Understanding the Physiological Implications of Scanning Kelvin Probe Measurements

Measuring Skin Electrical Potential With the Kelvin Probe: Underlying Physiology

Status

Suspended

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01545973

Enrollment

Registered

2012-03-07

Start date

2011-08-31

Completion date

2012-08-31

Last updated

2012-03-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Healthy Individuals, Skin Electrical Potential

Brief summary

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

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.

Interventions

OTHERSkin Moistening, Skin Denuding

Application of normal saline to skin and Tape stripping of the superficial skin

Study design

Observational model

CASE_CONTROL

Time perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

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

Design outcomes

Primary

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

Secondary

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

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026