The Skin Electrodynamic Introscopy Pioneering studies The Skin Electrodynamic Introscopy a new non-invasive functional imaging modality of broad application; phenomenological findings Y. Babich, PhD The author’ private laboratory “Center of Biomedical Electroengineering” In association with Biomedical Dep., Natl Tech University of Ukraine “KPI” and Amosov Institute of Cardio-surgery, Kiev, Ukraine

local (punctated) measurements. Introduction Conventional methods of investigation of the skin electrical characteristics (impedance, potentials, spectrum) are still based on local (punctated) measurements. Nevertheless, during these decades, even with the aid of this “blind-man’ stick” technique a number of diagnostic criteria (of malignancy, skin hydration, irritation, drug effects etc.) had been developed and currently are in common use.

Skin Electrical Landscape (SEL) and, besides, The developed -“unblinded”- method of the Skin Electrodynamic Introscopy (SEI) firstly in the World enabled adequate visualization of the Skin Electrical Landscape (SEL) and, besides, discovered a diversity of basically novel –spatial&temporal – phenomena and effects inherent to this living tissue. The discovered pulsating and wave-like structures both: initial and test-induced - ones seemingly reflect cooperative metabolic/information processes happening at the cellular and sub-cellular levels.

1. Reflex zones / acupuncture points (AP) A few illustrations of the earliest findings: 1. Reflex zones / acupuncture points (AP) Note: Later, the dynamic imaging showed that the APs are not always stationary objects… Scheme of APs of an ear lobe Static representation of the electroimpedance landscape

2. Pain visualization Static representation of the electroimpedance landscape Pain projection at the metamere area Th9 at a patient with ostechondrosis.

3. Real-time assessment of allergic response to a pharma test increase decrease

The present 6-channel SEI experimental setup: General view of the SEI and an example of its experimental use. Characteristics: - The scanning is performed contactly using electromagnetic radiation of extremely low intensity; Simultaneous measurement of: spectral electroimpedances and electropotentials (2 kHz -1 MHz); - Spatial resolution of ≤ 1 mm; - Scan area – 32x64 mm. Scan/frame time – 8s. 7

In a row of lab-clinical trials, the skin electrodynamics proved to be highly sensitive to exposure of various environmental factors: ● weak magnetic fields, ● non-thermal mm-EMF, ● mild pharmaceutical irritants, including allergy tests, ● hypoxia and hyper-oxia etc.

Novel phenomena of spatial electrical activity of the skin have been revealed, specifically: ▪ wave-like and pulsating structures with a velocity of known calcium waves of intercellular signaling, ▪ in-phase and anti-phase (co- and counter) processes with correlation r = +/- 1. These effects were particularly marked in cases of illness, still much more so in response to some external factors.

Such real-time visualization of metabolic and information processes can be used both: ● for the purposes of earlier diagnosis, ● as a real time biofeedback for various biomedical applications, like, e.g., online estimation of influence of therapeutic or/and pharmaceutical factors.

Some of the recent findings Malignant melanoma and its environment to the eyes of EI. < Photo – the surrounding tissue looks quite healthy; Cellular level (a difference image): suspicious micro-regions, which came out in response to hypoxia; Subcellular level : the dark areas represent functional abnormalities (presumably mitochondrial ones).

Melanoma with satellite under influence of hypo- and hyperoxia Difference images of the SEL in responses to hypo- and hyperoxia tests reveal noticeable divergent effects in both: spatial manifestation and parametrically opposite dynamics. < Calculated map of synchronicity with regard to the induced dynamics of the satellite

In-phase and anti-phase processes in health and disease Novel characteristics of living tissue in parameters of pixel-to-pixel synchronization in norm and pathology: a) healthy tissue - normal homeostatic fluctuations around the equilibrium point; b) marked abnormalities (synchronized pathological process) on the melanoma border; c) similar process in a case of suspicious nevus.

Primary Areas of the EI Possible Implementation Oncology Gerontology Diagnostics, targeted therapy, biomedical research Pain visualization Drug discovery Dermato- cosmetology Note. The technique can be adapted for tomographic and intracavitary studies 14

Thank you for your attention! At present, our main scientific goal is verification of these findings with the aid of conventional laboratory means Thank you for your attention!