Detecting small potential differences in a mammalian body

• US 3,920,003 A
• Filed: 06/27/1974
• Issued: 11/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bionomic Sciences International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthur Edward Michael Ash, Jesse William Thomas Roope
• Inventors: Ash, Arthur Edward Michael, Roope, Jesse William Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/483,556
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.1R,2.1Z,2.1C,2.1E,2.6E,2H,DIG.4,407-409,2R
• US Class Current: 600/373
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0012 Ovulation-period determination for animals A61D17/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0016 based on measurement of electric currents, e.g. conductivity tests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for detecting, amplification and identification of the polarity of low potential differences in a mammalian body, including a differential amplifier, two trigger units connected to the output of the amplifier, one trigger unit being adapted to be actuated by potentials greater than a threshold which is positive with respect to ground and the other trigger unit being adapted to be actuated by potentials less than a threshold and which are negative with respect to ground, and an indicator means connected to each of the trigger units to indicate when the associated trigger unit has been actuated.

Claims

1. A system for detecting small direct current electrical potential differences between the vagina of a mammal and another location of the body of said mammal spaced from the vaginal region, comprising an electrical circuit means for detecting, amplifying and identifying the polarity of said potential difference, said circuit means having two input terminals across which said small potential difference may be applied, an eLongated vaginal probe adapted to be inserted in the vagina, said probe comprising an electrically conductive section at its terminal end, an adjacent section of insulating material at the other end, and electrically conductive means passing through said insulation section and forming an electrical connection between said conductive section and one of said terminals, a thin removable sheath of electrically conductive rubber material disposed over the electrically conductive section of said probe, and means forming an electrical connection between the other location on said body spaced from the vaginal region and the other of said input terminals.

2. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said last named means comprises an electrically conductive hollow cylindrical member disposed adjacent the insulation section of said probe on the end opposite the conductive section and adapted to provide a hand held electrode handle for the probe, whereby the holding hand constitutes the other location on the body, said member being constructed of a conductive material taken from the group consisting of metal, carbon and conductive polymer, and means forming an electrical connection between said member and said other of said input terminals.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said member contains and supports a nonconductive cylindrical housing containing said electrical circuit means, said housing having openings on opposite ends thereof providing access to said input terminals.

4. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the insulation section of said probe has a flanged configuration of gradually increasing diameter as it extends towards the handle member to prevent over penetration of the probe and to provide insulation between the handle member and the body region adjacent the vagina, and wherein said sheath of rubber material has a nonconducting extension disposed over the insulation section of said probe.

5. A system for detecting small direct current electrical potential differences between the vagina of a mammal and another location on the body of said mammal spaced from the vaginal region, comprising an electrical circuit means for detecting, amplifying and identifying the polarity of said potential difference, said circuit means having two input terminals across which said small potential difference may be applied, an elongated vaginal probe adapted to be inserted in the vagina, said probe comprising an electrically conductive rubber material section at its terminal end, an adjacent section of insulating material at the other end, and an electrically conductive metal rod passing axially and centrally through said insulation section and substantially the entirety of said electrically conductive rubber material section in order to structurally stiffen the probe, means forming an electrical connection between said metal rod and one of said input terminals, and means forming an electrical connection between the other location on said body spaced from the vaginal region and the other of said input terminals.