Method and apparatus for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information, and diagnostic apparatus thereof

• US 20050192510A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamiko Ohkura
• Original Assignee: Tamiko Ohkura
• Inventors: Ohkura, Tamiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance

Abstract

A method for analyzing skin response waveform information obtained by measuring skin impedance with a voltage of a predetermined frequency. A current value at the start of polarization caused by the application of the voltage is determined, followed by determining a current value after a predetermined amount of time from the start of the polarization. A current value after termination of the polarization (value NT) is then determined and the difference between the current value at the start of the polarization and after the predetermined amount of time from the start of the polarization (value A) is determined. The difference between the current value after the predetermined amount of time from the start of the polarization and the value NT (value B) is determined, followed by analyzing the skin response waveform information using the ratios A/B, B/A and the value NT.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information obtained from measurements of skin impedance measured by applying a pulse voltage to a body, the apparatus being characterized by comprising:

first means for determining a current value at the start of application of the pulse voltage;

second means for determining a current value after a predetermined amount of time from the start of the application of the pulse voltage;

third means for determining a current value (referred to as a value NT hereafter) just before termination of application of the pulse voltage;

fourth means for determining a difference (referred to as a value A hereafter) between the current value at the start of application of the pulse voltage and the current value after the predetermined amount of time from the start of application of the pulse voltage;

fifth means for determining a difference (referred to as value B hereafter) between the current value after the predetermined amount of time from the start of application of the pulse voltage and the value NT (referred to as value B hereafter); and

sixth means for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information by using three values as parameters, the three values being ratios A/B (=a value ES) and B/A (=a value IS) between the values A and B determined by the fourth and fifth means respectively, and the value NT.

2. The apparatus for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of a measurement, an average of measurements, a ratio between measurements of right and left, or a ratio between measurements of hands and feet of bioelectrical response waveform of a body or part of a body is used for each of the values ES, IS, and NT.

3. An apparatus for performing a diagnosis on a body based on bioelectrical response waveform information obtained from measurement of skin impedance measured by applying a pulse voltage to the body and performs a diagnosis on the analysis of the bioelectrical response waveform information, the apparatus being characterized by comprising:

first means for determining a current value at the start of caused by application of the pulse voltage;

second means for determining a current value after a predetermined amount of time from the start of application of the pulse voltage;

third means for determining a current value (referred to as a value NT hereafter) just before termination of application of the pulse voltage;

fourth means for determining a difference (referred to as a value A hereafter) between the current value at the start of application of the pulse voltage and the current value after the predetermined amount of time from the start of application of the pulse voltage;

fifth means for determining a difference (referred to as a value B hereafter) between the current value after the predetermined amount of time from the start of application of the pulse voltage and the value NT;

sixth means for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information by using three values as parameters, the three values being ratios A/B (=a value ES) and B/A (=a value IS) between the values A and B determined by the fourth and fifth means respectively, and the value NT; and

seventh means for comparing and associating a result of analysis of the bioelectrical response waveform information outputted from the sixth means with stored clinical examination data.

4. The apparatus for performing a diagnosis on a body based on bioelectrical response waveform information according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of a measurement, an average of measurements, a ratio between measurements of right and left, or a ratio between measurements of hands and feet of a bioelectrical response waveform of a body or part of a body is used for each of the values ES, IS, and NT.

5. An apparatus for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information obtained from measurements of skin impedance measured by applying a pulse voltage to a body, the apparatus being characterized by comprising:

first means for determining a current value (referred to as a value P1 hereafter) at 600 ns, when a current is at its peak upon application of the pulse voltage (referred to as value of point P1 hereafter);

second means for determining a current value (referred to as a value P2 hereafter) after 4 μ

s from the current peak upon application of the pulse voltage, the 4 μ

s being the time that elapses before a characteristic point at which a dermis layer and epidermis begin to electrically mix;

256 (referred to as a value P2 hereafter) after 4 μ

s from the current peak upon application of the pulse voltage, the 4 μ

s being the time that elapses before a characteristic point at which a dermis layer and epidermis begin to electrically mix;

third means for determining a current value (a value NT) after 256 μ

s from the current peak application of the pulse voltage;

fourth means for determining a difference (referred to as a value A hereafter) between the values P1 and P2;

fifth means for determining a difference (referred to as a value B hereafter) between the values P2 and NT; and

sixth means for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information by using three values as parameters, the three values being ratios A/B (=a value ES) and B/A (=a value IS) between the values A and B determined by the fourth and fifth means respectively, and the value NT.

6. The apparatus for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of a measurement, an average of measurements, a ratio between measurements of right and left, or a ratio between measurements of hands and feet of a bioelectrical response waveform of a body or part of a body is used for each of the values ES, IS, and NT.

7. An apparatus for performing a diagnosis on a body that analyzes bioelectrical response waveform information obtained from measurements of skin impedance measured by applying a pulse voltage to the body and performs a diagnosis on the body based on the analysis of the bioelectrical response waveform information, the apparatus being characterized by comprising:

first means for determining a current value (referred to as a 600 ns value hereafter) at 600 ns, when a current is at its peak upon application of the pulse voltage;

second means for determining a current value (referred to as a 4 μ

s value hereafter) after 4 μ

s from the current peak upon application of the pulse voltage, the 4 μ

s being the time that elapses before a characteristic point at which a dermis layer and epidermis begin to electrically mix;

third means for determining a current value (referred to as a value NT hereafter) after 256 μ

s from the current peak upon application of the pulse voltage;

fourth means for determining a difference (referred to hereafter as a value A=600 ns value−

4 μ

s value) between the 600 ns value and the 4 μ

s value;

fifth means for determining a difference (referred to hereafter as a value B=4 μ

s value−

256 μ

s value) between the 4 μ

s value and the 256 μ

s value;

sixth means for analyzing skin response waveform information by using three values as parameters, the three values being ratios A/B (=a value ES) and B/A (=a value IS) between the values A and B determined by the fourth and fifth means respectively, and the value NT; and

seventh means for comparing and associating a result of analysis of the bioelectrical response waveform information outputted from the sixth means with stored clinical examination data.

8. The apparatus for performing a diagnosis on a body based on bioelectrical response waveform information according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of a measurement, an average of measurements, a ratio between measurements of right and left, or a ratio between measurements of hands and feet of a bioelectrical response waveform of a body or part of a body is used for each of the values ES, IS, and NT.

9. An apparatus for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information obtained from measurements of skin impedance measured by applying a positive, negative, or positive and negative alternating AC rectangular pulse voltage to a body with a predetermined cycle period, the apparatus being characterized by comprising:

first means for determining a current value i (t=0) at the start of application of the pulse voltage;

second means for determining a current value i (t=t₁) after a predetermined amount of time from the start of application of the pulse voltage;

third means for determining a current value i (t=t₂) (referred to as a value NT hereafter) just before termination of application of the pulse voltage;

fourth means for determining a charge amount A′

(referred to as a value A′

hereafter) defined by an equation

$A^{\mathrm{\prime <br><br>}}={\int <br><br>}_0^{t_1}<br><br>i-i<br><br>\left(t_1\right)<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>d<br><br>t$

using the current value at the start of application of the pulse voltage and the current value after the predetermined amount of time from the start of application of the pulse voltage;

fifth means for determining a charge amount B′

(referred to as a value B′

hereafter) defined by an equation

$B^{\mathrm{\prime <br><br>}}={\int <br><br>}_{t_1}^{t_2}<br><br>i-i<br><br>\left(t_2\right)<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>d<br><br>t$

using the current value after the predetermined amount of time from the start of application of the pulse voltage; and

sixth means for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information by using three values as parameters, the three values being ratios A′

/B′

(=a value ES) and B′

/A′

(=a value IS) between the charge values A′ and

B′

determined by the fourth and fifth means respectively, and the value NT.

10. The apparatus for analyzing bioelectrical response waveform information according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of a measurement, an average of measurements, a ratio between measurements of right and left, or a ratio between measurements of hands and feet of a bioelectrical response waveform of a body or part of a body is used for each of the values ES, IS, and NT.