the EIT system will be disconnected from the videoEEG. Collected data will be analysed and compared to other imaging data.