Thickness estimation of the subcutaneous fat using coaxial probe

Mohammad Hossein Ramezani; Esmaeil S. Nadimi

Thickness estimation of the subcutaneous fat using coaxial probe

View Fulltext

Author(s): Mohammad Hossein Ramezani ¹ and Esmaeil S. Nadimi ¹
- Affiliations: 1: Applied Statistical Signal Processing Group (πSeG), Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Source: Volume 3, Issue 1, March 2016, p. 85 – 91
DOI: 10.1049/htl.2015.0036 , Online ISSN 2053-3713

Received 02/09/2015, Accepted 09/12/2015, Revised 26/11/2015, Published 24/02/2016

In this Letter, a non-invasive method for thickness estimation of the subcutaneous fat layer of abdominal wall is presented by using a coaxial probe. Fat layer has the highest impact on the averaged attenuation parameter of the abdominal wall due to its high thickness and low permittivity. The abdominal wall is modelled as a multi-layer medium and an analytical model for the probe is derived by calculation of its aperture admittance facing to this multi-layer medium. The performance of this model is then validated by a numerical simulation using finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) analysis. Simulation results show the high impact of the probe dimension and fat layer thickness on the sensitivity of the measured permittivity. The authors further investigate this sensitivity by statistical analysis of the permittivity variations. Finally, measuring in different locations relative to the body surface is presented as a solution to estimate the fat layer thickness in the presence of uncertainty of model parameters.

References

1. 1)
  - 3. Fort, A., Ryckaert, J., Desset, C., et al: ‘Ultra-wideband channel model for communication around the human body’, IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., 2006, 24, pp. 927–933 (doi: 10.1109/JSAC.2005.863885).
2. 2)
  - 21. Filali, B., Boone, F., Rhazi, J.: ‘Design and calibration of a large open-ended coaxial probe for the measurement of the dielectric properties of concrete’, IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 2008, 56, pp. 2322–2328 (doi: 10.1109/TMTT.2008.2003520).
3. 3)
  - 4. Liu, L., D'Errico, R., Ouvry, L., et al: ‘Dynamic channel modeling at 2.4 GHz for on-body area networks’, Adv. Electron. Telecommun., 2011, 2, pp. 18–27.
4. 4)
  - 18. Chen, L.F., Ong, C.K., Neo, C.P., et al: ‘Microwave electronics; measurement and materials characterization’ (John Wiley, West Sussex, England, 2004).
5. 5)
  - 7. Selkow, N.M., Pietrosimone, B.G., Saliba, S.A.: ‘Subcutaneous thigh fat assessment: a comparison of skinfold calipers and ultrasound imaging’, J. Athletic Train., 2011, 46, pp. 50–54 (doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-46.1.50).
6. 6)
  - 14. Nadimi, E.S., Blanes-Vidal, V., Harslund, J.L.F., et al: ‘In vivo and in situ measurement and modeling of intra-body effective complex permittivity’, IET Healthc. Technol. Lett., 2015, accepted.
7. 7)
  - 15. Alanen, E., Lahtinen, T., Nuutinen, J.: ‘Measurement of dielectric properties of subcutaneous fat with open-ended coaxial sensors’, Phys. Med. Biol., 1998, 43, pp. 475–485 (doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/43/3/001).
8. 8)
  - 24. Alanen, E., Lahtinen, T., Nuutinen, J.: ‘Penetration of electromagnetic field of an open-ended coaxial probe between 1 MHz and 1 GHz in dielectric skin measurements’, Phys. Med. Biol., 1999, 44, pp. 169–176 (doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/44/7/404).
9. 9)
  - 2. Kiourti, A., Psathas, K.A., Nikita, K.S.: ‘Implantable and ingestible medical devices with wireless telemetry functionalities: a review of current status and challenges C’, Bioelectromagnetics, 2014, 35, pp. 1–15 (doi: 10.1002/bem.21813).
10. 10)
  - 16. Alanen, E., Lahtinen, T., Nuutinen, J.: ‘Variational formulation of open-ended coaxial line in contact with layered biological medium’, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., 1998, 45, pp. 1241–1248 (doi: 10.1109/10.720202).
11. 11)
  - 12. Petrofsky, J.S., Prowse, M., Lohman, E.: ‘The influence of ageing and diabetes on skin and subcutaneous fat thickness in different regions of the body’, J. Appl. Res., 2008, 8, pp. 55–61.
12. 12)
  - 9. Eifler, R.V.: ‘The role of ultrasonography in the measurement of subcutaneous and visceral fat and its correlation with hepatic steatosis’, Radiol. Bras., 2013, 46, pp. 273–278 (doi: 10.1590/S0100-39842013000500002).
13. 13)
  - 11. Liu1, K.H., Chan, Y.L., Chan, W.B., et al: ‘Sonographic measurement of mesenteric fat thickness is a good correlate with cardiovascular risk factors: comparison with subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thickness, magnetic resonance imaging and anthropometric indexes’, Int. J. Obes., 2003, 27, pp. 1267–1273 (doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802398).
14. 14)
  - 22. Orfanidis, S.J.: ‘Electromagnetic waves and antennas [on line]’ (Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 2008).
15. 15)
  - 8. Rolfe1, E.D.L., Sleigh, A., Finucane1, F.M., et al: ‘Ultrasound measurements of visceral and subcutaneous abdominal thickness to predict abdominal adiposity among older men and women’, Obesity (Silver Spring), 2010, 18, pp. 625–631 (doi: 10.1038/oby.2009.309).
16. 16)
  - 23. Blackham, D.V., Pollard, R.D.: ‘An improved technique for permittivity measurements using a coaxial probe’, Trans. IEEE Instrum. Meas., 1997, 46, pp. 1093–1099 (doi: 10.1109/19.676718).
17. 17)
  - 1. Kurup, D., Joseph, W., Vermeeren, G., et al: ‘Path loss model for in-body communication in homogeneous human muscle tissue’, Electron. Lett., 2009, 45, pp. 453–454 (doi: 10.1049/el.2009.3484).
18. 18)
  - 19. www.SEMCAD.com, homepage for the software.
19. 19)
  - 3. Ramezani, M.H., Blanes-Vidal, V., Nadimi, E.S.: ‘An adaptive path loss channel model for wave propagation in multilayer transmission medium’, Prog. Electromagn. Res., 2015, 150, pp. 1–12 (doi: 10.2528/PIER15030702).
20. 20)
  - 6. Weiss, L.W., Clark, F.C.: ‘Three Protocols for measuring subcutaneous fat thickness on the upper extremities’, Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 1987, 56, p. 217 (doi: 10.1007/BF00640647).
21. 21)
  - 20. Berube, D., Ghannouchi, F.M., Savard, P.: ‘A comparative study of four open-ended coaxial probe models for permittivity measurements of lossy dielectric/biological materials at microwave frequencies’, IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 1996, 44, pp. 1928–1934 (doi: 10.1109/22.539951).
22. 22)
  - 10. Wagner, D.R.: ‘Ultrasound as a tool to assess body fat’, J. Obes., 2013, p. 280713.
23. 23)
  - 17. Bakhtiari, S., Ganchev, S., Zoughi, R.: ‘Analysis of radiation from an open-ended coaxial line into stratified dielectrics’, IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 1994, 42, pp. 1261–1267 (doi: 10.1109/22.299765).
24. 24)
  - 13. McEwan, A.L., Bian, S., Gargiulo, G.D., et al: ‘Low-cost near-infrared measurement of subcutaneous fat for newborn malnutrition’. Proc. of SPIE 9060, Nanosensors, Biosensors, and Info-Tech Sensors and Systems, California, United States, 2014.

Login

Not registered yet?

Share

Tools

Login to add to favourites

Key

Thickness estimation of the subcutaneous fat using coaxial probe

References

Related content