Methods and Apparatus for Localization, Diagnosis, Contact or Activity Detection of Bio-Electric Tissue
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for localization, diagnosis, contact or activity detection of bio-electric tissue providing improved sensitivity to the distance between a sensing electrode and bio-electric tissue and providing the means to measure the impedance of the tissue between a sensing electrode and bio-electric tissue. In accordance with the method, a controlled effective input impedance is provided to the monitor, which input impedance can be set to cause a significant portion of the bio-electric tissue signal to be dropped across the tissue between a sensing electrode and the bio-electric tissue when the two are separated by a predetermined or arbitrary distance. Various illustrative embodiments and forms of construction are disclosed.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1-7. -7. (canceled)
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8. A method of sensing a parameter responsive to the impedance of tissue between a sensing electrode and bio-electric tissue comprising:
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inserting the sensing electrode into the vicinity of the bio-electric tissue; and
,using a monitor with a predetermined input impedance RI, measuring the electrode voltage VM′
between the sensing electrode and a reference electrode with a second predetermined impedance RN coupled between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode, and measuring the electrode voltage VM between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode with the second predetermined impedance not coupled between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode; and
,calculating the parameter responsive to the impedance RD of the tissue between the sensing electrode and bio-electric tissue based on the measured values of VM and VM′
. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of determining a characteristic of normally bio-electric tissue comprising:
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causing a sensing electrode to touch the normally bio-electric tissue; and
,using a monitor with a predetermined input impedance R1, measuring the electrode voltage VM′
between the sensing electrode and a reference electrode with a second predetermined impedance RN coupled between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode, and measuring the electrode voltage VM between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode with the second predetermined impedance not coupled between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode; and
,determining the characteristic of the normally bio-electric tissue from at least one of the measured values of VM and VM′
. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. For use with an ECG monitor, apparatus comprising:
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a sensing electrode configured for insertion in the proximity of bio-electric tissue; an interface unit connectable to the sensing electrode and a reference electrode; the interface unit also being connectable to at least a pair of ECG monitor inputs, the interface unit being configured to couple the sensing electrode and the reference electrode to an ECG monitor inputs and to also impose a predetermined impedance across the ECG monitor inputs. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. For use with an ECG monitor, a sensing electrode configured for insertion in the proximity of bio-electric tissue and a reference electrode, the apparatus comprising:
an interface unit connectable to the sensing electrode and the reference electrode, the interface unit also being connectable to at least a pair ECG monitor inputs, the interface unit being configured to couple the sensing electrode and the reference electrode to an ECG monitor inputs and to also impose a predetermined impedance across the ECG monitor inputs. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
Specification