Measuring Skin Electrical Potential With the Kelvin Probe: Minimizing Noise

Healthy State Clinical Trial

Official title:

Measuring Skin Electrical Potential With the Kelvin Probe: Minimizing Noise

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01399879
• Other study ID #: 5R21AT005249
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: March 25, 2011
• Last updated: July 20, 2011
• Start date: September 2010
• Est. completion date: February 2011

Study information

• Verified date: July 2011
• Source: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

The Scanning Kelvin Probe measures surface electrical potential without actually touching the skin. This is a pilot study to evaluate methods of minimizing noise during Scanning Kelvin Probe measurements. This project will focus specifically on noise arising from physical movement and environmental electrical field.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 24
• Est. completion date: February 2011
• Est. primary completion date: February 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age greater than 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• chronic medical condition requiring daily medications (hypertension, diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc)

• movement disorders/tremors

• extensive scars on the hand

• latex-allergies

• cardiac implantation, metallic joint/bone replacements (defibrillator or pacemaker)

Study Design

Observational Model: Case-Only, Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Healthy State

Intervention

Other:
• Faraday cage, movement stabilization
The Faraday cage is a copper-mesh cage that surrounds the device and test site. It helps eliminate surrounding electrical noise. Movement stabilization will be achieved by placing a velcro strap over the arm to minimize random movements.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Massachusetts General Hospital

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Variability in surface electrical potential measurements	This study focuses on the ability of the Kelvin Probe to measure skin electrical potential. Because it does so without touching the skin, it is prone to noise - specifically physical movement and surrounding electrical noise. The variability in surface electrical potential is a way to determine how stable the measurements are. It can be determined immediately after testing - and will be used in data analyses (comparing across study volunteers) approximately 24 weeks after testing is complete.	Within 24 hours of testing	No