Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device and a method for assessing and monitoring epithelial barrier function in vivo of a subject using electrical impedance measurements. The method comprises initiating an impedance measurement session including passing an electrical current through the skin of the subject to obtain values of skin impedance of a target tissue region, said data comprising at least one impedance value measured in the target tissue region at different tissue layers. Further, an evaluation procedure is applied for analyzing the epithelial barrier function in the target tissue region based on the measured data set of impedance values for the target tissue region at different tissue layers. The procedure evaluates the obtained data set of impedance values to provide an outcome indicating a status of the epithelial barrier function of the subject.

Abstract: A medical device and a method for diagnosing a diseased condition of tissue of a subject using a plurality of laterally spaced apart electrodes, the method including initiating an impedance measurement session including passing an electrical current through the electrodes to obtain values of skin impedance of a target tissue region, and applying a trained evaluation procedure for diagnosis of the diseased condition in the target tissue region on the basis of the measured data set of impedance values. The trained evaluation procedure extracts impedance data from the impedance spectra from obtained data sets of impedance values reflecting tissue characteristics of a lesion; evaluates the obtained data set of impedance to provide a first outcome indicating a probability of a diseased condition; and re-evaluates the first outcome based on the extracted impedance data and data related to underlying structure to provide a second outcome indicating a probability of a diseased condition.

Abstract: Medical apparatus for diagnosing of a diseased condition of the skin of a subject. The apparatus comprises an electrically conducting probe including a plurality of electrodes, each electrode comprising a plurality of micro-needles, wherein each electrode comprises a base substrate, said micro-needles being integrally formed with said substrate and arranged in a laterally spaced relationship apart from each other and having a length being sufficient to penetrate the stratum corneum, said micro-needles being arranged with an at least partially oblique shape. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electrode for use in the device, arrays of micro-needle and method for the diagnostics of biological conditions using impedance measurements. The diagnostics is in particular related to cancer, and preferably skin cancer, wherein skin cancer is a basal cell carcinoma, a malignant melanoma, a squamous cell carcinoma, or precursors of such lesions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the diagnostics of biological conditions using impedance measurements.

Abstract: The present invention provides impedance data having an improved spatial resolution, both with regard to depth and lateral extension, which enables a detection of diseased skin conditions, such a malignant melanoma, at an early stage. Specifically, the present invention is implemented in a probe, medical devices and medical systems including such a probe, and methods using such a probe for measuring electrical impedance of tissue of a subject. A switching circuit is arranged for selectively activate electrode pairs of the probe in accordance with a predetermined activation scheme, the predetermined activation scheme including to activate adjacent electrodes in a successive manner, to gradually scan tissue of the subject at a first tissue depth so as to obtain a sequence of impedance signals from the tissue depth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of assessing the quality of an electrical impedance measurement on tissue of a subject, the method comprising: performing the impedance measurement on a tissue region of said tissue of the subject, whereby impedance data is obtained, said data comprising at least one impedance value measured in said tissue region; applying an evaluation algorithm to the obtained impedance data, whereby the quality of the impedance measurement is assessed; and presenting the assessed quality of the impedance measurement such that a decision can be made on whether to use the impedance measurement for diagnosing a condition of said tissue of the subject. The invention also relates to a device for electrical impedance measurement on tissue of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides impedance data having an improved spatial resolution, both with regard to depth and lateral extension, which enables a detection of diseased skin conditions, such a malignant melanoma, at an early stage. Specifically, the present invention is implemented in a probe, medical devices and medical systems including such a probe, and methods using such a probe for measuring electrical impedance of tissue of a subject. A switching circuit is arranged for selectively activate electrode pairs of the probe in accordance with a predetermined activation scheme, the predetermined activation scheme including to activate adjacent electrodes in a successive manner, to gradually scan tissue of the subject at a first tissue depth so as to obtain a sequence of impedance signals from the tissue depth.

Abstract: Medical apparatus for diagnosing of a diseased condition of the skin of a subject. The apparatus comprises an electrically conducting probe including a plurality of electrodes, each electrode comprising a plurality of micro-needles, wherein each electrode comprises a base substrate, said micro-needles being integrally formed with said substrate and arranged in a laterally spaced relationship apart from each other and having a length being sufficient to penetrate the stratum corneum, said micro-needles being arranged with an at least partially oblique shape. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electrode for use in the device, arrays of micro-needle and method for the diagnostics of biological conditions using impedance measurements. The diagnostics is in particular related to cancer, and preferably skin cancer, wherein skin cancer is a basal cell carcinoma, a malignant melanoma, a squamous cell carcinoma, or precursors of such lesions.