MAET with Magnetic Field Measurements Using Circular and Figure-of-Eight Coils

Magneto-acousto-electrical Tomography with magnetic field measurements is a new hybrid imaging modality to image the electrical impedance property of body tissues in the high spatial resolution of sonography. The forward problem of this imaging modality is numerically modeled. A linear phased-array transducer is utilized to generate acoustic waves in two-dimensional conductive medium that contains blood tissue and breast fat. A circular and a figure of eight coils are placed above this medium. Conductivity distribution on the acoustic wave path is reconstructed in a single direction based on MAET signals induced on both coils, using Modified Wiener Filter. The effect of the reciprocal electric field of both coils on the reconstructed conductivity distribution is investigated by placing blood tissue in two different locations. The reciprocal electric fields and reconstructed conductivity distributions show that the circular coil and figure of eight coils have complementary sensitivity regions. To detect changes in conductivity where the circular coil is not sensitive, the figure of eight coil is suggested to be used in conjunction with the circular coil.