Method and apparatus for noise extraction in measurements of electromagnetic activity in biological sources
First Claim
1. An apparatus for increasing the proportion of a responsive signal relative to environmental noise in a system for measuring electromagnetic activity generated by one or more sources inside a living body, comprising:
- a plurality of spaced apart body sensors distributed outside the body proximate the one or more sources for sensing the electromagnetic activity, said body sensors being primarily responsive to magnetic fields and producing respective body sensor outputs;
a plurality of spaced apart first reference sensors distributed outside the body corresponding to said body sensors for sensing the environmental noise, said first reference sensors being primarily responsive to electric fields and producing respective first reference sensor outputs;
a shield disposed between said body and said first reference sensors for shielding said first reference sensors from the electromagnetic activity; and
an analyzing module for determining portions of said body sensor outputs that covary with corresponding portions of said first reference sensor outputs and subtracting said portions of said body sensor outputs from the respective said body sensor outputs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for noise extraction in measurements of electromagnetic activity in biological sources. A plurality of body sensors are distributed outside the body for sensing the electromagnetic activity. A plurality of reference sensors are also distributed outside the body, corresponding to the body sensors, for sensing environmental noise. Portions of the body sensor outputs that covary with corresponding portions of the reference sensor outputs are determined and subtracted from the respective body sensor outputs. A shield may be disposed between the body sensors and the reference sensors for shielding the reference sensors from the electromagnetic activity. According to one aspect of the invention, the body sensors are primarily responsive to magnetic fields, and the reference sensors are primarily responsive to electric fields. According to another aspect of the invention, the body sensors are primarily responsive to current flows and the reference sensors are primarily responsive to magnetic fields. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the body sensors are primarily responsive to current flows and the reference sensors are primarily responsive to electric fields.
19 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for increasing the proportion of a responsive signal relative to environmental noise in a system for measuring electromagnetic activity generated by one or more sources inside a living body, comprising:
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a plurality of spaced apart body sensors distributed outside the body proximate the one or more sources for sensing the electromagnetic activity, said body sensors being primarily responsive to magnetic fields and producing respective body sensor outputs;
a plurality of spaced apart first reference sensors distributed outside the body corresponding to said body sensors for sensing the environmental noise, said first reference sensors being primarily responsive to electric fields and producing respective first reference sensor outputs;
a shield disposed between said body and said first reference sensors for shielding said first reference sensors from the electromagnetic activity; and
an analyzing module for determining portions of said body sensor outputs that covary with corresponding portions of said first reference sensor outputs and subtracting said portions of said body sensor outputs from the respective said body sensor outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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13. An apparatus for increasing the proportion of a responsive signal relative to environmental noise in a system for measuring electromagnetic activity generated by one or more sources inside a living body, comprising:
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a plurality of spaced apart body sensing electrodes for surface contact with the body proximate the one or more sources for sensing the electromagnetic activity, said electrodes being primarily responsive to current flows on the surface of the body and producing respective electrode outputs;
a plurality of spaced apart reference sensors distributed outside the body corresponding to said electrodes for sensing the environmental noise, said reference sensors being primarily responsive to magnetic fields and producing respective reference sensor outputs;
a shield disposed between said electrodes and said reference sensors for shielding said reference sensors from the electromagnetic activity; and
an analyzing module for determining portions of said electrode outputs that covary with corresponding portions of said reference sensor outputs and subtracting said portions of said electrode outputs from the respective said body sensor outputs. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus for increasing the proportion of a responsive signal relative to environmental noise in a system for measuring electromagnetic activity generated by one or more sources inside a living body, comprising:
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a plurality of spaced apart body sensing electrodes for surface contact with the body proximate the one or more sources for sensing the electromagnetic activity, said electrodes being primarily responsive to current flows on the surface of the body and producing respective electrode outputs;
a plurality of spaced apart reference sensors distributed outside the body corresponding to said electrodes for sensing the environmental noise, said reference sensors being primarily responsive to electric fields and producing respective reference sensor outputs; and
an analyzing module for determining portions of said body sensor outputs that covary with corresponding portions of said reference sensor outputs and subtracting said portions of said body sensor outputs from the respective said body sensor outputs. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for increasing the proportion of a responsive signal relative to environmental noise in a system for measuring electromagnetic activity generated by one or more sources inside a living body, comprising:
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distributing a plurality of spaced apart body sensors outside the body proximate the one or more sources, said body sensors being primarily responsive to magnetic fields;
sensing the electromagnetic activity with said body sensors and producing respective body sensor outputs representative thereof;
distributing a plurality of spaced apart first reference sensors outside the body corresponding to said body sensors, said first reference sensors being primarily responsive to electric fields;
sensing the environmental noise with said reference sensors and producing respective first reference sensor outputs representative thereof;
shielding said first reference sensors from the electromagnetic activity;
determining portions of said body sensor outputs that covary with corresponding portions of said first reference sensor outputs; and
subtracting said portions of said body sensor outputs from the respective said body sensor outputs. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for increasing the proportion of a responsive signal relative to environmental noise in a system for measuring electromagnetic activity generated by one or more sources inside a living body, comprising:
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distributing a plurality of spaced apart body sensing electrodes for surface contact with the body proximate the one or more sources, said electrodes being primarily responsive to current flows on the surface of the body;
sensing the electromagnetic activity with said electrodes and producing respective electrode outputs representative thereof;
distributing a plurality of spaced apart reference sensors distributed outside the body corresponding to said electrodes, said reference sensors being primarily responsive to magnetic fields;
sensing the environmental noise and producing respective reference sensor outputs representative thereof;
shielding said reference sensors from the electromagnetic activity;
determining portions of said electrode outputs that covary with corresponding portions of said reference sensor outputs; and
subtracting said portions of said electrode outputs from the respective said body sensor outputs. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for increasing the proportion of a responsive signal relative to environmental noise in a system for measuring electromagnetic activity generated by one or more sources inside a living body, comprising:
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distributing a plurality of spaced apart body sensing electrodes for surface contact with the body proximate the one or more sources, said electrodes being primarily responsive to current flows on the surface of the body;
sensing the electromagnetic activity with said body sensing electrodes and producing respective electrode outputs representative thereof;
a plurality of spaced apart reference sensors distributed outside the body corresponding to said electrodes for sensing the environmental noise, said reference sensors being primarily responsive to electric fields and producing respective reference sensor outputs;
sensing the environmental noise with said reference sensors and producing respective electrode outputs representative thereof;
determining portions of said electrode outputs that covary with corresponding portions of said reference sensor outputs; and
subtracting said portions of said electrode outputs from the respective said body sensor outputs. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification