Non-invasive method and apparatus for tissue detection
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting tissue structures comprising:
- a microprocessor;
a waveform generator operable to generate a plurality of different periodic waveforms in response to instructions received from the microprocessor;
at least one sampling electrode operable to receive a waveform from the waveform generator and to apply the received waveform to a tissue of the subject as an applied waveform;
at least one return electrode operable to receive the applied waveform from the tissue of the subject and providing the applied waveform to the microprocessor, thereby completing an electrical circuit which includes the tissue of the subject as a component, wherein the microprocessor receives information indicative of characteristics of the applied waveform and calculates a non-linear electrical characteristic of the tissue of the test subject.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for non-invasively determining tissue structure by applying a periodic waveform to an external or internal body part. A microprocessor provides instructions to a waveform generator to generate a plurality of different periodic waveforms to at least one sampling electrode electrically connected to at least on return electrode through the tissue structure. The impedance of the tissue structures are selectively determined for each generated waveform. After determining a plurality of impedance measurements various calculations are performed, including determining a ratio of impedance change and the applied current change. The apparatus may apply the same waveform to all sampling electrodes simultaneously, or apply the waveform to a few as one sampling electrode at a time. The apparatus may also simultaneously apply a plurality of waveforms to a plurality of electrodes to maintain the same current waveform on each sampling electrode.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting tissue structures comprising:
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a microprocessor;
a waveform generator operable to generate a plurality of different periodic waveforms in response to instructions received from the microprocessor;
at least one sampling electrode operable to receive a waveform from the waveform generator and to apply the received waveform to a tissue of the subject as an applied waveform;
at least one return electrode operable to receive the applied waveform from the tissue of the subject and providing the applied waveform to the microprocessor, thereby completing an electrical circuit which includes the tissue of the subject as a component, wherein the microprocessor receives information indicative of characteristics of the applied waveform and calculates a non-linear electrical characteristic of the tissue of the test subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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15. A method of detecting tissue structures comprising the steps of:
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generating a periodic waveform;
providing the periodic waveform to tissue of a subject through at least one sampling electrode as an applied waveform;
receiving the applied waveform from the tissue of the subject through at least one return electrode, thereby completing an electrical circuit which includes the tissue of the subject as a component, receiving information indicative of the characteristic of the applied waveform; and
calculating a non-linear electrical characteristic of the tissue of the test subject associated with the applied waveform.
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32. A computer readable medium carrying instructions to cause a computer to institute the performance of a method, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a periodic waveform;
providing the periodic waveform to tissue of a subject through at least one sampling electrode as an applied waveform;
receiving the applied waveform from the tissue of the subject through at least one return electrode, thereby completing an electrical circuit which includes the tissue of the subject as a component, receiving information indicative of characteristics of the applied waveform; and
calculating a non-linear electrical characteristic of the tissue of the test subject associated with the applied waveform. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification