MEDICAL MEASUREMENT DEVICE FOR BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT

• US 20100234701A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ingo Flore
• Original Assignee: Ingo Flore
• Inventors: Cho, Ok Kyung, Kim, Yoon Ok
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical measuring device having an impedance measurement unit (100) for detecting an impedance measurement signal from the skin surface (200) of a patient to be examined via at least one measurement electrode pair (3). According to the invention, the distance between the electrodes of the measurement electrode pair (3) is from a few millimeters to several centimeters such that, during the measurement process, both electrodes of the measurement electrode pair (3) for locally detecting the impedance measurement signal contact the same region of the skin surface (200) of the patient at the same time.

Claims

1. Medical measurement device having an impedance measurement unit (100) for detecting an impedance measurement signal on the skin surface (200) of a patient to be examined, by way of at least one measurement electrode pair (3),

wherein

the distance between the electrodes of the measurement electrode pair (3) amounts to less than a millimeter up to a few centimeters, in such a manner that during the measurement process, the two electrodes of the measurement electrode pair (3) touch the skin surface (200) of the patient in the same region, at the same time, for local determination of the impedance measurement signal.

2. Measurement device according to claim 1, comprising a feed electrode pair (1) for imposing an alternating current of variable frequency, by way of the skin surface (200), into the body tissue of the patient to be examined, specifically in the region of the skin surface (200) that touches the measurement electrodes (3).

3. Measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement and feed electrodes (1, 3) are configured as contact strips that run parallel to one another.

4. Measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising an evaluation unit (140) connected with the impedance measurement unit (100).

5. Measurement device according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation unit (140) is set up for determining changes in the local impedance measurement signal.

6. Measurement device according to claim 5, wherein the evaluation unit (140) is furthermore set up for determining

the heart rate and/or

the pulse amplitude and/or

the local perfusion and/or

the local body temperature and/or

the blood glucose level

from the changes in the local impedance measurement signal over time.

7. Measurement device according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation unit (140) is set up for determining the local resistance and the local reactance from the impedance measurement signal.

8. Measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising an EKG unit (132) for detecting an EKG signal by way of two or more EKG electrodes (3, 9).

9. Measurement device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the EKG electrodes (3, 9) is simultaneously a feed electrode or measurement electrode (1, 3) of the bioelectrical impedance measurement unit (100).

10. Measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical measurement unit (130) that comprises at least one radiation source (5) for irradiating the body tissue to be examined, and at least one radiation sensor (6) for detection of the radiation scattered and/or transmitted by the body tissue.

11. Measurement device according to claim 10, wherein the optical measurement unit (130) has at least two radiation sensors (6) for detection of the radiation scattered and/or transmitted by the body tissue, whereby the radiation sensors (6) are disposed at different distances from the radiation source (5).

12. Measurement device according to claim 10, wherein at least two radiation sources (5, 5′

) are provided, which irradiate different volume regions of the body tissue that is examined.

13. Measurement device according to claim 12, wherein the at least two radiation sources (5, 5′

) have different spatial emission characteristics.

14. Measurement device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one radiation source (5) is connected with a light-conducting element that guides the radiation emitted by the radiation source (5) to the skin surface (200).

15. Measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature or heat sensor (7).

16. Measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixation device (11) for fixation of a body part of the patient to be examined, on the measurement device (300).

17. Measurement device according to claim 16, wherein the fixation device (11) comprises an inflatable air cushion that presses the body part against the measurement and/or feed electrodes (1, 3).

18. Measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a connection with a device of entertainment or communications technology or with some other portable device or accessory.

19. Measurement device according to claim 18, wherein the device is a mobile device, particularly a notebook, a laptop, a mobile telephone, a palmtop, or a handheld.

20. Measurement device according claim 1, wherein a plurality of feed and/or measurement electrodes of the impedance measurement unit are disposed in the form of a matrix.