Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Northeastern University

Myolex Inc.

Skulpt, Inc.

Seward B Rutkove

Joel L Dawson

Elmer C Lupton

Jose L Bohorquez

Benjamin Sanchez

Hyeuknam Kwon

Ronald Aaron

Carl A Shiffman

Michael Rinehart

Al-Thaddeus Avestruz

Haydn Taylor

Claudio Cassina

Benjamin Sanchez Terrones

Juan Jaramillo

Stanislava Daraskevich

Yensy Hall

Dmitri Khrebtukov

Cary Liberman

Gonzalo Cespedes

Described herein are embodiments of methods and apparatus for diagnosing neuromuscular diseases using an impedance-EMG needle, and for generating electrical impedance images using an impedance needle. Some embodiments provide an apparatus including an impedance-EMG needle, including both EMG electrodes and impedance electrodes, to measure both active and passive electrical properties of muscle. Other embodiments provide an apparatus including an impedance needle, including a plurality of impedance electrodes to measure impedance in tissue surrounding the impedance needle to generate an electrical impedance image. Use of such methods and apparatus may be advantageous in improving the accuracy of assessing and diagnosing neuromuscular disease.

Needle impedance electromyography and electrical impedance imaging for enhanced muscle diagnostics

A device for determining muscle condition of a region of tissue. The device comprises an electrical impedance myography (EIM) portable probe bearing an electrode array. The electrode array comprises excitation electrodes used to apply multi-frequency electrical signals to the region of tissue and pickup electrodes that are used to collect electrical signals resulting from the application of the multi-frequency electrical signals to the region of tissue. To improve accuracy and reproducibility of EIM measurements, the electrode array is reconfigurable to select different subsets of excitation and pickup electrodes so that the electrodes are oriented differently with respect to muscle fibers. Additional devices may be associated with the EIM probe to measure such parameters as temperature, moisture content of the region, quality of contact of electrodes of the electrode array with a surface of the region and pressure with which the EIM probe is applied to the region. The EIM measurements may be adjusted based on these parameters. Also, ultrasound and electrical impedance tomography measurements may supplement the EIM measurements for more complete analysis of the muscle condition.

Hand-held device for electrical impedance myography

A portable device for measuring a bioimpedance-related property of tissue includes a plurality of electrodes arranged in a pattern on a surface and associated software for measuring bio-impedance related data of localized regions of tissue and calculate health-related parameters based on the measured data. These calculated parameters may be representative of muscular health of the localized tissue region.

Enhanced measurements of bioimpedance

Electrical impedance myography (EIM) can be used for assessment and diagnosis of muscular disorders. EIM includes applying an electrical signal to a region of tissue and measuring a resulting signal. A characteristic of the region of tissue is determined based on the measurement. Performing EIM at different frequencies and modeling one or more impedance metrics as a function of frequency may provide impedance model parameters that can aid in the assessment and diagnosis. Devices are described that facilitate assessment and diagnosis using EIM.

Electrical impedance myography

Electrical impedance myography (EIM) can be used for the assessment and diagnosis of muscular disorders. EIM includes applying an electrical signal to a region of tissue and measuring a resulting signal. A characteristic of the region of tissue is determined based on the measurement. Performing EIM at different frequencies and/or different angular orientations with respect to a muscle can aid in the assessment and diagnosis. Devices are described that facilitate assessment and diagnosis using EIM.

A device for determining muscle condition of a region of tissue. The device comprises an electrical impedance myography (EIM) portable probe bearing an electrode array. The electrode array comprises excitation electrodes used to apply multi-frequency electrical signals to the region of tissue and pickup electrodes that are used to collect electrical signals resulting from the application of the multi-frequency electrical signals to the region of tissue. To improve accuracy and reproducibility of EIM measurements, the electrode array is reconfigurable to select different subsets of excitation and pickup electrodes so that the electrodes are oriented differently with respect to muscle fibers. Additional devices may be associated with the EIM probe to measure such parameters as temperature, moisture content of the region, quality of contact of electrodes of the electrode array with a surface of the region and pressure with which the EEM probe is applied to the region. The EIM measurements may be adjusted based on these parameters. Also, ultrasound and electrical impedance tomography measurements may supplement the ELM measurements for more complete analysis of the muscle condition.

Embodiments of devices and methods for evaluating tissue are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for measuring a characteristic of a tissue may include passing a current through the tissue, measuring a signal corresponding to the voltage resulting from passing the current through the tissue, analyzing current passed through the tissue and resulting voltage to determine the electrical characteristics of the tissue; and analyzing the electrical characteristics of the tissue to determine a status of the tissue.

Devices and methods for evaluating tissue

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Brookline, MA, United States of America

Seward B Rutkove