This paper describes the design and operation of a high output impedance tissue current driver circuit, for use in medical electronics, such as electrical impedance tomography (EIT). This novel architecture was designed for implementation in bipolar technology, to meet the specifications for EIT, namely operating frequency range 10 kHz–1 MHz with a target output resistance of 16 MΩ. Simulation results are presented, showing that the current source more than met the minimum specification for EIT.

This paper was recommended by Regional Editor Piero Malcovati.

Keywords:

References

G. R. Paulet al., Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits (John Wiley and Sons, 1993) p. 269. Google Scholar
A. Sedra and K. Smith, Microelectronic circuits (Oxford University Press, 2004) p. 649. Google Scholar
G. W. Edwin, Analog Integrated Circuits (Chapman & Hall, 1996) p. 50. Google Scholar
C. Toumazou, F. J. Lidgey and D. G. Haigh, Analogue IC Design: The Current Mode Approach (Peter Peterginus Ltd, 1990) pp. 239–241. Google Scholar
C. W. L. Denyer, Electronics for real time and three-dimensional electrical impedance tomographs, PhD thesis, Oxford Brookes University January 1996, pp. 9–16, 23–24, 68–91 . Google Scholar
D. S. Holder , Electrical Impedance Tomography: Methods, History and Applications ( Institute of Physics Publishing , London , 2005 ) . Google Scholar
L. Constantinou et al. , IEEE Trans. Biomed. Circuits Syst. 99 , 1 ( 2014 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
D. Zhao, High output-impedance current source for electrical impedance tomography, 2011 4th Int. Conf. Biomedical Engineering and Informatics2 (2011) pp. 1106–1109. Google Scholar
I. Frerichs , Physiol. Meas. 21 , R1 ( 2000 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
G. Hahn et al. , Physiol. Meas. 27 , S187 ( 2006 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
D. Antonet al., A compact EIT system for ventilation monitoring in COPD patients, IFMBE Proc.17 (2007) pp. 564–567. Google Scholar
Z. Zhao et al. , Intensive Care Med. 35 , 1900 ( 2009 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
K. Hayatleh , N. Terzopoulos and B. Hart , Int. J. Electronics 99 , 1739 ( 2012 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
J. Graeme, Applications of Operational Amplifiers (McGraw-Hill, 1973) pp. 93–94. Google Scholar
B. L. Hart and R. W. J. Barker , IEEE J. Solid State Circuits SC 10 , 501 ( 1975 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
M. K. N. Rao and J. W. Haslett , Electron. Lett. 14 , 762 ( 1978 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
N. Terzopoulos, High output resistance current drive circuits for medical applications, PhD thesis, Oxford Brookes University, 2006 . Google Scholar
P. J. Baxandall and E. W. Swallow , Electron. Lett. 2 , 351 ( 1966 ) . Crossref, Google Scholar
E. W. Greeneich, Analog Integrated Circuits (Chapman & Hall, 1996) pp. 183–194. Google Scholar
A. A. Tammam et al. , Electron. Lett. 39 , 1483 ( 2003 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
N. Terzopoulos et al. , Physiol. Meas. J. 26 , 21 ( 2005 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar
N. Terzopoulos et al. , Novel current driver suitable for EIT applications , 6th Int. Conf. Biomedical Applications of Electrical Impedance, Tomography ( University College London , 2005 ) . Google Scholar
A. S. Ross et al. , Physiological Measurement 24 , 509 ( 2003 ) . Crossref, Web of Science, Google Scholar