PLATFORM FOR DETECTION OF TISSUE CONTENT AND/OR STRUCTURAL CHANGES WITH CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL IN MAMMALIAN ORGANISMS

• US 20080200802A1
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PhiloMetron Inc.
• Original Assignee: PhiloMetron Inc.
• Inventors: Bhavaraju, Naresh C., Drinan, Darrel D., Edman, Carl F.
• Application Number:
  US11/952,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200802A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/426
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/413 Monitoring transplanted tissue or organ, e.g. for possible rejection reactions after a transplant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition

Abstract

Aspects include methods and apparatuses for effecting change over time in one or more measured regions of a body using a plurality of data sets obtained by analysis of applied signals to said region and effecting a change in treatment protocol. The method may include transmitting and receiving one or more of electromagnetic wave signals, applied acoustic wave signals and electrical signals transmitted through or reflected off of a portion of the measured body region. Some aspects may include determining a change in tissue structure, or a change in tissue content.

Claims

1. A method of effecting change over time in a body, the method comprising the steps of

determining change over time in one or more measured regions of the body using a plurality of data sets obtained by analysis of applied electromagnetic waves to said region, and

effecting an action using an effecting mechanism which results in desired further changes over time to said region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparator is at least partially implanted in the body.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves are comprised of ultra wideband radio signals.

4. The method of claim 1 where the form of electromagnetic waves are comprised of signals of frequency bands other than ultra wideband radio signals.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining said change comprises determining a change in tissue structure.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the change in tissue structure comprises detecting one or more of scar tissue growth, tumors, and fractures.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining said change comprises determining a change in tissue content.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining said change in tissue content comprises determining one or more of a fluid change, a hypo or hyper hydration, an edema, and a relative change in the amount of fat, muscle, connective tissue, or bone in said region.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said the action controls a step in treatment protocol.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the action controls a diagnostic tool.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the action controls the delivery of a drug.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined change is a change in transplant organ status.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined change is change in ovary dimension.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing fiducial points or alignment aids.

15. A system for effecting change over time in tissue structure and content in a body region, the system comprising:

antenna and circuitry configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals;

circuitry configured to convert said signals into one or more data sets;

a comparator subsystem for performing mathematical calculations on at least two data sets for the determination of change in the tissue or hydration status of said measured body region; and

an effecting mechanism for effecting a change in the tissue over time in said body region, wherein said effecting mechanisms communicates with said comparator subsystem.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said antenna and circuitry configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves are fully implanted in the body.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said effecting mechanism is configured with a predetermined treatment protocol.

18. The system in claim 15, wherein said effecting mechanism initiates an action in response to communications from said comparator subsystem.

19. A method of effecting change over time in one or more measured regions of the body using a plurality of data sets obtained by analysis of applied acoustic waves to said region.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the form of acoustic waves are comprised of signals in a range between 1 Hz and 100 kHz.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein determining said change comprises determining a change in tissue structure.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the change in tissue structure comprises detecting one or more of scar tissue growth, tumors and fractures.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein determining said change comprises determining a change in tissue content.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein determining the change in tissue content comprises determining one or more of a fluid change, hypo or hyper hydration, an edema, and relative changes in an amount of fat, muscle, connective tissue or bone in said region.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said change is associated with a healing wound.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said change is associated with compartment syndrome.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said change is a change in transplant organ status.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein said change is a change in ovary dimension.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising employing fiducial points or alignment aids to target said signals.

30. A system for effecting change over time in tissue structure and content in a body region, said system comprised of:

antenna and circuitry for the transmission or reception of applied acoustic wave signals;

circuitry for converting said signals into one or more data sets;

a comparator subsystem for performing mathematical calculations on at least two data sets for the determination of change in the tissue or hydration status of the measured body region; and

an effecting mechanism for effecting a change in the tissue over time in said body region, wherein said effecting mechanisms communicates with said comparator subsystem.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said antenna and circuitry for the transmission or reception of applied acoustic wave signals is fully implanted in the body.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein said effecting mechanism is configured with a predetermined treatment protocol.

33. The system in claim 30, wherein said effecting mechanism initiates an action in response to communications from said comparator subsystem.

34. A method of effecting change over time in one or more measured regions of the body using a plurality of data sets obtained by analysis of bio-electric impedance of said body region.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising performing electrical tissue excitation including a plurality of frequencies between 0 Hz (DC) and 1 MHz.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein effecting said change comprises determining a change in tissue structure.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein effecting said change in tissue structure comprises detecting one or more of scar tissue growth, tumors, and fractures.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein effecting said change comprises determining a change in tissue content.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein effecting said change in tissue content comprises detecting one or more of a fluid change, hypo or hyper hydration, an edema, and relative changes in amount of fat, muscle, connective tissue or bone.

40. The method of claim 34 where said change is associated with a healing wound.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein said change is associated with compartment syndrome.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein said change is a change in transplant organ status.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein said change is a change in ovary dimension.

44. The method of claim 34, further comprising employing fiducial points or alignment aids.

45. A system for effecting change over time in tissue structure and content in a body region comprised of:

electrodes and circuitry configured to transmit and receive electrical signals;

circuitry for converting said signals into one or more data sets indicative of a measure of bio-electric impedance of said body region;

a comparator subsystem for performing the mathematical calculations on at least two data sets for the determination of change in the tissue or hydration status of the measured body region; and

an effecting mechanism for effecting a change in the tissue over time in said body region, wherein said effecting mechanisms communicates with said comparator subsystem.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein said electrodes and circuitry configured to transmit and receive electrical signals are fully implanted in the body.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein said comparator is located in a separate data collection unit in wireless communication with said electrodes and circuitry.