Method and apparatus for contactless measurement of charge concentrations and potential differences in biological organisms
First Claim
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1. A method for contactless measurement of charge concentration and potential differences in a biological organism, including the steps of:
- forming a capacitor having a measuring electrode as one plate of the capacitor and the surface of the biological organism as the other plate of the capacitor;
moving one of said capacitor plates relative to the other to alter the electrostatic field and change the charge level on the measuring electrode as a function of charge levels in the biological organism;
guiding the measurement electrode over the surface of the organism at a substantially constant distance therefrom; and
monitoring the change in the charge on the measuring electrode to determine charge concentration in the biological organism.
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Abstract
Apparatus and a method are presented for contactless measurement of charge concentrations and potential differences in biological organisms, with the electrode being spaced from the organism. Relative movement between the organism and the probe results in alteration of the electrostatic field which is measured in an external circuit to determine potential differences in the organism.
84 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for contactless measurement of charge concentration and potential differences in a biological organism, including the steps of:
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forming a capacitor having a measuring electrode as one plate of the capacitor and the surface of the biological organism as the other plate of the capacitor; moving one of said capacitor plates relative to the other to alter the electrostatic field and change the charge level on the measuring electrode as a function of charge levels in the biological organism; guiding the measurement electrode over the surface of the organism at a substantially constant distance therefrom; and monitoring the change in the charge on the measuring electrode to determine charge concentration in the biological organism.
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2. A method for contactless measurement of charge concentration and Potential differences in a biological organism, including the steps of:
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forming a capacitor having a measuring electrode as one plate of the capacitor and the surface of the biological organism as the other plate of the capacitor; moving one of said capacitor plates relative to the other to alter the electrostatic field and change the charge level on the measuring electrode as a function of charge levels in the biological organism; oscillating said measuring electrode to alternatively form capacitors between said electrode and said surface of the organism and between said measuring electrode and a guard electrode; and monitoring the change in the charge on the measuring electrode to determine charge concentration in the biological organism.
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3. A method for contactless measurement of charge concentration and potential differences in a biological organism, including the steps of:
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forming a capacitor having a measuring electrode as one plate of the capacitor and the surface of the biological organism as the other plate of the capacitor; moving one of said capacitor plates relative to the other to alter the electrostatic field and change the charge level on the measuring electrode as a function of charge levels in the biological organism; periodically varying the dielectric constant of the capacitor formed between said measuring electrode and said surface of the organism; and monitoring the change in the charge on the measuring electrode to determine charge concentration in the biological organism.
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4. Apparatus for the contactless measurement of charge concentrations and potential differences in biological organisms, including:
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measuring electrode means for measuring charge concentrations; shield means for screening said electrode means and defining a window through which said electrode means is accessible to electrostatic fields; dielectric means in said window having a dielectric constant higher than air; said electrode means being one plate of a capacitor, the other plate of which is the surface of the organism to be measured; means for electrically connecting said electrode means to a reference potential; circuit means for measuring and/or indicating changes in charge on said electrode means resulting from relative movement of said electrode means with respect to said organism surface; and wherein said electrode means is centrally mounted within and insulated from said shield means, said electrode means communicating with said window and thereby means exposed to said electrostatic fields. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for the contactless measurement of charge concentrations and potential differences in biological organisms, including:
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measuring electrode means for measuring charge concentrations; shield means for screening said electrode means and defining a window through which said electrode means is accessible to electrostatic fields; said electrode means being one plate of a capacitor, the other plate of which is the surface of the organism to be measured; means for electrically connecting said electrode means to a reference potential; and circuit means for measuring and/or indicating changes in charge on said electrode means resulting from relative movement of said electrode means with respect to said organism surface; means for periodically varying the dielectric field between said electrode means and said organism surface; and wherein said electrode means is centrally mounted within and insulated from said shield means, said electrode means communicating with said window and thereby being exposed to said electrostatic fields. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for contactless measurement of charge concentration and potential differences in a biological organism, including the steps of:
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forming a capacitor having a measuring electrode as one plate of the capacitor and the surface of the biological organism as the other plate of the capacitor; moving the capacitor plate which includes said measuring electrode relative to the surface of the biological organism to alter the electrostatic field and change the charge level on the measuring electrode as a function of charge levels in the biological organism; and monitoring the change in the charge on the measuring electrode to determine charge concentration in the biological organism. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification