A recent study published in IEEE Sensors Letters titled “Exploration of Electrical Impedance Tomography and Grid-Based Soft Sensors for Distributed, Large Deformation Strain Sensing” demonstrates groundbreaking progress in stretchabale sensor technology. Researchers at Johannes Kepler University compared two innovative approaches: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and grid-based sensors to measure strain, force, and contact locations in carbon-black-filled elastomer composites.
Crucially, this work leveraged Sciospec’s ISX-3 EIT system to achieve high-resolution, real-time impedance measurements, showcasing how advanced impedance tomography unlocks new possibilities in soft robotics, wearable health tech, and human-machine interfaces.
*Mersch, J., Hofer, A.N., Da Silva, M. Exploration of Electrical Impedance Tomography and Grid-Based Soft Sensors for Distributed, Large Deformation Strain Sensing Based on a Fiber-Elastomer Composite. IEEE Xplore (2024) https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10499874
In a recent study, researchers successfully navigated the challenges of achieving both high spatial resolution and flexibility in stretchable sensors by creating two novel sensor designs: an EIT-based system and a grid-based system. The EIT system effectively utilized boundary electrodes to generate high-resolution strain maps via impedance tomography, while the grid system streamlined data acquisition but necessitated advanced multiplexing to reduce crosstalk.
The Sciospec ISX-3 EIT system played a crucial role in this research, providing a robust platform for acquiring the necessary high-quality impedance measurements that underpinned both approaches.
This highlights the Sciospec system as a pivotal enabling technology for advanced sensor development. Its capabilities offer the precision and stability necessary for capturing reliable data, ultimately bridging the gap between innovative concepts and practical applications in areas like soft robotics and wearable technology.
📌 Interested in learning more about stretchable strain sensors and their importance? Explore our FAQ section below for additional insights
The study highlights why EIT is ideal for emerging applications :
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At the heart of this research lies the Sciospec ISX-3 EIT system, which is essential for achieving precise impedance measurements and supporting flexible electrode configurations.
How is this made possible?
In this research, the ISX-3 EIT enables resolving even subtle resistance changes in the conductive elastomer, enhancing the accuracy of strain mapping.
📌 Want to learn more about how the ISX-3 EIT system can elevate your research? Discover the ISX-3 EIT’s capabilities
The Sciospec ISX-3 EIT system provides unparalleled precision and flexibility, making EIT imaging available across extremely large frequency (100 mHz – 10 MHz) and impedance ranges with unmatched accuracy. This capability is ideal for applications requiring fine-grained impedance mapping, such as material characterization and high-precision strain sensing.
However, this broad measurement range comes at the expense of frame rate. For high-speed dynamic applications—where real-time imaging at 100 fps or higher is required—Sciospec offers dedicated EIT systems that are optimized for rapid data acquisition and high-frame-rate imaging.
✔ Use the ISX-3 EIT when: You need maximum precision, broad frequency range, and high impedance resolution for detailed material or strain analysis.
✔ Use a dedicated EIT system when: You require high-speed imaging, such as real-time biomedical monitoring or soft robotics applications with fast deformation tracking.
🚀Not sure which system fits your needs? Contact our experts to explore the best EIT solution for your research.
For applications requiring more measurement channels, the Sciospec ISX-3 EIT offers a highly flexible any-to-any multiplexer with 32 or 64 ports. This allows seamless expansion, making it an ideal choice for large-scale impedance measurements and high-density sensor arrays. To ensure optimal performance and reliability, Sciospec provides high-quality multiplexers that are specifically designed to work efficiently with the ISX-3 EIT. By integrating these advanced multiplexers, users can enhance measurement accuracy, streamline data acquisition, and maintain the system’s high precision across multiple channels.
📌 Discover more about scalable impedance solutions with the Sciospec ISX-3 EIT
The Sciospec ISX-3 EITsystem integrates Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) in one powerful platform, making it ideal for researchers and industrial users requiring both capabilities. With its high-precision impedance analysis, scalable electrode configurations, the ISX-3 EIT offers unmatched flexibility for strain sensing applications.
The Key advantages include:
✔ High-resolution measurements – Supports up to 2048 frequencies per sweep with a 0.01% base precision for accurate impedance mapping.
✔ Versatile electrode configurations – Compatible with 2, 3, and 4-electrode setups, allowing adaptation to various sensing requirements.
✔ Real-time data processing – Includes Sciospec’s software suite for advanced control, visualization, and analysis
Want to dive into the ISX-3 EIT’s capabilities? Learn more about its advantages.
Our experts are ready to help you understanding how this technology works and how you can apply and integrate it into your work. Get in touch today to get a personalized consultation to enhance your work with our advanced solutions
Stretchable strain sensors are devices designed to measure deformation or strain while being able to stretch and conform to curved or flexible surfaces. They are important because they enable new applications in wearable technology, soft robotics, healthcare monitoring, and human-machine interfaces, where traditional rigid sensors cannot be used.
Key challenges include:
Common materials include:
Spatially resolved strain sensing allows for a more detailed understanding of deformation patterns, enabling:
Grid-based soft sensors simplify data acquisition but require advanced multiplexing to reduce crosstalk. These sensors have a limited resolution. It’s also important to account for the varying properties of these sensors.
Key metrics include:
The Volume of Tissue Activated (VTA) refers to the region of brain tissue that is directly affected by the electrical stimulation from the DBS electrode. Accurately predicting the VTA is crucial for optimizing DBS parameters to maximize therapeutic benefits and minimize side effects.
Wearable devices require precise, real-time EDA tracking to provide meaningful insights into stress, emotions, and mental well-being. Multi-frequency impedance measurement enables:
✔ More accurate stress quantification in real-world settings
✔ Differentiation between emotional responses & external factors
✔ Continuous monitoring for long-term mental health applications
💡 Sciospec’s ISX-3 is designed to support advanced impedance measurement in wearable research and stress monitoring applications.
The fusion of stretchable materials and advanced impedance measurement is redefining sensor capabilities. As this study shows, Sciospec’s EIT systems are not just tools but enablers of innovation, providing the speed, precision, and flexibility needed to turn theoretical designs into real-world solutions.
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