Reconstructing and Interrupting the Epileptic Circuit Activity Using Electrical Impedance Tomography and Penetrating Depth Electrodes

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1) Brief description of the context of the research including potential impactThe research project concerns imaging normal activity and clinical abnormalities in the brain such as stroke and epileptic seizures using the new medical imaging method of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). This method comprises a box of electronics about the size of a hardback book and laptop and measurements are made typically using rings of ECG type electrodes. Over the past two decades, systems have been developed for imaging either fast electrical activity or else slower changes in the brain such as in stroke or epilepsy. These have been shown to work well in animal and tank studies but it has not yet been possible to translate this into hospital use. The idea of the project is to use EIT to image electrical activity in the brain in human subjects with epilepsy. This will advance understanding of how the brain codes information and assist in innovative treatments for epilepsy and psychiatric illness.2) Aims and Objectives -The specific objectives are to:1. Develop advanced signal processing methods and imaging algorithms2. Assist in the analysis of the data produced from epileptic patients' recordings.3) Novelty of Research Methodology: EIT can be a revolutionary advance for Epileptic seizures. EIT has 2 main advantages: The impedance is isotropic so it doesn't matter when the impedance changes, which way the dipole is facing, and the other advantage is that there is deep coverage of the location of epileptic activity when the electrode is placed on the skull. This could permit imaging of the ictal onset zone and so avoid the need for intracranial electrodes and their associated morbidity and complexity. Unlike the EEG, EIT can image deep into the head, so this would permit much more accurate diagnosis of epilepsy syndromes in an out-patient setting.4) Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areas: The project aligns with the EPSRC Healthcare technologies grand challenges. In particular, it involves "medical device design and innovation", "Disruptive technologies for sensing and analysis" cross-cutting capabilities, applied for "developing the future therapies" and "Frontiers of physical intervention"5) Any companies or collaborators involved: Cyqiq Ltd.