Influence of electrode position on the characterization of artery stenotic plaques by using impedance catheter.

Use of balloon impedance catheters (BIC) for the characterization of plaques in vessels can support an optimal medical treatment of plaques. The sensitivity of impedance diagnoses with BIC is related with the distribution of electric fields determined by the electrode configuration. Using the three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) simulation, it was estimated how the relative positions of electrode array to the lipid in the vessel affect on the total impedance magnitude. Further, the short-circuiting effect was investigated with respect to the separation distance on the angular axis between the electrode arrays of angular set. By aid of FEM simulations, it is possible to design the sets of multielectrode arrays which have an optimized resolution for individual vessels.