Apparatus for locating and detecting pain
First Claim
1. A diagnostic device for assessing pain, abnormal sensation or sympathetic dysfunction in a human being or animal comprising:
- a housing adapted to be held in a user'"'"'s hand;
two spaced-apart, concentric electrodes mounted outside said housing for measuring conductance of human or animal tissue over a short distance;
means for rigidly holding and supporting said electrodes in said spaced-apart, concentric relationship;
electric circuit means connected to said electrodes for producing an electrical signal having a pulse frequency that varies directly according to said measured conductance, said circuit means including a voltage to frequency converter having an oscillator with a logarithmic output so that the pulse frequency of said electric signal varies logarithmically according to the conductance measured by said electrodes, said logarithmic output permitting a wide range of tissue conductance to be measured by said device;
a source of low voltage power connected to said circuit means; and
means for detecting said electrical signal to permit the user of said device to determine the pulse frequency of said signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A selective tissue conductance meter is described which can be used to assess pain, abnormal sensation or sympathetic dysfunction in a human being or animal. Two concentric electrodes are mounted in fixed relative relationship on a housing which is capable of being held in one hand of the user. Contained in the housing is an electric circuit connected to the two electrodes, which circuit produces an electrical signal having a pulse frequency that varies according to the measured conductance. A battery capable of providing low voltage power is connected to the circuit. Several devices are disclosed for monitoring or measuring the electrical signal to permit the user to detect the pulse frequency of the signal. One such device comprises an audio circuit capable of producing an audible sound or click for each pulse of the electrical signal. A liquid crystal display can provide a digital readout of the number of pulses covered over a short time span.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A diagnostic device for assessing pain, abnormal sensation or sympathetic dysfunction in a human being or animal comprising:
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a housing adapted to be held in a user'"'"'s hand; two spaced-apart, concentric electrodes mounted outside said housing for measuring conductance of human or animal tissue over a short distance; means for rigidly holding and supporting said electrodes in said spaced-apart, concentric relationship; electric circuit means connected to said electrodes for producing an electrical signal having a pulse frequency that varies directly according to said measured conductance, said circuit means including a voltage to frequency converter having an oscillator with a logarithmic output so that the pulse frequency of said electric signal varies logarithmically according to the conductance measured by said electrodes, said logarithmic output permitting a wide range of tissue conductance to be measured by said device; a source of low voltage power connected to said circuit means; and means for detecting said electrical signal to permit the user of said device to determine the pulse frequency of said signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15)
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12. A diagnostic device capable of measuring the conductance of human or animal tissue comprising:
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a housing capable of being held in one hand by the user of said device; concentric electrode means mounted on the exterior of said housing; electric circuit means located in said housing and connected to said electrode means for producing an electrical signal having a pulse frequency that varies directly according to the conductance of human or animal tissue placed in contact with said electrode means, said circuit means including a voltage to frequency converter having an oscillator with a logarithmic output so that the pulse frequency of said electric signal varies logarithmically according to the conductance measured by said electrode means, said logarithmic output permitting a wide range of tissue conductance to be measured by said device; a source of low voltage power connected to said circuit means; and means for detecting said electrical signal to permit the user of said device to know the pulse frequency of said signal, said detecting means being arranged in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification