Estimation of skin impedance models with experimental data and a proposed model for human skin impedance

IET Syst Biol. 2020 Oct;14(5):230-240. doi: 10.1049/iet-syb.2020.0049.

Abstract

The skin is a complex biological tissue whose impedance varies with frequency. The properties and structure of skin changes with the location on the body, age, geographical location and other factors. Considering these factors, skin impedance analysis is a sophisticated data analysis. However, despite all these variations, various researchers have always worked to develop an equivalent electrical model of the skin. The two most important categories of electrical models are RC-based model and CPE-based model which focus on the physiological stratification and biological properties of skin, respectively. In this work, experimental skin impedance data is acquired from ten sites on the body to find the fitting model. It is observed that a hybrid of fractional-order CPE-based model and higher-order RC layered-based model can provide the best fitting electrical model of skin. A new model is developed with this hybrid orders. Genetic algorithm is used for the extraction of parameter components. Least error of fitting has been observed for the proposed model as compared with the other models. This model can be used in correlating many skin problems and in the development of diagnostic tools. It will offer an additional supportive tool in-vitro to the medical specialist.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Electric Impedance
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological*
  • Skin*