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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Measurement of Bioelectric Current with a Vibrating Probe
Published on: January 4, 2011
Comparison of human uterine cervical electrical impedance measurements derived using two tetrapolar probes of
Saurabh V Gandhi1, Dawn C Walker, Brian H Brown
1Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield & Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK. s.gandhi@sheffield.ac.uk <s.gandhi@sheffield.ac.uk>
Background:
We sought to compare uterine cervical electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements employing two probes of different sizes, and to employ a finite element model to predict and compare the fraction of electrical current derived from subepithelial stromal tissue.
Methods:
Cervical impedance was measured in 12 subjects during early pregnancy using 2 different sizes of the probes on each subject.
Results:
Mean cervical resistivity was significantly higher (5.4 vs. 2.8 Omegam; p < 0.001) with the smaller probe in the frequency rage of 4-819 kHz. There was no difference in the short-term intra-observer variability between the two probes. The cervical impedance measurements derived in vivo followed the pattern predicted by the finite element model.
Conclusion:
Inter-electrode distance on the probes for measuring cervical impedance influences the tissue resistivity values obtained. Determining the appropriate probe size is necessary when conducting clinical studies of resistivity of the cervix and other human tissues.
