| Entries |
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| 20080200828 | BIOIMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Methods and systems for detecting fluid egress, assessing lesion quality, determining tissue composition or structure, determining ice coverage of catheter tip and providing tissue contact assessment, by providing a catheter having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion define at least one fluid pathway therebetween with the shaft having a plurality of electrodes, positioning the catheter at a tissue treatment site, applying an electrical current between at least two of the plurality of electrodes, measuring impedance voltage between the at least two of the plurality of electrodes and, processing the measured impedance voltage caused by the applied electrical current to determine if fluid egress is present, to assess lesion quality, to determine tissue composition, ice cover of catheter tip, and to provide contact assessment. The system may have a control unit, a microprocessor, an impedance measuring device or the like to perform processing of impedance data. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080200829 | BIOIMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Methods and systems for detecting fluid egress, assessing lesion quality, determining tissue composition or structure, determining ice coverage of catheter tip and providing tissue contact assessment, by providing a catheter having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion define at least one fluid pathway therebetween with the shaft having a plurality of electrodes, positioning the catheter at a tissue treatment site, applying an electrical current between at least two of the plurality of electrodes, measuring impedance voltage between the at least two of the plurality of electrodes and, processing the measured impedance voltage caused by the applied electrical current to determine if fluid egress is present, to assess lesion quality, to determine tissue composition, ice cover of catheter tip, and to provide contact assessment. The system may have a control unit, a microprocessor, an impedance measuring device or the like to perform processing of impedance data. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080221474 | Method and Apparatus for Inductively Measuring the Bio-Impedance of a User's Body - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus ( | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080221475 | METHOD FOR DETECTING BOTH PRE-CANCEROUS AND CANCEROUS TISSUES - A method for characterizing tissues within a subject as cancerous or non-cancerous includes determining the electrical properties of the subject. The electrical properties of the subject are fit to a model and a characteristic frequency of each tissue is then calculated. Each tissue is finally characterized as cancerous or non-cancerous if its characteristic frequency lies above a threshold value. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080221476 | Abdominal impedance measurement apparatus and body composition determination apparatus - An abdominal impedance measurement apparatus includes a plurality of electrodes for measuring an abdominal impedance of a human subject, electrode supporting member for supporting the electrodes, and a frame that is disposable around the human subject. A light emitter is supported by the frame for emitting light beams toward the inside of the frame. A mark is provided at the electrode supporting member. This mark is capable of being irradiated with the light beams. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080221477 | Method and Implantable Medical Device for Measuring an Electrical Bio-Impedance of a Patient - In a method and device for measuring an electrical bio-impedance of a patient at least one impedance measurement signal is generated by a current pulse generator, the signal having at least one asymmetric multiphasic impedance measurement waveform that is asymmetric in term of pulse amplitude and/or pulse width relative to the operating voltage of the current pulse generator. The waveform has a DC component that is substantially equal to zero, and is adapted to the available voltage headroom of an implantable device that contains the current pulse generator. The impedance measurement signal with the aforementioned waveform is applied to a patient and a resulting impedance signal is produced thereby, from which at least one impedance value is determined. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080234599 | Passive Wireless Gastroesophageal Sensor - A passive wireless gastroesophageal sensor includes a LC resonance circuit, two or more electrodes and a passive batteryless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) circuit connected to the LC resonance circuit and the one or more electrodes. The electrodes are configured to measure an impedance within a gastroesophageal tract. The passive batteryless RFID circuit transmits a frequency modulated signal using the LC resonance circuit that varies between a first frequency corresponding to a non-acid reflux condition and a second frequency corresponding to an acid reflux condition based on the measured impedance in response to a signal received from a detector. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080243025 | Medical Device - In a medical device and a method for operating the medical device, it is first determined whether a patient, at whom a medical measurement is to be made, satisfied specified criteria that will ensure comparability of the measurement results obtained from the patient. Only when the specified criteria had been satisfied is an electrical bio-impedance signal obtained from the patient. The cardiac component of the electrical bio-impedance signal is extracted, and is analyzed to identify a change in a medical condition of the patient. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080243026 | Abdominal impedance measurement apparatus - An abdominal impedance measurement apparatus includes a plurality of electrodes for measuring an abdominal impedance of a human subject, and includes an electrode supporting member for supporting the electrodes in such a manner that the electrodes protrude from the electrode supporting member. The electrode supporting member includes a plurality of segments aligned in a direction, the electrodes being respectively mounted on different segments, neighboring segments being connected rotatably with each other. The electrode supporting member further includes rotation-angle restricting parts for restricting relative rotation-angles between neighboring segments. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080249432 | Diagnosis of Disease By Determination of Elctrical Network Properties of a Body Part - A system and method for detecting and diagnosing disease states in a body part is described. The method is based on a set of electrical impedance measurements taken on the surface of a body part and a representation of the body part in the form of a network of impedances that would result in the same surface measurements as the actual body part. The system includes an electrical data unit for measuring electrical data of the body part, the electrical data unit having a plurality of N | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080249433 | THORACIC IMPEDANCE DETECTION WITH BLOOD RESISTIVITY COMPENSATION - This document discusses, among other things, a cardiac rhythm management device or other implantable medical device that uses thoracic impedance to determine how much fluid is present in the thorax, such as for detecting or predicting congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, hypotension, or the like. The thoracic fluid amount determined from the thoracic impedance is compensated for changes in blood resistivity, which may result from changes in hematocrit level or other factors. The blood-resistivity-compensated thoracic fluid amount can be stored in the device or transmitted to an external device for storage or display. The blood-resistivity-compensated thoracic fluid amount can also be used to adjust a cardiac pacing, cardiac resynchronization, or other cardiac rhythm management or other therapy to the patient. This document also discusses applications of the devices and methods for predicting or indicating anemia. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080255470 | CONTACT SENSOR AND SHEATH EXIT SENSOR - A system and method is provided that allows for determining the local impedance of one or more electrodes of an electrode catheter. Such local impedance may be utilized to identify the relative position of an electrode catheter to a sheath of a guiding introducer. In another arrangement, local impedance of a catheter electrode can be utilized to calibrate a catheter electrode to provide improved contact sensing. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080262374 | EVENT TRIGGERED INFECTION MONITORING - Implantable medical devices include a sensor module capable of detecting an indicator of infection in proximity to the device. The sensor module is activated following a detection of an event associated with the device, such as, for example, refill of an implantable infusion device or implantation. The sensor module is deactivated two or more hours following activation. Methods include detecting a first event associated with an implanted medical device; activating a sensor module of the implanted medical device at or after the detection of the first event; deactivating the sensor module two hours or more after the sensor module is activated; and determining whether information regarding the indicator of infection is indicative of an infection. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080262375 | Apparatus For Measuring Tissue Samples Electrical Impedance - Apparatus for measuring the electrical impedance of a tissue sample comprises a probe and a sheath comprising an elongated tubular body having one closed end and one open end providing an internal cavity. The sheath is composed of a material which when contacted with a tissue sample is capable of providing a conductive path through the sheath between the electrodes and the tissue sample. The resistivity of the material forming the sheath when contacted with the tissue sample is greater than the resistivity of the tissue sample. The probe is received within the internal cavity of the sheath. The sheath is impervious to bacteria and viruses. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080262376 | WIRELESS SENSOR SYSTEM FOR MONITORING SKIN CONDITION USING THE BODY AS COMMUNICATION CONDUIT - Devices and methods for measuring a local skin parameter or the presence or concentration of an analyte present in a biological medium are disclosed. A monitoring system comprising disposable sensor components and a network component for the collection of sensor information and for relaying this information for remote access and analysis is disclosed, where the sensor components and the network component communicate using the wearer as a signal propagation medium. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080269634 | Deformity correction using neural integrity monitoring - A method is provided for detecting neural interference between a bone anchor and a neural element during or subsequent to the application of force on the bone anchor to adjust the orientation of one or more vertebral bodies relative to the spinal column. The method includes engaging at least one bone anchor to the vertebral body and applying force to the bone anchor to adjust the positioning or orientation of the vertebral body. A nerve monitoring system provides an electrical signal and is operable to detect a neural element and its proximity to the bone anchor as a function of a characteristic of the electrical signal. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080275361 | Device for the Monitoring of Physiologic Variables Through Measurement of Body Electrical Impedance - A device for the measurement of body impedance includes a current injecting device for injecting a test current through a first set of electrodes to the body of a patient, and a voltage reading device for reading voltage variations between two electrodes belonging to a second set of electrodes using a coherent demodulator. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080275362 | Method for Measuring Stable and Reproducible Electrode-Tissue Impedance - The present invention is a method for measuring stable and reproducible electrode-tissue impedance, comprising preconditioning an electrode-tissue interface. Further aspect of the invention is a stimulation system for a visual prosthesis generating a stimulation signal to precondition the electrode-tissue interface, comprising a computer; software, loaded in the computer, adapted to perform a stimulating method for a visual prosthesis having a plurality of electrodes; a video processing unit; and an implanted neuron-stimulator. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080281222 | Biometric apparatus - The invention provides a biometric apparatus having a display which allows a measured person to recognize biometric data easily and reliably irrespective of whether the measured person is on a platform or not. The biometric apparatus for measuring biometric data of the measured person includes the platform on which the measured person gets on, a sensor unit for acquiring the biometric data of the measured person; a display for displaying the biometric data acquired by the sensor unit; and a control unit for determining whether the measured person is on the platform or not on the basis of a signal from the sensor unit and changes the display mode to display the biometric data on the display according to the determination thereof. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080287823 | Index Determination - A method of determining an index indicative of the presence, absence or degree of left ventricular hypertrophy in a subject. The method includes using a processing system to determine a measured impedance value for at least one body segment. For each body segment the measured impedance values are used to determine at least one impedance parameter, which are then used to determine a fat-free mass for the subject. The fat free mass can then be used as the index. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080294064 | Lancing Element, Lancing System and a Method for Skin Detection - In the case of a disposable lancing element for collecting body fluid through the skin comprising a support and a lancing member which distally projects therefrom and can pierce the skin in a lancing movement, it is proposed that a pretensioning means which tightens the skin in the area of the puncture site is arranged on the support and has a contact member which impacts the skin laterally from the lancing member during the lancing movement. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080300504 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES EVALUATING THORAX IMPEDANCE - Implantable medical device with an impedance determination unit with constant current/voltage source having current feed terminals connected to electrodes for intracorporal placement which generates measuring current pulses having constant current/voltage, for causing a current through a body via intracorporally placed electrodes, a measuring unit for measuring voltage/current strength of voltage/current fed through body, an impedance value determination unit connected to the current/voltage source and adapted to determine an impedance value for each measuring current pulse, and an impedance measuring control and evaluation unit connected to the impedance determination unit which controls the unit and evaluates a sequence of consecutive impedance values, the impedance determination unit further adapted to determine at least intrathoracic and intracardiac impedance values for same period of time, the intrathoracic values sampled with a lower sampling rate than the intracardiac values. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080306399 | Biometric apparatus - The invention provides a biometric apparatus which is able to determine the orientation of a measured person irrespective of the orientation of the measured person on the biometric apparatus or irrespective of the orientation of arrangement of the biometric apparatus and hence flow an electric current constantly through the same route and measure the voltage generated in the route, thereby providing accurate and reliable biometric data. The invention provides a biometric apparatus includes a plurality of weight measuring units provided on a casing for allowing a measured person to get on the upper surface thereof; a comparative determination unit for comparing measured values measured by the weight measuring units respectively and determining the orientation of the body of the measured person on the casing on the basis of the result of comparison; and a biometric data acquiring unit for acquiring a biometric data of the measured person on the basis of the result of determination by the comparative determination unit. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306400 | Bioelectricity impedance measuring device, a malnutrition measurement system, a malnutrition measurement method - A bioelectricity impedance measuring device includes a contact surface put to one part of the body, gripper, and electrodes of a contact surface. In addition, the bioelectricity impedance measuring device further includes a malnutrition measuring device which measures malnutrition is provided. A malnutrition measuring device measures Phase angle theta and/or a RcXc ratio, and measures a nutrient state. A malnutrition measuring device judges a state of malnutrition from a value of Phase angle theta. It is available to display a judged result with a bar classified by display method by color. In addition, it can have further a muscular volume measuring method which measures muscular volume, and this muscular volume measuring method can measure muscular volume also to a child aged 5 and below or an old man aged 60 and over. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306401 | Muscular volume balance evaluation apparatus, a muscular volume balance valuation method - A muscular volume balance measuring apparatus that measures the balance of the muscular volume in a specific part is provided. At least two sets of current applying, devices for inserting a specific part of the body and applying current to living bodies, or a voltmeter, which measures voltage, are provided. A bioelectricity impedance measuring device which measures bioelectricity impedance of a measured region from applied current and measured voltage is also provided. A muscular volume calculating device which computes muscular volume from measured bioelectricity impedance is also provided. Further, balance of muscular volume of the inserted part is calculated from each set of the computed muscular volume. In addition, there is a feature of being able to expand and contract for the longitudinal width, which is the distance which inserts a specific part, and breadth, which is the distance between current applying device or between the voltmeter. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306402 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING VITALITY, HEALING AND CONDITION OF TISSUE OR ORGAN FOR SURGERY - A method of organ and tissue vitality assessment for surgery, including subjecting the organ or tissue to bioelectrical impedance analysis; | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080319336 | Oedema Detection - A method of detecting tissue oedema in a subject. The method includes determining a measured impedance for first and second body segments. An index indicative of a ratio of the extra-cellular to intra-cellular fluid is then calculated for each body segment, with these being used to determine an index ratio based on the index for the first and second body segments. The index ratio can in turn be used to determine the presence, absence or degree of tissue oedema, for example by comparing the index ratio to a reference or previously determined index ratios. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080319337 | Method and Apparatus for Monitoring a Sedated Patient - A method and an apparatus for monitoring a sedated patient, the method comprising the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin through a time interval, establishing the existence of at least two fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal through said time interval, considering if the amplitudes of fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal through said interval, the basal level of the skin conductance signal through said interval and the width of the fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal fulfils a predetermined criterion, activating a first output signal which indicates the state of awakening in the patient if said criterion is fulfilled, and activating a second output signal which indicates the state of pain in the patient if said criterion is not fulfilled. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080319338 | Visceral Fat Determining Device - A visceral fat determining device is disclosed which can be used easily at home for example and can obtain information on visceral fat. The visceral fat determining device comprises input means for inputting personal data that represents vital characteristics of the patient; a data processing unit capable of performing various calculations; and a display device capable of displaying the personal data and results of the calculations. Upon inputting of a waist size which is a girth of the trunk of the patient, and a hip size which is a girth of the buttocks of the patient, quantitative information on abdominal visceral fat of the patient is given through a calculation based on WHR which is a ratio of the waist size to the hip size (waist size/hip size). | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090018463 | BODY FAT MEASURING DEVICE - A body fat measuring device comprises electrodes brought into contact with the waist portion of a subject, an optical sensor composed of a light applying section and a light receiving section, an impedance computing section for computing the impedance between the electrodes, a subcutaneous fat thickness computing section for computing the thickness of the subcutaneous fat of the subject from the value detected by the optical sensor, and a body fat computing section which subtracts the amount of subcutaneous fat determined using the thickness of the subcutaneous fat computed by the subcutaneous thickness computing section from the total fat amount of the subject determined using the impedance computed by the impedance computing section so as to determine the visceral fat amount of the subject. With this, not only the accuracy of measurement of the visceral fat amount is improved but also the visceral fat amount of the subject can be easily computed even without a database. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090018464 | Body composition measuring device, a body composition measuring method - A body composition measuring device and method which can perform measurement of the value about body composition also to those who have a deficit in the limbs are provided. A plurality of current applicators and voltage measurement electrodes are provided. A body composition measuring device measures body composition by bioelectricity impedance measurement, and body composition is measured from a value of bioelectricity impedance measurement using a plurality of regressions. A plurality of electrodes for current application and voltage measurement electrodes are made to correspond to the left hand, right hand, left foot, and right foot for a person being measured. In addition, a plurality of regressions is made to correspond to a value of bioelectricity impedance measurement of an electrode corresponding to between both feet, between both hands, right half body, left half body, right hand, left hand, right foot, left foot, and trunk. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090024052 | METHOD AND PROBE FOR MEASURING THE IMPEDANCE OF HUMAN OR ANIMAL BODY TISSUE - A method for determining whether a probe for measuring the impedance of human or animal body tissue has been placed over a boundary between different tissue types is described. The probe used in the method comprises at least a first ( | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090024053 | BODY COMPOSITION MEASURING APPARATUS | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090030336 | APPARATUS AND DETECTING ANOMALY AND METHOD THEREOF - An apparatus for detecting an anomaly and method thereof are disclosed, by which a size and location of an anomaly of a beast cancer and the like can be precisely detected as well as a presence or non-presence of the anomaly based on data measured on a surface of a body. The present invention includes supplying a first frequency voltage having a first frequency to a measurement target, detecting a first signal induced by the first frequency voltage from the measurement target, supplying a second frequency voltage having a second frequency to the measurement target, detecting a second signal induced by the second frequency voltage from the measurement target, correcting the first and second signals based on slopes of the detected first and second signals, and calculating a location and size of the anomaly within the measurement target based on the corrected first and second signals. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090036793 | Automated skin electrical resistance measurement device and method - An automated skin resistance measurement device having an applied signal selector for selecting one or more applied signal forms from an applied signal library, an applied signal generator in communication with the applied signal selector for generating one or more DC applied signals, each applied signal being in the form of a selected applied signal form, one or more applied signal applicators for administering the applied signals to test zones on the skin of a human subject, and one or more applied signal resistance sensors for sensing the resistance of the skin of the subject at the test zones. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090036794 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING LOCAL TISSUE IMPEDANCE FOR POSITIONING OF A NEEDLE - The invention relates to apparatus and methods for measuring local tissue impedance for subcutaneous tissue surrounding a needle tip inserted into a subject, impedance spectra and/or complex impedance values are determined. The invention applies a monopolar impedance measuring setup with a needle, a current-carrying electrode, an optional reference electrode. The setup is configured to eliminate contributions from the current-carrying electrode in order to measure local impedance of tissue in the close neighbourhood of the needle tip instead of an averaged value over the volume or current path between the needle and the electrode(s). The determined impedance can be correlated with either a tissue type or state, or with a position of the needle tip in the subject, and can thereby provide an insertion history to the operator in the form of impedance or corresponding tissue type as a function of insertion depth or time. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090043222 | HYDRATION STATUS MONITORING - A method of determining an indication of the hydration status relating to a subject. The method includes determining a measured impedance value for at least one body segment, and then; for each body segment, using the measured impedance values to determine at least one indicator at least partially indicative of a level of extracellular fluid. Indicators can then be used to determine an indication of the hydration status. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090062684 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A GLOBAL MODEL OF HOLLOW INTERNAL ORGANS INCLUDING THE DETERMINATION OF CROSS-SECTIONAL AREAS AND VOLUME IN INTERNAL HOLLOW ORGANS AND WALL PROPERTIES - The present invention relates generally to medical measurement systems for evaluation of organ function and understanding symptom and pain mechanisms. This model takes into account a number of factors such as volume and properties of the fluid and the surrounding tissue. Particular emphasis is on a multifunctional probe that can provide a number of measurements including volume of refluxate in the esophagus and to what level it extents. The preferred embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus for measuring luminal cross-sectional areas of internal organs such as blood vessels, the gastrointestinal tract, the urogenital tract and other hollow visceral organs and the volume of the flow through the organ. It can also be used to determine conductivity of the fluid in the lumen and thereby it can determine the parallel conductance of the wall and geometric and mechanical properties of the organ wall. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090069708 | HISTOGRAM-BASED THORACIC IMPEDANCE MONITORING - Systems and methods for monitoring pulmonary edema or other thoracic fluid status in a subject use thoracic impedance histogram information. An internal or external processor circuit receives the thoracic impedance histogram information and uses it to compute and provide a lung fluid status indication. The thoracic impedance histogram information can include a count, mean or median of a histogram bin or subrange of bins within the histogram range. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090069709 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR NEURAL LOCALIZATION - Described herein are devices, systems and methods for determining if a nerve is nearby a device or a region of a device. In general, a device for determining if a nerve is nearby a device includes an elongate body having an outer surface with one or more bipole pairs arranged on the outer surface. Bipole pairs may also be referred to as tight bipoles. The bipole pairs may be arranged as a bipole network, and may include a cathode and an anode that are spaced relatively close together to form a limited broadcast field. In general, the broadcast filed is a controlled or “tight” broadcast field that extends from the bipole pair(s). Methods of using these devices and system are also described. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090076408 | PET BODY FAT MEASURING TOOL - A pet body fat measuring tool | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090076409 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THERMALLY-INDUCED RENAL NEUROMODULATION - Methods and system are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues. In some embodiments, thermally-induced renal neuromodulation is achieved via delivery of a pulsed thermal therapy. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090076410 | System and Methods for Wireless Body Fluid Monitoring - An adherent device to monitor a tissue hydration of a patient comprises an adhesive patch to adhere to a skin of the patient. At least four electrodes are connected to the patch and capable of electrically coupling to the patient. Impedance circuitry is coupled to the at least four electrodes to measure a tissue resistance of the patient, where the circuitry is configured to determine the tissue hydration in response to tissue resistance. The circuitry may comprise a processor system and the tissue resistance may correspond to a change in patient body fluid. The impedance circuitry is configured to measure the hydration signal using at least one low measurement frequency, which may be in the range of 0 to 10 kHz. Multiple measurement frequencies may be used and the hydration signal may include a tissue reactance measurement. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090088661 | BIOMETRIC APPARATUS - A biometric apparatus includes: at least two electrode members arranged so as to be capable of coming into contact with a measured person; a determining device that determines whether the at least two electrode members are in a conducting state via a body of the measured person or not; a measuring device that measures biometric data of the measured person; and a control device that activates or deactivates the measuring device on the basis of a result of determination provided by the determining device. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090088662 | Determination of Position of Injection Needle - The present invention relates to a method for detecting contact between an injection needle of a medication delivery device and a body of a patient. The method comprises the step of generating a contact signal in response to closure of an electrical signal path comprising an exterior surface part of the injection needle, an exterior surface part of a handle of the medication delivery device and at least part of the body of the patient. The present invention further relates to a method for determining the position of insertion of the injection needle, and to the insertion depth of the injection needle. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090093732 | BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASURING APPARATUS AND BODY COMPOSITION DETERMINING APPARATUS - A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus includes a measuring unit for sequentially measuring a bioelectrical impedance of a living subject. The apparatus may further include a period determiner for determining a fluctuation period of fluctuation in values of the bioelectrical impedance measured by the measuring unit, the fluctuation being caused by breathing of the living subject. A calculator calculates an average of a plurality of the values of the bioelectrical impedance measured by the measuring unit within the fluctuation period determined by the period determiner. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090099475 | METHOD AND IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE FOR ASSESSING A DEGREE OF PULMONARY EDEMA OF A PATIENT - In a method and an implantable medical device for assessing a degree of pulmonary edema of a patient, at least two specific body patients of the patent are detected and at least one impedance sensing session is initiated to sense trans-thoracic impedance signals from the patient when the patient is in one of the at least two specific positions. Impedance values are obtained from the impedance signals, and a relation between respective impedance values at the at least two positions is determined. This relation is then used as a metric of pulmonary edema to assess the degree of pulmonary edema, and is provided as an output. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090118637 | METHODS FOR MEASURING CROSS-SECTIONAL AREAS AND PRESSURE GRADIENTS IN LUMINAL ORGANS - The present disclosure comprises a system, catheter and method for measuring the cross-sectional areas and pressure gradients in any hollow organ, such as, for example, blood vessels. One embodiment of such a method includes the steps of introducing an impedance catheter into a treatment site, providing electrical current flow to the treatment site, injecting a first solution and measuring a first conductance value, injecting a second solution and measuring a second conductance value, and calculating the cross-sectional area of the treatment site, in part, based on the first and second conductance values. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090124924 | Method for diagnosing a disease - A method to determine presence of a disease condition in a medical patient by evaluating conductivity information. Point-attributes values obtained from highly accurate conductivity data-sets taken as a function of time, over a period of time, are compared to previously determined threshold values. Z-scores may be determined to combine a plurality of point-attribute values in formulation of a composite score for a patient. Sometimes, z-scores are weighted by overall accuracy of the point-attribute in predicting presence of the disease. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090131812 | BODY COMPOSITION MEASURING INSTRUMENT FOR RECOGNIZING BODY SITE USED IN CALCULATION OF COMPOSITION COMPONENT - A body composition measuring instrument for measuring a body composition of a whole body of a subject includes a detecting section for detecting a plurality of potential differences at each of a plurality of body sites including a whole body, both hands, and both feet by using hand electrodes and foot electrodes; first and second body composition calculating units for calculating the body composition of the whole body based on at least one of the potential differences detected by the detecting section and body information of the subject; and an informing unit for informing the information related to the body site to be detected of the potential difference used in the calculation of the body composition of the whole body. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090137925 | Impedance Spectroscopy Cervix Scanning Apparatus and Method - In one particular aspect of the present invention, an electrode clip is provided. The clip has a pair of lobes having opposing surfaces, and a stem extending from a side of each of the pair of lobes. A pair of tetra-pole electrodes is provided on each of the opposing surfaces. A resilient connection member joins the stems and is adapted to maintain electrical contact between the pair of tetra-pole electrodes and an actively dilating and effacing cervix. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090149771 | Vessel locator - The present invention is a vessel detector comprising a sensor, a display and an access device for positioning the sensor in a detection area. According to the invention the sensor device is an impedance sensor. The invention comprises also a method for locating vessels comprising impedance measuring. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090156957 | PAINLESS NON-STIMULATING LEAD IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT - This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising, a plurality of electrodes configured to deliver defibrillation countershock energy to a subject, an impedance measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the electrodes and configured to measure the impedance between any two of the electrodes using a non-stimulating excitation signal, and a controller communicatively coupled to the impedance measurement circuit and configured to calculate the impedance of a shock vector, wherein the shock vector includes a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected together, and a third electrode, and wherein the controller calculates the impedance using measured impedances between the three electrodes when none of them are electrically connected. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090171234 | Devices, systems and methods for bioimpedance measurement of cervical tissue and methods for diagnosis and treatment of human cervix - Featured are apparatuses for measuring bioimpendence of tissues of the cervix, more specifically the mammalian cervix. Also featured are methods for examining the tissues of the cervix for clinical or diagnostic purposes such as during routine gynecological examinations to determine early onset of labor in pregnant patients or to assess such tissues for the presence of abnormalities such as cancerous lesions in both pregnant and non-pregnant women. Also featured are methods for treating onset of early or pre-term labor that embody such devices, apparatuses and methods of the present invention. Also featured are systems embodying such devices, apparatuses and/or methods, where such systems preferably are configured to provide diagnostic and/or clinical information to further assist the diagnostician or clinician in diagnosing and/or examining pregnant or non-pregnant patients. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171235 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLEX IMPEDANCE COMPENSATION AND FOR DETERMINING TISSUE MORPHOLOGY BASED ON PHASE ANGLE - A compensation circuit has a predetermined, known complex impedance and is located in a handle of a catheter or in a distal end of a cable that connects to the catheter. The compensation circuit is probed with a pilot signal produced by a compensation control that is external to the catheter, by way of an electrical connection through the connecting cable. The compensation control measures the complex impedance, which is the combination of the circuit's known impedance as well as that of the cable. The compensation control then determines the difference between the measured and the known complex impedances. The difference represents that which is attributable to the cable, and is used to compensate or cancel out such cable-related contributions to complex impedance in measurements made over other electrical connections in the same cable. In another aspect, an unknown tissue is identified as one of a plurality of possible tissue types such as regular myocardium, scar and fat based on the measured phase angle of the complex impedance of the unknown tissue. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171236 | ELECTRICAL BIOIMPEDANCE ANALYSIS AS A BIOMARKER OF BREAST DENSITY AND/OR BREAST CANCER RISK - Methods and systems are provided for the noninvasive measurement of the subepithelial impedance of the breast and for assessing the risk that a substantially asymptomatic female patient will develop or be at substantially increased risk of developing proliferative or pre-cancerous changes in the breast, or may be at subsequent risk for the development of pre-cancerous or cancerous changes. A plurality of electrodes are used to measure subepithelial impedance of parenchymal breast tissue of a patient at one or more locations and at least one frequency, particularly moderately high frequencies. The risk of developing breast cancer is assessed according to measured and expected or estimated values of subepithelial impedance for the patient and according to one or more experienced-based algorithms. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171237 | SYSTEM AND SENSOR FOR EARLY DETECTION OF SHOCK OR PERFUSION FAILURE AND TECHNIQUE FOR USING THE SAME - According to various embodiments, a system, method, and sensor are provided that is capable of monitoring electrical impedance of oral or nasal mucosal tissue. Such sensors may be appropriate for assessing gut hypoperfusion, gut ischemia, or the onset of shock. The electrical impedance of the oral mucosa or other tissues in the upper respiratory tract may be used to non-invasively assess the clinical state of gastrointestinal tissue. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090177110 | IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT AND DEMODULATION USING IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - An implantable medical device performs impedance measurement and demodulation, such as for obtaining lead impedance measurements, or thoracic impedance measurements, such as for extracting respiration, cardiac stroke, or fluid status information. A 4-point FIR filter demodulator can be used to demodulate a two-phase current excitation waveform. The demodulator can also be used to measure noise for triggering a noise response. Among other things, an increased excitation current level can be used when noise is deemed to be present. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090177111 | System and method for displaying contact between a catheter and tissue - A system and method for assessing and displaying a degree of contact between a sensor, an electrode, and tissue in a body is provided. Values for the sensor are read, and a degree of contact is calculated. This degree of contact is displayed to a clinician in a variety of ways to indicate the degree of contact to the clinician. The system and method find particular application in ablation of tissue by permitting a clinician to create lesions in the tissue more effectively and safely. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090192404 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MEASURING IMPEDANCE IN A GASTRIC RESTRICTION SYSTEM - Methods and devices are provided for gathering impedance data related to implantable restriction devices. In general, the methods and devices can enable patients, health care providers, and others to use gathered data as a feedback mechanism to non-invasively monitor efficacy of an implantable restriction device in a patient and to identify, modify, and/or prescribe a treatment plan for the patient considering the gathered data. Impedance data can be gathered and analyzed for tissue proximate to the restriction device, e.g., a fat pad between a gastric band and the patient's stomach. Electrodes in contact with the tissue can measure an impedance of the tissue, with the impedance between the electrodes changing as the tissue reduces in size (e.g., as fat cells shrink) and/or changes configuration. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090192405 | INTRALUMINAL GUIDANCE SYSTEM USING BIOELECTRIC IMPEDANCE - A system using bioelectric impedance to guide a flexible elongate transluminal device through an occlusion in a vessel. The device can be a guidewire or a device for performing an atherectomy, discectomy, ablation or similar technique. The device includes a first electrode disposed on a distal portion of the device. A second electrode is disposed in electric contact with the patient separate from the first electrode. An electric current is supplied between the first and second electrodes and a voltage drop is measured between the first and second electrodes. The voltage drop is converted to bioelectric impedance. Based on the impedance measurement, a clinician can determine if the device is approaching the vessel wall, permitting the clinician to redirect the device away from the vessel wall. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090204017 | Uterine activity monitoring using impedance plethysmography - A method and system for monitoring the uterine activity of a patient. A pair of electrodes are position in contact with the skin of the patient in the abdominal area. An electrical signal is introduced into the patient by the electrodes and a return signal is received and detected by the same electrodes. The return signal is analyzed and processed to produce a signal that is indicative of the uterine activity of the patient. As such, the system analyzes the electrical impedance and which changes with contractions or other uterine activity of the patient. As such, only two relatively light electrodes are utilized and both transmit and receive the electrical signal to determine changes in the impedance between the electrodes which is interpreted to be indicative of the uterine activity. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090204018 | BODY COMPOSITION MEASURING INSTRUMENT FOR RECOGNIZING CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION - A body composition measuring instrument includes a body composition calculating unit for calculating a body composition of a user by using a plurality of electrodes, a reference value storage region for storing information of a reference value related to the past body composition of the user, a display control unit for performing a control to display a position (BR | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090209880 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT AND MONITOR THE FREQUENCY OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting and monitoring obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus includes an intracardiac impedance sensor to measure intracardiac impedance, a movement sensor to measure an amount of movement of a patient, and a controller operatively coupled to said intracardiac impedance sensor and said movement sensor, said controller adapted to receive at least one of an intracardiac impedance and the amount of movement of the patient and detect obstructive sleep apnea based upon said intracardiac impedance and said movement. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090216147 | Device For Measurement Of Physiological Signals Of An Object - The present invention relates to a device for measuring physiological signals of an object, for instance a human body of a patient. The device is provided with measuring means for measuring the physiological signals and with signal processing means for at least partially processing the measured physiological signals. According to the invention the device ( | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090216148 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMPEDANCE IMAGING DEVICE - In a method of electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a mediating fluid provides electrical contact between the electrodes of an EIT device and the skin of a body part to be examined. The height of the fluid is raised or lowered between impedance measurements, enabling tomographic images of the tissue under examination to be resolved mathematically for subsequent viewing. Tomographic planes are isolated by calculating differences between Cartesian models generated from impedance values measured at the plane of interest and at an adjacent plane. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090221931 | APICAL POSITION LOCATOR - A method and system are disclosed for detecting an apical position depending on the change in the impedance between a first electrode inserted into the root canal of the tooth of a patient and a second external electrode applied to a body surface of the patient. According to some embodiments, a regulated current such as an alternating current having a substantially constant amplitude is supplied between the two electrodes, and this current serves as a measurement signal. Alternatively or additionally, the frequency of the time varying (e.g. alternating) current is at least 50 KHZ, and/or at most about 300 KHZ. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed device includes a processing unit which determines a capacitance-governed function when the first electrode is in the apical region, and which determined a function at least moderately governed by resistance when the electrode is in the dental neck region. Optionally, the first electrode inserted into the root canal is a dental file or reamer. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090234244 | Data collection for electrical impedance tomography - The invention refers to a method for carrying out data collection on electrodes placed on a body for subsequent processing of an electrical impedance tomography image of a corresponding part of said body. In order to improve the resolution of electrical impedance tomography systems without noticeably affecting the signal-to-noise ratio, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of placing the electrodes on a peripheral line around the body, applying a current pattern from a current source to at least one pair of electrodes, and measuring differential potentials between pairs of electrodes, wherein at least one intermediate electrode lies in between each pair of electrodes for measuring the differential potentials and the differential potentials of one current pattern for the subsequent image processing refer to at least three different pairs of electrodes with no electrode used more than twice for each current pattern. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090240162 | SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING ESOPHAGEAL FUNCTION - A system for displaying an esophageal operation includes a display device, an interface capable of receiving esophageal impedance and pressure measurements, and a processing system in communication with the display device, the interface, and an esophageal operation model. The processing system is configured to receive a plurality of impedance values from a first plurality of spaced-apart esophageal locations, receive a plurality of pressure values from a second plurality of spaced-apart esophageal locations, process the plurality of impedance values and the plurality of pressure values with the esophageal operation model, display the plurality of impedance values on the display device as a bolus transit, and display the plurality of pressure values on the display device as operational esophagus movement. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090240163 | Methods and Apparatus for Localization, Diagnosis, Contact or Activity Detection of Bio-Electric Tissue - Methods and apparatus for localization, diagnosis, contact or activity detection of bio-electric tissue providing improved sensitivity to the distance between a sensing electrode and bio-electric tissue and providing the means to measure the impedance of the tissue between a sensing electrode and bio-electric tissue. In accordance with the method, a controlled effective input impedance is provided to the monitor, which input impedance can be set to cause a significant portion of the bio-electric tissue signal to be dropped across the tissue between a sensing electrode and the bio-electric tissue when the two are separated by a predetermined or arbitrary distance. Various illustrative embodiments and forms of construction are disclosed. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090247896 | BODY FAT MEASURING DEVICE CAPABLE OF ACCURATELY MEASURING VISCERAL FAT AMOUNT - A body fat measuring device includes at least one pair of first electrodes to be disposed respectively at a first site and a second site sandwiching the abdomen of a subject, and an electrode group including a first abdomen electrode to be disposed at a surface of the abdomen of the subject. The first abdomen electrode includes a pair of second electrodes and a pair of third electrodes disposed in an alignment direction substantially perpendicular to a cross section of the abdomen. In a case where electric current is applied via the first electrodes, a first potential difference between electrodes of one predetermined pair included in the first abdomen electrode is detected. In a case where electric current is applied via the third electrodes, a second potential difference between the second electrodes is detected. Based on the detected two types of potential differences and physical data of the subject, the visceral fat amount of the subject is calculated. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090247897 | BODY COMPOSITION MEASURING APPARATUS - A body composition measuring apparatus includes a right hand grip having electrodes to be contacted with the right hand of a subject, and a left hand grip having electrodes to be contacted with the left hand of the subject. The right hand grip and the left hand grip are disposed such that their respective axis lines overlap with each other on the same straight line. The left hand grip is coupled to the right hand grip in a freely movable manner such that the left hand grip can move in the axis line direction. This configuration allows a small-sized body composition measuring apparatus suitable for carrying along to be achieved. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090247898 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING IMPEDANCE IN ORGANOTYPIC TISSUES - The present invention refers to a device for measuring impedance in organotypic tissue comprising at least one recording chamber with a liquid permeable membrane supporting the organotypic tissue, at least one bottom electrode and at least one top electrode, wherein the liquid permeable membrane divides the recording chamber into a top chamber and a bottom chamber, wherein at least the bottom chamber contains culture medium for the organotypic tissue, and the bottom electrode(s) is/are located in the bottom chamber and the top electrode(s) is/are located in the top chamber, and wherein the organotypic tissue is located between the bottom electrode(s) and the top electrode(s). The present invention also refers to the use of the device according to the present invention for measuring impedance in organotypic tissue. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090264790 | BODY COMPOSITION MEASURING APPARATUS - A body composition measuring apparatus includes electrodes for a right hand to be contacted with the right hand of a subject and electrodes for a left hand to be contacted with the left hand of the subject in an apparatus body for measuring an impedance of the body of the subject. The apparatus body includes a right hand grip having electrodes for a right hand and extending like a rod, a left hand grip having electrodes for a left hand and extending like a rod, and a base to which right hand grip and left hand grip are attached. Right hand grip is attached to base in a freely rotatable manner, and the extending direction of right hand grip and the direction along which the rotation axis of right hand grip extends are arranged to be different from each other. Thus, a small-sized, thin body composition measuring apparatus capable of being carried along can be obtained. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090264791 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EARLY BREAST CANCER DETECTION USING ELECTRICAL PROPERTY ENHANCED TOMOGRAPHY - A system and method for detecting cancerous tissue in a subject is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for non-invasively identifying cancerous regions in breast tissue. The system includes a sensor system, a drive system, and a processor. The sensor system includes a sensor plate and, similarly, the drive system includes a drive plate. A time-varying voltage is applied to the drive plate and induced currents are subsequently measured by the sensor plate. Signals indicative of an induced current are then acquired and analyzed by the processor to determine the spatial location of anomalous regions. Subsequently, the anomalous regions are characterized as either cancerous or non-cancerous. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090264792 | Method and Apparatus to Measure Bioelectric Impedance of Patient Tissue - A device to measure tissue impedance comprises drive circuitry coupled to calibration circuitry, such that a calibration signal from the calibration circuitry corresponds to the current delivered through the tissue. Measurement circuitry can be coupled to measurement electrodes and the calibration circuitry, such that the tissue impedance can be determined in response to the measured calibration signal from the calibration circuitry and the measured tissue impedance signal from the measurement electrodes. Processor circuitry comprising a tangible medium can be configured to determine a complex tissue impedance in response to the calibration signal and the tissue impedance signal. The processor can be configured to select a frequency for the drive current, and the amount of drive current at increased frequencies may exceed a safety threshold for the drive current at lower frequencies. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090270756 | DETERMINING PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL - A system, method and program product enable determining physiological characteristics of an animal. In one embodiment, the system includes a sensor having an array of electrodes for use in obtaining complex impedance data from a body part of an animal; and a determinater that compares the complex impedance data with an empirical data model to determine a physiological parameter of the animal, the empirical data model including physiological parameter data versus complex impedance data value correspondence of the animal. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090275854 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING PHYSIOLOGIC PARAMETERS BASED ON COMPLEX IMPEDANCE WAVEFORM MORPHOLOGY - Changes in physiologic parameters may be detected in a patient by measuring the impedance of a tissue segment located in a selected electrode vector field, storing baseline impedance information based on the measured impedance, detecting changes in impedance characteristics from the baseline impedance information, and providing alerts for changes in the physiologic parameters based on the detected changes in impedance characteristics. In some situations, detecting the changes in impedance characteristics involves detecting changes in morphology of an impedance waveform, such as a cardiac component of an impedance waveform, a respiratory component of an impedance waveform, and the phase angle of the complex impedance. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090275855 | MULTI-FREQUENCY IMPEDANCE MONITORING SYSTEM - A system and method is provided to measure intrathoracic complex impedance and to identify and indicate disease conditions based on the impedance measurements. Multiple impedance vectors may betaken into account, and an optimal vector may be selected to provide the most useful impedance measurement for the identification and indication of disease conditions. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090281449 | Optimization Of Thresholds For Eating Detection - A method is provided that includes providing a fundic impedance signal of a subject sensed during an initial calibration period using at least one implantable fundic sensor of an eating detection device. An indication is received of actual ingestion events of the subject during the initial calibration period. Using a cost function, an analysis is performed of the fundic impedance signal and the actual ingestion events. Responsively to the analysis, a threshold is set, the crossing of which by the fundic impedance signal is indicative of ingestion. The threshold is stored in a memory of the eating detection device. Other embodiments are also described. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090299211 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTION DELAYS FROM IMMITTANCE VALUES MEASURED USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques are provided for estimating electrical conduction delays with the heart of a patient based on measured immittance values. In one example, impedance or admittance values are measured within the heart of a patient by a pacemaker or other implantable medical device, then used by the device to estimate cardiac electrical conduction delays. A first set of predetermined conversion factors may be used to convert the measured immittance values into conduction delay values. In some examples, the device then uses the estimated conduction delay values to estimate LAP or other cardiac pressure values. A second set of predetermined conversion factors may be used to convert the estimated conduction delays into pressure values. Techniques are also described for adaptively adjusting pacing parameters based on estimated LAP. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090299212 | System and Method for Analyzing Progress of Labor and Preterm Labor - Systems and methods for monitoring uterus contraction activity and progress of labor. The system of the subject invention can comprises (1) a plurality of sensors; (2) an amplifying/filtering means; (3) a computing means; and (4) a graphical user interface. Accurate clinical data, which can be extracted and provided to the user in real-time using the system of the invention, include without limitation, progress of labor, prediction and monitoring of preterm labor, and intrauterine pressure prediction. In a preferred embodiment, the system of the invention includes an intelligence means, such as a neural network system, to analyze and interpret clinical data for use in clinical diagnosis as well as delivery strategy. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090306535 | Method and System for Detecting Electrophysiological Changes in Pre-Cancerous and Cancerous Tissue and Epithelium - Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the condition of selected regions of epithelial and stromal tissue. A plurality of electrodes are used to measure surface and transepithelial electropotential of tissue, especially breast tissue, as well as surface electropotential and impedance at one or more locations and at several defined frequencies, particularly low frequencies. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological response characteristics. Measured and derived electrical properties facilitating diagnosis include DC potential, impedance, subepithelial resistance, epithelial resistance, capacitance, characteristic frequency, depression angle and transepithelial potential. Ambient and varying pressure measurements applied to epithelial tissue are also used for diagnosis. Improved diagnosis of tissue condition can be made based on the electrical properties and tissue electrophysiological response to altered ion transport and pressure. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090312666 | SKIN CONDUCTION MEASURING APPARATUS - In this skin conduction measuring apparatus, bipolar pulse currents generated by current generator sections | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090326407 | Electrophysiological Analysis System and Method - The invention relates to an electrophysiological analysis system which comprises a plurality of electrodes (E | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090326408 | Providing Impedance Plethysmography Electrodes - A method of measuring lung impedance of a subject can include positioning current-injection electrodes on or within the subject in a configuration such that a current injected between the current-injection electrodes propagates substantially through a first lung of the subject, and not through a heart and a second lung of the subject; positioning voltage-measurement electrodes on or within the subject in a configuration such that voltage measuring fields propagate substantially through the first lung and the second lung of the subject, but not through the heart of the subject; and injecting a current between the current-injection electrodes, as positioned, and measuring a resulting voltage between the voltage-measurement electrodes, as positioned, to obtain an impedance measure across lung tissue. The method can further include injecting current and measuring the resulting voltage multiple times over a time period to monitor respiration of the subject over the time period. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100010368 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING AORTIC LESIONS - Devices, systems, and methods for the localization of body lumen junctions and other intraluminal structure are disclosed. Various embodiments permit clinicians to identify and locate lesions and/or anatomical structures within a lumen and accurately place leads and/or devices within a lumen, through determining the intralumen conductance and/or cross-sectional area at a plurality of locations within the body lumen. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100049077 | Internal Bleeding Detection Apparatus - Abstract: An EIT system ( | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100049078 | Method and Apparatus for Disease Diagnosis and Screening Using Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields - Novel methods and apparatus for diagnosing or screening disease states in living organisms by the measurement and analysis of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, particularly extremely low frequency alternating current. The measurement of such fields is performed at a single point or at several test points on or in the body and compared to one or more reference. Information in the time-varying electromagnetic field is collected, then processed by diagnostic or screening algorithms to provide information about the disease state of the tissue being assessed. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100049079 | Method and system for detecting electrophysiological changes in pre-cancerous and cancerous breast tissue and epithelium - A method and system are provided for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial and stromal tissue in the human breast. A plurality of measuring electrodes are used to measure the tissue and transepithelial electropotential of breast tissue. Surface electropotential and impedance are also measured at one or more locations. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. The condition of the tissue is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, stroma, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100049080 | THIXOTROPIC SWALLOW CHALLENGE MEDIUM - A swallow challenge medium is thixotropic for easy swallowing and to provide enough viscosity for effective challenge to peristalsis and has high ionic density for effective impedance measurements by contact with electrodes positioned in a person's esophagus or oropharynx during swallow testing. The medium also has a high surface tension so as not to adhere to or coat the electrodes or probe surfaces. These physical characteristics are stabilized and consistent enough to provide standard for esophageal and/or oropharyngeal function testing and diagnostics. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100049081 | Tissue Discrimination and Applications in Medical Procedures - A system and method for discriminating tissue types, controlling the level of therapy to tissue, and determining the health or a known tissue by measuring the characteristics an electrical signal applied to conductive element located within or by the tissue. Additionally, the system and method may be used for determining whether the conductive tip of a pedicle probe or pedicle screw is located in one of cortical bone, cancellous bone, and cortical bone near a boundary with soft tissue, whether the conductive tip of a cannula is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and annulus tissue, and whether the conductive tip of a cathode is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and prostate gland tissue. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100056943 | Detection of pain/awakening integral value - The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient. A skin conductance signal is measured at an area of the patient's skin during a measurement interval. A first measure and a second measure, both reflecting the state of the autonomous nervous system of the patient, is calculated by means of certain integral functions. The largest one of the first and second measures is then selected as the output signal (Y) that reflects the state of the autonomous nervous system of the sedated patient. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100063412 | MONITORING FLUID IN A SUBJECT USING AN ELECTRODE CONFIGURATION PROVIDING NEGATIVE SENSITIVITY REGIONS - An amount of fluid in a thoracic or other region of a subject may be monitored by internally injecting an electrical energy stimulus (e.g., constant voltage source) through the region, detecting voltage resulting from the electrical energy stimulus, and calculating a fluid volume indicative signal. The injected energy stimulus creates a first lead field. The responsive voltage is detected using an electrode configuration that defines a second lead field, which is arranged in a negative sensitivity configuration with respect to the first lead field at the region being monitored. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100069778 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THORACIC FLUID LEVELS BASED ON IMPEDANCE USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - Techniques are provided for monitoring thoracic fluid levels based on thoracic impedance (Z | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100069779 | Soft tissue moisture analyzer - A device and method for evaluating the moisture of soft tissue within a mouth of a subject, the device including: (a) an alternating current source, adapted to produce an alternating current; (b) an electrode arrangement having at least first and second electrodes, separated by an electrically insulating region, the arrangement having an at least semi-rigid region that fixes the electrodes in a spaced-apart manner, and (c) a processor, wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the alternating current source, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the processor, and wherein, when the electrode arrangement is provided with the alternating current, and is disposed against the soft tissue, the soft tissue electrically bridges between the electrodes to form an electrical circuit, wherein an electrical signal is produced by: the alternating current passing from the first electrode to the second electrode via the soft tissue, and wherein the processor is adapted to receive electrical information originating from the electrical signal, via the circuit, and to produce an output relating to the moisture of the soft tissue, based on the electrical information. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100069780 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING BIOPOTENTIALS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE CONTROL FUNCTIONS IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS - A biosignal-computer-interface apparatus and method. The apparatus includes one or more devices for generating biosignals based on at least one physiological parameter of an individual, and a computer-interface device capable of performing multiple tasks, including converting the biosignals into at least one input signal, establishing a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal, multiplying the input signal into parallel control channels, dividing the scale into multiple zones for each of the parallel control channels, assigning computer commands to each individual zone of the multiple zones, and generating the computer command assigned to at least one of the individual zones if the level of the input signal is within the at least one individual zone. The individual zones can be the same or different among the parallel control channels. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100069781 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ACCESSING AND TREATING DUCTS OF MAMMARY GLANDS - This application relates to a device for the local delivery of a substance to a mammary duct by ductal cannulation via an orifice on a nipple, wherein the substance may any substance or combinations of substances, such as for example, compositions capable of forming a solid or semisolid gel within the ducts, a marker, and/or an active agent which is preferably effective in treating and/or preventing breast cancer. More particularly, a device is disclosed comprising a probe for locating the orifice on the nipple, wherein the device is further configured to cannulate the duct and allow local delivery of a substance(s). | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100076336 | THORACIC IMPEDANCE DETECTION WITH BLOOD RESISTIVITY COMPENSATION - This document discusses, among other things, a cardiac rhythm management device or other implantable medical device that uses thoracic impedance to determine how much fluid is present in the thorax, such as for detecting or predicting congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, hypotension, or the like. The thoracic fluid amount determined from the thoracic impedance is compensated for changes in blood resistivity, which may result from changes in hematocrit level or other factors. The blood-resistivity-compensated thoracic fluid amount can be stored in the device or transmitted to an external device for storage or display. The blood-resistivity-compensated thoracic fluid amount can also be used to adjust a cardiac pacing, cardiac resynchronization, or other cardiac rhythm management or other therapy to the patient. This document also discusses applications of the devices and methods for predicting or indicating anemia. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100081960 | Bioimpedance System and Sensor and Technique for Using the Same - A sensor assembly and/or systems for bioimpedance measurements may provide information related to the lean body water of the patient's tissue. The information related to the patient's lean body water may be determined by spectroscopic methods for determining water fraction. The patient's fat-free hydration levels may be incorporated into determinations of physiological parameters that may be determined by bioimpedance, such as cardiac output, hemtocrit, or body fat percentage. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100081961 | Method for evaluating the health status, gender, energy content and body composition of living and dead fish, and time of death of dead fish to better describe, evaluate and manage like fish populations using bioelectrical impedance analysis - A method and an apparatus are described for testing the health status, gender, and body composition of living fish as well as time of death for dead fish. The apparatus consists of two series of needles that are mounted to a measuring device that is capable of simultaneously measuring the distance between the two sets of needles and the impedance of a whole fish. The method includes applying needles to the fish, passing an electrical current between the needles, determining impedance for tissue of the fish between the needles, measuring the distance between the two needles and correlating the determined impedance and needle distance measurement with the health status, gender and body composition of living fish and dead fish and time of death of dead fish. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100081962 | VISCERAL FAT MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A visceral fat measurement device includes a first electrode pair and a second electrode pair to be arranged in a body axis direction at a back surface of an abdomen of a subject; a current generation unit for flowing current between electrodes of the first electrode pair; a potential difference detection unit for detecting a potential difference between electrodes of the second electrode pair current is flowed between the electrodes of the first electrode pair; and a visceral fat mass calculation part for calculating visceral fat mass of the subject based on the detected potential difference between the electrodes of the second electrode pair. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100087750 | IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS - A method of determining frequencies for use in performing impedance measurements. The method includes determining estimates for parameter values representing an impedance response for at least one subject, using the estimated parameter values to determine a design and using the design to determine frequencies for use in impedance measurements. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100094157 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING A USER OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE - A method for identifying a user of an electronic device is presented. In the method, for each of a plurality of users, a bioelectrical impedance of the user is measured, a value based on the measurement is generated, and the value is associated with information corresponding to the user. A bioelectrical impedance of a current user of the electronic device is also measured, and a value based on this measurement is generated. The value associated with the current user is compared with at least one of the values associated with the plurality of users. In response to the comparison, the electronic device is operated based on the information corresponding to one of the plurality of users in response to the current user interacting with the electronic device if the value associated with the current user indicates the current user is the one of the plurality of users. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100094158 | ESTIMATION OF PROPENSITY TO SYMPTOMATIC HYPOTENSION - The invention relates to estimation of a patient's propensity to suffer from symptomatic hypotension during extracorporeal blood treatment. An electromagnetic test signal, which is applied over a thoracic region of the patient via at least one transmitter electrode. A result signal produced in response to the test signal is received via at least one receiver electrode on the patient. A test parameter is derived based on the result signal. The test parameter expresses a fluid status of the thoracic region of the patient, and it is determined whether the test parameter fulfills an alarm criterion. If the test parameter fulfills an alarm criteria, an alarm signal is generated. This signal indicates that the patient is hypotension prone, and that appropriate measures should be taken. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100094159 | APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING REFERENCE SIGNALS FOR MEASURING PHASE RESPONSE CHARACTERISTIC OF HUMAN BODY, AND PHASE RESPONSE CHARACTERISTIC MEASURING SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING THE SAME - Provided are an apparatus for transmitting reference signals for measuring the phase response characteristic of a human body in human body communication, and a system and method for measuring the phase response characteristic of a human body using the same. The apparatus including: a signal generator for generating reference signals for measuring the phase response characteristic of a human body; a signal distributor for distributing the generated reference signals to a transmitting electrode and a frequency converter; the transmitting electrode for applying the reference signals distributed by the signal distributor to a human body; the frequency converter for converting the frequency of the reference signals distributed by the signal distributor into a frequency different from a frequency of a reference signal applied to the human body via the transmitting electrode; and a radio antenna for wirelessly transmitting the frequency-converted reference signal to a free space. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100094160 | METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING A DISEASE - Methods, systems, and apparatus to determine the presence of a disease condition in a medical patient by evaluating conductivity information. In some embodiments, point-attributes values may be obtained from conductivity data sets. This data may be compared to previously determined data, such as threshold values. In some embodiments, z-scores may be determined to combine a plurality of point-attribute values in formulation of a composite score for a patient. In some embodiments, z-scores may be weighted by overall accuracy of the point-attribute in predicting presence of the disease. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100100002 | APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND MONITORING OF HEPATIC STEATOSIS BASED ON ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT - The present invention relates to a system for the rapid determination of the degree of hepatic steatosis (fat in the liver) via a direct measurement of the hepatic electrical impedance at one or more frequencies. The measurement is taken by means of surface or minimally invasive sensors, which can be coupled to other devices for medical use (e.g., laparoscopic probes). By means of an interpolation algorithm based on correlations between impedance and the percentage of hepatic fat in reference biopsies, the system is capable of determining the degree of hepatic steatosis in the organ measured immediately and without requiring any other kind of intervention. This permits its application to procedures such as liver transplant, allowing a rapid diagnosis of viability to be made, along with other surgical procedures and on explanted organs. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100100003 | MONITORING SYSTEM - A method for performing impedance measurements on a subject. The method includes, in a processing system, causing at least one electrical signal to be applied to the subject via first leads operatively connected to first electrodes provided on the subject, determining a first indication indicative of at least one first electrical signal measured via second leads operatively disconnected from second electrodes positioned on the subject, determining a second indication indicative of at least one second electrical signal measured via second leads operatively connected to second electrodes positioned on the subject, and determining from the indications and the at least one applied signal, at least one instantaneous impedance value. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100106045 | BODY COMPOSITION MONITOR CAPABLE OF ACCURATELY MEASURING WHOLE-BODY COMPOSITION AND ACHIEVING FACILITATED MANIPULATION - A detection portion for detecting a first potential difference between hand and foot by applying a current across the hand and the foot of a subject through both of a hand electrode and a foot electrode and detecting a second potential difference between both hands or between both feet by applying a current across both hands or across both feet of the subject through any one of the hand electrodes and the foot electrodes, a first body composition calculation portion for calculating a first whole-body composition by using whole-body impedance based on a result of detection of the first potential difference, a correction portion for correcting two-limb impedance based on a result of detection of the second potential difference, and a second body composition calculation portion for calculating a second whole-body composition by using the corrected two-limb impedance are included. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100106046 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING AND PREVENTING PULMONARY EDEMA AND MANAGEMENT OF TREATMENT THEREOF - A device and a method for preventive treatment of evolving pulmonary edema in patients which are at risk of complication associated with pulmonary edema which is based on the monitoring of internal thoracic impedance of the patient. The device extracts the internal thoracic impedance from measured trans-thoracic impedance and is relatively immune to variations in skin/electrode interface impedance. The method includes identification of a stage of interstitial edema development before the appearance of a clinical indication and the beginning of an appropriate medicinal treatment in accordance to variations of the monitored internal thoracic impedance. The method also indicates the appropriate moment for terminating the medicinal treatment and can be applied when the patient and his treating physician are positioned at remote locations. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100106047 | ELECTRICAL METHODS FOR DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ABNORMAL TISSUE AND CELLS - An apparatus for the diagnosis of a biological sample is disclosed. An embodiments of the apparatus includes a probe, a probe head distally connectable to the probe, the probe head further comprising a plurality of electrode elements thereby forming an electrode array where each electrode element is variably actuatable to apply an electrical signal to the biological sample; an RF signal source for applying the electrical signal to the electrode array; an electrode selector adapted and configured to switch the electrical signal from the RF signal source between the plurality of electrode elements; and a detection circuit for analyzing a dielectric property received from the biological sample. Methods and kits for diagnosing a biological sample are also disclosed. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100113961 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE POSTURE OF PATIENT - The present invention relates to a method for determining the posture of a patient. The method comprises the steps of: initiating ( | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100113962 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO LOCALIZE CHANGES IN INTRATHORACIC FLUID CONTENT USING MEASURED IMPEDANCE IN AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - An implantable medical device and associated methods monitor thoracic fluid status and discriminate thoracic fluid conditions. Intrathoracic impedance is measured along multiple intrathoracic measurement vectors using implanted electrodes. A map of thoracic conductivity is computed using the measured intrathoracic impedances. A thoracic fluid condition is detected in response to the computed map. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100113963 | IMPEDANCE GUIDED TUNNELING TOOL - A system includes a first electrode at a tip of a tunneling tool and a second electrode. The system includes a circuit configured to determine whether the tip of the tunneling tool is within subcutaneous fat tissue or muscle tissue of a patient based on a measurement of an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100113964 | DETERMINING INTERCARDIAC IMPEDANCE - A system and method for determining complex intercardiac impedance to detect various cardiac functions are disclosed involving a signal generator means for providing an adjustable direct current signal, a modulator for modulating the adjustable direct current signal to produce a modulated signal, at least one electrode for propagating the modulated signal across a myocardium, at least one sensor for detecting an outputted modulated signal from the myocardium, and at least one circuit to reduce the influence of process noise (aggressors) in the outputted modulated signal. The at least one circuit comprises an amplifier, a demodulator, and an integrator. The amplitude and phase of the final outputted modulated signal indicate the complex impedance of the myocardium. Changes in the complex impedance patterns of the myocardium provide indication of reduced oxygen and blood flow to the myocardium. The apparatus can be employed in implantable devices, including cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100113965 | INTERNAL SYSTEMS IMBALANCE DETERMINATION AND ITS USE FOR SELECTION OF FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AND/OR VITAMINS - An internal systems imbalance determining method for use in the determination of suitable food supplements provision for a patient, is provided. The patient has on his skin at least one sensing zone with at least one measurement point located therein, and at least one stimulation point. The method includes providing a diagnostic device for measuring electrical resistance between the measurement point on one side of the body, and a ground point on the other side of the body; providing at least one positioning member adapted to be placed over and at least partially cover the at least one sensing zone of the patient; placing the positioning member on the sensing zone on one side of the body; bringing the active electrode in contact with the measurement point through the positioning hole to provide the electrical signal thereto and providing electrical ground at the ground point by the dual-purpose electrode, and collecting a first measurement therefrom; removing the active electrode and electrically stimulating the body at the stimulation point using the dual-purpose electrode; repeating the above to collect a second measurement from the measurement point; performing analysis of the first and the second measurements thereby allocating possible imbalance of internal systems of the body; and outputting results of the analysis. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100121216 | BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT BODY ATTACHMENT UNIT AND BODY FAT MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A bioelectrical impedance measurement abdomen attachment unit includes an electrode support for supporting an electrode and a long belt to be wrapped around an abdomen of a subject. The electrode support includes a fixing portion fixed with one end of the belt in a relatively immovable manner with respect to the electrode support, and a holder for holding a portion closer to another end of the belt in a relatively movable manner with respect to the electrode support. The holder includes an attachment portion removably attachable to an arbitrary position of the portion closer to the other end of the belt and a biasing portion for coupling the attachment portion and the electrode support and biasing the attachment portion and the electrode support in an approaching direction. According to such a configuration, there is obtained a bioelectrical impedance measurement attachment unit which enables the electrodes to be pressed against the abdomen of the subject with a constant load with satisfactory reproducibility and which is not painful to the subject. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100130883 | In-Vivo Non-Invasive Bioelectric Impedance Analysis of Glucose-Mediated Changes in Tissue - A non-invasive, in vivo method for measuring glucose-mediated changes in tissue is disclosed. The method comprises the act of providing a system for directly or indirectly measuring impedance values. The method further comprises the act of providing at least three electrodes and corresponding electrode pads. The electrodes are connected to the system. The method further comprises the act of contacting the electrode pads to a user's skin. The method further comprises the act of contacting each of the at least four electrodes to a corresponding electrode pad. The method further comprises the act of applying an alternating current. The method further comprises the act of determining the correlation between the glucose concentration in the tissue and the measured changes in impedance. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100130884 | MONITORING AND CONTROLLING HYDROCEPHALUS - Systems and methods for monitoring cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) based on electrical impedance measurements are disclosed. The systems can include an excitation source of alternating current ( | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100130885 | BODY FAT MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A body fat measurement device includes a bioelectrical impedance measurement body attachment unit with an electrode support and a belt. The belt includes a stretchable region at one part. The electrode support includes a fixing portion fixed with one end of the belt, and a holder for holding a portion closer to another end of the belt in a movable manner and including a wrapping length adjustment mechanism for adjusting the wrapping length thereof. The body fat measurement device includes a displacement amount detection unit for detecting a displacement amount of the belt caused by the stretching of the stretchable region, and a wrapping length adjustment mechanism control section for controlling the wrapping length adjustment mechanism based on information detected by the displacement amount detection unit. According to such a configuration, there is obtained a body fat measurement device including a bioelectrical impedance measurement abdomen attachment unit enabling smooth breathing motion without hardly giving pain to the subject, and capable of being closely attached with satisfactory reproducibility regardless of a waist length of the subject. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100137738 | SURGICAL TISSUE MONITORING SYSTEM - A tissue monitoring system includes an introducer having an inflatable section and a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon. The electrodes are alternatively connected to an electrode contact system which includes at least one signal line and at least one measurement line for taking readings about a circumferential segment of tissue encompassed by the electrodes. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100145220 | FEEDBACK DEVICE - A feedback device is described comprising sensing means operable to detect a first body part movement and a second body part movement. A timer, associated with said sensing means, is provided for measuring the time lapsed between detection of the first body part movement and detection of the second body part movement. A communication means is also provided for relaying information concerning the lapsed time to a user. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100152605 | MONITORING SYSTEM AND PROBE - A probe for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject. The probe includes a housing for being held by an operator in use, a contact surface for contacting the subject and a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100191141 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING A DISEASED CONDITION IN TISSUE OF A SUBJECT - The present invention relates to a method and a medical device for diagnosing a diseased condition in tissue of a human or animal subject, wherein tissue electrical impedance measurements are employed. At least one set of data pre-processing rules are applied to impedance of a target tissue region and impedance of a reference tissue region, wherein the reference tissue region is located in close proximity to the target tissue region. The impedance data of the target tissue region and the impedance data of the reference tissue region comprises a plurality of impedance values measured in the target tissue region and the reference tissue region, respectively, wherein the tissue measurements in the two tissue regions are performed substantially concurrently of immediately consecutively. On the basis of the pre-processed data, a trained evaluation system algorithm diagnoses the diseased condition in the target tissue region. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100198100 | BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT BODY ATTACHMENT UNIT AND BODY FAT MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A bioelectrical impedance measurement abdomen attachment unit ( | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100198101 | NON-INVASIVE LOCATION AND TRACKING OF TUMORS AND OTHER TISSUES FOR RADIATION THERAPY - Embodiments herein provide a non-invasive tracking system that accurately predicts the location of tumors, such as lung tumors, in real time, while allowing patients to breathe naturally. This is accomplished by using Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), in conjunction with spirometry, strain gauge and infrared sensors, and by using sophisticated patient-specific mathematical models that incorporate the dynamics of tumor motion. With the direction and speed of lung tumor movement successfully tracked, radiation may be effectively delivered to the lung tumor and not to the surrounding healthy tissue, thus increased radiation dosage may be directed to improving local tumor control without compromising functional parenchyma. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100217148 | Measuring Fluid Excreted from an Organ - A device for measuring characteristics of fluid excreted from an organ of the human body, including electrodes; a power source; and a data processing system including a power regulation module and a measurement module. The electrodes are connected to the power source via the data processing system and are arranged in an array in contact of the human body in vicinity of the fluid excreting organ. The array characterized by a predefined spatial arrangement of the electrodes that is related to the form of the fluid excreting organ. The power regulation module is arranged to supply the electrodes with an electric current characterized by predefined parameters and the measurement module is arranged to measure characteristics of the excreted fluid from evolved potentials on the human body due to the electric current, in relation to the predefined spatial arrangement of the electrodes in the array. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100222696 | Apparatus and Method For Assessing Vascular Health - Apparatus and methods for utilizing conductivity measurements to assess vascular health or to diagnose vascular conditions are disclosed. An exemplary method includes performing a first conductivity measurement of an extremity at a first elevation; elevating the extremity to a second elevation; performing a second conductivity measurement at the second elevation; and comparing the first conductivity measurement and the second conductivity measurement to determine a conductivity displacement Δσ. Another exemplary method includes maintaining a conductivity sensor adjacent to an individual for a period of time; performing a series of conductivity measurements; using the series of conductivity measurements to determine the transient behavior of the conductivity over the period of time; and using the transient behavior of the conductivity to assess the vascular health of the individual. A conductivity sensor and platform unit for performing conductivity measurements are also disclosed. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100228143 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO DETERMINE FUNCTIONAL LUNG CHARACTERISTICS - An apparatus for determining functional lung characteristics of a patient includes an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) imaging device adapted to record the impedance distribution within a plane of the thorax of the patient. The EIT imaging device includes a control and analysis unit for performing the impedance measurement and deriving the impedance distribution within the plane of the thorax. The control and analysis unit automatically performs steps including determining a global impedance change, defined as the impedance change with respect to an earlier measured reference impedance distribution integrated over the electrode plane, and recording the global impedance change curve as a function of time, performing breath detection in order to identify a breathing cycle, subdividing each breathing cycle to define a plurality of intratidal intervals, subdividing an EIT image from each interval into a plurality of regions of interest and calculating for each region of interest the ratio of the integrated impedance change within this region of interest to the global impedance change of this EIT image, for each intratidal interval presenting indications of the ratios determined for the regions of interest to provide an intratidal gas distribution representation for each interval. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100234753 | Apparatus for determining health of an individual - A method and apparatus for obtaining data relevant to the state of health of an individual by measuring the signal spectra at various points on the individual's body. Illustratively, the measurements are at points on the individual's hand, implemented with a glove that includes numerous electrical point contacts. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100234754 | Method and apparatus for measuring the state of hydration of hairy animals such as horses, camels, and the like - A method and apparatus for measuring and analyzing the state of hydration of a horse, camel or other hairy animal including providing power to a transmitting circuit to transmit a signal to electrodes resulting in a potential difference across the electrodes causing a flow of current between the electrodes reflecting the impedance encountered and sending a signal reflecting such information to receiving circuits which pass that data to processing circuits which process that data with other external inputs to produce an output display reflecting an indication of the state of hydration of the animal, comprising:
| 09-16-2010 |
| 20100234755 | Electrode holder for use on hairy animals such as horses, camels, and the like - An electrode holder comprising a pair of electrodes connected by a flexible, insulating rod which controls the position of the electrodes with respect to each other and the topographic surfaces of the body or body part of the animal. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100234756 | HUMAN BODY COMMUNICATION APPARATUS - There is provided a human body communication apparatus capable of performing communications through the contact with external devices (a central processing unit) and a human body. The human body communication apparatus includes a plurality of contact sensor units including a plurality of electrode contacted with a human body and having conductivity, and a plurality of electrostatic sensor units coupled to the electrodes to sense an electrostatic capacity changed through the contact with the human body and generate a contact signal using the sensed electrostatic capacity; a signal analyzer unit for analyzing the contact signal received from the contact sensor units; and a control signal generator unit for generating a control signal as the analysis result in the signal analyzer unit. Therefore, the human body communication apparatus may be useful to minimize the power consumption of modem for human body communication or transceiver circuits by recognizing predetermined patterns of the user so as to reduce the unnecessary power consumption when the communication input/output apparatus, particularly a mobile device, using a human body as a medium is in contact with the device for the purpose of other uses other than the human body communications, and to minimize the power consumption to extend the standby time of the mobile devices. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100241022 | Apparatus and Method for Non-Contact Electrical Impedance Imaging - A method of electrical impedance imaging using multiple electrodes in which each of the multiple electrodes does not contact the object to be imaged but is electrically coupled to the object via electrically conductive fluid in which the object is at least partially immersed. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100241023 | System and Method for Return Electrode Monitoring - A detection circuit for return electrode monitoring is disclosed. The detection circuit includes a transformer operatively coupled to a pair of split electrode pads, wherein the transformer is configured to transceive a return electrode sense signal. The detection circuit also includes a first switch coupled to the transformer and a neutrally-referenced second switch, wherein the first switch and the second switch are disposed on a single die. The detection circuit further includes an operational amplifier coupled to the first switch and the neutrally-referenced second switch. The operational amplifier is configured to subtract a noise signal from the return electrode sense signal. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100241024 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AN ACCESS TO A PATIENT, IN PARTICULAR A VASCULAR ACCESS IN EXTRACORPOREAL BLOOD TREATMENT - The present invention relates to a device and a method for monitoring an access to a patient, in particular a vascular access in extracorporeal blood treatment, in which a patient's blood is withdrawn from the patient via an arterial conduit and is returned to the patient via a venous conduit. In the device according to the present invention and in the method according to the present invention, an alternating voltage signal, relative to a common ground potential, is coupled in and out of the arterial and venous conduits, and the blood flowing through the arterial and venous conduits is at ground potential. In this way, disturbances, which can be attributed particularly to movements of the conduits, are reduced. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100249640 | METHOD OF ANALYZING BODY COMPOSITION WITH MEASUREMENT OF VOLTAGE SIGNALS AT MULTIPLE POSITIONS OF BODY - A method of analyzing a composition of a human body having a plurality of body segments is disclosed. The method can include applying a current signal to a body. The method can further include simultaneously measuring a plurality of voltage signals from a plurality of measuring positions of the body during a predetermined period, and processing at least two of the plurality of voltage signals to determine a composition parameter of a body segment so as to assess or analyze composition of the body. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100249641 | METHOD OF ANALYZING BODY COMPOSITION WITH MEASUREMENT OF VOLTAGE SIGNALS AT MULTIPLE POSITIONS OF BODY - A method of analyzing a composition of a human body having a plurality of body segments is disclosed. The method can include applying a current signal to a body. The method can further include simultaneously measuring a plurality of voltage signals from a plurality of measuring positions of the body during a predetermined period, and processing at least two of the plurality of voltage signals to determine a composition parameter of a body segment so as to assess or analyze composition of the body. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100249642 | METHOD OF ANALYZING BODY COMPOSITION WITH MEASUREMENT OF VOLTAGE SIGNALS AT MULTIPLE POSITIONS OF BODY - A method of analyzing a composition of a human body having a plurality of body segments is disclosed. The method can include applying a current signal to a body. The method can further include simultaneously measuring a plurality of voltage signals from a plurality of measuring positions of the body during a predetermined period, and processing at least two of the plurality of voltage signals to determine a composition parameter of a body segment so as to assess or analyze composition of the body. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100268109 | METHOD FOR ANALYZING THE STRUCTURE OF AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE OBJECT - A method for analyzing the structure of an electrically conductive object, the method comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining electrical impedance data for the object over a range of frequencies; (ii) analyzing the obtained electrical impedance data using a transfer function of an assumed electrical model to determine a plurality of electrical impedance properties for the object; (iii) constructively combining selected ones of the determined plurality of electrical impedance properties to provide at least one parametric impedance value for the object; and (iii) imaging one or more of the determined parametric impedance values. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268110 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARACTERISTIC PARAMETER ESTIMATION OF GASTRIC IMPEDANCE SPECTRA IN HUMANS - Impedance spectroscopy has been proposed as a method of monitoring mucosal injury due to hypoperfusion and ischemia in the critically ill. The invention includes an algorithm developed to calculate the characteristic electrical values that best describe human gastric impedance measurements and simplify the information obtained with this method. A database of gastric spectra was obtained from healthy volunteers, cardiovascular surgery and critically ill patients. The gastric spectrum forms two semi circles in the complex domain, divided into low frequency (F<10 kHz) and high frequency (F>10 kHz). A fitting algorithm was developed based on the Cole model, and central characteristic parameters were calculated. The parameters were validated using the normalized mean squared error and 0.7% of the spectra were discarded. From the experimental data obtained in humans, the greatest changes observed as the gastric mucosa becomes ischemic occur at low frequencies, which are specific and sensitive to tissue damage, and vary with the degree of hypoperfusion. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268111 | MONITORING PLATFORM FOR WOUND AND ULCER MONITORING AND DETECTION - Systems and techniques for monitoring hydration. In one implementation, a method includes measuring an electrical impedance of a region of a subject to generate an impedance measurement result, and wirelessly transmitting the data to a remote apparatus. The probe with which impedance is measured may in the form of a patch adhesively secured to the subject. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100280404 | ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT - There is described an electrical impedance tomography equipment, intended for providing images representing the inside of a portion of the body of a patient by means of electrical impedance measurements taken between electrodes positioned on the skin, comprising a plurality of acquisition units ( | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100286550 | Impedance Based Anatomy Generation - Methods and systems for the determination and representation of anatomy anatomical information are disclosed herein. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100286551 | Impedance Based Anatomy Generation - Methods and systems for the determination and representation of anatomy anatomical information are disclosed herein. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100292603 | Electrical Impedance Myography - Electrical impedance myography (EIM) can be used for the assessment and diagnosis of muscular disorders. EIM includes applying an electrical signal to a region of tissue and measuring a resulting signal. A characteristic of the region of tissue is determined based on the measurement. Performing EIM at different frequencies and/or different angular orientations with respect to a muscle can aid in the assessment and diagnosis. Devices are described that facilitate assessment and diagnosis using EIM. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100292604 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING BREASTFEEDING - A method of monitoring amount of milk consumed by an infant being breastfed by a breast is disclosed. The method comprises: determining variations in electric capacitance of the breast during breastfeeding, and correlating the electric capacitance variations to an amount of milk consumed by the infant. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100305468 | ANALYSIS AND REGULATION OF FOOD INTAKE - Apparatus ( | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100312135 | Connection Device and Medical System for Acquiring Electric Signals Provided with Such a Connection Device - The invention relates to connection means including a female connector ( | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100324442 | MONITORING MECHANICAL HEART PROPERTIES - In a method and system for monitoring mechanical properties of a heart in a subject, multiple cardiogenic impedance values reflective of the impedance of the heart in connection with a transition from inhalation to exhalation in the subject are determined. Correspondingly, multiple cardiogenic impedance values reflective of the impedance of the heart in connection with a transition from exhalation to inhalation are determined. The impedance values are collectively processed to form a trend parameter. The value determination and processing is performed over several respiratory cycles spaced apart in time to form a plurality of trend parameters over time. The mechanical properties of the heart are monitored by processing these different trend parameters. The data collection and optionally at least a part of the data processing is performed by an implantable medical device. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100331719 | METHOD AND IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE (IMD) FOR MONITORING PERMEABILITY STATUS OF CELL MEMBRANES - An implantable medical device comprises a signal generator for generating a current signal having a frequency in a frequency window slightly less than the β-dispersion frequency of a tissue and applying the signal over the tissue. A signal measurer measures the resulting voltage signal and an impedance parameter is calculated from the applied and measured signal by a parameter determiner. A status monitor monitors the permeability status of cell membranes in the tissue based on this impedance parameter. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110009767 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRENDING A PHYSIOLOGICAL CARDIAC PARAMETER - The present invention relates to an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or pacemaker whose standard circuitry is used to trend a physiological cardiac parameter using intra-cardiac impedance measurements. The trend information may be used to predict the onset of a sudden cardiac death (SCD) event. By being able to predict the onset of an SCD event, patients and their physicians may be forewarned of a life-threatening event allowing them to respond accordingly. The trend information may also be used to predict the efficacy of cardiac-related medications, monitor progress of congestive heart failure, detect the occurrence of myocardial infarction, or simply track changes in sympathetic tone. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110015540 | METHOD UTILIZING TWO WIRE ELECTRODE OSCILLATOR SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING BODY IMPEDANCE - A method for measuring an impedance of a body includes the steps of electrically coupling first and second electrodes to the body and electrically biasing a variable frequency relaxation oscillator. The oscillator has both a positive resistive feedback network and a negative feedback network which includes the electrodes. The method further includes a step of measuring the period of oscillation of the variable frequency oscillator. The measured period of oscillation is indicative of the impedance of the body. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110034823 | Lumen diameter and stent apposition sensing - A stent balloon is provided with two conductive rings, created by a thin metallized coating deposited directly on the balloon, adjacent to the ends of the stent. The impedance between those rings and the body of the patient is measured at different AC frequencies. As the balloon approaches the vessel wall the impedance increases rapidly. Once the balloon forms full contact with vessel wall the impedance increases slowly. The changing impedance provides a guide for optimal apposition of the stent. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110034824 | PLAQUE TYPE DETERMINATION DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Plaque type determination devices, systems, and methods. In at least one exemplary embodiment of a device for assessing composition of a plaque of the present disclosure, the device comprises an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, a first excitation electrode and a second excitation electrode located along the longitudinal axis of the body near the distal end of the elongate body, and a first detection electrode and a second detection electrode along the longitudinal axis of the body and in between the first and second excitation electrodes, wherein when a current source in communication with at least one of the first excitation electrode and the second excitation electrode applies current thereto to facilitate measurement of two or more conductance values within a vessel containing at least part of the elongate body at or near a plaque site, a plaque type determination can be made based upon a calculation of tissue conductance using at least one of the two or more conductance values. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110046505 | Impedance measurement process - A method for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject. The method includes, in a processing system, determining at least one first impedance value, measured at a site using a first electrode configuration, determining at least one second impedance value, measured at the site using a second electrode configuration, and determining the presence, absence or degree of an anomaly using the first and second impedance values. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110046506 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAPPING ACTIVITY IN PERIPHERAL NERVES - Systems and methods are provided for controlling an entity in response to activity in a peripheral nerve comprising a plurality of fascicles. A multicontact electrode assembly is configured to record activity from the peripheral nerve. A processing component includes a sensor mapping component configured to quantify activity associated with a proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, an evaluation component configured to determine an adjustment of the status of the controlled entity from the quantified activity of the proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, and a controller configured to provide a control signal, representing the adjustment of the status of the controlled entity, to the controlled entity. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110046507 | DRILL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING MICROCONDUITS - The present invention relates to methods and devices for formation of microconduits in tissue, particularly using an impedance sensing drill to form microconduits. One embodiment of the invention is an impedance sensing drill comprising a drilling assembly, a control module, mechanically connected to the drilling assembly for controlling the depth of drilling by the drilling assembly; and a sensor, electrically connected to the drilling assembly and control module for detecting a change in an electrical impedance of a material being drilled. Another embodiment is a method of forming a microconduit in a material, which comprises the steps of drilling into the material, monitoring an electrical impedance of the material, and stopping the drilling into the material when a change in the impedance is detected, thereby forming microconduit. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110046508 | ACQUIRING NERVE ACTIVITY FROM CAROTID BODY AND/OR SINUS - An exemplary includes acquiring an electroneurogram of the right carotid sinus nerve or the left carotid sinus nerve, analyzing the electroneurogram for at least one of chemosensory information and barosensory information and calling for one or more therapeutic actions based at least in part on the analyzing. Therapeutic actions may aim to treat conditions such as sleep apnea, an increase in metabolic demand, hypoglycemia, hypertension, renal failure, and congestive heart failure. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110046509 | METHOD OF MEASURING ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE VALUE OF CORNEAL TRANS-EPITHELIUM - The invention provides a method for evaluating a corneal disorder quantitatively and is applicable to living eyes. In particular, the invention provides a method for measuring a corneal transepithelial electric resistance, which method comprises: (1) a step of placing a first electrode on the cornea and a second electrode on the conjunctiva; and (2) a step of flowing an electric current between the first electrode and the second electrode to measure the electric resistance. The invention also provides a device for measuring a corneal transepithelial electric resistance value. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110054343 | MONITORING SYSTEM - A method of performing impedance measurements on a subject. The method includes using a processing system to determine at least one impedance measurement to be performed, and at one electrode arrangement associated with the determined measurement. A representation of the arrangement is displayed so the impedance measurement can be performed once the electrodes have been arranged in accordance with the displayed representation. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110054344 | USE OF IMPEDANCE TECHNIQUES IN BREAST-MASS DETECTION - A device is described for measuring electrical characteristics of biological tissues with plurality of electrodes and a processor controlling the stimulation and measurement in order to detect the presence of abnormal tissue masses in the breast and determine probability of tumors containing malignant cancer cells being present in a breast. The device has the capability of providing the location of the abnormality, at least to the quadrant. The method for measuring electrical characteristics includes placing electrodes and applying a voltage waveform in conjunction with a current detector. A mathematical analysis method is then applied to the collected data, which computes spectrum of frequencies and correlates magnitudes and phases with given algebraic conditions to determine mass presence and type. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110060239 | ANALYSING IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS - A method for use in analysing impedance measurements performed on a subject, the method including, in a processing system determining at least one impedance value indicative of the impedance of at least one leg segment of the subject; and determining an indicator using the at least one impedance value, the indicator being indicative of extracellular fluid levels in the at least one leg segment and being used in the assessment of venous insufficiency. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110060240 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR USE WITH NEUROMONITORING EQUIPMENT - A system and method to detect fracture in a pedicle portion of a vertebra. The system includes a longitudinal member adapted for insertion into a pedicle and a sensor including first and second electrical contacts for connection to first and second portions of the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member includes a head portion having an opening extending axially within the longitudinal member. A conducting rod is positioned within the opening and is electrically coupled to the longitudinal member distal from the head portion. An insulating sleeve is interposed between the longitudinal member and the conducting rod, where the longitudinal member and the conducting rod form an electrically conductive path for connection to first and second contacts, respectively. The sensor is adapted to detect a breach in a pedicle based on a change in an electrical impulse signal between the first and second contacts. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110060241 | VOLUME SPECIFIC CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN SKIN BY ELECTRICAL IMMITTANCE - This invention relates to a sensor assembly and a method for measuring characteristics of a surface, preferably skin, comprising a first pair of current supply electrodes coupled to a current source, providing an electrical current to the skin, at least one pickup electrodes at chosen positions relative to the current supply electrodes, at least a first of said pickup electrodes being coupled to an instrument for measuring the voltage between said first pickup electrode and at least one of the pickup or current supply electrodes. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110071419 | LOCATION INDICATING DEVICE - The present invention provides a location indicating device ( | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110082382 | BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASURING APPARATUS - The present invention provides a bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus for determining composition data of a human body, the apparatus including several measuring electrodes, measuring circuitry on a main board including voltage measuring circuitry and a control and analysis unit. The control and analysis unit is arranged to apply, according to a predetermined measuring program, an alternating current from a controllable alternating current source to an electrode specific for the respective measuring program to the body and to conduct away alternating current via another electrode and to determine by means of two further electrodes with the voltage measuring circuitry the resulting voltage, and to determine on this basis the impedance of a body segment. Each voltage applying electrode includes a remotely controlled alternating current source separate from the main board and disposed in the vicinity of the current applying electrode. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110082383 | Active Electrode, Bio-Impedance Based, Tissue Discrimination System and Methods of Use - Systems and methods for discriminating and locating tissues within a body involve applying a waveform signal to tissue between two electrodes and measuring the electrical characteristics of the signal transmitted through the tissue. At least one of the electrodes is constrained in area so that localized electrical characteristics of the tissue are measured. Such localized electrical characteristics are determined over a portion of a body of the subject by using an array of electrodes or electrodes that can be moved over the body. A controller may implement the process and perform calculations on the measured data to identify tissue types and locations within the measured area, and to present results in graphical form. Results may be combined with other tissue imaging technologies and with image-guided systems. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110087129 | MONITORING SYSTEM - Apparatus for performing impedance measurements on a subject. The apparatus includes a first processing system for determining an impedance measurement procedure and determining instructions corresponding to the measurement procedure. A second processing system is provided for receiving the instructions, using the instructions to generate control signals, with the control signals being used to apply one or more signals to the subject. The second processing system then receives first data indicative of the one or more signals applied to the subject, second data indicative of one or more signals measured across the subject and performs at least preliminary processing of the first and second data to thereby allow impedance values to be determined. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110098594 | Method of Scaling Navigation Signals to Account for Impedance Drift in Tissue - A method for scaling the impedance measured during the course of an electrophysiology study accounts for impedance drifts. By scaling the impedance there is greater assurance that previously recorded positional information can be used to accurately relocate an electrode at a prior visited position. The scale factor may be based upon a mean value across several sensing electrodes. Alternatively, the scale factor may be calculated specifically with respect to an orientation of a dipole pair of driven electrodes. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110105942 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING SKIN PENETRATION - A system and method for detecting skin penetration. The system comprises an invasive component for penetrating the skin; a dummy electrode for making contact with the surface of the skin; at least one penetrating electrode disposed in the invasive component; and a Wheatstone bridge circuit; wherein a resistance across the dummy electrode and the penetrating electrode constitutes one of the resistive legs of the Wheatstone bridge circuit and skin penetration of the invasive component is detected based on a differential output voltage from the Wheatstone bridge circuit. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110112428 | Body composition measuring apparatus using a bioelectric impedance analysis associated with a neural network algorithm - A body composition measuring apparatus using a bioelectric impedance analysis and a neural network algorithm for obtaining two or more anthropometry variables from testees and then inputting the anthropometry variables into the internal processing unit that has a built-in back propagation-artificial neural network that has one input layer, 1-10 hidden layers each having 1-15 hidden neurons and one output layer having one output neuron. By means of the aforesaid artificial neural network, the invention accurately predict the fat free mass of the testee so as to further obtain the amount of body fat, showing higher accuracy than conventional linear regression equation (LRE). | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110112429 | IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS FOR ESOPHAGEAL MALADIES - A system and method for automatically analyzing impedance and pH data from an esophageal probe includes a data collection system that collects and stores the output from the sensors for a certain period of time to locate reflux episodes in the waveforms. The data analysis system uses wavelet analysis to assist in locating bolus entry and exit points in the waveforms and to smooth waveforms for additional analysis. It also distinguishes between candidate acid reflux episodes and candidate non-acid reflux episodes for determining actual acid reflux episodes and non-acid reflux episodes, and it distinguishes between, and provides different signal processing for, signals from patients that have healthy esophageal tissue and those that have diseased esophageal tissue. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110112430 | TRUNK WIDTH MEASURING UNIT AND VISCERAL FAT MEASURING DEVICE - A trunk width measuring unit including a first contact portion attached movably in the vertical direction relative to a unit main body, the first contact portion to be brought into contact with an upper surface of a trunk of a subject, second and third contact portions attached movably in the horizontal direction relative to the unit main body, a vertical width detection encoder for detecting a lowering distance of the first contact portion from an original position on the upper side of the trunk of the user to a contact point with the upper surface of the trunk, and a horizontal width detection encoder attached movably in the horizontal direction relative to the unit main body by the same distance as a moving distance of the second contact portion, the horizontal width detection encoder detecting a moving distance of the third contact portion relative to the second contact portion. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110125049 | Methods and Systems that Use Implanted Posture Sensor to Monitor Pulmonary Edema - In specific embodiments, a method to monitor pulmonary edema of a patient, comprises (a) detecting, using an implanted posture sensor, when a posture of the patient changes from a first predetermined posture to a second predetermined posture, (b) determining an amount of time it takes an impedance signal to achieve a steady state after the posture of the patient changes from the first predetermined posture to the second predetermined posture, where the impedance signal is obtained using implanted electrodes and is indicative of left atrial pressure and/or intra-thoracic fluid volume of the patient, and (c) monitoring the pulmonary edema of the patient based on the determined amount of time it takes the impedance signal to achieve the steady state after the posture of the patient changes from the first predetermined posture to the second pre-determined posture. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110125050 | Multiple-Electrode and Metal-Coated Probes - Provided are probes featuring multiple electrodes, which probes have diameters in the nanometer range and may be inserted into cells or other subjects so as to monitor an electrical characteristic of the subject. The probes may also include a conductive coating on at least one probe element to improve the probes' performance. The probes may also be used to inject a fluid or other agent into the subject and simultaneously monitor changes in the subject's electrical characteristics in response to the injection. Related methods of fabricating and of using the inventive probes are also provided. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110130676 | VISCERAL FAT MEASURING DEVICE - To provide a visceral fat measuring device capable of simply and noninvasively measuring a visceral fat amount. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110137198 | TRUNK WIDTH MEASURING UNIT AND VISCERAL FAT MEASURING DEVICE - To provide a trunk width measuring unit capable of improving reliability of measurement precision, and a visceral fat measuring device. The trunk width measuring unit is provided with a first contact portion to be brought into contact with an upper surface of a trunk of a user in a supine position, a second contact portion to be brought into contact with one of side surfaces of the trunk, a third contact portion to be brought into contact with the other side surface of the trunk, and a trunk width calculating unit for calculating vertical width and horizontal width of the trunk from height from an upper surface of a bed to a contact position of the first contact portion and a distance between the second contact portion and the third contact portion. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110137199 | VISCERAL FAT MEASURING DEVICE - A visceral fat measuring device capable of simply and safely measuring a visceral fat amount is provided. In the visceral fat measuring device for calculating the visceral fat amount based on trunk measurement information, impedance information of the entire trunk, and impedance information of a surface layer of the trunk obtained by measuring a potential difference in the body axis direction of the trunk on the dorsal side of the trunk, a belt has a hollow pressed member pressed onto the dorsal side of the trunk, the pressed member having a pressed surface provided with electrodes, a wiring member including a circuit substrate connected to the electrodes for measuring the potential difference is accommodated inside the pressed member, the pressed member has flexibility in the vertical direction to the body axis direction so as to be curved along a surface shape of the dorsal side of the trunk, and when the pressed member is curved, an opposite surface to the pressed surface is extended relatively to the pressed surface and deflected. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110137200 | COMPENSATION OF MOTION ARTIFACTS IN CAPACITIVE MEASUREMENT OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNALS - The invention relates to a system and a method in which an electrophysiological signal is sensed capacitively with at least two closely spaced electrodes such that the electrodes experience strongly correlated skin-electrode distance variations. To be able to derive a motion artifact signal, the capacitive coupling between the electrodes and skin is made intentionally different. With a signal processing means the motion artifact signal can be removed from the measured signal to leave only the desired electrophysiological signal. Since the measured quantity is dependant on the electrode-skin distance itself, the system and method do not need to rely on the constancy of a transfer function. Hereby, they give reliable motion artifact free output signals. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110144523 | Method and apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient - A method and an apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient. The method comprises steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin through a measurement interval, calculating a characteristic of said skin conductance signal, establishing a first output signal indicating the state of pain or discomfort in the patient, and a second output signal indicating the state of awakening in the patient, based on said characteristic of said skin conductance signal. The calculating of the signal characteristic comprises calculating a value representative of a statistical dispersion, e.g., the standard deviation, of the values of the skin conductance signal through the measurement interval. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110144524 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR REAL-TIME RF LESION DEPTH DISPLAY - A system for displaying characteristics of target tissue during an ablation procedure is provided that includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to receive data regarding electrical properties of the target tissue for a time period. The ECU is also configured to determine a value responsive to the data and indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period. The system further includes a display device operatively connected to the ECU. The display device is configured to receive the value and display a visual representation indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110144525 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHARACTERIZING THE EFFECT OF A SKIN TREATMENT AGENT ON SKIN - In a method for characterizing skin treatment agent, a device having several sets of electrodes is applied to the skin. The electrode sets have differing electrode distances, such that fields having different reach can be generated. Inverse profiling is used to calculate the dielectric permittivities of individual skin layers, which in turn allows to observe the water transport mechanism in the skin. These transport mechanisms can be used to assess the effect of the agent on the skin. An advantageous device for implementing this method comprises coplanar waveguides for generating the fields. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110144526 | ENHANCEMENTS TO THE DETECTION OF PULMONARY EDEMA WHEN USING TRANSTHORACIC IMPEDANCE - This patent document discusses, among other things, systems, devices, and methods for enhancing detection of pulmonary edema using, in addition to thoracic impedance, one or a combination of: physiologic information about a subject, at least one statistical parameter, a user-programmable detection level, at least one parameter associated with a previous pulmonary edema event, and patient symptom information about the subject. In one example, a (base) thoracic impedance threshold is modified to an adjusted thoracic impedance threshold. The adjusted thoracic impedance threshold provides an increased sensitivity of pulmonary edema detection as compared to the base thoracic impedance threshold. In another example, an alert is provided to a subject, a caregiver, or other user based on a pulmonary edema indication determined by the present systems, devices, and methods. In a further example, a therapy (provided to the subject) is adjusted or initiated in response to the pulmonary edema indication. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110152712 | Impedance Measurement Tissue Identification in Blood Vessels - A system for radio frequency (RF) wire guidance during RF occlusion canalization including a RF wire configured to travel through a blood vessel, an impedance measure unit configured to measure an electrical impedance between the RF wire and a reference electrode, a RF power source, an activation controller configured to connect the RF power source to the RF wire when the impedance measure unit indicates that the RF wire is contacting an occlusion material, a RF wire steering system; and a controller configured to activate the steering system to maintain the RF wire within the occlusion material based on impedance measured by the impedance measure unit. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110152713 | System for Recording Measured Values in or on an Organism, and Method for Producing a Componet of this System - A system for detecting measured values in or on an organism ( | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110166472 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SUCH A DEVICE FOR PREDICTING HF STATUS OF A PATIENT - In an implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker or a cardioverter/defibrillator, and a method for operating such an implantable medical device, heart conditions, such as heart failure, are detected and predicted at an early stage within a patient in whom the medical device is implanted, by monitoring a patient status, for example, HF status, and predicting a worsening of the HF status of the patient and determining a patient status index, wherein a first average and a second average is compared at predetermined sample points of time. A patient status is determined based on this patient status index, wherein a patient status index that has increased substantially monotonously during a first monitoring period is determined to be an indication of an exacerbation of patient status, and in particular, a worsening of heart failure. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110184309 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A CORRECTED VOLUME COMPARTMENT OF AN AMPUTATED PATIENT, DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - The invention relates to the field of monitoring the hydration—and/or nutrition status of a patient by means of bioimpedance measurement values. This is based on the problem of also being able to determine by such measurements the body composition of an amputated person simply and individually. The invention is based on the observation that volume compartments can also be determined in amputated patients by means of bioimpedance measurements when reference is made to the body models, used and established hitherto for patients without amputations, without major adaptation. Merely the determining of a characteristic factor for the amputation is necessary, which can be determined by comparative measurements in advance. In particular exceptional situations of multiple amputations, it can be indicated to submit additional parameters to increase accuracy. Then the body models hitherto can also be further used for these cases. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110190653 | Surgical Forceps Capable of Adjusting Seal Plate Width Based on Vessel Size - A surgical forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members having opposed seal plates, each of the seal plates having a width. At least one of the jaw members is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. A sensing component is configured to determine an output relating to a diameter of tissue or a composition of tissue disposed between the opposed seal plates of the first and second jaw members. An expanding component is configured to expand the width of at least one of the opposed seal plates according to the determined output. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110190654 | QUANTIFYING AUTONOMIC TONE WITH THORACIC IMPEDANCE - The disclosure describes techniques for quantifying the autonomic nervous system (ANS) health of a patient with thoracic impedance measurements. Thoracic impedance may be measured utilizing cardiac electrodes and an implantable medical device housing or other electrodes located on or within the patient. Since greater variability in thoracic impedance may indicate better health of the ANS, monitoring impedance changes in a patient may be used to quantify autonomic tone of the ANS, and ultimately, overall patient health. In some examples, thoracic impedance may be measured in response to a change in patient posture for acute monitoring or at predetermined times over several days, weeks, or months for more chronic monitoring of the patient. An implantable medical device may independently analyze the impedance measurements and transmit an alert to the patient or clinician when impedance changes indicate a change in patient health. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110190655 | Scanning head including at least two electrodes for impedance measurement, arrangement, and related method - The present invention proposes a scanning head including at least two electrodes, in particular voltage measurement electrodes, for the impedance measurement on a patient's body. It moreover specifies a corresponding arrangement including a scanning head and suitable methods. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110196253 | BRAIN STIMULATION MODELS, SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS - This document discusses, among other things, brain stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods, such as for deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other electrical stimulation. In an example, a target volume of activation (VOA) can be received, a test VOA can be simulated, and at least one of a target electrode location or parameter can be provide using a relationship between the target VOA and the test VOA. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110196254 | ACQUIRING NERVE ACTIVITY FROM CAROTID BODY AND/OR SINUS - An exemplary includes acquiring an electroneurogram of the right carotid sinus nerve or the left carotid sinus nerve, analyzing the electroneurogram for at least one of chemosensory information and barosensory information and calling for one or more therapeutic actions based at least in part on the analyzing. Therapeutic actions may aim to treat conditions such as sleep apnea, an increase in metabolic demand, hypoglycemia, hypertension, renal failure, and congestive heart failure. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110208083 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING IMPEDANCE BASED ON POSTURE OF A PATIENT - An implantable medical device includes electrodes that are configured to be positioned within at least one of a heart and a chest wall of a patient. The device also includes an impedance measurement module, a patient position sensor, and a correction module. The impedance measurement module measures an impedance vector between a predetermined combination of the electrodes. The patient position sensor determines at least one of a posture and an activity level of the patient. The correction module adjusts the impedance vector based on the at least one of the posture and the activity level of the patient. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110208084 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BRAIN DAMAGE DETECTION - The present invention comprises method and apparatus for detecting injury resulting in pathological processes affecting tissue within a portion of the body in a mammal, particularly a human brain. Said method comprises the steps of applying a first and a second pair of electrodes around the periphery of the portion, generating an alternating current at a known current level and applying said current between the first pair of electrodes, detecting and measuring the alternating voltage developed between the second pair of electrodes, and calculating the impedance of said portion. Further, the alternating current is applied between the first pair of electrodes in a series of increasing frequencies ranging within a known spectrum, and the resistance and the reactance for each frequency are detected and plotted against said frequency. The electrical impedance of said portion is calculated for each frequency and plotted into an impedance plot. Said resistance-reactance-and impedance-plots are finally analyzed, and any notable changes compared to normal spectrum profiles and plots are detected and evaluated. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110213268 | LIVING BODY INDEX MEASUREMENT APPARATUS | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110237973 | METHOD FOR USING A SILVER-SILVER CHLORIDE NEEDLE ELECTRODE SYSTEM - A method for using a needle electrode system for acquiring biopotential signals from a person's body. The needle electrode system comprises at least one silver-silver chloride needle electrode and at least one connector coupled with a monitoring device. The needle electrode system senses and sends biopotential signals to the monitoring device in preference to cutaneous electrode on the person's body by inserting the needle electrode subcutaneously into the person's body. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110245710 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS - The present invention provides bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus for determining composition data of the human body, the apparatus including at least eight electrodes, a pair of electrodes being assigned to each of four limbs, measuring circuitry having current sources and current and voltage measuring circuitry which may selectively be coupled to the electrodes, and a control and analysis unit which is arranged to apply, according to a plurality of predetermined measuring programs, current to two electrodes and to determine the resulting voltages with two other electrodes on different limbs and to determine the impedance of body segments based thereon. The control and analysis unit is further arranged to determine, in an advance measurement by applying current via two electrodes and measuring the resulting current through the applying electrodes and/or voltages on the other electrodes, which electrodes have contact, and to select, on the basis of the determined configuration of electrodes with contact, such matching measuring programs, in which matching measuring programs only electrodes are used for current application and voltage measurement which are contained in the determined configuration of electrodes having contact. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110245711 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERSONALIZED PHYSIOLOGIC PARAMETERS - Methods and apparatus combine patient measurement data with demographic or physiological data of the patient to determine an output that can be used to diagnose and treat the patient. A customized output can be determined based the demographics of the patient, physiological data of the patient, and data of a population of patients. In another aspect, patient measurement data is used to predict an impending cardiac event, such as acute decompensated heart failure. At least one personalized value is determined for the patient, and a patient event prediction output is generated based at least in part on the personalized value and the measurement data. For example, bioimpedance data may be used to establish a baseline impedance specific to the patient, and the patient event prediction output generated based in part on the relationship of ongoing impedance measurements to the baseline impedance. Multivariate prediction models may enhance prediction accuracy. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110245712 | IMPROVED MONITOR OF HEART FAILURE USING BIOIMPEDANCE - In a method of monitoring pulmonary edema in a human being, an electrical current is injected between a first electrode located in or around a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region. A voltage potential is measured between a second electrode in a superior vena cava and a third electrode in the superior vena cava, where the voltage potential is created by the electrical current. Pulmonary edema is assessed based on an impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110251513 | INDICATOR - A method for use in analysing impedance measurements performed on a subject, the method including, in a processing system determining at least one impedance value, representing the impedance of at least a segment of the subject, determining an indicator indicative of a subject parameter using the at least one impedance value and a reference and displaying a representation of the indicator. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110264000 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING TISSUE TYPE AND MAPPING TISSUE MORPHOLOGY - A method and system for determining tissue type is provided. The system comprises an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to acquire a value of an electrical parameter between a first electrode electrically coupled with tissue and a second electrode. The ECU is further configured to identify a tissue type from a plurality of tissue types based at least on the acquired value, and in an exemplary embodiment, to generate a tissue morphology map comprising a marker representative of the identified tissue type. The method comprises acquiring a value of an electrical parameter between a first electrode electrically coupled with tissue and a second electrode. The method further comprises identifying a tissue type from a plurality of tissue types based on at least the acquired value of the electrical parameter, and in an exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises generating a tissue morphology map based on the identified tissue type. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110275951 | ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY CATHETER - The invention relates to electrophysiology catheter systems and their use, such as in an MRI environment, and in particular to analysis of electric signals from such. An electrophysiology (EP) catheter with a plurality of electrically isolated electrode segments arranged in longitudinally spaced bands around the catheter is used to detect electric signals. A workstation receives the electrical signals which are then processed by a processing unit. Electric signals from electrode segments can be used to determine roll angle information of the catheter in relation to patient anatomy by determining signals from electrode segments in contact with tissue. Also, electric signals can be used to extract a reference signal that can be used to correct for gradient induced artefacts. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110275952 | System and Method for Determining Proximity Relative to a Critical Structure - A system for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to an anatomical structure includes at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly operably coupled to a processing unit. The sensor assembly is configured to transmit at least one electrical signal through the target anatomical structure to elicit a measurable response from the target anatomical structure. The processing unit is configured to calculate a signature property value of the target anatomical structure based on the measurable response and to determine proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure based on a comparison between the signature property value and at least one other signature property. An indicator is operably coupled to the processing unit and is configured to alert a user of the identified target anatomical structure based on the determined proximity. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110282235 | SYSTEM FOR MEASURING A USER'S PERCENTAGE OF BODY FAT - A system for measuring percentage of body fat for a user. The system has: structure for measuring body hydration and generating a signal representing a measured hydration value; structure for selectively changing the measured hydration value to an adjusted hydration value based upon a first parameter to thereby reflect more accurately an actual hydration value for the user and generating a signal representing the adjusted hydration value; and structure for measuring body fat percentage using the signal representing: a) the measured hydration value; or b) the adjusted hydration value in the event that the structure for selectively changing the measured hydration value changes the measured hydration value based upon the first parameter. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110295144 | HEALTH MANAGING DEVICE - In an abdominal fat measuring device that is a health managing device, vertical and horizontal widths of the abdomen of a subject are measured, and an ellipse defined by such widths is defined as an outer shape ellipse. The abdominal fat measuring device stores in advance an image representing the subcutaneous fat of the abdominal back side as an additional image in association with a proportion of the visceral fat mass and the subcutaneous fat mass. In the abdominal fat measuring device, the corresponding image is extracted from the stored additional images from the measured proportion of the visceral fat mass and the subcutaneous fat mass of the subject, added to the outer shape ellipse, and then a figure representing the measured fat free mass, visceral fat mass, and subcutaneous fat mass is drawn and displayed in the outer shape ellipse. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110295145 | BODY COMPOSITION MONITOR, MEASUREMENT RESULT OUTPUT METHOD, AND MEASUREMENT RESULT OUTPUT PROGRAM PRODUCT - A body composition monitor calculates a body composition value of a whole body and a body composition value by site of a user using a plurality of electrodes, and calculates a site ratio representing a ratio of the body composition value by site with respect to the body composition value of the whole body. A process of outputting ratio information (site ratio and/or evaluation index of site ratio) related to the calculated site ratio is then carried out. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110301488 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING BIOPOTENTIALS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE CONTROL FUNCTIONS IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS - A biosignal-computer-interface apparatus and method. The apparatus includes one or more devices for generating biosignals based on at least one physiological parameter of an individual, and a computer-interface device capable of performing multiple tasks, including converting the biosignals into at least one input signal, establishing a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal, multiplying the input signal into parallel control channels, dividing the scale into multiple zones for each of the parallel control channels, assigning computer commands to each individual zone of the multiple zones, and generating the computer command assigned to at least one of the individual zones if the level of the input signal is within the at least one individual zone. The individual zones can be the same or different among the parallel control channels. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110301489 | FLUID INDICATOR - Apparatus for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject, wherein the apparatus includes a processing system for, at each of three frequencies, determining first and second parameter values for first and second impedance parameters relating to the impedance of at least one body segment of the subject, solving simultaneous equations representing a circle defined with respect to the first and second impedance parameters to thereby determine circle parameter values, the equations being solved using the first and second parameter values at each of the three frequencies, using the circle parameter values to determine a third impedance parameter value at a respective frequency and using the third impedance parameter value to determine an indicator indicative of relative fluid levels within the body segment of the subject. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110301490 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ELECTRIC POTENTIALS ON THE HUMAN OR ANIMAL BODY - The invention relates to a device and method for detecting electrical potentials on the human or animal body, with a body-side arrangement of electrodes ( | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110301491 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING CHANGE IN INTRATHORACIC ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE - A method and apparatus for detection of changes in impedance a patient that includes generating measured impedances, generating an adaptive baseline trend of the measured impedances corresponding to a first time period, generating a short term trend of the measured impedances corresponding to a second time period less than the first time period, determining changes in relative position of the short term trend and the baseline trend, the determined changes in relative position corresponding to determining intersecting of the baseline trend by the short term trend, determining differences between the baseline trend and calculated period average impedances, and accumulating, in response to determining no intersecting of the baseline trend by the short term trend, the determined differences between the baseline trend and the calculated period average impedances. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110301492 | MULTI-CHANNEL IMPEDANCE CARDIOGRAPHY AND METHOD OF MULTI-CHANNEL IMPEDANCE CARDIOGRAPHY - Multi-channel impedance cardiograph comprises a sine generator, a multiplexer, a high-pass filter, an amplifier, an analogue-code converter and a microcontroller. A compensation circuit reduces the required order of the analogue-code converter. The compensation circuit comprises a second sine signal generator, an adder, a comparator for comparing its input signal with a reference signal, and a counter. Both sine signal generators are synchronised and the signal from the body is compensated by the signal of the second sine signal to normalize the input signal of the analogue-code converter. The first sine signal generator and the counter are started simultaneously. The counter stops when the comparator's output reverses polarity. The phase shift between the signals of first and second sine signal generators is calculated from the counter content. The amplitude of the compensation signal generator is adjusted so that the output code of the analogue code converter is within working range. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110306896 | OPERATOR-CONTROLLED MAP POINT DENSITY - A method includes accepting from a medical imaging system a plurality of map points, each map point including a respective coordinate on a surface of a body organ measured by bringing a medical probe into proximity with the surface. An operator input, which specifies a spatial density at which the map points are to be displayed, is accepted. A subset of the map points is selected responsively to the operator input. The surface is visualized at the specified spatial density by displaying the selected subset of the map points. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110306897 | CAPSULE AND METHOD FOR TREATING OR DIAGNOSING CONDITIONS OR DISEASES OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT - A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating inflammatory disorders (such as Crohn's disease) or other diseases, disorders or conditions of the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract. Further, a capsule tracking system is provided for tracking a capsule's location along the length of an intestinal tract as various treatment and/or sensing modalities are employed. In one variation, an acoustic signal is used to determine the location of the capsule. A map of sensed impedance and or temperature may be derived from the pass of a capsule to diagnose the disorder or disease. The capsule or subsequently passed capsules may treat, further diagnose, or mark the intestinal tract at a determined location along its length. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110313311 | IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT PROCESS - Apparatus for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject, the apparatus including a probe having a plurality of electrodes, the probe being configured to allow at least some of the electrodes to be in contact with at least part of the subject and a processing system for, determining at least one first impedance value, measured at a site using a first electrode configuration, determining at least one second impedance value, measured at the site using a second electrode configuration and determining an indicator indicative of the presence, absence or degree of an anomaly using the first and second impedance values. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110313312 | Tissue Discrimination and Applications in Medical Procedures - A system and method for discriminating tissue types, controlling the level of therapy to tissue, and determining the health of a known tissue by measuring the characteristics of an electrical signal applied to a conductive element located within or by the tissue. Additionally, the system and method may be used for determining whether the conductive tip of a pedicle probe or pedicle screw is located in one of cortical bone, cancellous bone, and cortical bone near a boundary with soft tissue, whether the conductive tip of a cannula is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and annulus tissue, and whether the conductive tip of a cathode is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and prostate gland tissue. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110319786 | Apparatus and Method for Measuring Physiological Functions - A sensor for monitoring a physiological function such as hydration including microelectrode arrays and electronics operatively connected and placed on an elastic strip, the assembled sensor being attached to a person in such a manner as to pinch and raise the skin under the elastic strip. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120004570 | BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE, BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION MEASUREMENT METHOD, AND BODY COMPOSITION MEASUREMENT DEVICE - To accurately acquire body composition information using data acquired by another device. Thus, there is provided a body composition monitor with scale including a communication unit for allowing input of biological component information (cross-sectional area, site length, subcutaneous fat percentage, visceral fat percentage, etc.) of a living body measured with another device such as an MRI, where step of calculating the body composition of the living body based on the biological component information, an impedance detected by an impedance detection unit, and a weight measured by a load detection unit is executed. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120016254 | RESPIRATION CHARACTERISTIC ANALYSIS APPARATUS AND RESPIRATION CHARACTERISTIC ANALYSIS SYSTEM - A respiration characteristic analysis apparatus includes a bioelectrical impedance determiner adapted for determining a first bioelectrical impedance at the upper body trunk of a human subject including the upper lobes of the lungs of the human subject and excluding the abdomen of the human subject and a second bioelectrical impedance at the middle body trunk of the human subject including the median and lower lobes of the lungs of the human subject and the abdomen of the human subject; and an analyzer adapted for analyzing a respiration characteristic of the human subject on the basis of change over time in each of the first bioelectrical impedance and the second bioelectrical impedance determined by the bioelectrical impedance determiner. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016255 | RESPIRATION CHARACTERISTIC ANALYSIS APPARATUS AND RESPIRATION CHARACTERISTIC ANALYSIS SYSTEM - A respiration characteristic analysis apparatus includes a bioelectrical impedance determiner adapted for determining bioelectrical impedance at a part including the right lung of a human subject and for determining bioelectrical impedance at a part including the left lung of the human subject; and a respiration depth calculator adapted for calculating a right lung respiration depth related to a respiration capability of the right lung of the human subject on the basis of change over time in the bioelectrical impedance at the part including the right lung determined by the bioelectrical impedance determiner, and for calculating a left lung respiration depth related to a respiration capability of the left lung of the human subject on the basis of change over time in the bioelectrical impedance at the part including the left lung determined by the bioelectrical impedance determiner. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016256 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND MEASURING CONDITION OF ESOPHAGEAL MUCOSA AND INDICATIONS OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE - A mucosal impedance measuring system that is capable of direct and accurate impedance measurements of esophageal mucosa includes example multi-channel intraluminal impedance catheters with inflatable and deflatable components for positioning the impedance sensor electrodes in direct contact with the esophageal mucosa on the inside surface of the esophagus. Impedance measurements from multiple locations in the esophagus are processed for indications of mucosal damage that are indicative of damage due to gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), and Barrett's esophagus. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016257 | MEASUREMENT FOR AUTONOMIC FUNCTION - The present invention is an article of manufacture and method for using same, comprising at least two self adhesive sensors having a paired offset potential of consistently below about +/−1.0 mV; and a data gathering device connected to the sensors capable of measuring the voltage difference between the sensors. The sensors preferably are AgCl coated Silver. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120022393 | Medical treatment device - A medical treatment device comprises a sensor to detect operating states of the medical treatment device, wherein the sensor comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and impedance means. The first electrode is arranged between a current path input and a current path output, wherein an electric input signal for powering the medical treatment device is applicable to the current path input, and the current path output is configured to couple to a load of the medical treatment device. The second electrode is separated from the first electrode by a first dielectric material, the second electrode comprising a first signal terminal for obtaining a first sensor signal. The impedance means are separated from the first electrode by a second dielectric material and comprise a second signal terminal for obtaining a second sensor signal. The first electrode comprises a cross section perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the electric input signal such that the first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to provide a capacitance as first sensor signal, and wherein the impedance means are formed as a structured electrode such that the first electrode and the impedance means are coupled to provide an impedance as second sensor signal. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120029380 | BODY COMPOSITION ANALYZER FOR ANIMALS - A body composition analyzer for animals is provided. A movement of an animal may be restrained by controlling a physical motion of a plurality of electrode units that come into contact with feet of the animal and thus, it is possible to effectively restrict the movement of the animal during measuring of a body composition of the animal, thereby more accurately measuring the body composition. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120035493 | NEAR FIELD-BASED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING IMPEDANCE AND ADMITTANCE FOR USE WITH AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - A new model is provided for understanding and exploiting impedance or admittance values measured by implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers or cardiac resynchronization devices (CRTs.) The device measures impedance along vectors extending through tissues of the patient between various pairs of electrodes. The device then converts the vector-based impedance measurements into near-field individual electrode-based impedance values. This is accomplished, in at least some examples, by converting the vector-based impedance measurements into a set of linear equations to be solved while ignoring far-field contributions to the impedance measurements. The device solves the linear equations to determine the near-field impedance values for the individual electrodes, which are representative of the impedance of tissues in the vicinity of the electrodes. The device then performs or controls various device functions based on the near-field values, such as analyzing selected near-field values to detect heart failure or pulmonary edema. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035494 | MULTIFREQUENCY BIOIMPEDENCE DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS - Embodiments relate to a device and a method of monitoring and analyzing physiological parameters of a patient. The method includes electrically connecting one or more electrodes with a measurement site of a patient, generating a stimulation signal or signals sufficient to provide multiple stimulation frequencies, multiple waveforms or a combination thereof, measuring a one or more bioimpedance values from the generated signals and analyzing at least one of a fluid bioimpedance contribution, fat bioimpedance contribution or ion bioimpedance contribution within the one or more bioimpedance values sufficient to generate a physiological report. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035495 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXPLOITING NEAR-FIELD IMPEDANCE AND ADMITTANCE FOR USE WITH IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - Various techniques are provided for use with an implantable medical device for exploiting near-field impedance/admittance. Examples include techniques for assessing heart chamber disequilibrium, detecting chamber volumes and pressures, calibrating near-field-based left atrial pressure (LAP) estimation procedures and for assessing the recovery from injury at the electrode-tissue interface. In one particular example, the implantable device assesses the degree of concordance between the left ventricle (LV) and the right ventricle (RV) by quantifying a degree of scatter between LV and RV near-field admittance values. An increase in RV admittance is indicative of RV failure, an increase in LV admittance is indicative of LV failure, and an increase in both LV and RV admittance is indicative of biventricular failure. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035496 | BLADDER SENSING USING IMPEDANCE AND POSTURE - This disclosure provides techniques for bladder sensing. In accordance with the techniques described in this disclosure, a device may measure the impedance of a bladder, determine the posture of a patient, and determine a status of the bladder based on the impedance and posture. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120046570 | Methods and devices for real time monitoring of collagen content and for altering collagen status - The present invention comprises methods and systems/devices for non-invasively measuring and/or altering collagen structures before, during and after treatment, e.g., by the application of RF energy, of tissues that comprise such collagen structures. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046571 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING ETHANOL - The present publication discloses a method for detecting ethanol, in which method the ethanol content of a person is measured. According to the invention, the ethanol content is measured from the person's skin, using a capacitive measurement method. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120059274 | Method for automatic non-cooperative frequency specific assessment of hearing impairment and fitting of hearing aids - A method and device for automatically assessing loss of hearing sensitivity and compression (recruitment) with user defined frequency resolution by means of extrapolated DPOAE I/O functions and ABRs as well as for automatically fitting hearing aids without any cooperation of the subject tested using a device having a display screen attached to a handheld device generating and collecting otoacoustic emission signals and brain stem response signals into a programmed with a clinical audiogram with fitting parameters for hearing aids calculated on the basis of assessed hearing threshold and compression and identifying the type of hearing required for the individual. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120059275 | Method for Laparoscopic Nerve Detection and Mapping - A surgical method aids identification of nerves in a body to help prevent damage to the nerves during surgery to the body proximate the nerves. An electrode introduced to within a body cavity through a catheter is placed proximate a nerve within the body cavity by a laparoscopic or robotic device. An exploratory probe placed in the body cavity is selectively placed along a presumed pathway of the nerve to provide an electrical signal through the nerve to the electrode. An analyzer interfaced with the electrode analyzes the electrical signal received at the electrode to determine the proximity of the exploratory probe to the nerve, allowing mapping of the nerve pathway through the body cavity. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120065539 | USE OF IMPEDANCE TECHNIQUES IN BREAST-MASS DETECTION - A device is described for measuring electrical characteristics of biological tissues with one or a plurality of electrodes and a processor controlling the stimulation and measurement in order to detect the presence of abnormal tissue masses in the breast and determine probability of tumors containing malignant cancer cells being present in a breast. The device has the capability of providing the location of the abnormality, at least to the quadrant. Either single or multiple source electrodes can be used. Either palpable lumps can be evaluated or screening or breasts, whether with palpable masses or not, can be accomplished. The method for measuring electrical characteristics includes placing electrodes and applying a voltage waveform in conjunction with a current detector. A mathematical analysis method is then applied to the collected data, which computes spectrum of frequencies and correlates magnitudes and phases with given algebraic conditions to determine mass presence and type. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120071782 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING VASCULAR BODILY LUMEN INFORMATION AND GUIDING MEDICAL DEVICES - Methods and systems for determining information about a vascular bodily lumen are described. An exemplary method includes generating an electrical signal, delivering the electrical signal to a plurality of excitation elements in the vicinity of the vascular bodily lumen, measuring a responsive electrical signal from a plurality of sensing elements in response to the delivered electrical signal, and determining a lumen dimension. Specific embodiments include generating a multiple frequency electrical signal. Another embodiment includes measuring a plurality of responsive signals at a plurality of frequencies. Still other embodiments include using spatial diversity of the excitation elements. Yet other embodiments use method for calibration and de-embedding of such measurements to determine the lumen dimensions. Diagnostic devices incorporating the method are also disclosed, including guide wires, catheters and implants. The methods and systems described herein are advantageous as they do not include injecting a second fluid for the measurements. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120078132 | Method and Apparatus of Neural Signal Determination and Therapy Enhancement - A method and device are provided that detect and identify a neural signal by type and optionally or automatically provide a signal that affects a nerve carrying the neural signal. A plurality of electrodes is positioned along a nerve and monitors the electrical activity of the nerve. The invented system analyzes the monitored data to determine when the monitored activity can be identified as a known type of bioelectric signal, e.g., a pain nerve signal. The system may optionally attempt to affect, disrupt, diminish, nullify or block transmission of bioelectric signals along the nerve, e.g., by directing electrical energy through an electrode to nullify a bioelectric signal along a pain nerve. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120083709 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING INTRATHECAL PENETRATION - Systems and methods for detecting intrathecal penetration are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes detecting a value corresponding to an impedance of an electrical circuit that in turn includes an electrical contact located within the patient, and patient tissue adjacent to the electrical contact. The method further includes comparing the detected value to a predetermined criterion, and, if the detected value meets the predetermined criterion, identifying penetration of the patient's dura based at least in part on the detected value. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120089045 | MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING THE SWALLOWING PROCESS AND/OR FOR DETECTING ASPIRATION - The invention relates to the use of measurement system for evaluating a swallowing process, preferably a closure of the airway during the swallowing process and/or an aspiration. The measurement system can be used for supporting therapy in case of swallowing disorders and/or for diagnosing changes in swallowing sequence. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089046 | Methods for Measuring Cross-Sectional Areas in Luminal Organs - Methods for measuring cross-sectional areas in luminal organs. In at least one embodiment of a method for measuring a size parameter of a targeted treatment site of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of introducing an impedance device into a treatment site, the impedance device selected from the group consisting of an impedance catheter and an impedance wire; injecting a first solution of a first compound having a first conductivity into the treatment site; measuring a first conductance value at the treatment site using the impedance device, the first conductance value indicative of a bolus of the first solution, and calculating a size parameter of the treatment site based in part upon the first conductivity of the first solution, the first conductance | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120095361 | MULTI-CHANNEL BIOPOTENTIAL SIGNAL ACQUISITION SYSTEMS - A multi-channel biopotential signal acquisition system is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of biopotential channels is corrected for common-mode interference. In one aspect, each biopotential channel includes an electrode for providing a biopotential input signal and an associated amplifier for amplifying the biopotential input signal and providing a biopotential output signal. The output signal is processed in a processor. Each biopotential output signal is passed to a common-mode feedback system, which determines an average common-mode signal and feeds that signal back to each of the amplifiers in each of the biopotential channels to enhance common-mode rejection ratio of the system. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120109001 | SENSING IN AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN INTERFERING SIGNAL USING LEAD IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS - A device to which an implantable lead is coupled may be configured to perform one or more impedance measurements subsequent to a sensed physiological event to determine whether the sensed physiological event is possibly associated with noise induced by an interfering signal. Interfering signals, such as electromagnetic fields generated by an external source, may induce voltages or currents on conductors of the implantable lead, which will have an effect on lead impedance measurements. By measuring one or more impedances associated with the lead during a time window that substantially coincides with the sensed physiological event, the device may determine whether the sensed events may have resulted from interference. The device may determine whether to further adjust operation of the IMD based on the classification of the sensed physiological event and a classification of one or more previously sensed physiological events. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120116242 | Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probes and Methods of Making the Same - According to the present disclosure, a system for sensing attributes of tissue in at least one direction is provided. The system includes a thermal conductivity probe having a sensor configured to measure thermal conductivity in the target tissue in at least one direction, and an electrical conductivity probe having a sensor configured to measure electrical conductivity in the target tissue in at least one direction, a power supply operatively coupled to the thermal conductivity probe and being configured to supply power to the thermal conductivity probe, an impedance analyzer operatively coupled to the electrical conductivity probe, and a computer operatively coupled to at least one of the power supply, the multimeter and the impedance analyzer. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120130267 | IMPEDANCE BASED ANATOMY GENERATION - Methods and systems for the determination and representation of a chamber anatomy are disclosed herein. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120136275 | Apparatus and Method for Locating Defects in Bone Tissue - An instrument for locating defects adjacent neural elements in bone tissue includes a handle member with a rotatable coupling member and a probe member coupled to the coupling member. The probe member extends distally from the handle member and includes a longitudinal shaft portion along a longitudinal axis and a distal angled portion extending transversely to the longitudinal axis at a small acute angle. The angled portion has a probe end that carries an electrical signal. The handle member operates to rotate the probe member and the probe end about the longitudinal axis to sweep holes in the bone tissue to locate possible defects in the bone tissue. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120143076 | Isolating devie, set, treatment apparatus and methods - The present invention relates to an isolating device provided or intended for preventing or inhibiting a current flow between a first body section and a second body section of a patient during a bioimpedance measurement. It further relates to a set, a treatment apparatus and methods. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120143077 | MEASUREMENT AND USE OF IN-SOCKET RESIDUAL LIMB VOLUME CHANGE DATA FOR PROSTHETIC FITTING - Changes in the volume of residual limbs on which prosthetic sockets are worn can be measured based on bioimpedance measurements along one or more segments of the limb. A current at an appropriate frequency (e.g., in the range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz) is injected at two current electrodes that contact the skin of the residual limb. The voltage at the voltage electrodes disposed between the current electrodes is measured and using an appropriate model, the change in the segmented volume of the limb can be determined during periods of different activity and at different times during the day. This information can be used for assessing the fit of the socket and can also provide a feedback signal for automatically controlling volume management devices, to ensure a more comfortable fit when the volume of the limb is changing. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120143078 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS TO MEASURE LUMINAL ORGAN PARAMETERS USING IMPEDANCE - Devices and systems to measure luminal organ parameters using impedance. In at least one embodiment of an impedance device of the present disclosure, the impedance device comprises an elongated body having a distal body end and a pair of detection electrodes positioned in between a pair of excitation electrodes located at or near the distal body end, the pair of detection electrodes configured to obtain one or more conductance values within a mammalian luminal organ within a field generated by the pair of excitation electrodes, wherein a measured parameter of the mammalian luminal organ can be calculated based in part upon the one or more conductance values obtained by the device and a known distance between the pair of detection electrodes. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120150060 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO ESTIMATE IMPEDANCE OF A PSEUDO SENSING VECTOR - An implantable medical device (IMD) is provided comprising inputs configured to be coupled to leads having electrodes thereon, wherein combinations of the electrodes are associated with respective active sensing vector. The IMD further comprises an impedance measurement module to collect multiple measured impedances between corresponding combinations of the electrodes. The IMD further includes an impedance derivation module to calculate a derived impedance for at least one pseudo sensing vector based on the measured impedances, wherein the pseudo sensing vector extends to or from at least one pseudo sensing site. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120150061 | Sensor for Detecting Cancerous Tissue and Method of Manufacturing the Same - Disclosed herein are a sensor for detecting cancerous tissue, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of monitoring the presence and status of cancerous tissue in real time. The sensor for detecting cancerous tissue includes a board, one or more pairs of needle electrodes, and an output unit. The needle electrodes are formed on the board, and obtain electrical signals from tissue. The output unit outputs the electrical signals, obtained from the electrodes, to the outside. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120157874 | POSTURE DETECTION USING THORACIC IMPEDANCE - Physiological data, such as thoracic impedance data, can be obtained over a first time window to establish a baseline, or can be used to form one or more data clusters. Additional physiological data, such as thoracic impedance test data acquired over a later time window, can be obtained and compared to the baseline or data clusters to determine an indication of worsening heart failure. In an example, a quantitative attribute of one or more data clusters can be monitored and used to provide an indication of worsening heart failure. A posture discrimination metric can be obtained, such as using the physiological data obtained over the first time window. The additional physiological data, such as can be obtained over a second time window, can be compared to the posture discrimination metric to provide a patient posture status. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120157875 | METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS AND OF SCREENING FOR ELECTRICAL MARKERS FOR HIDDEN (OCCULT) MALADIES AND MODULATION OF ENDOGENOUS BIOELECTRICAL NEURONAL SIGNALS IN PATIENTS - A method for diagnosing non-visible (occult) maladies in a human patient, the method comprising: (a) deploying at least two electrodes spaced apart on the skin of the patient; (b) detecting and recording a bioelectrical signal in and around said electrodes, the bioelectrical signal being a stochastic signal; (c) transforming the stochastic signal into a voltage versus frequency spectra using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm; (d) comparing a graph of a resultant FFT level of the patient to at least one graph of a baseline FFT level; and (e) determining a presents of a non-visible (occult) malady based on said comparison. Methods for monitoring a treatment regimen for non-visible (occult) maladies and for modulating the amplitude of endogenous bioelectrical stochastic signals in a human patient are also disclosed. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120172746 | Methods to Generate Luminal Organ Profiles Using Impedance - Methods to generate luminal organ profiles using impedance. One embodiment of such a method comprises the steps of introducing an impedance device having at least two detection electrodes positioned in between at least two excitation electrodes into a treatment site of a luminal organ at a first position, measuring a first treatment site conductance at the first position using the impedance device and at least two injections of solutions having different conductivities, moving the impedance device to a second position in the luminal organ, measuring a second treatment site conductance at the second position using the impedance device and the at least two injections of solutions having different conductivities, calculating a first position cross-sectional area using the first treatment site conductance and a second position cross-sectional area using the second treatment site conductance, and constructing a profile of the treatment site. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120172747 | BODY FAT MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A body fat measurement device, including: a plurality of electrodes which contact a body surface of the subject; a current application unit which passes a current between a pair of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes; a first measurement unit which measures a voltage between another pair of electrodes, while current is passed between the pair of electrodes; a calculation unit which calculates an abdominal impedance of the subject on the basis of the voltage measured by the first measurement unit and calculates an amount of body fat of the subject; a second measurement unit which outputs a signal indicating a parameter other than the abdominal impedance; a cable in which a first core wire which connects between at least one of the current application unit and the pair of electrodes, and the first measurement unit and the other pair of electrodes, and a second core wire which connects the second measurement unit and the calculation unit are provided inside a same insulating coating; and an isolating unit which can shut off a connection between the second core wire and the calculation unit; wherein the calculation unit calculates the abdominal impedance on the basis of the voltage measured by the first measurement unit while a connection between the second core wire and the calculation unit is shut off, during measurement of the abdominal impedance. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120191001 | COMBINATION NON-INVASIVE AND INVASIVE BIOPARAMETER MEASURING DEVICE - In a combination invasive and non-invasive bioparameter monitoring device an invasive component measures the bioparameter and transmits the reading to the non-invasive component. The non-invasive component generates a bioparametric reading upon insertion by the patient of a body part. A digital processor processes a series over time of digital color images of the body part and represents the digital images as a signal over time that is converted to a learning vector using mathematical functions. A learning matrix is created. A coefficient of learning vector is deduced. From a new vector from non-invasive measurements, a new matrix of same size and structure is created. Using the coefficient of learning vector, a recognition matrix may be tested to measure the bioparameter non-invasively. The learning matrix may be expanded and kept regular. After a device is calibrated to the individual patient, universal calibration can be generated from sending data over the Internet. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120203134 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR MONITORING CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMIC CONDITIONS - Devices, and methods for monitoring cerebro-hemodynamic signals are disclosed. In one aspect, the devices and methods may include receiving at least one signal characterizing a bioimpedance measurement. The at least one signal may be correlated with the timing of a cardiac wave and analyzed to ascertain an extent of an expected characteristic within the signal. The extent of the expected characteristic may be used to provide information for predicting a physiological brain condition. The at least one signal may include two signals, obtained from opposite brain hemispheres, and may be a bioimpedance signal. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120209135 | Implantable Device, System and Method for Measuring Physiologic Parameters - An apparatus having at least one implantable lead, e.g., two leads, three leads, etc., is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes at least two satellites electrically coupled to a common implantable pulse generator by at least two conductors extending from the common implantable pulse generator to each of the at least two satellites. Each satellite, for example, is associated with a respective tissue site such as a cardiac wall. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120209136 | Method and Apparatus for Determining and Improving Health of an Individual - A method and apparatus for obtaining data relevant to the state of health of an individual by measuring the signal spectra at various Jing Luo network termination points on the individual's body. Illustratively, the measurements are at points on the individual's hand, implemented with a glove that includes numerous electrical point contacts. A healing session ameliorates a malady by identifying the signature of the malady as reflected in a chosen subset of termination point, determining the amount of energy that is necessary to null out the malady's signature, and applying the determined energy to one or more termination points. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120232421 | APPARATUS TO MEASURE SKIN MOISTURE CONTENT AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A method of measuring skin moisture content, the method including: measuring a differential rate of a skin impedance of a predetermined skin area of a user for a predetermined period of time; and determining that the skin area is a moist area when the differential rate of skin impedance is greater than or equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time, and determining that the skin area is a dry area when the differential rate of skin impedance is less than the predetermined value for the predetermined period of time. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120238896 | METHOD FOR ELECTROIMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY - A method for electroimpedance tomography makes possible an analysis and reconstruction of an image of the electric resistance in the presence of a defect electrode (A). The method includes the steps of identifying an electrode as a defect electrode (A), which has no contact with the body, by means of an impedance measurement, of performing current feeds such that at least the defect electrode (A) is jumped over, and of determining voltage potentials in the area of the defect electrode (A) over the defect electrode (A) in such a way that the defect electrode (A) is jumped over at least once. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120238897 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING ELECTRODE-TISSUE CONTACT BASED ON AMPLITUDE MODULATION OF SENSED SIGNAL - Methods and systems for monitoring contact between a medical probe and tissue are provided. A medical probe is introduced into a patient adjacent the tissue. An electrical parameter, e.g., electrical admittance, is measuring between a first electrode located on the medical probe and a second electrode remote from the first electrode. The electrical parameter is amplitude modulated in response to a physiological cycle of the patient. Contact between the medical probe and the tissue is detected based on the amplitude modulation of the measured electrical parameter. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120238898 | DEVICE FOR DETECTING ELECTRICAL POTENTIALS OF THE FOREHEAD REGION OF A PATIENT - A device for detecting electrical potentials in the forehead area of a patient has a transverse member adapted to rest against the forehead of the patient, a vertical member extending crosswise to the transverse member and a mask on the vertical member. Electrodes are provided on the transverse members at least at its ends and at the center at which the vertical bar crosses the transverse member. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120259238 | Anatomical Visualization With Electrically Conductive Balloon Catheter - A balloon catheter for providing a 3-dimensional rendering of the interior of a cavity, the catheter system including a controller, a catheter connected to the controller and a balloon positioned on the catheter. The balloon includes a mesh having members extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the balloon where each member of the mesh has an electrical characteristic that changes as the member is deformed. The controller uses a measurement of the variable electrical characteristic to generate a three-dimensional rendering of an interior surface of the cavity, which can be rotating to different viewing angles. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120271192 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYSING THE STRUCTURE OF BONE TISSUE - A method of analysing the structure of bone tissue comprises placing first and second electrodes in electrical contact with the bone tissue to be analysed such that the bone tissue forms at least part of an electrical circuit between the first and second electrodes. Alternating electrical signals are applied to the circuit and the electrical response of the circuit is monitored. The monitored response is processed to generate output data representative of the structure of the bone tissue. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120271193 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ELECTROIMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY - A device for electroimpedance tomography with an electrode belt ( | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120277619 | DETECTING FOOD INTAKE BASED ON IMPEDANCE - In some examples, the disclosure relates to a systems, devices, and techniques for monitoring the occurrence of food intake by a patient. In one example, the disclosure relates to a method including determining a phase of tissue impedance at one or more gastrointestinal tract locations of a patient via a medical device, and determining the occurrence of food intake by the patient based on the determined phase of the tissue impedance. In some examples, a medical device may control the delivery of therapy to a patient based on the determination of food intake based on the phase to the tissue impedance. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120277620 | Method of Improving Electrode Tissue Interface - A critical element of a retinal prosthesis is the stimulating electrode array, which is placed in close proximity to the retina. It is via this interface that a retinal prosthesis electrically stimulates nerve cells to produce the perception of light. The impedance load seen by the current driver consists of the tissue resistance and the complex electrode impedance. The results show that the tissue resistance of the retina is significantly greater than that of the vitreous humor in the eye. Circuit models of the electrode-retina interface are used to parameterize the different contributors to the overall impedance. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120296231 | BODY IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - A body impedance measurement apparatus having high aesthetic qualities can be realized without increasing the manufacturing costs thereof by providing a membrane-type electrode formed integrally with the surface of a resinous first housing through insert molding. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120316454 | ELECTRODE IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY - Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to impedance spectroscopy in an active implantable medical device (AIMD) comprising a component with one or more electrodes. In an embodiment, the AIMD applies a signal at a plurality of frequencies using one or more of the electrodes. Measurements are then obtained for the applied signal to determine impedance(s) at the applied frequencies of the tissue in which the electrodes are located. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120316455 | WEARABLE DEVICE AND PLATFORM FOR SENSORY INPUT - Techniques for a wearable device and platform for sensory input are described, including a sensor coupled to a framework having a housing having one or more moldings, the sensor being configured to sense at least one sensory input, a processor configured to transform the at least one sensory input to data during an activity in which the wearable device is worn, and a communications facility coupled to the wearable device and configured to transfer the data between the wearable device and another device during the activity, the data being configured to be presented on a user interface. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120316456 | SENSORY USER INTERFACE - Techniques for sensory user interface are described, including receiving a sensory input at a sensor coupled to a wearable device, converting the sensory input into data using the sensor and the processor, processing the data to generate a representation of a state, evaluating the representation to determine if an action is indicated, and performing the action if indicated based on an evaluation of the representation. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120323134 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A LOCATION OF NERVE TISSUE IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPACE - Systems and methods for discriminating and locating nerve tissues within a body involve applying a waveform signal to tissue between two electrodes and measuring the electrical characteristics of the signal transmitted through the tissue. Using impedance measurements, the (x, y) coordinates of a nerve relative to an electrode array on the skin surface, and the z-coordinate of the nerve depth position, may be determined. A controller may implement the process and perform the impedance calculations on the measured data to identify tissue types and locations within the measured area, and to present results in graphical form. Results may be combined with other tissue imaging technologies and with image-guided systems. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120323135 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN PRE-CANCEROUS AND CANCEROUS TISSUE - Methods and systems for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial tissue and/or an organ in a body as well as to diagnose disease, susceptibility, premalignancy or cancer and measure response to therapy, introduction of a drug and to assess the margins of a tumor or resection. The methods utilize through the tissue or organ electrical measurements with alternating current using one or more surface or internal electrodes and measuring the electrical response using one or more surface electrodes, preferably in combination with one or more electrodes in direct or indirect contact with epithelium comprising the organ or tissue under test. The methods are also useful in combination with DC measurements on the surface of the organ or tissue under test. Measurement of impedance, admittance, electropotential and dielectric properties is particularly useful, particularly as a function of frequency and position on and in the tissue or organ. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120323136 | ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MYOGRAPHY - Electrical impedance myography (EIM) can be used for the assessment and diagnosis of muscular disorders. EIM includes applying an electrical signal to a region of tissue and measuring a resulting signal. A characteristic of the region of tissue is determined based on the measurement. Performing EIM at different frequencies and/or different angular orientations with respect to a muscle can aid in the assessment and diagnosis. Devices are described that facilitate assessment and diagnosis using EIM. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120323137 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN PRE-CANCEROUS AND CANCEROUS BREAST TISSUE AND EPITHELIUM - A method and system are provided for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial and stromal tissue in the human breast. A plurality of measuring electrodes are used to measure the tissue and transepithelial electropotential of breast tissue. Surface electropotential and impedance are also measured at one or more locations. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. The condition of the tissue is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, stroma, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120330179 | ELECTRODE CONTACT-QUALITY EVALUATION - A system includes an array of N electrode elements configured to be attached to an external region of a patient, and a processing device coupled to the array. The processing device is configured to receive a set of bioelectric data signals from the array, determine from the set of data signals a set of elements of the array that are, according to a predetermined standard, insufficiently attached to the external region, and generate to a display device, in at least two dimensions, a representation of the external region and the spatial positioning of the insufficiently attached set of elements on the external region. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120330180 | VERTEBRAL BONE CHANNELING SYSTEMS - System and methods for channeling a path into bone include a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel disposed along a central axis of the trocar. The trocar includes a radial opening at or near the distal end of the trocar. The system includes a curveable cannula sized to be received in the central channel, the curveable cannula comprising a curveable distal end configured to be extended laterally outward from the radial opening in a curved path extending away from the trocar. The curveable cannula has a central passageway having a diameter configured allow a probe to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120330181 | VISCERAL FAT MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A visceral fat measurement device includes a current-applying electrode pair including a first current-applying electrode and a second current-applying electrode, and a voltage measurement electrode pair including a first voltage measurement electrode and a second voltage measurement electrode. The current-applying electrode pair is arranged on a projected line obtained by projecting the body trunk axis of a measured body to the body surface of an abdominal part of the measured body. The first and second current-applying electrodes are separated from each other at a predetermined interval determined so that a current path connecting the first current-applying electrode, visceral fat, and the second current-applying electrode is formed. The voltage measurement electrode pair is arranged between the first and second current-applying electrodes in a direction along the body trunk axis of the measured body. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130006136 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE OF BIOLOGIC TISSUES - A device for measuring an electrical impedance of biologic tissue may include electrodes configured to contact the biologic tissue and generate a differential voltage thereon. The device may include a first circuit coupled to the electrodes and configured to force an oscillating input signal therethrough, and a differential amplitude modulation (AM) demodulator coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The differential AM demodulator may be configured to demodulate the differential voltage, and generate a base-band signal representative of the demodulated differential voltage. The device may further include an output circuit downstream from the differential AM demodulator and may be configured to generate an output signal representative of the electrical impedance as a function of the base-band signal. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130006137 | CONTACT SENSOR AND SHEATH EXIT SENSOR - A system and method is provided that allows for determining the local impedance of one or more electrodes of an electrode catheter. Such local impedance may be utilized to identify the relative position of an electrode catheter to a sheath of a guiding introducer. In another arrangement, local impedance of a catheter electrode can be utilized to calibrate a catheter electrode to provide improved contact sensing. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130023784 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLEX IMPEDANCE COMPENSATION AND FOR DETERMINING TISSUE MORPHOLOGY BASED ON PHASE ANGLE - A compensation circuit has a predetermined, known complex impedance and is located in a handle of a catheter or in a distal end of a cable that connects to the catheter. The compensation circuit is probed with a pilot signal produced by a compensation control that is external to the catheter, by way of an electrical connection through the connecting cable. The compensation control measures the complex impedance, which is the combination of the circuit's known impedance as well as that of the cable. The compensation control then determines the difference between the measured and the known complex impedances. The difference represents that which is attributable to the cable, and is used to compensate or cancel out such cable-related contributions to complex impedance in measurements made over other electrical connections in the same cable. In another aspect, an unknown tissue is identified as one of a plurality of possible tissue types such as regular myocardium, scar and fat based on the measured phase angle of the complex impedance of the unknown tissue. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130030318 | SINGLE INJECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO OBTAIN PARALLEL TISSUE CONDUCTANCES WITHIN LUMINAL ORGANS - Single injection systems and methods to obtain parallel tissue conductances within luminal organs. In at least one embodiment of a single solution injection method to obtain a parallel tissue conductance within a luminal organ of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of introducing at least part of a detection device into a luminal organ at a first location, the detection device having a detector, applying current to the detection device using a stimulator, introducing a first signal having a first frequency and a second signal having a second frequency through the detection device, and injecting a solution having a known conductivity into the luminal organ at or near the detector of the detection device. Such a method may further comprise the steps of measuring an output conductance of the first signal and the second signal at the first location using the detector, and calculating a parallel tissue conductance at the first location based in part upon the output conductance and the conductivity of the injected solution. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130030319 | CARDIAC MONITORING USING SPINAL CORD STIMULATION ELECTRODES - Methods and systems for use in cardiac monitoring may periodically measure intrathoracic impedance using one or more pairs of electrodes and analyze measured impedance values to identify changes in the patient's thoracic fluid content for use in cardiac monitoring. The intrathoracic impedance is measured using at least one spinal cord stimulation electrode. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130030320 | SKIN CONTACT DETECTOR - A system for detecting skin contact comprises a signal generator ( | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130041282 | APPARATUS FOR MEASURING INTERFACIAL IMPEDANCE BETWEEN THE BODY AND A STIMULATING ELECTRODE - An apparatus includes a first electrode connected to one end of a cell within a living body, a second electrode connected to the other end of the cell within the living body. A measurement unit selectively extracts a voltage induced to the first and second electrodes depending on the current applied to the first and second electrodes. A charge storage unit stores a relative potential corresponding to a voltage difference between the first and second electrodes. An A/D conversion unit configured to convert a signal corresponding to the relative potential into a digital signal. An impedance calculation unit configured to calculate interfacial impedance of the first and second electrodes using the digital signal from the A/D conversion unit and the current applied to the second electrode. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130041283 | Constraint Modified Signal - Subject matter includes a method comprising: applying a first electrical signal to a subject; identifying a proposal to change the first electrical signal to a proposed second electrical signal; calculating at least one parameter of the proposed second electrical signal; and determining whether the calculated at least one parameter violates any rules. If the at least one parameter does violate any of the rules, then the method further comprises iteratively modifying one or more features of the proposed second electrical signal to arrive at a modified second electrical signal that complies with the rules. If the at least one parameter does not violate any of the rules, then the method further comprises applying the proposed second electrical signal to the subject. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130053721 | ASSESSMENT OF SUDOMOR FUNCTION FOR PERIPHERAL DIABETIC NEUROPATHY EVALUATION - A method for assessing sudomotor function of a patient for evaluating diabetic and autonomous neuropathy is disclosed. The method is performed in a system comprising electrodes intended to be placed on different regions of the patient body, and an adjustable DC source. The method includes applying on the electrodes DC voltage pulses of varying voltage values in order to stress sweat glands, the voltage pulses lasting given durations allowing the stabilization of electrochemical phenomena in the body, near the electrodes; collecting data representative of the current between the electrodes, and of the potential generated on the electrodes for the different DC voltages; from the data, computing results representative of the electrochemical skin conductance of the patient; reconciling the latter data with reference data obtained in the same conditions on patients identified as suffering or not from sudomotor, and identifying the patient as suffering or not from sudomotor dysfunction. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130072813 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING BIOIMPEDANCES - The device is used to measure bioimpedances and has in each case at least one measurement electrode for each foot and each hand of a person who is to be measured. The electrodes are connected to an evaluation unit. In addition, at least one balance is used to determine a body weight of the person who is to be measured. The hand electrodes, provided for contact with the hands of the person who is to be measured, are arranged in the area of at least one positionable support element. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130085408 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR NON-INVASIVE IMPLANT LENGTH SENSING - A device for the non-invasive sensing of the length of an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device having first and second portions moveable relative to one another and a layer of resistive material disposed on one of the first and second portions. A contact is disposed on the other of the first and second portions, the contact being in sliding contact with the layer of resistive material upon relative movement between the first and second portions. A circuit is configured to measure the electrical resistance along a path including a variable length region of the layer of resistive material and the contact. The electrical resistance can then be converted into a length. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130096455 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR OBTAINING CONDUCTANCE DATA AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING AND USING THE SAME - Devices and systems for obtaining conductance data and methods of manufacturing and using the same. In at least one embodiment of a device of the present disclosure, the device is an elongated body with at least one groove defined therein, the at least one groove configured to receive one or more conductor wires therein. In another embodiment, the device is an elongated core body having a plurality of conductive elements positioned thereon and a coating to result in a device having an overall round-cross section. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130096456 | BODY COMPOSITION MEASUREMENT DEVICE - Disclosed is a body composition measurement device provided with a current electrode pair for applying current and a plurality of voltage electrode pairs for measuring voltage at a plurality of measurement points. A controller measures body fat on the basis of voltages measured at the plurality of measurement points by means of the voltage electrode pairs. The controller uses the measured voltages at the plurality of measurement points to perform integration and calculates the amount of body fat on the basis of the integration result. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130102920 | SYSTEM AND CIRCUIT FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PRECISE CURRENTS TO NUMEROUS PATIENT ELECTRODES AND FOR NON-INVASIVE PATIENT-ELECTRODE VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS - Apparatus for electrically connecting measurement apparatus to a biological subject, the apparatus including a signal delivery circuit including a current buffer having a current buffer input for receiving a signal from a signal source and a current buffer output for supplying a current to an electrode attached to the biological subject, and a voltage buffer having a voltage buffer input coupled to the current buffer output and a voltage buffer output for providing a voltage signal indicative of a voltage at the electrode, to a sensor. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130131538 | FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR DETERMINATION - A method for use in analysing impedance measurements performed on a subject, the method including, in a processing system, determining at least one impedance value at each of a number of frequencies, each impedance value representing the impedance of a segment of the subject, determining a dispersion parameter value indicative of a dispersion of the impedance values and, determining an indicator based at least in part on the dispersion parameter value. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130131539 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT ON TISSUE - The present invention relates to a method of assessing the quality of an electrical impedance measurement on tissue of a subject, the method comprising: performing the impedance measurement on a tissue region of said tissue of the subject, whereby impedance data is obtained, said data comprising at least one impedance value measured in said tissue region; applying an evaluation algorithm to the obtained impedance data, whereby the quality of the impedance measurement is assessed; and presenting the assessed quality of the impedance measurement such that a decision can be made on whether to use the impedance measurement for diagnosing a condition of said tissue of the subject. The invention also relates to a device for electrical impedance measurement on tissue of a subject. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130158425 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING ELECTROTHERAPY - A circumferential electrode includes a moisture-containing layer comprising a first side and an electrically conductive layer on the moisture-containing layer, the electrically conductive layer including a second side and a third side opposite the second side, the third side of the electrically conductive layer contacting the first side of the moisture-containing layer. The circumferential electrode further includes a barrier layer on the electrically conductive layer, the barrier layer including a fourth side adjacent to the second side of the electrically conductive layer. The circumferential electrode further includes a bulk region and a border region, the border region completely surrounding the bulk region, and the electrically conductive layer is in the bulk region but is not in the border region. The circumferential electrode can be part of an electrotherapy system which can be used to apply various current waveforms to patients in order to treat a variety of ailments and conditions. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130172775 | BODY CONDITION INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM, AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING BODY CONDITION INFORMATION - A condition information processing apparatus ( | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130172776 | TISSUE INDICATOR DETERMINATION - A method for use in analysing impedance measurements performed on a subject, the method including, in a processing system, determining at least one impedance value at at least one frequency, the at least one impedance value representing the impedance of a segment of the subject, determining a tissue impedance parameter value using the at least one impedance value and determining a tissue indicator based at least in part on the tissue impedance parameter value. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130184605 | SYSTEM AND DATA PROCESSING DEVICE FOR BIOIMPEDANCE ANALYSIS - A system for bioimpedance analysis of a biological tissue includes a tissue inspector and an impedance calculator. The tissue inspector includes an inspecting circuit for receiving a test signal, a plurality of electrode sets respectively corresponding with a plurality of test parts, and a multiplexer operable to couple a selected electrode set at a detected test part to the inspecting circuit to detect a signal response resulting from the test signal. The impedance calculator is operable to compute impedance information corresponding to the detected test part based on the test signal and the detected signal response. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130184606 | BREAST CLASSIFICATION BASED ON IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS - A method of screening for breast cancer, including determining at least one first electrical impedance related characteristic for a first breast of a patient, determining at least one second electrical impedance related characteristic for a second breast of a patient and classifying the patient as requiring additional testing, responsive to the value of the first and second characteristics, wherein classifying is not based on a difference between the first and second characteristics. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130190645 | ACQUIRING NERVE ACTIVITY FROM CAROTID BODY AND/OR SINUS - An exemplary includes acquiring an electroneurogram of the right carotid sinus nerve or the left carotid sinus nerve, analyzing the electroneurogram for at least one of chemosensory information and barosensory information and calling for one or more therapeutic actions based at least in part on the analyzing. Therapeutic actions may aim to treat conditions such as sleep apnea, an increase in metabolic demand, hypoglycemia, hypertension, renal failure, and congestive heart failure. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130190646 | Implantable Dielectrometer - Diagnostic apparatus ( | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130197389 | DRY WEIGHT PREDICTOR - Methods and apparatus for predicting/estimating the dry weight of an individual, e.g., a patient undergoing dialysis treatment, are provided. The techniques employ a bioimpedance measurement ( | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130204157 | CONTACT SENSORS, FORCE/PRESSURE SENSORS, AND METHODS FOR MAKING SAME - Disclosed herein are contact sensors having a conductive composite material formed of a polymer and a conductive filler. In one particular aspect, the composite materials can include less than about 10 wt % conductive filler. The composite material of the contact sensors can have physical characteristics essentially identical to the polymer, while being electrically conductive with the electrical resistance proportional to the load on the sensor. Also disclosed herein are novel force/pressure sensors that include conductive polymer elements. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130211277 | System And Method For Reducing Stress Levels Through A Biofeedback Mediated System Using Color, Sound, And Aroma Therapy - The present invention is directed toward a system and method utilizing a biofeedback mediated color, sound, and aroma therapy. The visual, auditory, and aromatic stimulation is intended to alleviate stress and/or anxiety by relaxing and stimulating the brain, thereby correcting any neurophysical imbalances. Reduction in the levels of stress and/or anxiety is achieved through the use of the auditory, visual, and aromatic sequences which are individually specific and systematic. The system and method is preferably provided in multiple sessions with each session providing both a mechanism for providing treatment as well as assessment which is used to form the basis for future treatments. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130211278 | Method and a device for determining the hydration and/or nutrition status of a patient - The invention relates to the field of monitoring the hydration and/or nutrition status of a patient. According to the invention a method is provided to determine at least one of a mal-hydration component, an adipose tissue component and a lean tissue component of a patient comprising the steps of determining chemical or physical properties of the patient and deriving the at least one component on the basis of the determined chemical or physical properties of the patient and previously determined values of a mass or volume fraction of water in lean tissue and a mass or volume fraction of water in adipose tissue. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method according to the invention and to a computer program product to be used on such a device. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130211279 | APPARATUS METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING STRAIN IN BIOLOGICAL TISSUE - An apparatus for in-situ sensing of longitudinal and transverse strain in biological tissue (e.g. tendons and ligaments) includes a set of sensing electrodes that contact biological tissue and enable measurement of an electrical property of the biological tissue along two or more directions. The apparatus may also include a sensing module that senses the electrical property of the biological tissue along the two or more directions to provide multi-directional measurements that are captured by a logging module. The apparatus may also include a transmission module that transmits the captured measurements to a data analysis workstation or the like. The data analysis workstation may include a strain estimation module that receives the multi-directional measurement and estimates a longitudinal strain and a transverse strain therefrom. A corresponding system and method for in-situ sensing of longitudinal and transverse strain in biological tissue is also presented. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130211280 | METHOD FOR DETECTING BOTH PRE-CANCEROUS AND CANCEROUS TISSUES - A method for characterizing tissues within a subject as cancerous or non-cancerous includes determining the electrical properties of the subject. The electrical properties of the subject are fit to a model and a specific range of a set of characteristic frequencies of each tissue is then calculated. Each tissue is finally characterized as cancerous or non-cancerous if the specific range of the set of characteristic frequencies inside or outside, respectively, a pre-determined spread of characteristic frequencies. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130218045 | Method and System for Disease Risk Management - This disclosure relates to systems and methods for measuring the composition of a body part of a patient, or for otherwise determining a clinically relevant fact using characteristics of tissue in or proximal to said body part. In an example, this disclosure relates to measuring the electrical impedance of an organ or portion of an organ, such as the female breast, so as to obtain clinically relevant information. In an aspect, the system and method can be used for measuring and utilizing certain information such as breast density data and other risk factors for determination or classification of a woman's likelihood to develop breast cancer. Other aspects quantify or qualify a woman's responsiveness to a drug or hormonal therapy. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130226024 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING VASCULAR BODILY LUMEN INFORMATION AND GUIDING MEDICAL DEVICES - Methods and systems for determining information about a vascular bodily lumen are described. An exemplary method includes generating an electrical signal, delivering the electrical signal to a plurality of excitation elements in the vicinity of the vascular bodily lumen, measuring a responsive electrical signal from a plurality of sensing elements in response to the delivered electrical signal, and determining a lumen dimension. Specific embodiments include generating a multiple frequency electrical signal. Another embodiment includes measuring a plurality of responsive signals at a plurality of frequencies. Still other embodiments include using spatial diversity of the excitation elements. Yet other embodiments use method for calibration and de-embedding of such measurements to determine the lumen dimensions. Diagnostic devices incorporating the method are also disclosed, including guide wires, catheters and implants. The methods and systems described herein are advantageous as they do not include injecting a second fluid for the measurements. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130226025 | System for Determining the Quality of an Individual's Bone Structure - The invention relates to a system for determining the quality of a bone structure, comprising: a body adapted for drilling through the bone structure; a first electrode arranged on the body so as to come into contact with the bone structure during drilling; a second electrode arranged on the body so as to come into contact with the bone structure at a distance from the first electrode during drilling; an electric generator adapted to apply an electric current between the first and second electrodes for a pre-determined period of time; a measuring device adapted (i) to measure the electric current, continuously and over the pre-determined period, an electrical magnitude representative of the aptitude of the bone structure for allowing electric current to pass therethrough and (ii) to deliver, continuously and over the pre-determined period, a signal representative of the quality of the bone structure between the contact surfaces of the first and second electrodes, using the determined electrical magnitude. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130237876 | MONITORING SYSTEM - Apparatus for performing impedance measurements on a subject. The apparatus includes a first processing system for determining an impedance measurement procedure and determining instructions corresponding to the measurement procedure. A second processing system is provided for receiving the instructions, using the instructions to generate control signals, with the control signals being used to apply one or more signals to the subject. The second processing system then receives first data indicative of the one or more signals applied to the subject, second data indicative of one or more signals measured across the subject and performs at least preliminary processing of the first and second data to thereby allow impedance values to be determined. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130245487 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING BODY IMPEDANCE - A method and system for determining a body impedance (Z | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130253365 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF PAIN WITH BODY IMPEDANCE ANALYZER - A patient treatment unit and method analyzes and treats pain in tissues by applying an electrical pulse train to the affected tissue. The impedance of the affected tissue is measured, and the measured impedance is correlated to a level of pain in the patient. The pulse train is further applied in response to the measured impedance to reduce the patient's pain. The patient treatment unit includes a probe stimulus generator that outputs the pulse train. The treatment unit also includes a pair of probes for contacting the patient's body and receiving the pulse train. The pulse has improved shaping based on isolation of high voltage from a low voltage control. The unit further includes a body impedance analysis circuit that senses voltage and current via the probes when the probes are contacting the patient and observe the impedance. A monitor is electrically coupled to the body impedance analysis circuit and provides an indication of the measured impedance indicative of the patient's level of pain in real-time. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130261491 | Anatomical thermal sensing device and method - A medical device utilizing temperature sensing to identify or assess anatomical bodies or structures includes an elongate tubular member, at least one electrode, a thermal sensor, and a temperature response assessment system or component. The at least one electrode may be connected to the distal portion of the elongate tubular member, and the one or more electrode can be configured to provide energy or heat to a portion of an anatomical body or structure. The thermal sensor may be configured to measure the thermal response of the portion of an anatomical body or structure, e.g., tissue or blood pools. The temperature response assessment system or component can be coupled to the thermal sensor. In embodiments, the device may include a lumen and port opening, which may accommodate a tool, such as a needle. Methods for using temperature sensing to identify an anatomical body or structure are also disclosed. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130261492 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING PULMONARY EDEMA BASED ON IMPEDANCE MEASURED USING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE DURING A LEAD MATURATION INTERVAL - Techniques are provided for use by implantable medical devices such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices for detecting pulmonary edema based on transthoracic impedance sensed using cardiac pacing/sensing leads, wherein detection can be performed while lead maturation occurs. Briefly, the implantable device determines whether the leads are within an initial post-implant interval following implant during which lead maturation generally occurs. The device then detects pulmonary edema or related medical conditions within the patient based on transthoracic impedance using a set of detection parameters adjusted for use during the post-implant interval. Thus, rather than “blanking” impedance data during lead maturation, the device instead detects and processes impedance during this period to identify possible episodes of pulmonary edema so that appropriate measures can be undertaken, such as delivery of warnings or titration of appropriate medications. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130267867 | DEVICES FOR DETECTING ORGAN CONTENTS USING IMPEDANCE AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME TO PROVIDE VARIOUS THERAPIES - Devices for detecting organ contents using impedance and methods of using the same to provide various therapies. In an exemplary embodiment of a device for detecting organ contents of the present disclosure, the device comprises a body having a detector coupled thereto, the device configured for placement at or near an outside of an organ and operable to detect contents on an inside of the organ using impedance. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130296734 | System for the Consolidation of an Individual's Bone Structure, Comprising a System for Determining the Quality of the Bone Structure - The invention relates to a system for the consolidation of a bone structure, comprising: a system for determining the quality of the bone structure, including a body, first and second electrodes arranged on the body, an electric generator for applying an electric current, a measurement device for measuring the electric current, and a processing device for determining an electrical magnitude representative of the aptitude of the bone structure for allowing electric current to pass therethrough and for delivering a signal representative of the quality of the bone structure, using the determined electrical magnitude; and a device selected from between an electrical stimulation device for applying an electric bone-growth stimulation and a fixation device for immobilising the bone structure. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130303935 | EDEMA EVALUATION APPARATUS - An index calculating section calculates an edema index value indicating the level of edema at a target portion of the body of a human subject, according to a bioelectric impedance of the target portion. An edema evaluation section identifies the edema stage corresponding to the edema index value calculated by the index calculating section from among a plurality of edema stages indicating the degrees of progress of edema symptoms. A result reporting section reports the edema stage identified by the edema evaluation section to the user. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130310702 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACTIVATING TRANSDUCERS - Transducer-based systems and methods may be configured to display a graphical representation of a transducer-based device, the graphical representation including graphical elements corresponding to transducers of the transducer-based device, and also including between graphical elements respectively associated with a set of the transducers and respectively associated with a region of space between the transducers of the transducer-based device. Selection of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause activation of the set of transducers associated with the selected elements. Transducer activation characteristics, such as initiation time, activation duration, activation sequence, and energy delivery characteristics, can vary based on numerous factors. Visual characteristics of graphical elements and between graphical elements can change based on an activation-status of the corresponding transducers. Activation requests for a set of transducers can be denied if it is determined that a transducer in the set of transducers is unacceptable for activation. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130310703 | ADVANCED THORACIC FLUID MONITORING CAPABILITY WITH IMPEDANCE - Advanced thoracic fluid monitoring capabilities using impedance are disclosed. An implantable medical device used for detection of changes in impedance in a patient can have means for measuring impedances of the patient in a supine position and in an upright position. Impedance differences can be generated which correspond to a diurnal delta value showing impedance differences between the supine and upright positions. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130317385 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVANCING, ORIENTING, AND IMMOBILIZING ON INTERNAL BODY TISSUE A CATHETER OR OTHER THERAPEUTIC DEVICE - This invention provides a system and method that allows a therapeutic device, such as an atrial fibrillation microwave ablation catheter or ablation tip to be guided to a remote location within a body cavity and then accurately immobilized on the tissue, including that of a moving organ, such as the heart. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130317386 | BODY WEIGHT MANAGEMENT DEVICE HAVING FUNCTION OF PREDICTING BODY WEIGHT VARIATION - A body weight management device includes a measurement unit that measures a body impedance of a measurement subject, an impedance change detection unit that detects a temporal change in the measured body impedance, a variation amount computation unit that computes a body impedance variation amount in a unit period, and a determination unit that makes determination about a trend for subsequent changes in the measurement subject's body weight, using the body impedance variation in the unit period, and an output unit that outputs a result of the determination. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130324881 | EYEWEAR - A problem related to a known eyewear-type electro-oculogram measuring apparatus which detects the eye potential using a pair of electrodes positioned outside both the eyes of a user and a pair of electrodes respectively positioned above and below one eye is that the two pairs of electrodes have had an impact on the skins of users, and discomfort on them. Besides, the electrodes are not excellent in design. The present invention provides eyewear including: a frame; a pair of nose pads; and a first electrode and a second electrode respectively provided on the surface of the pair of nose pads, the first electrode and the second electrode detecting eye potential | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130338528 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING BREASTFEEDING - A method of monitoring amount of milk consumed by an infant being breastfed by a breast is disclosed. The method comprises: determining variations in electric capacitance of the breast during breastfeeding, and correlating the electric capacitance variations to an amount of milk consumed by the infant. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130338529 | BIOELECTRIC SIGNAL MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - Provided is a bioelectric signal measurement apparatus that obtains an alternate current component and a direct current component of a bioelectric signal. The apparatus includes a plurality of biomedical electrodes, a switch unit, a differential amplification unit, a bioelectric signal extraction unit, and a timing control unit. The plurality of biomedical electrodes are brought into contact with a living body surface and disposed separately from each other. The switch unit short-circuits the biomedical electrodes via a predetermined short-circuit resistance. The differential amplification unit is connected to the biomedical electrodes and amplifies a difference of electric signals therefrom. The bioelectric signal extraction unit extracts a bioelectric signal from an output signal of the differential amplification unit from the release of short-circuit between the biomedical electrodes to the next timing of short-circuiting. The timing control unit controls timings for short-circuiting the biomedical electrodes and releasing the short-circuit therebetween, which are repeated. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130338530 | BODY LUMEN JUNCTION LOCALIZATION - Devices, systems, and methods for the localization of body lumen junctions and other intraluminal structure are disclosed. Various embodiments permit clinicians to identify the locations of intraluminal structures and medical devices during non-surgical medical techniques, such as cardiac ablation, by determining the intralumen conductance and/or cross-sectional area at a plurality of locations within the body lumen | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130345592 | METHOD AND UNIT FOR DETERMINING BODY COMPOSITION PARAMETERS WITH THE AID OF BIOIMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT - The disclosure relates to a method for determining a body composition parameter by applying a bioimpedance measurement on a subject, the overall body size and an impedance value of the body of the subject entering into the calculation of the body composition parameter. It is provided that when calculating the body composition parameter a term is additionally entered which constitutes a product of a previously determined coefficient and of a ratio of measured impedance values of different body segments of the subject. During the calculation of the ratio of impedance values of different body segments the ratio of the real parts of the impedances preferably takes the form of | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140012154 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MEASURE BIOELECTRIC IMPEDANCE OF PATIENT TISSUE - A device to measure tissue impedance comprises drive circuitry coupled to calibration circuitry, such that a calibration signal from the calibration circuitry corresponds to the current delivered through the tissue. Measurement circuitry can be coupled to measurement electrodes and the calibration circuitry, such that the tissue impedance can be determined in response to the measured calibration signal from the calibration circuitry and the measured tissue impedance signal from the measurement electrodes. Processor circuitry comprising a tangible medium can be configured to determine a complex tissue impedance in response to the calibration signal and the tissue impedance signal. The processor can be configured to select a frequency for the drive current, and the amount of drive current at increased frequencies may exceed a safety threshold for the drive current at lower frequencies. | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140018696 | PROTECTIVE MATRIX FOR INTRACORPOREAL BIOSENSORS THAT IMPROVES GASTROINTESTINAL LEAK DETECTION, DETECTS AIR LEAKS AFTER LUNG SURGERY, AND MEASURES CARDIAC OUTPUT AFTER HEART SURGERY - The system and method may measure and monitor physiological changes in a body. In some embodiments, the system and method may measure the impedance at a site in the body. In some embodiments, the system and method identify, quantify, and localize leaks from a site following surgery, measure cardiac contractility, or lung compliance. In an embodiment, the system includes a measuring device with one or more sensors embedded in a porous matrix. Changes in the electrical properties of one or more sensors may be used to determine the presence of leaks from a site following surgery, measure cardiac contractility, or lung compliance, depending on the position of the device. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140024961 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING HUMAN EMOTION - An emotion excitement detection system includes a detection unit for engagement with human skin, an amplifier unit connected to the detection unit to amplify signal detected by the detection unit, a first control unit connected to the amplifier unit for measurement of skin conductance after the detection unit engages with the human skin and transmit result of the measurement and a processing unit producing a skin conductance slope in response to the skin conductance and excitement degree resulted from the skin conductance slope. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140031713 | TISSUE MASS INDICATOR DETERMINATION - A method of determining a measure of lean tissue mass for a segment of a subject, the method including, in a processing system, determining at least one impedance value at at least one frequency, the at least one impedance value representing the impedance of the segment, determining a tissue mass impedance parameter value using the at least one impedance value and determining a tissue mass indicator based at least in part on the tissue mass impedance parameter value. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140039341 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING TISSUE - Embodiments of devices and methods for evaluating tissue are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for measuring a characteristic of a tissue may include passing a current through the tissue, measuring a signal corresponding to the voltage resulting from passing the current through the tissue, analyzing current passed through the tissue and resulting voltage to determine the electrical characteristics of the tissue; and analyzing the electrical characteristics of the tissue to determine a status of the tissue. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140052017 | TOUCH SCREEN MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND METHODS - A capacitive touch screen device forms a capacitance between a body part of a user and a sensor layer. The sensor layer of the device includes capacitive sensors that allow a current to flow to the body part from the device when contact is made. The body part contacts the device through a bodily fluid. The current drawn is measured and a value for the bodily fluid is determined. This value is compared against known values to diagnose a possible medical condition or to infer characteristics of the bodily fluid. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140073983 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING BIO-IMPEDANCE DATA OF A PERSON - A method and a device for determining biological impedance data of a person, in which least one impedance value is measured with the use of at least two electrodes and is transmitted to an evaluation unit. In the area of at least one output device, information concerning the person is made available for assuming an optimum body posture for the measurement of the biological impedance. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140073984 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE BODY WEIGHT OF A PERSON - This version will replace all prior versions in the application: | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140088453 | Instrument Penetration Detector Using Dynamic Frequency Adjustment, and Method of Operation - A method, and an apparatus to perform the method, of determining a location of a medical instrument in a patient during a medical procedure, the method including connecting at least a portion of the medical instrument to a first body region of the patient, propagating a plurality of signals at different frequencies along a conductive path of the medical instrument, measuring one or more feedback parameters corresponding to each of the plurality of signals at the first body region, determining an operational frequency from the different frequencies according to a comparison of the one or more feedback parameters, propagating a signal having the operational frequency along the conductive path as the medical instrument penetrates the body of the patient during the medical procedure, and measuring the one or more feedback parameters corresponding to the operational frequency to determine a penetration location of the medical instrument in the body of the patient. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140100472 | Systems and Methods for an Optical Nanoscale Array for Sensing and Recording of Electrically Excitable Cells - Systems for untethered sensing and recording of activity of one or more electrically excitable cells in a target region includes at least one untethered probe. Each untethered probe includes at least one signal detector, configured to electrically couple to the target region, measure the activity of the one or more electrically excitable cells, and produce an electrical signal in response to the activity of the one or more electrically excitable cells, and at least one light source, electrically coupled to the at least one signal detector, to receive the electrical signal and emit a light signal representing the activity of the one or more electrically excitable cells. Methods for untethered sensing and recording of activity of one or more electrically excitable cells in a target region are also provided. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140107522 | OEDEMA DETECTION - A method of detecting tissue oedema in a subject. The method includes determining a measured impedance for first and second body segments. An index indicative of a ratio of the extra-cellular to intra-cellular fluid is then calculated for each body segment, with these being used to determine an index ratio based on the index for the first and second body segments. The index ration can in turn be used to determine the presence, absence or degree of tissue oedema, for example by comparing the index ratio to a reference or previously determined index ratios. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140121556 | MEASUREMENT OF PATIENT PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS - A method of determining one or more physiological parameter of a patient by providing a plurality of implantable electrodes proximate a blood vessel of the patient, applying a measurement signal through the plurality of electrodes, the measurement signal having a known parameter, obtaining a resultant signal through the plurality of electrodes, the resultant signal having a resultant parameter, calculating vascular impedance based on the measurement signal and the resultant signal, and calculating a physiological parameter based on the vascular impedance. In some embodiments, the physiological parameter is utilized to modify a therapy signal controlling therapy delivered to the patient. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140128765 | Method for bio impedance measurement - Method for bio impedance measurement on a skin surface of a living body, using a bio impedance measurement device comprising a sensing electrode and a pilot electrode, comprising the following steps:
| 05-08-2014 |
| 20140135645 | ACQUIRING NERVE ACTIVITY FROM CAROTID BODY AND/OR SINUS - An exemplary includes acquiring an electroneurogram of the right carotid sinus nerve or the left carotid sinus nerve, analyzing the electroneurogram for at least one of chemosensory information and barosensory information and calling for one or more therapeutic actions based at least in part on the analyzing. Therapeutic actions may aim to treat conditions such as sleep apnea, an increase in metabolic demand, hypoglycemia, hypertension, renal failure, and congestive heart failure. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140142459 | WEARABLE PERFORMANCE MONITORING, ANALYSIS, AND FEEDBACK SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present application relates generally to computer software, mobile electronics, wireless communication links, and wearable monitoring systems. More specifically, techniques, systems, sensors, circuitry, algorithms and methods for wearable monitoring devices and associated exercise apparatus are described. A garment borne sensor system may acquire data on a user's performance during exercise, for example. The data may be analyzed in real time and feedback may be provided to the user based on the analysis. Analysis may be used to alter behavior of the user and/or an apparatus the user is engaged with during an activity, such as exercise, conditioning, therapy, etc. A piece of exercise equipment may be instrumented and in communication with the sensor system or other system and may be controlled in real time to adjust its settings to affect the user during the exercise routine. Communication between the sensor system and other systems may be wireless. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140142460 | METHOD FOR DETECTING POTENTIAL FALLS AND A FALL DETECTOR - There is provided a fall detector for detecting a potential fall by a user, the fall detector comprising a sensor for measuring the skin conductivity of the user; and a processor for analyzing the skin conductivity measurements to determine whether the user has had a potential fall, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the skin conductivity measurements by matching the skin conductivity measurements to a predetermined skin conductivity response corresponding to a stressful event. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140148726 | METHODS FOR DETECTING A CONDITION - The invention generally relates to methods for measuring impedance change detecting a condition. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method for detecting a condition that involves measuring impedance change over time in a region of tissue suspected to be associated with a condition to obtain an impedance signature, and comparing the impedance signature to a reference signature, thereby detecting the condition. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140163414 | INSERTABLE PROBE FOR DIAGNOSIS OF LESIONAL TISSUE IN REAL TIME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRODE THEREOF - Disclosed herein is an insertable probe for diagnosis of lesional tissue in real time. The insertable probe includes a guide needle inserted into the human body and having a hollow shape of a predetermined length, a storage connected to the guide needle, a tissue collection portion collecting a predetermined amount of tissue in the human body and moving the collected tissue to the storage through the guide needle, and an inspection unit inspecting the tissue stored in the storage. A method of manufacturing an electrode using the same is also disclosed. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140187996 | Electrodermal Measurement System And Method - A method of determining the conductance of the skin of a human or animal, the method including the step of: (a) eliminating any equivalent parasitic voltages in the skin by taking multiple different measurements of the conductance utilizing different probe voltage levels, (b) calculating the conductance from the sampled results of the multiple different measurements. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140187997 | BIOSIGNAL MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - [Object] To provide a biosignal measurement apparatus capable of measuring a contact resistance with high accuracy. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140200478 | CATHETER WITH TISSUE PROTECTING ASSEMBLY - A medical probe includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an ablative element mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, and a cage assembly mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, the cage assembly at least partially covers the ablative element. A method of treating tissue in a body includes inserting an ablative element in the body, placing the ablative element adjacent the tissue, and maintaining a distance between the ablative element and the tissue using a protective catheter element that circumscribes at least a portion of the ablative element. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140207018 | SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSING AND TREATMENT OF PANCREAS, OTHER TISSUES AND ORGANS AND OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS - An electrotherapeutic treatment system includes a portion of at least one skin or external contact element including an element for measurement of the bioreactance of biologically active neurological points (BANP) of a tissue or organ to be treated, monitoring of electromagnetic parameters received at the points and generating responsive corrective parameters; and a portion of a second electrode for neurologically transmitting bioreactive parameters proximally to a BANP of tissues or organs to be treated, the parameters modifying discrete reactive values responsive to those measured by each of the first or second electrodes responsive to abnormal parameters received from tissues or organs to be treated at or between the BANP. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140236040 | LOW FREQUENCY STIMULATOR USING MUSIC AND DIET SYSTEM INCLUDING LOW FREQUENCY STIMULATOR - The present invention relates to a low-frequency stimulator using music, and a weight-loss assisting system having a low-frequency stimulator. The low-frequency stimulator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a beat extracting unit extracting a beat through a sound pressure magnitude comparison between one or more acoustic signals having different frequencies generated when music is played on a music player; a pulse generator generating a pulse having the same magnitude as that of the extracted beat; and a pair of electrode pads attached to a user's body and applying an electrical stimulus having an intensity corresponding to the magnitude of the generated pulse to the user's body. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140243699 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR DETERMINING AN OVERHYDRATION PARAMETER OR A BODY COMPOSITION PARAMETER - A method and an arrangement for determining an overhydration parameter or a body composition parameter are disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining first bioimpedance measurement data of a patient from a first type of hioimpedance measurement ( | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140276190 | System and Method for Bioelectric Localization and Navigation of Interventional Medical Devices - A system and method for tracking a position of an interventional medical device configured to be deployed into a subject during a medical procedure. An anatomical dataset of the subject is acquired while at least one electrical sensor is disposed along the interventional medical device. A feedback signal is generated from the electrical sensor and is processed and analyzed to identify positional information of the interventional medical device. A position of the interventional medical device with respect to the anatomical dataset is identified and the position of the interventional medical device with respect to the anatomical dataset is shown on a display. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140276191 | IMPEDANCE DEVICES AND METHODS TO USE THE SAME TO OBTAIN LUMINAL ORGAN MEASUREMENTS - Impedance devices and methods to use the same to obtain luminal organ measurements. In at least one embodiment of an impedance device of the present disclosure, the impedance device comprises an elongated body having a distal body end, and a first electrode located along the elongated body at or near the distal body end, the first electrode configured to obtain one or more conductance values within a mammalian luminal organ within an electric field, wherein a measured parameter of the mammalian luminal organ can be calculated based in part upon the one or more conductance values obtained by the first electrode. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140276192 | WEARABLE BODY MONITOR DEVICE WITH A PROCESSING UNIT OPERABLE TO TELL TIME - The invention comprises an apparatus for determining the contextual or physiological status of the individual wearing the apparatus. The apparatus is designed to be consumable or disposable. In most embodiments the invention comprises an adhesive housing. In some embodiments, two different sensors are secured to the housing. The apparatus is in electronic communication with a processing unit that can derive analytical status data by using the data received from the two sensors. In some embodiments, the processing unit is programmed to control other devices, or is programmed to trigger an event. In still other embodiments, the apparatus is in electronic communication with a separate computing device, which may contain the processing unit. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140288457 | BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - A bioelectrical impedance measurement apparatus is provided. A power signal and a frequency regulation signal for driving a measurement unit of the bioelectrical impedance measurement apparatus to perform bioelectrical impedance measurement are provided through a first sound channel output terminal and a second sound channel output terminal of a host device, and a bioelectrical impedance measurement result is received by a microphone input terminal of the host device. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140288458 | INSERTABLE NEURAL PROBE WITH FLEXIBLE STRUCTURE - A neural probe ( | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140296734 | PHYSIOLOGY SIGNAL SENSING DEVICE - A physiology signal sensing device includes an elastic pad and a strain sensor clement. The elastic pad is used for contact with a human body, and corresponds a blood vessel of the human body. The strain sensor element is disposed in the elastic pad and includes a conductive element. The conductive element deforms according to the vibration of the blood vessel, and the resistance value of the conductive element varies according to the strain of the conductive element. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140296735 | Biopotential Measurement Device - A biopotential measurement device ( | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140296736 | CONTACT ASSESSMENT OF BALLOON CATHETERS - A medical apparatus and system for determining contact assessment includes a catheter having an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and defining an injection lumen and an exhaust lumen, an expandable membrane defining a cooling chamber disposed at a point along the elongate body, the cooling chamber in fluid communication with the injection lumen and the exhaust lumen, and a contact assessment element which may be a temperature sensor located proximate the coolant return lumen for measuring an internal temperature of the chamber. The system may include the catheter, a console having a fluid supply, an exhaust path and at least one control mechanism operationally coupled to the temperature sensor for processing a temperature signal received from the temperature sensor. The apparatus and system can also have multiple electrodes to measure and process various impedances to determine contact assessment. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140303512 | MONITOR OF HEART FAILURE USING BIOIMPEDANCE - In a method of monitoring pulmonary edema in a human being, an electrical current is injected between a first electrode located in or around a heart and a housing of a medical device implanted in a chest region. A voltage potential is measured between a second electrode in a superior vena cava and a third electrode in the superior vena cava, where the voltage potential is created by the electrical current. Pulmonary edema is assessed based on an impedance value calculated from the electrical current and the voltage potential and a stored edema threshold impedance value. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140316297 | IMPEDANCE MONITORS, ELECTRODE ARRAYS AND METHODS OF USE - A portable bioelectric impedance monitor for monitoring extracellular fluid levels includes a tetrapolar electrode array lead with four electrodes arranged sequentially and axially along the lead, and circuitry coupled with the at least four electrodes configured to measure bioelectric impedance extracellular fluid in a human subject at a frequency of less than 15 kHz. The electrodes are adhered to a human subject/patient on the patient's torso or one of the patient's limbs. One embodiment includes a Tetrapolar Analog Front End Patient Interface circuit configured to convert two electrode operation of a commercial Impedance Converter, Network Analyzer into a tetrapolar operation for excitation and impedance measurement of the human subject. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140323903 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MULTICHANNEL MULTIFREQUENCY ANALYSIS OF AN OBJECT - A method for multichannel multifrequency analysis of an object, applying a set of excitation signals to the object and sampling the response signal from the object, using uniform and non-uniform undersampling. Non-uniform sampling of the response signal is performed, i.e., the sampling is performed for two or more different frequencies in one observation time slot. Also, uniform sampling of the response signal is performed, i.e., the sampling of a signal, corresponding to one frequency, is performed for two or more channels within one observation time slot and then sampling the same signal for another frequency for two or more channels within the next observation time slot. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140343449 | ENDOSCOPIC INSTRUMENT FOR TISSUE IDENTIFICATION - A method for identifying and treating tissue includes providing an electrosurgical treatment device including an electrode assembly. One or more electrical property values of target tissue are measured. The measured electrical property values of the target tissue are compared against electrical property values of known tissue types. A tissue type of the target tissue is identified. An energy delivery configuration of the electrosurgical treatment device is adjusted to the type of target tissue. The electrosurgical treatment device is activated to treat the target tissue. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140350432 | ASSESSMENT OF RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF ADRENERGIC AND CHOLINERGIC NERVOUS RECEPTORS WITH NON-INVASIVE TESTS - A system and method for assessing relative proportions of cholinergic and adrenergic nervous receptors in a patient is disclosed. The system includes: an anode, a cathode, and passive electrode for placement on different regions of the patient body. The method generally includes: applying DC voltage pulses of varying voltage values to stress sweat glands of the patient, collecting data representing the current between the anode and the cathode and the potential of the anode, the cathode, and the passive electrode for each of the different DC voltage, and computing data representing the electrochemical skin conductance of the patient. The computed data representing the electromechanical skin conductance of the patient is reconciled with reference data from control patients having known relative proportions of cholinergic and adrenergic nervous receptors. Thus, the relative proportions of cholinergic and adrenergic nervous receptors in the patient can be determined. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140371620 | WOUND DIAGNOSIS - A device for diagnosing a wound in a patient, the device comprising: at least two electrodes configured to be placed on the skin of the patient, wherein the at least two electrodes are placed in the vicinity of the wound; and at least one signal processor operatively coupled with the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least one signal processor is configured to: i) detect and record an endogenous alternating electrical signal in an area of the wound, ii) transform said endogenous alternating electrical signal into a voltage versus frequency spectrum using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm, and iii) diagnose the wound as a chronic wound if the voltage for a frequency between 65-200 Hz of the frequency spectrum is below 10 | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140378859 | Method of Multichannel Galvanic Skin Response Detection for Improving Measurement Accuracy and Noise/Artifact Rejection - Proposed is a method of multichannel GSR detection for improving measurement accuracy and noise/artifact rejection in measurement of the galvanic skin response on the skin of an individual. The method comprises multichannel GSR signal detection with at least two electrode pairs that are attached to a body of an individual in contact with the skin in different locations, wherein the GSR signals are measured and recorded while the level of excitation of the nervous system of the individual varies. The method is based on the fact that only events that show high temporal correlation in two or more signal registration channels are considered to be physiological GSR reactions. Time-domain correlation allows not only improved detection of high-amplitude events but also improved sensitivity to smaller events that were ignored in standard bipolar GSR recording. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20140378860 | Body Composition Measuring Apparatus - A body composition measuring apparatus for calculating one or multiple types of body composition data is provided with a CPU configured to perform the following processes. The CPU sets second information indicating physical characteristics of a human subject. The CPU measures the bioelectrical impedance of the human subject by a voltage measurement circuit. The CPU obtains at least one piece of first information from each of at least one recording medium having recorded thereon the at least one piece of the first information necessary for calculating body composition data indicating a particular type of body composition, and calculates body composition data indicating a type of body composition corresponding to each of the at least one piece of the first information based on the at least one piece of the first information obtained by the information obtainer, the second information, and the bioelectrical impedance. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20140378861 | HISTOGRAM-BASED THORACIC IMPEDANCE MONITORING - Systems and methods for monitoring pulmonary edema or other thoracic fluid status in a subject use thoracic impedance histogram information. An internal or external processor circuit receives the thoracic impedance histogram information and uses it to compute and provide a lung fluid status indication. The thoracic impedance histogram information can include a count, mean or median of a histogram bin or subrange of bins within the histogram range. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150018707 | PAIN ANALYSIS USING ELECTRODERMAL ACTIVITY - A method for accurate pain analysis using a combination of electrodermal data and self-report information is described. To obtain pain measurements, electrodermal activity is collected and analyzed. One or more biosensors obtain electrodermal data from a person. The electrodermal data is filtered to produce skin conductance values. The skin conductance values are associated with self-report pain information from a person over multiple time regions. The associating allows electrodermal activity to be related to self-reported pain (SRP) data to derive an objective pain measurement. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150032022 | INTRAOPERATIVE NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING SYSTEM - A surgical system kit is described. The surgical system kit includes a peripheral electrode, a surgical access instrument configured to be placed in a surgical target site, and a control unit. The surgical access instrument has a body with a proximal end, and a distal end, two or more electrodes on the distal end at fixed locations and spaced apart a known distance. The control unit is configured to send a signal to the peripheral electrode, receive information indicative of a neural response from at least one electrode of the surgical access instrument, and interpret the information according to a nerve conduction velocity modality to measure the nerve conduction velocity through the segment of the nerve. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150038872 | MULTIPLE-ELECTRODE ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE SENSING BIOPSY SAMPLING DEVICE AND METHOD - A biopsy sampling device has an inner trocar having a sampling opening, an outer needle with 4 or more electrodes on it, an impedance measuring apparatus coupled to drive current through a first and a second electrode, while measuring voltages through a third and fourth electrodes to measure an impedance of tissue adjacent to the electrodes, the inner trocar slideably engaged within the central cavity of the outer needle such that its sharpened tip and sampling opening can protrude from an end of the outer needle and be removed to capture a sample in the sampling opening. The device is used to obtain biopsy samples by advancing the device into an organ while observing impedance of tissue near or adjacent the device before the operator withdraws the trocar to obtain a biopsy sample of an inclusion in the organ. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150038873 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STIMULATOR ON-SKIN SHORT DETECTION - A device for measuring sural nerve conduction velocity and amplitude, the device comprising:
| 02-05-2015 |
| 20150045690 | APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING MUSCLE QUALITY - An apparatus for assessing muscle quality includes a first acquisition unit that acquires bioelectric information including at least one of (i) a resistance component and a reactance component of bioelectrical impedance and (ii) first impedance measured by supplying alternating current at a predetermined low frequency to a living organism and second impedance measured by supplying alternating current at a predetermined high frequency to the living organism; a second acquisition unit that acquires a physical parameter related to physique of the living organism; and a calculation unit that calculates an index in accordance with a proportion, in muscle tissue, of muscle fiber to interstitial tissue based on the physical parameter and on at least one of a first parameter represented as a ratio between the resistance component and the reactance component and a second parameter represented as a ratio between the first impedance and the second impedance. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150051504 | METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING A MALIGNANT LUNG TUMOR - A method to determine presence of a disease condition in a medical patient by evaluating conductivity information. Point-attributes values obtained from highly accurate conductivity data-sets taken as a function of time, over a period of time, are compared to previously determined threshold values. Z-scores may be determined to combine a plurality of point-attribute values in formulation of a composite score for a patient. Sometimes, z-scores are weighted by overall accuracy of the point-attribute in predicting presence of the disease. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150051505 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING IMPEDANCE OF BIOLOGIC TISSUES INCLUDING AN ALTERNATING CURRENT (AC) COUPLED VOLTAGE-TO-CURRENT CONVERTER - A device for measuring impedance of biological tissue may include electrodes and a voltage-to-current converter coupled to the electrodes to drive an alternating current (AC) through the tissue and sense an AC voltage. The converter may include an amplifier having first and second inputs and an output, a first voltage divider coupled to the first input, a second voltage divider coupled to the second input, a filter capacitor coupled between the output and the second voltage divider, a current limiting resistor coupled between the second input the second voltage divider, and a bypass capacitor coupled to the second input of the amplifier and in parallel with the resistor. A single-ended amplitude modulation (AM) demodulator may demodulate the AC voltage and generate a corresponding baseband voltage representing the impedance. The device may also include an output circuit to generate output signals representative of DC and AC components of the baseband voltage. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150065908 | RECONFIGURABLE MEASURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING APPARATUS - A reconfigurable measuring apparatus includes a first chopper configured to modulate an input signal, and an amplifier configured to amplify an output signal of the first chopper. The reconfigurable measuring apparatus further includes a second chopper configured to demodulate an output signal of the amplifier, and a controller configured to control the first chopper and the second chopper based on a measurement mode. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150073295 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS CAPTURE OF BIOPOTENTIAL AND TISSUE IMPEDANCE SIGNALS - A medical device and associated method acquire a biopotential signal from a pair of electrodes at a first sampling rate and a bioimpedance signal from the pair of electrodes at a second sampling rate. An onset and/or offset of the drive signal delivered to the pair of electrodes for acquiring the bioimpedance signal is synchronized to the first sampling rate. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150088026 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING HEART FAILURE EVENT USING RANK OF THORACIC IMPEDANCE - Devices and methods for detecting physiological target event such as events indicative of HF decompensation status are described. An ambulatory medical device (AMD) can measure bio-impedance, such as thoracic impedance, from a patient. The AMD can receive a specified threshold within a range or a distribution of impedance measurement, or a specified percentile such as less than 50 | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150105686 | IMPLANTABLE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY - An electrode assembly includes a retainer, a flexible sheath, and an electrode. The retainer may include a plurality of clasping arms. The retainer is movable to an open position and a closed position. The flexible Sheath is positioned below a lower surface of the retainer. The flexible sheath is at least partially surrounded by the clasping arms of the retainer. The retainer is able to hold the flexible sheath around a target tissue when the retainer is in the closed position. The electrode is configured for conducting electrical signals to or from the target tissue. The electrode is connected to at least one of the retainer and the flexible sheath. The retainer is able to hold the electrode in electrical communication with the target tissue when the retainer is disposed around the target tissue in the closed position. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150119747 | System and Method for Acquisition of Biopotential Signals With Electrode-Tissue Impedance Measurement - A system for the acquisition of biopotential signals, comprising at least a first electrode configured for detecting a biopotential signal within a signal bandwidth of interest and being connected to an impedance detection module that provides a first electrode voltage. The impedance detection module comprises a current generation circuit connected in parallel to an amplifier. The current generation circuit comprises an AC current generator configured to generate a first current signal through the first electrode. The first current signal has a frequency outside of the signal bandwidth of interest. The current generation circuit also comprising a capacitor connected between the input of the amplifier and the AC current generator so as to isolate the AC current generator from the amplifier input at the signal bandwidth of interest. The system also including a signal processor configured to calculate a component value of a first and a second electrode-tissue impedance based on a difference between the first electrode voltage and a second electrode voltage. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150126895 | ELECTRICALLY TRANSPARENT CATHETER SHEATH - A sheath includes an elongate tube, which has an outer wall that surrounds an inner lumen and has multiple holes along the tube penetrating the outer wall. Multiple electrically-conducting elements are inserted in the respective holes, so as to allow transmission of electrical current between the inner lumen and an exterior of the outer wall. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150141863 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR OBTAINING IMPEDANCE DATA - Devices and systems to measure luminal organ parameters using impedance. In at least one embodiment of an impedance device of the present disclosure, the impedance device comprises an elongated body having a distal body end and a pair of detection electrodes positioned in between a pair of excitation electrodes located at or near the distal body end, the pair of detection electrodes configured to obtain one or more conductance values within a mammalian luminal organ within a field generated by the pair of excitation electrodes, wherein a measured parameter of the mammalian luminal organ can be calculated based in part upon the one or more conductance values obtained by the device and a known distance between the pair of detection electrodes. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150297111 | METHODS FOR GENERATING LUMINAL ORGAN PROFILES USING IMPEDANCE - Methods to generate luminal organ profiles using impedance. One embodiment of such a method comprises the steps of introducing an impedance device having at least two detection electrodes positioned in between at least two excitation electrodes into a treatment site of a luminal organ at a first position, measuring a first treatment site conductance at the first position using the impedance device and at least two injections of solutions having different conductivities, moving the impedance device to a second position in the luminal organ, measuring a second treatment site conductance at the second position using the impedance device and the at least two injections of solutions having different conductivities, calculating a first position cross-sectional area using the first treatment site conductance and a second position cross-sectional area using the second treatment site conductance, and constructing a profile of the treatment site. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150297112 | SINGLE INJECTION METHODS FOR OBTAINING CONDUCTANCE MEASUREMENTS WITHIN LUMINAL ORGANS USING IMPEDANCE DEVICES - Single injection methods for obtaining conductance measurements within luminal organs using impedance devices. In at least one method embodiment, the method is performed by introducing at least part of an impedance device into a mammalian luminal organ, the impedance device comprising an elongated body and a detector positioned along the elongated body, obtaining conductance measurements indicative of a fluid native to the mammalian luminal organ and indicative of a fluid injection while the detector is present within and outside of the lumen of the outer sheath, and calculating a size parameter of the mammalian luminal organ based in part upon some of the obtained conductance measurements. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150297140 | USER STRESS DETECTION AND MITIGATION - Embodiments for responding to user stress are provided. In one embodiment, a method performed on a computing device comprises detecting a contact area size on a mouse in communication with the computing device, assessing a user stress level based on the contact area size, and outputting an indication of the user stress level. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150320333 | Continuous Non-Ivasive Measurement of Tissue Temperatures Based on Impedance Measurements - For the continuous, non-invasive measurement of temperatures in a tissue, a current is supplied to the tissue by means of at least one feed electrode. A voltage (U) caused by the current (I) is measured by means of at least one measuring electrode and from this the resistance or the magnitude of the impedance of the tissue through which the current flows is determined. The temperature in the tissue is determined directly from the resistance and/or the magnitude of the impedance. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150320361 | METHOD FOR TESTING PLAUSIBILITY - A method for testing the plausibility of electric impedance measurement values. The measurement values are determined during the measurement of the bio-impedance of a person. Real parts and imaginary parts of the impedance measurement values are determined for a plurality of different frequencies and are localized in a complex representation plane. The representation plane is defined by a coordinate axis for the imaginary part and a coordinate axis for the real part. The localization of the measurement values in the complex representation plane is compared to a desired profile, and the measurement values are adjudged to be not plausible if predefinable deviation from the desired profile is exceeded. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150327815 | BIOSIGNAL MEASURING DEVICE - According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a biosignal measuring device comprises two channels respectively detecting bio-potential signals from a human body through two electrodes, a biosignal extracting unit including two detecting means respectively amplifying the bio-potential signals through amplifiers, respectively, differentially operating the amplified bio-potential signals through a differential operator, and selectively adopting respective output signals of the two detecting means to obtain a biosignal, and an impedance correcting means adjusting the amplitude of the amplifiers of the two detecting means so that the power of a common mode noise signal caused by an impedance imbalance between the channels and included in the obtained biosignal is reduced to suppress the common mode noise signal. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150342497 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACQUIRING OF SIGNALS FOR ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE - The method of the disclosure comprises the stages of injecting an alternating AC signal into at least one electrode positioned on the skin of the patient in a region of interest, measuring the signal induced into at least one electrode, extracting at least an envelope of the signal measured and determining the difference between the envelope and a reference signal. The envelope may be extracted by demodulating the signal measured, and this demodulation may be carried out by way of an associated rectifier diode, in a preferred embodiment, and an RC filter. The reference signal may be an envelope corresponding to the demodulated signal of another electrode, the injected signal, ground or a fixed voltage value. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150342498 | MEASURING DEVICE - A measuring device comprises: a first housing having at least one measuring electrode; a second housing connected to the first housing and housing a substrate which has at least one terminal and includes a circuit that conducts a measurement process; and at least one connecting member disposed between the first housing and the second housing. The at least one connecting member is formed of a unitary member. One end of the at least one connecting member is connected to the at least one terminal, while the other end of the at least one connecting member is in contact with the at least one measuring electrode due to an elastic force of the at least one connecting member itself. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150359452 | IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward obtaining a plurality of impedance-measurement signals while a set of at least three electrodes are concurrently contacting a user. Additionally, various aspects of the present disclosure include determining a plurality of pulse characteristic signals based on the plurality of impedance-measurement signals. One of the pulse characteristic signals is extracted from one of the impedance-measurement signals and is used as a timing reference to extract and process another of the pulse characteristic signals. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150366512 | Dynamic adaptive respiration compensation with automatic gain control - A system for determining a location of an electrode of a medical device (e.g., a catheter) in a body of a patient includes a localization block for producing an uncompensated electrode location, a motion compensation block for producing a compensation signal (i.e., for respiration, cardiac, etc.), and a mechanism for subtracting the compensation signal from the uncompensated electrode location. The result is a corrected electrode location substantially free of respiration and cardiac artifacts. The motion compensation block includes a dynamic adaptation feature which accounts for changes in a patient's respiration patterns as well as intentional movements of the medical device to different locations within the patient's body. The system further includes an automatic compensation gain control which suppresses compensation when certain conditions, such as noise or sudden patch impedance changes, are detected. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150366715 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING MEDICINE INTO THE TYMPANIC CAVITY, WITH SLIDING ASSIST - A device for substance delivery to and/or extraction from the tympanic cavity, comprising: a stationary body having a distal surface, a proximal surface; a movable body having a distal surface and a proximal surface, disposed within the stationary body and free to move relative to the stationary body; at least one piercing element having a distal end and a proximal end, disposed in the movable body; and a means for moving the movable body relative to the stationary body. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160015290 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BIOIMPEDANCE - A method and an apparatus for measuring a bioimpedance are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first electrical signal generator configured to generate a first electrical signal to measure a bioimpedance of an object. The apparatus also includes a compensation signal generator configured to generate a compensation signal to compensate a biosignal measured based on the first electrical signal, and an amplifier configured to amplify the compensated biosignal. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160015320 | Smart Medical Device for Electrochemical Monitoring and Control of Medical Implants - An external or implantable system for measuring for measuring electrical factors, such as voltage, current, and impedance, to assess the behavior of metallic biomaterials surfaces and to determine the corrosion-based activity of the surfaces while placed in their normal location within the human body. The system includes electrodes for interrogating the medical implant and electronics for monitoring the implant and controlling the electrodes, as well as a power source and communication module. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160038055 | Sharing a single electrode between skin resistance and capacitance measurements - Wearable devices are described herein including a housing and a mount configured to mount the housing to an external surface of a wearer. The wearable devices further include first and second electrical contacts protruding from the housing and configured such that the electrical contacts can be used to measure a Galvanic skin resistance of skin proximate to the electrical contacts when the wearable device is mounted to the external surface of the wearer. The electrical contacts are additionally configured to measure a capacitance between electrical contacts. The measured capacitance between the electrical contacts could be related to a capacitance of skin proximate to the electrical contacts when the wearable device is mounted to the external surface of the wearer. The wearable devices further include an electronically switched capacitor connected between the electrical contacts that can be operated to enable the Galvanic skin resistance and capacitance measurements described above. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160058358 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING A BRAIN INJURY - A traumatic brain injury diagnostic system may comprise a current transmission unit, a voltage detection unit, a demodulation unit, and at least one processor. The current transmission unit may output an electric current to at least a first pair of electrodes attached to a head of a subject. The voltage detection unit may detect a voltage via at least a second pair of electrodes attached to the head of the subject proximal to the first pair of electrodes. The demodulation unit may extract an electrical impedance signal from an output electric current of the current transmission unit and the detected voltage of the voltage detection unit. The processor may perform operations to diagnose traumatic brain injury including comparing a static component of the electrical impedance signal to a pre-defined threshold and comparing a dynamic component of the electrical impedance signal to a pre-defined dynamic value. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160058381 | BIOSIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND BIOSIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - Provided are a biosignal processing apparatus and a biosignal processing method. The biosignal processing apparatus includes: a first measurement module configured to detect a biosignal of a subject in a non-invasive manner in response to the biosignal processing apparatus being in contact with the subject; a second measurement module configured to measure a contact state with respect to the subject; and a controller configured to determine whether the contact state is equal to or greater than a reference value. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160058388 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BIOSIGNAL - A biosignal measuring method and apparatus are provided. The biosignal measuring method includes verifying whether a measured biosignal is in a range, and controlling an operation of the biosignal measuring apparatus when the measured biosignal deviates from the range based on a result of the verifying. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160073924 | IMPLANTABLE DIELECTROMETER - Diagnostic apparatus ( | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160081581 | BODY IMPEDANCE MEASURING APPARATUS AND BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME - A body impedance measuring apparatus includes: a first module including a first input electrode and a first output electrode which are configured to contact a subject; a second module including a second input electrode and a second output electrode which are configured to contact the subject; a connection member configured to connect the first module to the second module and adjust a distance between the first module and the second module; and a measuring unit configured to apply a current to the first and second input electrodes, detect a voltage between the first and second output electrodes, and determine a body impedance of a subject based on the detected voltage. At least a component of the measuring unit is disposed in the first module and is electrically connected to the second module through the connection member. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160089075 | BIOFEEDBACK SENSORS IN A BODY AREA NETWORK - Technologies for the sensing of biofeedback signals of a user include a body area network (BAN) system comprising one or more biofeedback sensors and one or more BAN controllers. The biofeedback sensors are configured to sense BAN signals, which may include biofeedback signals and body-coupled communication (BCC) signals. To facilitate communication, the biofeedback sensors may demultiplex the sensed BAN signals into biofeedback signals and incoming BCC signals. Similarly, the biofeedback sensors may multiplex outgoing BCC signals with sensed biofeedback signals. The BAN controller may communicate in a similar manner. Additionally, the BAN controller may process incoming BCC signals and provide feedback to the user based on BCC signals received from the biofeedback sensors. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160095525 | SYSTEM, METHOD, APPARATUS, DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING POSITIONING EFFECT - An automated system, method, apparatus, device and/or computer program product for detecting positioning effect is set forth, the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may include an output operable to couple to one or more stimulating electrodes to stimulate one or more peripheral nerves of the patient, an input operable to couple to one or more recording electrodes to record resultant electrical waveforms generated by a nervous system of a patient in response to the stimulating module, and one or more processors operable to identify the positioning effect based on the resultant electrical waveforms. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160095534 | CALIBRATING INTRATHORACIC IMPEDANCE FOR ABSOLUTE LUNG FLUID MEASUREMENT - In one example, a method of estimating lung fluid content includes receiving a first response signal in response to a delivered first test stimulus, the first test stimulus delivered and the first response signal obtained during a first subject state, receiving a first estimate of a fluid content value during the first subject state, receiving a second response signal in response to a delivered second test stimulus, the second test stimulus delivered and the second response signal obtained during a second subject state, receiving a second estimate of the fluid content value during the second subject state, pairing the first response signal and the first estimate of the fluid content value to form a first pair of values and pairing the second response signal and the second estimate of the fluid content value to form a second pair of values, and determining a relationship between the pairs of values. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160100791 | DIAGNOSTIC AND MONITORING ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY (EIT) SYSTEM FOR OSTEOPOROSIS - A method of measuring Bone Mineral Density (BMD) including providing a model of a plurality of constituents of at least a portion of a subject body, the model including at least one bone constituent, injecting electric current into the portion of the subject body using a current injection electrode, such that at least part of the current flows through the at least one bone constituent, measuring a value of electric potential at a surface of the subject body using a pickup electrode, using a value of the injected electric current as input to a model of the at least a portion of a subject body, and calculating a value of conductance of the bone constituent corresponding to a value of the injected electric current and the measured value of the electric potential. Related apparatus and methods are also described. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160101282 | An arrangement for facilitating wound healing, a method for measuring wound healing and a wound dressing - The present invention relates to the field of electrotherapy and measuring by means of electric currents for diagnostic purposes, and more particularly to an electrode arrangement for facilitating wound healing, a method for measuring wound healing and a wound dressing having an electrode arrangement. A wound dressing according to the present invention comprises at least two impedance reference electrodes, a frame like counter-electrode and stimulation electrodes in a form of an array; and a bioadhesive affinity layer surrounding the stimulation electrodes; said wound dressing being suited for applying on top of the wound so that the stimulation electrode array is on the wound area, and that the at least two impedance reference electrodes and the frame like counter-electrode are suited for placing in contact with the healthy skin surrounding the wound area; which electrodes, are suited for applying LIDC type electrical stimulation current to the wound area and for bioimpedance measurement. The wound dressing according to the present invention provide a continuous, non-invasive and objective solution for monitoring chronic wound healing without disturbing the delicate healing process. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160106337 | APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BODY FAT AND METHOD THEREOF - Provided is a method of measuring body fat of a user, the method including: measuring a first impedance by using a 4-point measuring method; measuring a second impedance by using a 2-point measuring method; determining a bio impedance by using the first impedance and the second impedance; and determining a body fat percentage by using the bio impedance and body information of the user. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160106356 | MUSCLE CONDITION CHANGE DETERMINATION APPARATUS, MUSCLE CONDITION CHANGE DETERMINATION METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A muscle condition change determination apparatus includes a circuit. The circuit configures: a change information acquisition unit; and a type determination unit. The change information acquisition unit acquires change information indicating changes in a plurality of muscle indicators. The type determination unit determines the type of change in a muscle condition according to the change information. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160113547 | DEVICE FOR DETECTING ELECTRIC POTENTIALS - A device for detecting electric potentials includes a plurality of measuring inputs ( | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160113578 | MOBILE HEALTHCARE DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A mobile healthcare device and method of operating the same are provided. The method includes setting a mode of the mobile healthcare device to a measurement mode, displaying a screen for guiding a user to maintain a predetermined position during the measurement mode, and, in response to a predetermined amount of time passing from a time at which the screen begins to be displayed, obtaining state information of the user based on bio information of the user, the bio information being received from a sensor. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160113579 | AUDIO OUTPUT APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND BODY FAT MEASURING METHOD - A portable audio output apparatus, including an audio output module configured to be in contact with a user's body and to output an audio signal, and a body fat sensor configured to sense a body resistance value of the user through at least four body contact nodes, is provided. At least two of the nodes are placed at outer surface areas of the audio output apparatus that are out of contact with the body if the user wears the audio output apparatus. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160128603 | MULTI FREQUENCY AND MULTI POLARITY COMPLEX IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS TO ASSESS ABLATION LESIONS - A method of assessing a tissue ablation treatment, including positioning a medical device adjacent a target tissue; measuring a first impedance magnitude a first frequency with the medical device; measuring a first impedance phase at a second frequency with the medical device; ablating at least a portion of the target tissue with the medical device; measuring at second impedance magnitude at a third frequency with the medical device; measuring a second impedance phase at a fourth frequency with the medical device; comparing at least one of (i) the first and second impedance magnitudes and (ii) the first and second impedance phases; and providing an indication of the efficacy of the ablation treatment based at least in part on the comparison. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160128605 | Apparatus for Calculating a Parameter of a Skin Surface Area - Provided is a mobile autonomous apparatus ( | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160135728 | INTRAORAL MOISTURE MEASURING DEVICE - An intraoral moisture measuring device includes: a swing member that swings with respect to a main body about a predetermined swing center; a moisture amount detection unit provided at a tip of the swing member, for detecting a moisture amount by being directly or indirectly abutted against a measurement site in a mouth; and a biasing member for biasing the swing member in one of swing directions. Consequently, the intraoral moisture measuring device is capable of measuring intraoral moisture in a simple and highly-accurate manner. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160150994 | Methods and Apparatuses for Characterisation of Body Tissue | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160151248 | COMBINED MEASURE POSITIONING AND/OR MONITORING OF A NASO/OROGASTRIC FEEDING TUBE | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160157748 | Probe for obtaining bioelectrical signals - The present invention is a device for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient that corresponds to a meridian. One embodiment of the present invention comprises an ergonomically pistol grip device that reduces fatigue by the placement of the head and motor and other key components. Another embodiment of the invention is the location of a fan and sound-deadening foam to limit the noise and heat to which the user is exposed during operation of the probe. Embodiment is the isolation hood which contains a removable tip and ergonomically design to prevent user fatigue and comfort to the patient. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160157769 | SPINAL CORD STIMULATION GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE - A system and method for modeling patient-specific spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is disclosed. The system and method acquire impedance and evoked compound action potential (ECAP) signals from a lead positioned proximate to a spinal cord (SC). The lead includes at least one electrode. The system and method determine a patient-specific anatomical model based on the impedance and ECAP signals, and transform a dorsal column (DC) map template based on a DC boundary of the patient-specific anatomical model. Further, the system and method map the transformed DC map template to the patient-specific anatomical model. The system and method may also include the algorithms to solve extracellular and intracellular domain electrical fields and propagation along neurons. The system and method may also include the user interfaces to collect patient responses and compare with the patient-specific anatomical model as well as using the patient-specific anatomical model for guiding SCS programming. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160157773 | Electronic Device for Determining Sleep State and Method of Controlling Same - Disclosed is a method for an electronic device. The method may include: acquiring a galvanic skin response; generating a first parameter for a first interval and a second parameter for a second interval based on the galvanic skin response, the second interval being an interval before the first interval; determining a first threshold corresponding to the first interval based on the second parameter; and determining an activity state of the first interval based on the first threshold and the first parameter corresponding to the first interval. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160174870 | APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BODY WEIGHT AND METHOD OF MEASURING BODY WEIGHT BY USING THE SAME | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160183837 | Detection of tissue injury using microcurrent. Device name - Zone Finder - This invention detects tissue injury using microcurrent. Repeated tests, standardized with the force gauges will show significantly decreased microcurrent over injured tissue. It is fast, simple, and inexpensive, and directly measures tissue injury. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160183840 | Volumetric Induction Phase Shift Detection System for Determining Tissue Water Content Properties - A method and apparatus of determining the condition of a bulk tissue sample, by: positioning a bulk tissue sample between a pair of induction coils (or antennae); passing a spectrum of alternating current (or voltage) through a first of the induction coils (or antennae); measuring spectrum of alternating current (or voltage) produced in the second of the induction coils (or antennae); and comparing the phase shift between the spectrum of alternating currents (or voltages) in the first and second induction coils (or antennae), thereby determining the condition of the bulk tissue sample. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160249857 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND BODY COMPOSITION MEASURING METHOD OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE CAPABLE OF AUTOMATICALLY RECOGNIZING BODY PART TO BE MEASURED | 09-01-2016 |
| 20160374585 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL BIO-MEDICAL PROBE SENSING AND CONTACTING STRUCTURES WITH ADDRESSIBILITY AND TUNABILITY - A three dimensional biomedical probe device is provided that includes a planar substrate. A probe structure is supported on the planar substrate. The probe structure has a base and a portion essentially perpendicular to the base extending along a length to a tip and has a linear dimension at the tip of said probe structure of between 5 nanometers (nm) and 5 microns thereby defining an AC, DC, or transient current, charge, or voltage sensing probe. In one variation, this probe is the electrical contact to the biomedical medium. In another variation this probe is the gate electrode of a field effect transistor (FET). An array of selectively electrically addressable such devices is also provided giving the ability to sample the physiological activity at many positions within cells, fluids and intercellular regions without the need for mechanical motion and inducing cellular lysis. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20160374588 | MONITORING HYDRATION BASED ON GALVANIC SKIN RESPONSE - Examples are disclosed herein that are related to monitoring body hydration levels based on galvanic skin response measurements acquired by a wearable electronic device. One example provides a wearable electronic device including a sensor configured to measure a galvanic skin response, a logic device, and a storage device including instructions executable by the logic device to operate a hydration monitoring mode, acquire a plurality of measures of galvanic skin response over time, present data regarding the plurality of measures of galvanic skin response. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20170231548 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BLADDER TRANSDUCER PLACEMENT | 08-17-2017 |
| 20180020945 | APPARATUS FOR MEASURING BIOIMPEDANCE AND ELECTRODE-SIDE BOARD THEREOF | 01-25-2018 |
| 20190142325 | SPINAL CORD STIMULATION GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE | 05-16-2019 |
| 20190142330 | Bra-Type Breast Tumor Self-Detection Mask | 05-16-2019 |
