Skin perfusion evaluation apparatus
First Claim
1. A device for determining perfusion capacity in a region of a patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue comprising:
- a thermoelectric device to create a temperature differential, a sensor for measuring the temperature differential, a controller coupled to the sensor and the thermoelectric device for maintaining the temperature differential substantially constant by providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric device, wherein the electrical energy provided to the thermoelectric device when the thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent the region of the patient'"'"'s skin is indicative of the perfusion capacity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a device for determining perfusion capacity in a region of a patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue utilizing a thermoelectric device to create a temperature differential, a sensor for measuring the temperature differential, a controller coupled to the sensor and the thermoelectric device for maintaining the temperature differential substantially constant by providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric device, and measuring the electrical energy provided to the thermoelectric device when the thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent the region of the patient'"'"'s skin to indicate perfusion capacity.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A device for determining perfusion capacity in a region of a patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue comprising:
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a thermoelectric device to create a temperature differential, a sensor for measuring the temperature differential, a controller coupled to the sensor and the thermoelectric device for maintaining the temperature differential substantially constant by providing electrical energy to the thermoelectric device, wherein the electrical energy provided to the thermoelectric device when the thermoelectric device is positioned adjacent the region of the patient'"'"'s skin is indicative of the perfusion capacity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device for determining a perfusion capacity in a region of a patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue, the device comprising:
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a first plate mounted in a position permitting placement of the first plate adjacent the region of the patient'"'"'s skin, a sensor to determine the temperature of the first plate, a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller providing electrical energy to the first plate to maintain the temperature of the first plate substantially constant, and a measuring device measuring the electrical energy provided to the first plate when the first plate is positioned adjacent the region of the patient'"'"'s skin which measurement is indicative of the perfusion capacity in the region of the patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for determining a perfusion capacity in a region of a patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue, the device comprising:
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a first plate mounted to be placed in a position adjacent the region of the patient'"'"'s skin, a second plate electrically coupled to the first plate by a junction containing material dissimilar to one of the first and second plates and thermally coupled to the first plate, a controller for maintaining the first plate at a first temperature and the second plate at a second temperature, said first and second temperatures defining a temperature differential which is maintained substantially constant by the controller by adjusting electrical energy supplied to the first and second plate, and wherein the electrical energy supplied to the first and second plates when the first plate is positioned adjacent the region of the patient'"'"'s skin is indicative of the perfusion capacity of the region of the patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for determining a perfusion capacity of a patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue comprising the steps of:
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a) applying a first plate against a region of the patient'"'"'s skin, b) providing energy to dissipate heat absorbed by the first plate from the patient'"'"'s skin, c) measuring the energy required to dissipate heat absorbed by the first plate from the skin, d) using the energy measurement to calculate the perfusion capacity, wherein the energy provided is electrical energy; and
further comprising substantially dissipating all of the heat absorbed by the first plate. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method for using a first plate and a second plate and the differential temperature therebetween to determine a perfusion capacity of a region of a patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue, the plates being juxtaposed and configured such that heat applied to the first plate relative to the second plate will provide an electrical measurement, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) placing the first plate adjacent the region of the patient'"'"'s skin, b) providing an electrical measurement indicative of energy affecting the differential temperature, and c) providing an indication of the perfusion capacity related to the energy affecting the differential temperature. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for using the Peltier effect (PE) to determine a perfusion capacity of a region of a patient'"'"'s skin and underlying tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a PE sensor having a first plate to be thermally coupled to the region of the patient'"'"'s skin and a second plate spaced from the first plate, and a controller for applying a current across the plates, b) thermally coupling the first plate to the region of the patient'"'"'s skin, c) measuring the current required to maintain the temperature of the first plate at a setpoint temperature, and d) using the current measurement to provide an indication of the perfusion capacity. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification