Volumetric physiological measuring system and method
First Claim
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1. A device for measuring the changing area within at least one portion of a mammal due to cardiac function, comprising:
- a. conductive coil means configured tightly about the various circumferences of at least one portion of the mammal;
b. fixed coil means remotely located relative to the conductive coil means about the mammal; and
, c. current generating means for selectively providing constant alternating current to either one of the conductive coil means or the fixed coil means to create an induced voltage in the other coil means representative of true area within the coil means that is configured tightly about the various circumferences of the mammal portion or portions, within the signals and area changing over time due to the cardiac function of the mammal, said constant current substantially increasing the accuracy of said measurement system.
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Abstract
A system and method for measuring volumes and areas using electromagnetic induction techniques. A current is generated and fed into one of two coil assemblies to induce voltage into another coil assembly to provide accurate values for volume or area.
30 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A device for measuring the changing area within at least one portion of a mammal due to cardiac function, comprising:
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a. conductive coil means configured tightly about the various circumferences of at least one portion of the mammal;
b. fixed coil means remotely located relative to the conductive coil means about the mammal; and
,c. current generating means for selectively providing constant alternating current to either one of the conductive coil means or the fixed coil means to create an induced voltage in the other coil means representative of true area within the coil means that is configured tightly about the various circumferences of the mammal portion or portions, within the signals and area changing over time due to the cardiac function of the mammal, said constant current substantially increasing the accuracy of said measurement system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device for measuring the movement of an object, comprising:
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a. means for creating time-varying magnetic fields at least large enough to surround the object, wherein the conductive coil means are electrically connected in series so that the instantaneous volume V may be calculated from the voltage reading U of the volume output signal in the coil means which is receiving the induced voltage by use of the formula
V=U·
d·
kcwherein d is the spacing between the coils;
and kc=ac/Uc;
wherein ac is the area of a reference coil, and Uc is the voltage reading of the volume signal when a calibration coil is attached;
b. electrical circuits adapted to conform to the surface of the object; and
c. voltage monitoring means connected to the electrical circuits, whereby motion of the surface creates a measurable change in induced voltage in the circuits that correlates to the movement of the object, wherein the voltage monitoring means is connected to a computing means suitable for performing a series of algorithmic steps to calculate the volume change of the object from the measured induced voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A device for measuring the changing area within at least one portion of a mammal due to cardiac function, comprising:
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a. conductive coil means configured tightly about the various circumferences of at least one portion of the mammal, wherein the conductive coil means comprises electrically conductive coil loops that are equally spaced on a flexible substrate that is suitable for wearing by the mammal, and further wherein said conductive coil loops being connected in series so that a single voltage is measured, whereby measurement system complexity is substantially reduced;
b. fixed coil means remotely located relative to the conductive coil means about the mammal; and
,c. current generating means for selectively providing alternating current to either one of the conductive coil means or the fixed coil means to create an induced voltage in the other coil means representative of true area within the coil means that is configured tightly about the various circumferences of the mammal portion or portions, with the signals and area changing over time due to the cardiac function of the mammal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A device for measuring the changing area within at least one portion of a mammal due to cardiac function, comprising:
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a. conductive coil means configured tightly about the various circumferences of at least one portion of the mammal, wherein the conductive coil means comprises electrically conductive coil loops that are equally spaced on a flexible substrate that is suitable for wearing by the mammal, wherein the conductive coil means are electrically connected in series so that the area A may be calculated from the measured voltage U of a single coil loop which is receiving the induced voltage by use of the formula
A=U·
kwherein kc=ac/Uc; and
wherein ac is the area of a reference coil, and Uc is the voltage reading of the volume signal when a calibration coil is attached;
b. fixed coil means remotely located relative to the conductive coil means about the mammal; and
,c. current generating means for selectively providing alternating current to either one of the conductive coil means or the fixed coil means to create an induced voltage in the other coil means representative of true area within the coil means that is configured tightly about the various circumferences of the mammal portion or portions, with the signals and area changing over time due to the cardiac function of the mammal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A device for measuring the changing area within at least one portion of a mammal due to cardiac function, comprising:
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a. conductive coil means configured tightly about the various circumferences of at least one portion of the mammal, wherein the conductive coil means are electrically connected in series so that the instantaneous volume V may be calculated from the voltage reading U of the volume output signal in the coil means which is receiving the induced voltage by use of the formula
V=U·
d·
kcwherein d is the spacing between the coils;
and kc=ac/Uc;
wherein ac is the area of a reference coil, and Uc is the voltage reading of the volume signal when a calibration coil is attached;
b. fixed coil means remotely located relative to the conductive coil means about the mammal; and
c. current generating means for selectively providing alternating current to either one of the conductive coil means or the fixed coil means to create an induced voltage in the other coil means representative of true area within the coil means that is configured tightly about the various circumferences of the mammal portion or portions, with the signals and area changing over time due to the cardiac function of the mammal.
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47. A device for measuring the changing area within at least one portion of a mammal due to cardiac function, comprising:
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a. conductive coil means configured tightly about the various circumferences of at least one portion of the mammal, wherein the conductive coil means comprises electrically conductive coil loops that are equally spaced on a flexible substrate that is suitable for wearing by the mammal, wherein the conductive coil means are electrically connected in series so that the area A may be calculated from the measured voltage U of a single coil loop which is receiving the induced voltage by use of the formula
A=U·
kwherein kc=ac/Uc; and
wherein ac is the area of a reference coil, and Uc is the voltage reading of the volume signal when a calibration coil is attached;
b. fixed coil means remotely located relative to the conductive coil means about the mammal; and
c. current generating means for selectively providing constant alternating current to either one of the conductive coil means or the fixed coil means to create an induced voltage in the other coil means representative of true area within the coil means that is configured tightly about the various circumferences of the mammal portion or portions, with the signals and area changing over time due to the cardiac function of the mammal, said constant current substantially increasing the accuracy of said measurement system.
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Specification