Monitoring system and probe
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a signal generator;
a sensor;
a pair of first electrodes coupled to the signal generator, the pair of first electrodes independently positionable on different limbs of a subject; and
a pair of second electrodes coupled to the sensor, the pair of second electrodes positionable on different limbs of the subject,wherein the pair of second electrodes includes a probe for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject, the probe comprising;
a) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use;
b) a contact surface for contacting the subject, wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject, and wherein the moving member is movably mounted to the housing and is configured to roll within the housing and along a tissue surface of the subject;
c) a connector for connecting the contact surface to the apparatus; and
,d) a position sensor for sensing movement of the moving member, wherein the position sensor is configured to transmit information indicative of the position of the probe; and
wherein, in use, the probe is moved along a segment of the subject to thereby allow an impedance profile representing variations in impedance along the segment to be determined.
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Accused Products
Abstract
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.
470 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a signal generator; a sensor; a pair of first electrodes coupled to the signal generator, the pair of first electrodes independently positionable on different limbs of a subject; and a pair of second electrodes coupled to the sensor, the pair of second electrodes positionable on different limbs of the subject, wherein the pair of second electrodes includes a probe for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject, the probe comprising; a) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use; b) a contact surface for contacting the subject, wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject, and wherein the moving member is movably mounted to the housing and is configured to roll within the housing and along a tissue surface of the subject; c) a connector for connecting the contact surface to the apparatus; and
,d) a position sensor for sensing movement of the moving member, wherein the position sensor is configured to transmit information indicative of the position of the probe; and wherein, in use, the probe is moved along a segment of the subject to thereby allow an impedance profile representing variations in impedance along the segment to be determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17)
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13. A method of performing impedance measurements on a subject using an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
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a signal generator; a sensor; a pair of first electrodes coupled to the signal generator, the pair of first electrodes independently positionable on different limbs of a subject; and a pair of second electrodes coupled to the sensor, the pair of second electrodes positionable on different limbs of the subject, wherein the pair of second electrodes includes a probe comprising a housing configured to be held by an operator in use, a contact surf ace for contacting the subject wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject and wherein the moving member is movably mounted to the housing and is configured to roll within the housing and along a tissue surface of the subject, a connector for connecting the contact surface to the apparatus, and a position sensor for sensing movement of the moving member wherein the position sensor is configured to sense rolling motion of the moving member with respect to the housing, the method, comprising; a) positioning the probe in contact with a segment of the subject, the segment being on a limb of the subject; b) causing the apparatus to perform a sequence of impedance measurements; and c) moving the probe along the segment during the sequence of impedance measurements so that the apparatus; i) determines positional information along different positions on the segment using the position sensor; ii) determines impedance measurements along different positions on the segment, at least some of the impedance measurements correlated with positional information; and iii) uses the impedance measurements to determine an impedance profile. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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18. A method of diagnosing oedema in a body segment of a subject using a measuring device, the measuring device comprising:
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a signal generator; a sensor; a pair of first electrodes coupled to the signal generator, the pair of first electrodes independently positionable on different limbs of a subject; and a pair of second electrodes coupled to the sensor, the palf of second electrodes positionable on different limbs of the subject, wherein the pair of second electrodes includes a probe, the probe comprising a housing configured to be held by an operator in use, a contact surface for contacting the subject wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject and wherein the moving member is movably mounted to the housing and is configured to roll within the housing and along a tissue surf ace of the subject, a connector for connecting the contact surf ace to the measuring device, and a position sensor for sensing movement of the moving member wherein the position sensor is configured to sense rolling motion of the moving member with respect to the housing, the method comprising; a) positioning the probe in contact with a segment of the subject, the segment being on a limb of the subject; b) causing the measuring device to perform a sequence of impedance measurements; c) moving the probe along the segment during the sequence of impedance measurements sothat the measuring device; i) determines positional information along the segment using the position sensor; and
,ii) determines impedance measurements along the segment; and d) determining an impedance profile using the sequence of impedance values and the positional information, the impedance profile being indicative of a presence, absence, degree or location of oedema in the subject.
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19. An apparatus for use in performing impedance measurements on a
subject, the apparatus comprising: -
a) a probe including; i) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use; ii) a contact surface for contacting the subject, wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject, and wherein the moving member is movably mounted to the housing and is configured to roll within the housing and along a tissue surf ace of the subject; iii) a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device; and
,iv) a positional sensor for sensing movement of the moving member, wherein the position sensor is configured to sense rolling motion of the moving member with respect to the housing, b) a measuring device including a processing system for performing a sequence of impedance measurements as the probe is moved along a segment of the subject, so that the measuring device determines positional information along the segment using the position sensor, and determines impedance measurements along the segment and uses the impedance measurements and positional information to determine an impedance profile, the impedance profile representing variations in measured impedance along the segment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of performing impedance measurements on a subject using an apparatus comprising:
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a) a probe including; i) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use; ii) a contact surface for contacting the subject, wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject, and wherein the moving member is movably mounted to the housing and is configured to roll within the housing and along a tissue surf ace of the subject; iii) a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device; and
,iv) a position sensor for sensing movement of the moving member, wherein the position sensor is configured to sense rolling motion of the moving member with respect to the housing, b) a measuring device including a processing system, the method including; i) positioning the probe in contact with a segment of the subject; ii) causing a measuring device to perform a sequence of impedance measurements; iii) moving the probe along the segment during the sequence of impedance measurements so that the measuring device determines impedance measurements along the segment and the position sensor senses motion of the moving member; iv) determining positional information using the position sensor; and v) using the impedance measurements and positional information to determine an impedance profile, the impedance profile representing variations in measured impedance along the segment. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An apparatus for use in diagnosing oedema in a body segment of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a probe including; i) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use; ii) a contact surface for contacting the subject, wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject, and wherein the moving member is movably mounted to the housing and is configured to roll within the housing and along a tissue surf ace of the subject; iii) a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device; and
,iv) a position sensor for sensing movement of the moving member, wherein the position sensor is configured to sense rolling motion of the moving member with respect to the housing, b) a measuring device including a processing system for performing a sequence of impedance measurements as the probe is moved along a segment of the subject, so that the measuring device determines positional information along the segment using the position sensor, determines impedance measurements along the segment and uses the impedance measurements and positional information to determine an impedance profile, the impedance profile representing variations in measured impedance along the segment.
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43. A method of diagnosing oedema in a body segment of a subject using apparatus comprising:
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a) a probe including; i) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use; ii) a contact surface for contacting the subject, wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject, and wherein the moving member is movably mounted to the housing and is configured to roll within the housing and along a tissue surf ace of the subject; iii) a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device; and
,iv) a position sensor for sensing movement of the moving member, wherein the position sensor is configured to sense rolling motion of the moving member with respect to the housing, b) a measuring device including a processing system, the method including; i) positioning the probe in contact with a segment of the subject; ii) causing a measuring device to perform a sequence of impedance measurements; iii) moving the probe along the segment during the sequence of impedance measurements so that the measuring device determines impedance measurements along the segment and the position sensor senses motion of the moving member iv) determining positional information using the position sensor; and v) using the impedance measurements and positional information to determine an impedance profile, the impedance profile being indicative of a presence, absence, degree or location of oedema in the subject.
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Specification