MONITORING SYSTEM AND PROBE

• US 20100152605A1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ImpediMed Limited
• Original Assignee: ImpediMed Limited
• Inventors: Ward, Leigh Cordwin
• Granted Patent: US 10,307,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0217 Electrolyte containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4878 Evaluating oedema

Abstract

A probe for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject. The probe includes a housing for being held by an operator in use, a contact surface for contacting the subject and a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device.

Claims

1. ) A probe method for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject, the probe including:

a) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use;

b) a contact surface for contacting the subject; and

,

c) a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device.

2. ) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the housing is an elongate housing, the contact surface is provided at a first end of the housing and the connector is provided at a second opposing end of the housing.

3. ) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed from an insulating material.

4. ) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed from a perspex tube.

5. ) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface has a convex shape.

6. ) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface includes a moving member for moving relative to the subject.

7. ) The probe according to claim 6, wherein the moving member is a roller ball, and wherein the housing includes a shaped mounting for receiving the roller ball.

8. ) The probe according to claim 6, wherein the moving member is a cylindrical roller mounted on an axle.

9. ) The probe according to claim 6, wherein the probe includes a contact for electrically connecting the moving member to the connecter.

10. ) The probe according to claim 9, wherein the contact is a spring.

11. ) The probe according to claim 6, wherein the probe includes a sensor for sensing movement of the moving member.

12. ) The probe according to claim 11, wherein the sensor includes at least one of:

a) an optical sensor; and

,

b) moving elements in contact with the moving member.

13. ) The probe according to claim 1, wherein the connector is for connecting to a lead of a measuring device.

14. ) The probe according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the probe is moved along a segment of the subject to thereby allow an impedance profile representing variations in impedance along the segment to be determined.

15. ) The probe according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the probe is connected to a measuring device the measuring device including, a processing system for:

a) causing at least one electrical signal to be applied to the subject via first electrodes provided on the subject; and

,

b) determining an indication indicative of at least one second electrical signal measured via a second electrode positioned on the subject, and via the probe.

16. ) A method of performing impedance measurements on a subject using a probe, the probe including a housing configured to be held by an operator in use, a contact surface for contacting the subject and a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device, the method including:

a) positioning the probe in contact with a segment of the subject;

b) causing the measuring device to perform a sequence of impedance measurements; and

,

c) moving the probe along the segment during the sequence of impedance measurements so that the measuring device determines impedance measurements along the segment.

17. ) The method according to claim 16, wherein the method includes, in the measuring device:

a) using the impedance measurements to determine an impedance profile; and

,

b) displaying a representation of the impedance profile to thereby allow the impedance profile to be used in determining a presence, absence, degree or location of oedema in the subject.

18. ) The method according to claim 16, wherein the method includes, in the measuring device:

a) causing a sequence of first electrical signals to be applied to the subject via first electrodes provided on the subject; and

,

b) determining an indication of a sequence of second electrical signals measured via a second electrode positioned on the subject, and via the probe.

19. ) The method according to claim 18, wherein the method includes, in the measuring device:

using an indication of the first and second signals to determine an impedance profile, the impedance profile representing variations in measured impedance along the segment.

20. ) A method for use in analysing impedance measurements performed on a subject, the method including, in a processing system:

a) determining a sequence of impedance values measured along a segment of the subject; and

,

b) determining an impedance profile using the sequence of impedance values.

21. ) The method according to claim 20, wherein the method includes, in the processing system, displaying a representation of the impedance profile to thereby allow the impedance profile to be used in determining a presence, absence, degree or location of oedema in the subject.

22. ) The method according to claim 20, wherein the method includes in the processing system:

a) causing a sequence of first signals to be applied to the subject via first electrodes provided on the subject;

b) determining an indication indicative of a sequence of second electrical signals measured via second electrodes provided on the subject; and

,

c) determining the sequence of impedance values using indications of the sequences of first and second signals.

23. ) The method according to claim 22, wherein one of the second electrodes is a probe, and wherein the method includes determining an indication of at least some of the second electrical signals as the probe is moved along the segment.

24. ) The method according to claim 20, wherein the method includes:

a) positioning the probe in contact with a segment of the subject;

b) causing the processing system to perform a sequence of impedance measurements; and

,

c) moving the probe along the segment during the sequence of impedance measurements so that the measuring device determines impedance measurements along the segment.

25. ) The method according to claim 20, wherein the method includes, in the processing system:

a) determining one or more impedance parameter values from measured impedance values; and

,

b) determining the impedance profile using the impedance parameter values.

26. ) The method according to claim 25, wherein the impedance parameter values include at least one of:

a) an impedance at infinite applied frequency (R_∞

);

b) an impedance at zero applied frequency (R₀); and

,

c) an impedance at a characteristic frequency (Z_c).

27. ) The method according to claim 26, wherein the method includes, in the processing system, determining the impedance parameter values at least in part using the equation:

28. ) The method according to claim 21, wherein the representation includes at least one of:

a) a baseline impedance profile for the segment;

b) a reference impedance profile derived from a normal population; and

,

c) an impedance profile for a contra-lateral segment.

29. ) The method according to claim 28, wherein the method includes, in the processing system:

a) determining one or more subject details; and

,

b) selecting a reference at least partially in accordance with the subject details.

30. ) The method according to claim 29, wherein the subject details include at least one of:

a) limb dominance;

b) ethnicity;

c) age;

d) sex;

e) weight; and

,

f) height.

31. ) The method according to claim 22, wherein one of the second electrodes is formed from a band electrode including:

a) a substrate having provided thereon;

i) a number of electrically conductive contact pads; and

,

ii) a corresponding number of electrically conductive tracks, each track extending from an edge of the substrate to a respective contact pad;

b) an insulating layer provided on the substrate, the insulating layer including a number of apertures, and being positioned to thereby overlay the tracks with at least a portion of each pad contact aligned with a respective aperture; and

,

c) an electrically conductive medium provided in the apertures.

32. ) The method according to claim 31, wherein the method includes measuring the sequence of second electrical signals via the contact pads.

33. ) Apparatus for use in analysing impedance measurements performed on a subject, the apparatus including a processing system for:

a) determining a sequence of impedance values measured along a segment of the subject; and

,

b) determining an impedance profile using the sequence of impedance values.

34. ) The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the apparatus includes:

a) a signal generator for applying one or more electrical signals to the subject using a first set of electrodes;

b) a sensor for measuring electrical signals measured across a second set of electrodes; and

,

c) a controller for;

i) controlling the signal generator; and

,

ii) determining the indication of the measured electrical signals.

35. ) The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein at least one of the second electrodes is a probe, the probe including:

a) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use;

b) a contact surface for contacting the subject; and

,

c) a connector for connecting the contact surface to the sensor.

36. ) A probe for use in diagnosing oedema in a body segment of a subject, the probe including:

a) a housing configured to be held by an operator in use;

b) a contact surface for contacting the segment of the subject; and

,

c) a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device.

37. ) A method of diagnosing oedema in a body segment of a subject using a probe, the probe including a housing configured to be held by an operator in use, a contact surface for contacting the subject and a connector for connecting the contact surface to a measuring device, the method including:

a) positioning the probe in contact with a segment of the subject;

b) causing the measuring device to perform a sequence of impedance measurements;

c) moving the probe along the segment during the sequence of impedance measurements so that the measuring device determines impedance measurements along the segment; and

,

d) determining an impedance profile using the sequence of impedance values, the impedance profile being indicative of a presence, absence, degree or location of oedema in the subject.

38. ) A method for use in diagnosing oedema in a body segment of a subject, the method including, in a processing system:

a) determining a sequence of impedance values measured along a segment of the subject; and

,

b) determining an impedance profile using the sequence of impedance values, the impedance profile being indicative of a presence, absence, degree or location of oedema in the subject.

39. ) Apparatus for use in diagnosing oedema in a body segment of a subject, the apparatus including a processing system for:

a) determining a sequence of impedance values measured along a segment of the subject; and

,

b) determining an impedance profile using the sequence of impedance values, the impedance profile being indicative of a presence, absence, degree or location of oedema in the subject.