Comparison of Human Uterine Cervical Electrical Impedance Measurements

BioMedical Engineering OnLine 2006
Published 24 November 2006
A BMC Open Access  Research article

Background
We sought to compare uterine cervical electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements employing two probes of different sizes, and to employ a finite element model to predict and compare the fraction of electrical current derived from subepithelial stromal tissue.

Methods
Cervical impedance was measured in 12 subjects during early pregnancy using 2 different sizes of the probes on each subject.

Results
Mean cervical impedance was significantly higher (5.4 vs. 2.8 Ohm.m; p < 0.001) with the smaller probe in the frequency rage of 4-819 kHz. There was no difference in the short-term reproducibility between the two probes. The cervical impedance measurements derived in vivo followed the pattern predicted by the finite element model.

Conclusions
Inter-electrode distance on the probes for measuring cervical impedance influences the tissue impedivity values obtained. Determining the appropriate probe size is necessary when conducting clinical studies of impedivity of the cervix and other human tissues.