Impedance measurements of bodily matter
First Claim
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1. A method for generating an impedance spectrum which is characteristic of a sample of human or non-human bodily matter, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying a first electrical signal to a first sample of bodily matter at each of a plurality of frequencies in a first frequency range including a resonant frequency;
measuring an impedance quantity at each of the plurality of frequencies in the first frequency range whereby to generate an impedance spectrum of the first sample;
applying a second electrical signal to a second sample of bodily matter at each of a plurality of frequencies in a second frequency range including a resonant frequency;
measuring an impedance quantity at each of the plurality of frequencies in the second frequency range whereby to generate an impedance spectrum of the second sample;
comparing the impedance spectrum of the first sample and the impedance spectrum of the second sample; and
deducing the relative characteristics of the first and second sample of bodily matter.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for generating an impedance spectrum which is characteristic of a sample of bodily matter in a resonant circuit and which may be used to analyse the sample.
140 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for generating an impedance spectrum which is characteristic of a sample of human or non-human bodily matter, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying a first electrical signal to a first sample of bodily matter at each of a plurality of frequencies in a first frequency range including a resonant frequency;
measuring an impedance quantity at each of the plurality of frequencies in the first frequency range whereby to generate an impedance spectrum of the first sample;
applying a second electrical signal to a second sample of bodily matter at each of a plurality of frequencies in a second frequency range including a resonant frequency;
measuring an impedance quantity at each of the plurality of frequencies in the second frequency range whereby to generate an impedance spectrum of the second sample;
comparing the impedance spectrum of the first sample and the impedance spectrum of the second sample; and
deducing the relative characteristics of the first and second sample of bodily matter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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9. A method as claimed in claimed 1 wherein the first sample is a normal sample of bodily matter and the second sample is an abnormal sample of bodily matter.
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17. An apparatus for generating an impedance spectrum which is characteristic of a sample of human or non-human bodily matter, said apparatus comprising:
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electrical signal applying means adapted to apply a time varying electrical signal to the sample of bodily matter at each of a plurality of frequencies in a frequency range including a resonant frequency, wherein the electrical signal applying means includes a means for varying the frequency of the electrical signal to apply the electrical signal at a plurality of frequencies in a range including the resonant frequency; and
measuring means for measuring an impedance quantity characteristic of the sample of bodily matter at each of the plurality of frequencies in the frequency range whereby to generate the impedance spectrum, wherein the means for varying the frequency of the electrical signal comprises at least one inductor or at least one quartz crystal resonator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for generating an impedance spectrum which is characteristic of a sample of human or non-human bodily matter, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying an electrical signal to the sample of bodily matter at each of a plurality of frequencies in a frequency range including a resonant frequency; and
measuring an impedance quantity at each of the plurality of frequencies in the frequency range whereby to generate the impedance spectrum, wherein said impedance quantity is the dissipation factor.
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28. A method for generating an impedance spectrum which is characteristic of a sample of human or non-human bodily matter, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying an electrical signal to the sample of bodily matter at each of a plurality of frequencies in a frequency range including a resonant frequency; and
measuring an impedance quantity at each of the plurality of frequencies in the frequency range whereby to generate the impedance spectrum, wherein the measurement of the impedance quantity is a time to frequency domain transformation of the time varying electrical signal.
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Specification