Understanding the Physiological Implications of Scanning Kelvin Probe Measurements

Measuring Skin Electrical Potential With the Kelvin Probe: Underlying Physiology

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of skin thickness, skin moisture, and sweat gland density on Scanning Kelvin Probe measurements.

Study Overview

• Status: Suspended
• Conditions: Healthy Individuals; Skin Electrical Potential
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Skin Moistening, Skin Denuding

Detailed Description

The Scanning Kelvin Probe measures the electrical potential of material surfaces without actually touching it. Although this technology has been applied to non-living materials (e.g. metal and semiconductors) before, it has not been effectively applied to biological materials, much less to live human skin . This project aims to evaluate the use of Scanning Kelvin Probe to live human skin by investigating the effects of skin thickness, skin moisture, and sweat glands on Kelvin Probe measurements of electrical potential. Testing will be performed on the arms and hands of twenty four healthy individuals under different study conditions.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 24

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States, 02129
      • Massachusetts General Hospital - Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy Volunteers

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• "Healthy" is defined as not having a chronic medical condition requiring daily medications (hypertension, diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc)

Exclusion Criteria:

• autonomic disorders (sweating irregularities), skin disorders, extensive burns/scars on the hand, tremors, neuromuscular conditions, restless leg syndrome, movement disorders, and implanted cardiac defibrillator/pacemaker

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Healthy Volunteers; Human subjects without chronic medical conditions, defined as conditions requiring chronic medication use.	Other: Skin Moistening, Skin Denuding; Application of normal saline to skin and Tape stripping of the superficial skin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Surface Electrical Potential	The electrical potential of skin obtained from the Scanning Kelvin Probe	1 day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Electrical Impedance	Electrical impedance (measurement) obtained through another, more conventional measurement device.	One day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 2, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): March 7, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 7, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2012
• Last Verified: March 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 55R21AT005249-02