EpilepsyNCT03050931
Electrical Impedance Tomography of Epilepsy
An observational study of Epilepsy, run by University College, London at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine if Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) can produce reproducible and accurate images in people with epilepsy compared to existing standards such as MRI, CT or EEG. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Epilepsy
- What is being tested?
- Electrical Impedance Tomography
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 30 May 2017to Dec 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Epilepsy patients recruited from the patients of National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.
Who may be able to join
- Any patient with epilepsy with either active seizures or interictal EEG changes (for scalp electrodes group)
- Any patient with epilepsy with either active seizures under evaluation for epilepsy surgery (for intracranial electrodes group)
- Ability to give informed consent
Who cannot join
- none
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United Kingdom1 site
EEG telemetry unit Neurophysiology National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
London, WC1N 3BG
About this study
Official title: Imaging Stroke, Epilepsy and Evoked Potentials in the Brain Using Electrical Impedance Tomography
The purpose of this study is to determine if Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) can produce reproducible and accurate images in people with epilepsy compared to existing standards such as MRI, CT or EEG.
Electrical Impedance Tomography is a relatively new medical imaging method, which has the potential to provide novel images of brain function. It is fast, portable, safe and inexpensive, but currently has a relatively poor spatial resolution. It produces images of the internal electrical impedance of a subject with epilepsy using rings of ECG like electrodes on the skin, intracranial electrode mats or deep electrodes implemented surgically as part of clinical assessment. EIT recording will take place in parallel with the routine recording on the ward. Following completion of the recording, the EIT images will subsequently be analysed and compared to other imaging data for accuracy.
Read the detailed description
Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a novel medical imaging method in which tomographic images are rapidly produced using electrodes placed around the body. The principal applicant's group has demonstrated that EIT can rapidly image functional brain activity in stroke, epilepsy and normal activity in animal models and has developed instrumentation and image reconstruction algorithms which work well in head-shaped tanks.
The principal aim of this research is to optimise and assess accuracy of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) using scalp electrodes, intracranial electrode mats or deep electrodes in imaging epilepsy in human participants. If successful, EIT has the potential to provide a new portable imaging unit. It could be used with scalp electrodes and enable imaging of the onset and propagation of seizures in 3D. Image quality would be better with intracranial electrode mats or depth electrodes that are already implanted in people with severe epilepsy who are being evaluated for epilepsy surgery. For both electrode types, the new 3D information will enable better diagnosis and so targeting of drug treatment. It could also pave the way to suppression of seizures by deep brain electrical stimulation which could transform management in severe intractable epilepsy.It can offer the same benefits in imaging in epilepsy in neonates and infants.
Patients diagnosed with epilepsy will be asked to participate in the epilepsy EIT study, then up to 32 electrodes will be applied on the subjects' scalp or the EIT systems will be linked to the existing EEG video recording systems and EIT will be recorded at the same time using some or all of the available intracranial electrodes. It may also use some scalp EEG electrode placed on the scalp for clinical or research purposes. Following completion of the recording, scalp electrodes and any paste will be removed, the EIT system will be disconnected from the videoEEG. Collected data will be analysed and compared to other imaging data.
- Conditions
- Epilepsy
- Being tested
- Electrical Impedance Tomography
- Keywords
- Electrical Impedance Tomography, EIT, Epilepsy
- Medical subject headings
- Epilepsy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Electrical Impedance TomographyDevice
Also called EIT
EIT comprises of a box of electronics similar in size to a video recorder, laptop computer and leads which link typically to 16 or 32 external ECG-like electrodes placed around the subject. Images are generated by applying tiny electrical signals through some electrodes and recording the resulting signals at others. The signals applied are completely safe, within established British and EU safety limits and cannot be felt. For intracranial electrode studies, the EIT systems will be linked to the existing EEG video recording systems and EIT will be recorded at the same time using some or all of the available intracranial electrodes.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy with intracranial electrodes | Electrical Impedance Tomography with depth electrodes or intracranial electrode mats Receives: Device: Electrical Impedance Tomography | |
| Epilepsy with scalp electrodes | Electrical Impedance Tomography with scalp electrodes Receives: Device: Electrical Impedance Tomography |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
EIT images accuracy
Measured: three years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Feb 2017
- Study start30 May 2017
- Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for EpilepsyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University College, LondonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University College, London
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University College London Hospitals
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- David S Holder, Professor, Principal investigator, University College London, University College Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03050931
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 14/0861a
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Feb 2017
- Last updated
- 3 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Imaging Stroke, Epilepsy and Evoked Potentials in the Brain Using Electrical Impedance Tomography
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03050931
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 14/0861a
- Conditions
- Epilepsy
- Keywords
- Electrical Impedance Tomography, EIT, Epilepsy
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University College, LondonUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University College London Hospitals
- Study start
- 30 May 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 13 Feb 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine if Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) can produce reproducible and accurate images in people with epilepsy compared to existing standards such as MRI, CT or EEG.
Electrical Impedance Tomography is a relatively new medical imaging method, which has the potential to provide novel images of brain function. It is fast, portable, safe and inexpensive, but currently has a relatively poor spatial resolution. It produces images of the internal electrical impedance of a subject with epilepsy using rings of ECG like electrodes on the skin, intracranial electrode mats or deep electrodes implemented surgically as part of clinical assessment. EIT recording will take place in parallel with the routine recording on the ward. Following completion of the recording, the EIT images will subsequently be analysed and compared to other imaging data for accuracy.
Detailed description
Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a novel medical imaging method in which tomographic images are rapidly produced using electrodes placed around the body. The principal applicant's group has demonstrated that EIT can rapidly image functional brain activity in stroke, epilepsy and normal activity in animal models and has developed instrumentation and image reconstruction algorithms which work well in head-shaped tanks.
The principal aim of this research is to optimise and assess accuracy of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) using scalp electrodes, intracranial electrode mats or deep electrodes in imaging epilepsy in human participants. If successful, EIT has the potential to provide a new portable imaging unit. It could be used with scalp electrodes and enable imaging of the onset and propagation of seizures in 3D. Image quality would be better with intracranial electrode mats or depth electrodes that are already implanted in people with severe epilepsy who are being evaluated for epilepsy surgery. For both electrode types, the new 3D information will enable better diagnosis and so targeting of drug treatment. It could also pave the way to suppression of seizures by deep brain electrical stimulation which could transform management in severe intractable epilepsy.It can offer the same benefits in imaging in epilepsy in neonates and infants.
Patients diagnosed with epilepsy will be asked to participate in the epilepsy EIT study, then up to 32 electrodes will be applied on the subjects' scalp or the EIT systems will be linked to the existing EEG video recording systems and EIT will be recorded at the same time using some or all of the available intracranial electrodes. It may also use some scalp EEG electrode placed on the scalp for clinical or research purposes. Following completion of the recording, scalp electrodes and any paste will be removed, the EIT system will be disconnected from the videoEEG. Collected data will be analysed and compared to other imaging data.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy with intracranial electrodes | – | Device: Electrical Impedance TomographyElectrical Impedance Tomography with depth electrodes or intracranial electrode mats |
| Epilepsy with scalp electrodes | – | Device: Electrical Impedance TomographyElectrical Impedance Tomography with scalp electrodes |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Epilepsy patients recruited from the patients of National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Any patient with epilepsy with either active seizures or interictal EEG changes (for scalp electrodes group)
- Any patient with epilepsy with either active seizures under evaluation for epilepsy surgery (for intracranial electrodes group)
- Ability to give informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- none
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Impedance TomographyAlso: EITEIT comprises of a box of electronics similar in size to a video recorder, laptop computer and leads which link typically to 16 or 32 external ECG-like electrodes placed around the subject. Images are generated by applying tiny electrical signals through some electrodes and recording the resulting signals at others. The signals applied are completely safe, within established British and EU safety limits and cannot be felt. For intracranial electrode studies, the EIT systems will be linked to the existing EEG video recording systems and EIT will be recorded at the same time using some or all of the available intracranial electrodes. | Device | Epilepsy with intracranial electrodes, Epilepsy with scalp electrodes |
Primary outcome
EIT images accuracy
Time frame: three years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
David S Holder, Professor principal investigator
University College London, University College Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Epilepsy, run by University College, London at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
EIT images accuracy (time frame: three years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.