Apparatus and method for analysing fluids
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for analysing body fluids in vivo, comprising:
- an electrical oscillator electrically connected to electrode means adapted for wearing on a human or animal body, the electrical oscillator and electrode means being operative to apply an oscillating electric field to a body fluid, wherein the electrode means comprises two electrodes with each electrode being associated with an electrical insulator that serves to electrically insulate each electrode from the human or animal body on which the electrode means is worm, means for measuring electrical current flowing in said body fluid as a result of the oscillating electric field to enable measurement of a loss factor and a power factor of an electrical circuit that includes the body fluid being analysed, means for storing information, means for comparing the measurement of said power factor of the body fluid being analysed with stored information in order to determine the presence and concentration of one or more substances in the body fluid; and
means to output information relating to an identified substance or substances to a user.
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Abstract
Apparatus for analysing fluids, especially body fluids and blood, includes means for applying an oscillating electric field 1 to a sample of fluid and means for measuring electrical current flowing in the sample being analysed as a result of application of the applied field to enable the loss factor of an electrical circuit in which the sample is comprised to be determined. Changes in the loss factor with the frequency of field applied can be determined and by comparison with stored data, used to identify the presence and concentration of substances in a fluid. The apparatus may be arranged to analyse blood in a living body.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for analysing body fluids in vivo, comprising:
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an electrical oscillator electrically connected to electrode means adapted for wearing on a human or animal body, the electrical oscillator and electrode means being operative to apply an oscillating electric field to a body fluid, wherein the electrode means comprises two electrodes with each electrode being associated with an electrical insulator that serves to electrically insulate each electrode from the human or animal body on which the electrode means is worm, means for measuring electrical current flowing in said body fluid as a result of the oscillating electric field to enable measurement of a loss factor and a power factor of an electrical circuit that includes the body fluid being analysed, means for storing information, means for comparing the measurement of said power factor of the body fluid being analysed with stored information in order to determine the presence and concentration of one or more substances in the body fluid; and
means to output information relating to an identified substance or substances to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of analysing body fluids, comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying an oscillating electric field to a sample of fluid to be analysed by means of insulated electrodes, (b) measuring electrical current flowing in the sample of fluid as a result of application of the oscillating electric field to enable a loss factor and a power factor of an electrical circuit in which the sample is comprised to be determined; and
(c) comparing the power factor measured with stored information to determine a presence and concentration of one or more substance in the sample of fluid. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification