SENSOR-ANALYZER SYSTEM WITH MEANS FOR SELECTING OUTPUT SIGNALS CORRESPONDING TO ACCURATELY POSITIONED SENSORS

• US 3,622,784 A
• Filed: 10/29/1969
• Issued: 11/23/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Louis R. M. Del Guercio
• Original Assignee: Louis R. M. Del Guercio
• Inventors: Del Guercio, Louis R. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Birch, Anthony L.
• Application Number:
  US04/872,092
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 250/65R,71.5R,83.3R,227 128/2.1R
• US Class Current: 250/393
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0275 using tracers, e.g. dye dilution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4441 the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring the condition of body organs comprises detector means having a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors being effective to detect the condition of a body organ and to provide an output signal related to the detected condition, and means operatively connected to the sensors and effective to compare the output signal of each sensor with a predetermined nominal output signal corresponding to predetermined conditions of the body organs. Means are operatively connected to the comparator means and to the sensors to select those output signals bearing a predetermined relation to known output signals. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with an indicator material which is injected into the blood stream for passage through the specific body organs to be monitored. A radiant energy source is adapted to be positioned proximate the body organs so that the rays may be directed through the organs and through the indicator material, thereby to provide an output signal at the sensors proportional to the intensity of the rays passing through the body organs and the indicator material. In the preferred embodiment, the detector means comprises a plurality of spaced sensors which are arranged in a given array so that at least several of such sensors are positioned over the body organs to be monitored.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of body organs comprising detector means having a plurality of sensors, said sensors each being effective to detect the condition of a body organ and to provide an output signal related to the detected condition thereof, automatic means operatively connected to said sensors and effective to compare the output signal of each of said sensors with a predetermined nominal output signal corresponding to the expected output signal from a particular part of the body organ, and automatic means operatively connected to said comparator means and said sensors and effective to select only the output signal or signals bearing a predetermined relation to said nominal output signal, and means operatively connected to said comparison and selection means for providing an output indication of the selected output signal or signals, whereby the output indication includes only the output signal or signals from the sensor or sensors accurately positioned in registration with said particular part of said body organ.

2. In the apparatus of claim 1, recording means operatively connected to said selector means and effective to record the selected signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which said detector means further comprises a support member, said sensors being closely positioned proximate each other on said support member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, in which said sensors are arranged on said support member in a given array, and said support member is adapted to maintain said sensors in said given array when said sensors are positioned relative to the body organs.

5. A method of determining the condition of body organs comprising:

a. positioning a detector means proximate the body organs, said detector means having a plurality of sensors mounted on a support member, said sensors being effective to detect the condition of the body organs and to provide an output signal related to the detected condition thereof, b. monitoring the output signal of each of said sensors, c. automatically comparing the output signals from said sensors with a predetermined nominal output signal corresponding to the expected output signal from a particular part of the body organs, and d. automatically selecting only the output signal or signals having a predetermined relation to said nominal output signal, whereby the output indication includes only the output signal or signals from the sensor or sensors accurately positioned in registration with said particular part of said body organs.

6. In the method of claim 5, the step of recording the selected output signals.

7. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a body organ in conjunction with an indicator material which is placed in the body for passage through the body organ comprising means adapted to be operatively positioned externally of and proximate to the body organ and effective to generate radiant energy rays and for directing said radiant energy rays through the body organ, detector means adapted to be operatively positioned opposite said generating means and

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which said sensors are arranged in a substantially rectangular array on said support member.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, in which said sensors are arranged on said support member to form several groups of aligned sensors.

10. In the apparatus of clAim 7, a C-shaped mounting member operatively connected at one end to said detector means and at the opposite end to said generating means whereby said detector means and said generating means are substantially aligned by said mounting member.

11. In the apparatus of claim 7, means operatively connected to said sensors and effective to record the output signal of each sensor as a function of time.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, in which said sensors are spaced about two centimeters from each other.

13. In the apparatus of claim 7, at least one sensor displaced a given distance from said plurality of sensors, whereupon when said detecting means is positioned proximate said body organ said displaced sensor is positioned to simultaneously detect the passage of said energy rays through a second body organ while said plurality of sensors detects said energy rays passing through said first body organ.

14. In the apparatus of claim 7, in which the body organ to be monitored is a heart muscle, a second plurality of sensors operatively connected to said support member and spaced given distances from said first plurality of sensors, whereupon when said detecting means is positioned to detect said radiant energy rays passing through the heart muscle, said second plurality of sensors are positioned to detect said radiant energy rays after passage through blood stream flow positions located before passage and after passage through the heart muscle.