Active Electrode, Bio-Impedance Based, Tissue Discrimination System and Methods of Use
First Claim
1. A tissue discrimination system, comprising:
- a sensor circuit selected from the group of a voltage sensor, a current sensor and a combination of a voltage and a current sensor;
a waveform electrode having an area no more than approximately 10 mm2, the waveform electrode electrically coupled to the sensor circuit;
a return electrode electronically coupled to the sensor circuit;
a display; and
a controller electronically coupled to the sensor circuit and display, wherein the controller is configured to;
cause an electrical signal to be applied to the waveform electrode and the return electrode, the electrical signal having a frequency between approximately 500 Hz and approximately 2500 Hz;
receive a signal from the sensor circuit;
using the signal received from the sensor circuit, calculate a result useful for discriminating tissue; and
send control signals to the display to cause the calculated result to be presented on the display.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for discriminating and locating tissues within a body involve applying a waveform signal to tissue between two electrodes and measuring the electrical characteristics of the signal transmitted through the tissue. At least one of the electrodes is constrained in area so that localized electrical characteristics of the tissue are measured. Such localized electrical characteristics are determined over a portion of a body of the subject by using an array of electrodes or electrodes that can be moved over the body. A controller may implement the process and perform calculations on the measured data to identify tissue types and locations within the measured area, and to present results in graphical form. Results may be combined with other tissue imaging technologies and with image-guided systems.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A tissue discrimination system, comprising:
-
a sensor circuit selected from the group of a voltage sensor, a current sensor and a combination of a voltage and a current sensor; a waveform electrode having an area no more than approximately 10 mm2, the waveform electrode electrically coupled to the sensor circuit; a return electrode electronically coupled to the sensor circuit; a display; and a controller electronically coupled to the sensor circuit and display, wherein the controller is configured to; cause an electrical signal to be applied to the waveform electrode and the return electrode, the electrical signal having a frequency between approximately 500 Hz and approximately 2500 Hz; receive a signal from the sensor circuit; using the signal received from the sensor circuit, calculate a result useful for discriminating tissue; and send control signals to the display to cause the calculated result to be presented on the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A wireless electrode array system suitable for tissue discrimination applications, comprising:
-
a controller; a sensor circuit electronically coupled to the controller, the sensor circuit being selected from the group of a voltage sensor, a current sensor and a combination of a voltage and a current sensor; an electrode array assembly containing a plurality of waveform electrodes, each of the plurality of waveform electrodes having an area no more than approximately 10 mm2; a switch assembly electronically coupled to the plurality of waveform electrodes, to the sensor circuit and to the controller; a return electrode electrically coupled to the sensor circuit; a signal generator electronically coupled to the controller and electrically coupled to the switch assembly and the return electrode, the signal generator being configured to receive a control signal from the controller and, in response to the control signal, generate an electrical signal applied to the waveform electrode and the return electrode; and a wireless datalink coupled to the controller, the wireless datalink being configured to receive data from the controller and transmit the data via datalink communications, and to receive commands via datalink communications and provide the commands to the controller, wherein; the switch assembly is configured to electrically connect a selected waveform electrode to the sensor circuit and to the signal generator in response to a control signal received from the controller; and the controller is configured to send control signals to the signal generator and the switch assembly, receive data signals from the sensor circuit, receive commands provided by the wireless datalink, and send data signals to the wireless datalink for transmission. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification