METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING PREDETERMINED PARAMETERS IN A BODY
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a predetermined parameter of interest in a body, comprising:
- applying to said body a sensor including an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver spaced from the transmitter to define between them an acoustical transmission channel through a part of the body exhibiting the parameter of interest;
and monitoring from a remote location the transit time of an acoustical wave transmitted through said acoustical transmission channel from said acoustical transmitter to said acoustical receiver, said monitored transit time being influenced by the parameter of interest and thereby providing a measurement of said parameter of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring a predetermined parameter of interest in a body, includes: applying to the body a sensor including an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver spaced from the transmitter to define between them an acoustical transmission channel which includes a part of the body exhibiting the parameter of interest; and monitoring from a remote location the transit time of an acoustical wave transmitted through the acoustical transmission channel from the acoustical transmitter to the acoustical receiver, the monitored transit time being influenced by the parameter of interest and thereby providing a measurement of the parameter of interest. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for monitoring functions of various organs (e.g. the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, etc.) in a living body but may also be used in non-medical applications, such as for measuring water seepage in concrete.
15 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a predetermined parameter of interest in a body, comprising:
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applying to said body a sensor including an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver spaced from the transmitter to define between them an acoustical transmission channel through a part of the body exhibiting the parameter of interest; and monitoring from a remote location the transit time of an acoustical wave transmitted through said acoustical transmission channel from said acoustical transmitter to said acoustical receiver, said monitored transit time being influenced by the parameter of interest and thereby providing a measurement of said parameter of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 12)
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3-11. -11. (canceled)
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13-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. Apparatus for monitoring a predetermined parameter of interest in a body, comprising:
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a sensor including an acoustical transmitter and an acoustical receiver constructed to be applied within the body to define an acoustical transmission channel through a part of said body exhibiting the parameter of interest; and a control and monitoring system to be located at a remote location from said sensor for actuating said acoustical transmitter to transmit acoustical waves through said acoustical transmission channel, for actuating said acoustical receiver to receiver said acoustical waves, and for monitoring the transit time of transmission of the transmitted waves from the acoustical transmitter to the acoustical receiver, to provide a measurement of said predetermined parameter of interest. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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31. (canceled)
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34. (canceled)
Specification