Measure of Bioimpedance to Detect Tissue Inflammation

Introduction. Biologic tissues are characterized by specific electrical properties (i.e. electrical conductivity and magnetic permittivity) 1–3. Tissues inflammation causes an increase of electric conductivity with respect to normal values, due to the presence of liquids (hyperemia and infiltration of the adjacent tissues are typical of the inflammatory process) 4. Objectives. This work explores the possibility of detecting inflamed tissue areas by means of bioimpedance measurements in the case of oral inflammations, particularly when a dental implant is present. In this way, the therapy could be “personalized” according to the position and the severity of the inflammation detected and also focused on the impaired area, minimizing the involvement of the surrounding tissues. Methods. In vivo measurements have been made on a patient with dental implants to compare impedance values measured in case of peri-implantitis and healthy data. Results. This preliminary study demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method. Three measures have been repeated on the inflamed implant, with a resulting modulus of (565±43)Ω (results are expressed as mean±standard deviation), while the absolute impedance measured on the healthy implant is equal to (377±20)Ω. Conclusions. A bioimpedance measuring system integrated in a therapeutic device could allow the clinician to locate the impaired area and to evaluate the severity of the inflammation. So, the therapy could be adjusted according to the need of the specific clinical case; in fact, therapeutic dose could be selected according to the measured impedance value. Moreover, bioimpedancemetry would permit the monitoring of the inflammation course.