Method and apparatus for determining conditions of a biological tissue

Abstract

In one method, one or more excitation signals with the same or different frequencies are applied to a biological object such as a tissue, simultaneously or consequently. Response signals are then cross-correlated with delayed excitation signals. Cross-correlation products are then auto-correlated. Cross-correlation products correspond to conditions of the tissue and auto-correlation product corresponds to changes in the conditions. Measuring electrical characteristics at low, intermediate and high frequency is also disclosed. At low frequency, the current flows mostly through the extracellular liquid of tissue. At high frequency, the current passes through the cell membranes freely enough to dominate the overall impedance. At both frequencies, the delay is less than 1/30 of the period of the respective signal. The intermediate frequency between the low frequency and the high frequency carries information about quick changes in the condition of the tissue. The delay in one example is from about 1/30 to ¼ of the period of the intermediate signal.