Transport of gastric contents (electric impedance imaging)

Abstract

A planar array of electrodes has been used to provide a longitudinal section of the stomach. Impedance changes at the gastric frequency of 0.05 Hz can be detected. The changes are mainly located around the periphery of the stomach image, suggesting that they are the result of movement of the stomach wall. The generation of a vector histogram of wall movement gives a non-invasive method which appears to quantify the peristaltic waves which produce transport in the stomach.