Sensor system for measuring biopotentials
First Claim
1. A system for measuring a biopotential signal produced by a body in free space, said system comprising:
- an electrode made of a conducting material, said electrode being positionable at a location adjacent the body to place said electrode at a first potential;
a conductor located at a fixed distance from said electrode;
a means for generating a reference potential; and
a high impedance amplifier connected to said reference potential generating means, with said amplifier having an input port electrically connected to said electrode to compare said first electrical potential of said electrode with said reference potential to generate a signal indicative of the biopotential signal, and wherein said conductor is located to shield said electrode from electrical noise.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for measuring a biopotential signal produced by a body in free space at a location adjacent to the body, and if desired, through clothing, includes a probe that can be positioned adjacent to the body. The probe includes a conductive electrode to receive the biopotential signal and a conductor that is maintained at a fixed distance from the electrode. The potential of the conductor can be maintained substantially equal to the potential of the electrode to shield the electrode from stray electrical noise. The system further includes a high impedance first stage amplifier that is incorporated into the probe and electrically connected to the electrode using a relatively short connector to minimize connector noise. Functionally, the first stage amplifier compares the electrical potential of the electrode to a second potential (e.g. a local ground) and generates a signal that is indicative of the biopotential.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A system for measuring a biopotential signal produced by a body in free space, said system comprising:
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an electrode made of a conducting material, said electrode being positionable at a location adjacent the body to place said electrode at a first potential;
a conductor located at a fixed distance from said electrode;
a means for generating a reference potential; and
a high impedance amplifier connected to said reference potential generating means, with said amplifier having an input port electrically connected to said electrode to compare said first electrical potential of said electrode with said reference potential to generate a signal indicative of the biopotential signal, and wherein said conductor is located to shield said electrode from electrical noise. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for measuring a biopotential signal at a location adjacent to a patient, said system comprising:
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means for generating a reference electrical potential;
a probe having an electrode positionable at said location to place said electrode at a first electrical potential, a conductor spaced from said electrode, and a highimpedance amplifier positioned to interpose said conductor between said amplifier and said electrode, said amplifier electrically connected to said generating means and said electrode to compare said first electrical potential to said reference electrical potential and generate a signal that is indicative of the biopotential signal in response thereto; and
means for controlling the electrical potential of said conductor to shield said electrode from electrical noise. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for measuring a biopotential signal at a location adjacent to a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrode made of a conductive material;
maintaining a conductor spaced at a fixed distance from said electrode;
controlling the electrical potential of said conductor to shield said electrode from electrical noise;
coupling a high impedance amplifier to said electrode for movement therewith;
positioning said electrode at said location to place said electrode at a first electrical potential;
generating a reference electrical potential;
inputting said first electrical potential and said reference electrical potential into said high impedance amplifier; and
using said high impedance first stage amplifier to compare said first electrical potential to said reference electrical potential and generate an output signal that is indicative of the biopotential signal in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A probe for measuring a biopotential signal produced by a body in free space comprising:
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a first electrode made of a conducting material, the first electrode being adapted to be positioned adjacent the body to place the first electrode at a first potential;
a first conductor spaced from the first electrode;
system electronics located near the first electrode and separated from the first electrode by the first conductor; and
a material having a relatively low electrical conductivity and dielectric constant interposed between the first conductor and the first electrode thus minimizing electrical coupling between the first conductor and the first electrode. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification