SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MONITORING THE ACOUSTIC COUPLING OF MEDICAL DEVICES
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring the acoustic coupling of an acoustic transducer attached to a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
- an acoustic transducer attachable to the body and in acoustic communication with an implantable medical device;
a signal generator coupled to the acoustic transducer, the signal generator adapted to supply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducer for generating an acoustic wave;
a circuit configured to measure at least one electrical parameter of the acoustic transducer in response to the electrical signal; and
an evaluation module adapted to evaluate the degree of acoustic coupling of the transducer to the body based at least in part on the measured electrical parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring the acoustic coupling of medical devices is disclosed. An illustrative system for monitoring the acoustic coupling of an acoustic transducer attached to a patient'"'"'s body includes a signal generator adapted to supply an electrical signal to the transducer, a circuit configured to measure at least one electrical parameter of the transducer, and a processor adapted to evaluate the degree of acoustic coupling of the transducer to the body based on the measured electrical signal. The processor can measure the frequency response of the acoustic transducer to the electrical signal, a time domain response of the acoustic transducer to the electrical signal, or a combination of both.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring the acoustic coupling of an acoustic transducer attached to a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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an acoustic transducer attachable to the body and in acoustic communication with an implantable medical device; a signal generator coupled to the acoustic transducer, the signal generator adapted to supply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducer for generating an acoustic wave; a circuit configured to measure at least one electrical parameter of the acoustic transducer in response to the electrical signal; and an evaluation module adapted to evaluate the degree of acoustic coupling of the transducer to the body based at least in part on the measured electrical parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of monitoring the acoustic coupling of an acoustic transducer attached to a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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providing an electrical signal to the acoustic transducer; measuring at least one electrical parameter associated with the response of the acoustic transducer to the electrical signal; and evaluating the degree of acoustic coupling of the acoustic transducer to the body based at least in part on the at least one measured electrical parameter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of monitoring the acoustic coupling of an acoustic transducer attached to a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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providing a time-varying electrical signal to an acoustic transducer having a number of terminal leads; measuring the voltage at the terminal leads in response to the electrical signal; measuring the current across the terminal leads in response to the electrical signal; and evaluating the degree of acoustic coupling of the acoustic transducer to the body based at least in part on the measured voltage and current.
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Specification