Detection and location of sub-cranial haematomas using a MFEIT system with a semi electrode array

Head injury is the main cause of death and disability among children and young adults in the UK; every year, 1.4 million cases of head-injury are reported in England and Wales alone, with 40000 of these having signs of skull fracture or brain damage [1]. If the patient is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, the haematoma can grow and apply pressure to the brain, worsening the neurological condition of the patient, and thus posing a serious threat of paralysis or even death. This aim of this research is to investigate electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for the use of imaging the human head, with the capability of detecting the presence of haematomas, and which can be used with ease by medical staff. By further developing current head phantom models and designing a flexible and versatile hardware system this study will allow for comparison tests between various MFEIT system attributes in a simulation that approaches real world conditions.