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Finite element modeling of human thorax for electrical bioimpedance based monitoring of pulmonary fluid accumulation Cover

Finite element modeling of human thorax for electrical bioimpedance based monitoring of pulmonary fluid accumulation

Journal of Electrical Bioimpedance
Volume 17 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)
By: Frijia Mortuza,  Md. Shahriar Kabir,  Md. Zaman Molla,  Md. Ibrahim Al Imran and  Muhammad Abdul Kadir  
Open Access
|Mar 2026

Figures & Tables

Fig.1:

(a) User interface for image segmentation software, (b) segmented left and right lungs with airways, (c) 3D anatomical model of human thorax.

Fig.2:

(a) Three-dimensional geometry of the ribcage enclosing the lungs and heart, with the heart located between the left and right lungs, (b) 3D geometrical model imported to FEM software showing electrodes placed on the surface of the thorax, (c) finite element mesh representation of the thoracic model.

Fig.3:

Tetrapolar electrode configuration and sweeping of electrode array along different vertical levels of the thorax (left). Lower portion of the right lung modeled as fluid buildup by assigning dielectric properties of body fluid (right).

Fig.4:

Spatial sensitivity distribution along the planes 6cm (top) and 8cm (bottom) away from the electrode plane (thorax surface). The unit of volume impedance density in the color bar is Ω/m3. Average planar volume impedance density variation with depth from the surface of the thorax (bottom).

Fig.5:

Vertical variation of transfer impedance along the thorax. (a) Left-side electrode configuration under healthy (no fluid) and fluid-accumulation conditions. (b) Right-side electrode configuration under the same conditions. (c) Relative impedance change (%ΔZ) for the left-side configuration. (d) Relative impedance change (%ΔZ) for the right-side configuration.

Fig.6:

Variation of impedance for different amounts of fluid accumulation in the lower lobes of the left and right lungs, with electrodes placed on the chest surface directly above the simulated fluid buildup.

Fig.7:

Impedance spectrum of the thorax under baseline (no fluid) and fluid-accumulation conditions.

Electrical conductivity and relative permittivity values assigned to the thoracic tissue domains at different frequencies_

TissueParameterFrequency (Hz)
5,00010,00050,000100,000200,000500,0001000,000
LungsConductivity σ (S/m)0.089140.0931720.102650.107350.112870.123010.13609
Relative Permittivity εr33529171744272.52581.31664.11025733.18
Soft tissueConductivity σ (S/m)0.180140.182330.1880330.1931320.2043330.2353670.26388
Relative Permittivity εr27582.75134975133.214091.0433216.8581840.93931.811
RibsConductivity σ (S/m)0.0513240.0515270.0520320.0523420.0528520.0544480.057376
Relative Permittivity εr1914.261089438.685349.675295.58241.33196.74
HeartConductivity σ (S/m)0.136650.154210.195430.215110.238240.280720.32753
Relative Permittivity εr12809070054169829845.86001.13264.51967.3
FluidConductivity σ (S/m)1.51.51.51.51.50011.50031.5007
Relative Permittivity εr98.9589898.55897.9996.55691.3584
ElectrodesConductivity σ (S/m)4.00E+064.00E+064.00E+064.00E+064.00E+064.00E+064.00E+06
Relative Permittivity εr1111111
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/joeb-2026-0002 | Journal eISSN: 1891-5469
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Language: English
Page range: 4 - 13
Submitted on: Jul 11, 2025
|
Published on: Mar 15, 2026
Published by: University of Oslo
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
Bioimpedance,
lung fluid,
pulmonary edema,
FEM modeling,
segmentation
Related subjects:
Engineering,
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering,
Biomedical electronics,
Life sciences,
Biophysics,
Medicine,
Biomedical engineering,
Physics,
Spectroscopy and metrology

© 2026 Frijia Mortuza, Md. Shahriar Kabir, Md. Zaman Molla, Md. Ibrahim Al Imran, Muhammad Abdul Kadir, published by University of Oslo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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