
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Current density imaging
Introduction
Current density imaging (CDI) is an extension of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), developed at the University of Toronto.
It employs two techniques for spatially mapping electrical current pathways through tissue:
- LF-CDI, low-frequency CDI, the original implementation developed at the University of Toronto. In this technique, low frequency (LF) electrical currents are injected into the tissue. These currents generate magnetic fields, which are then measured using MRI techniques. The current pathways are then computed and spatially mapped.
- RF-CDI, radio frequency CDI, a rotating frame of reference version of LF-CDI. This allows measurement of a single component of current density, without requiring subject rotation. The high frequency current that is injected into tissue also does not cause the muscle twitching often encountered using LF-CDI, allowing in-vivo measurements on human subjects.
