| abstract |
The invention provides an apparatus and method for automatic evaluation of skin resistance or impedance variations in order to diagnose the state of health of at least a portion of a human or animal body. The difference between an AC impedance measured at a specific frequency and at a specific skin area with calibration electrode and a reference electrode and the impedance measured at a similar frequency and in the same area with a measurement electrode and a reference electrode, is used to determine the state of health of the internal organ corresponding to the examined skin area. Alternatively, the skin between the electrodes is exposed to a DC potential of a magnitude selected to give a break-through effect. The resistance of the skin is measured between a measurement electrode polarised negatively with respect fo a reference electrode, and the DC resistance of the same skin area is again measured but with the measurement electrode polarised positively with respect to the reference electrode. The ratio of these two values is used to determine the state of health of the internal organ corresponding with the examined skin area. |