Non-invasive monitoring of physiological parameters

• US 6,577,897 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nimeda Limited
• Original Assignee: Nimeda Limited
• Inventors: Shurubura, Alex, Kosoburd, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/719,851
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547, 600/26, 600/391, 600/300, 600/544, 600/545, 600/347, 600/368, 600/372, 607/152, 204/403.04, 204/403.11, 204/403.14, 204/412, 205/777.5, 205/792, 340/539, 340/575, 340/576, 340/693.5
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor

Abstract

A non-invasive diagnostic physiological monitoring system for mammals, particularly humans is disclosed. The system includes: at least two surface contact electrodes; means for holding the electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a mammal; means for pairing the electrodes; an electronic block coupled to at least one of the pairings wherein the block includes a transmitter for transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to a first pair of electrodes in the pairing, a and detector for detecting electrical impedance characteristics on the first pair of electrodes or on a second pair of electrodes in the pairing; and a signal processor coupled to the detector wherein the electrical impedance characteristics are divided into at least two groups by frequency.

Claims

1. A non-invasive diagnostic physiological monitoring system for mammals, and adapted for humans, comprising:

(a) one pair of surface contact electrodes;

(b) an application member for holding said electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a mammal, wherein said electrodes are embedded therein;

(c) means for pairing said electrodes;

(d) an electronic block coupled to said pair of electrodes wherein said block includes a transmitter for transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to said pair of electrodes, and a detector for detecting electrical impedance characteristics on said pair of electrodes; and

(e) a signal processor coupled to the detector;

wherein

said electrical impedance characteristics are divided into at least two groups by frequency, and

a first one of the groups is for frequency components of the characteristics of less than about 0.01 Hz.

2. A non-invasive diagnostic physiological monitoring system for mammals, and adapted for humans, comprising:

(a) one pair of surface contact electrodes;

(b) an application member for holding said electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a mammal, wherein said electrodes are embedded therein;

(c) means for pairing said electrodes;

(d) an electronic block coupled to said pair of electrodes wherein said block includes a transmitter for transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to said pair of electrodes, and a detector for detecting electrical impedance characteristics on said pair of electrodes; and

(e) a signal processor coupled to the detector;

wherein

said electrical impedance characteristics are divided into at least two groups by frequency, and

one of the groups is for frequency components of the characteristics of from about 0.01 Hz to about 0.4 Hz.

3. A method for disclosing the appearance of microtrombes in the blood of a mammal, comprising:

(a) placing and holding one pair of surface contact electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a mammal, said electrodes being embedded in an application member;

(b) transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to said pair of electrodes;

(c) detecting electrical impedance characteristics on said pair of electrodes;

(d) signal processing said characteristics into at least two groups by frequency;

(e) monitoring for a signal signature event in a predetermined group of said at least two groups; and

(f) disclosing the presence of said signal signature event, as a discerned physiological indication in the mammal; and

wherein the signal signature event being monitored for is an increasing of the base value, and the predetermined group is of frequency components less than about 0.01 Hz.

4. A method for disclosing in a diabetic mammal, either an increase in the sugar level in blood of the mammal or the appearance of carbohydrate metabolism disorder byproducts in blood of the mammal;

the method comprising;

(a) placing and holding one pair of surface contact electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a diabetic mammal, said electrodes being embedded in an application member;

(b) transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to said pair of electrodes;

(c) detecting electrical impedance characteristics on said pair of electrodes;

(d) signal processing said characteristics into at least two groups by frequency;

(e) monitoring for a signal signature event in a predetermined group of said at least two groups; and

(f) disclosing the presence of said signal signature event, as a discerned physiological indication in the diabetic mammal; and

wherein the signal signature event being monitored for is an increasing of the base value, and the predetermined group is of frequency components less than about 0.01 Hz.

5. A method for disclosing a physiological indication in a mammal, during decompression, indicating the appearance of gas bubbles in blood of the mammal, the method comprising:

(a) placing and holding one pair of surface contact electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a mammal, said electrodes being embedded in an application member;

(b) transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to said pair of electrodes;

(c) detecting electrical impedance characteristics on said pair of electrodes;

(d) signal processing said characteristics into at least two groups by frequency;

(e) monitoring for a signal signature event in a predetermined group of said at least two groups; and

(f) disclosing the presence of said signal signature event, as a discerned physiological indication in the mammal, and

wherein the signal signature event being monitored for is an increase in amplitude and an increase in frequency, and the predetermined group is of frequency components from about 0.01 Hz to about 0.4 Hz.

6. A method for disclosing a physiological indication in a diabetic mammal, said physiological indication being either an increase in the sugar level in blood of the mammal or the appearance of carbohydrate metabolism disorder byproducts in blood of the mammal;

the method comprising;

(a) placing and holding one pair of surface contact electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a diabetic mammal, said electrodes being embedded in an application member;

(b) transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to said pair of electrodes;

(c) detecting electrical impedance characteristics on said pair of electrodes;

(d) signal processing said characteristics into at least two groups by frequency;

(e) monitoring for a signal signature event in a predetermined group of said at least two groups; and

(f) disclosing the presence of said signal signature event, as a discerned physiological indication in the diabetic mammal; and

wherein the signal signature event being monitored for is a an increasing of the base value, and the predetermined group is of frequency components from about 0.01 Hz to about 0.4 Hz.

7. A method for disclosing decreased elasticity in blood vessels of a mammal, comprising:

(a) placing and holding one pair of surface contact electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a mammal, said electrodes being embedded in an application member;

(b) transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to said pair of electrodes;

(c) detecting electrical impedance characteristics on said pair of electrodes;

(d) signal processing said characteristics into at least two groups by frequency;

(e) monitoring for a signal signature event in a predetermined group of said at least two groups; and

(f) disclosing the presence of said signal signature event, as a discerned physiological indication in the mammal, and

wherein the signal signature event being monitored for is a reduced slope in the leading edge of a measured impedance wave, and the predetermined group is of frequency components from about 0.4 Hz to about 5.0 Hz.

8. A method for disclosing a transmission of microtrombes or of gas bubbles in a blood vessel of a mammal comprising:

(a) placing and holding one pair of surface contact electrodes in contact with an exterior surface of a mammal, said electrodes being embedded in an application member;

(b) transmitting a predetermined electrical signal to said pair of electrodes;

(c) detecting electrical impedance characteristics on said pair of electrodes;

(d) signal processing said characteristics into at least two groups by frequency;

(e) monitoring for a signal signature event in a predetermined group of said at least two groups; and

(f) disclosing the presence of said signal signature event, as a discerned physiological indication in the mammal; and

wherein the signal signature event being monitored for is an increase in the distribution of high frequency components along a trailing edge of a measured impedance wave, and the predetermined group is of frequency components from about 0.4 Hz to about 5.0 Hz.