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In this study the performance of an axial gradiometer sensor for magnetic induction tomography was investigated and the results of measurements to determine the precision and sensitivity of the sensor were undertaken. In the first part of the study a single gradiometer sensor was used and the noise and drift were measured for two excitation current values at a single frequency of 600 kHz. The variations of the real and imaginary received signal components with conductivity were then obtained for samples with 0-5 S m(-1). Both sets of measurements were repeated using two different forms of capacitive shielding. In the second part of the study the results of preliminary measurements obtained with a 2 x 2 planar matrix of axial gradiometers are given. The results of a simulation of a similar matrix using a commercial electromagnetic field calculation programme are also presented for comparison. For the sample utilized, the sensor output showed a linear variation with conductivity for the imaginary component of 0.033 mV S(-1) m using an excitation current of 316 mA at 600 kHz. No apparent correlation with conductivity for the real component was observed. The noise and drift of the imaginary component of the sensor output were 0.001 mV and 0.006 mV respectively, for the same excitation current. The results of the planar matrix measurements and simulations suggest that significant sensitivity is provided by using the measurement coils of the adjacent sensors. The measurement results however suggest that large improvements in the sensor noise and drift performance are required for these data to be of use.

The contact free conductivity measurement is a noninvasive method to find electrical characteristics of tissue that can be used e.g. for monitoring. The system consists of an excitation coil and two sensing coils coupled together as a gradiometer. The excitation coil is driven by an alternating current. Due to this alternating magnetic field eddy currents are generated in the tissue that create a secondary magnetic field. Because of the geometrical arrangement, the induced voltage of the secondary field in the upper and the lower coil is different. The presented sensor can be used e.g. for detection of ischemic areas, monitoring wound healing or detection of hematoma beneath the skull. To demonstrate this sensor, two measurements are carried out to detect post mortem changes in a pig liver. The known characteristics from literature can be reproduced using a noncontact method. For this purpose frequencies between 50 kHz and 400 kHz are used. At a frequency of 350 kHz a phase shift of 0.3 degrees is observed post mortem after 2 to 4 hours corresponding to a conductivity change of approximately 0.4 S/m.