Method and device for detecting functional and metabolic data of a living organism

• US 7,096,126 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texmed GmbH
• Original Assignee: Texmed AG
• Inventors: Geutebrueck, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Washburn, Douglas N
• Application Number:
  US10/474,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 702/22, 702/32, 600/554
• US Class Current: 702/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1468 using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means A61B5/1486 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and method for detecting functional data of a living organism and for controlling the corporeal values of the living organism in a pain-free and simple manner as often as required. The influences of existing natural and artificial electric, electrochemical and electromagnetic fields are determined. Electrodes are used alternately as sensors and as actuators, and the electrodes detect and transmit values to a downstream data detection unit.

Claims

1. A method for detecting corporeal functional and metabolic data of a person by detecting in the person a substance which influences at least one of natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields in the person, comprising:

applying electrodes to the person;

activating the electrodes alternatingly as sensors and as actuators;

detecting signals resulting from said activating of the electrodes;

said signals representing changes of a physical parameter of said natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields;

registering and storing the detected signals;

inputting the stored signals into data processing equipment;

processing the stored signals in the data processing equipment thereby to measure said substance;

wherein said physical parameter is strength of said field.

7. Method according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3–

5, wherein said selecting, registering and storing is carried out continuously.

8. Method according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3–

5, wherein said selecting, registering and storing is carried out discontinuously.

9. Method according to one of the claims 1, 2 or 3–

5, wherein the electrodes are applied to predetermined skin areas of the person and affect said areas partially.

10. Method according to one of the claims 1, 2 or 3–

5, wherein the electrodes are applied to predetermined skin areas of the person and affect said areas globally.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the detecting is in the form of points.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein the detecting is in the form of a line.

13. Method according to claim 10, wherein the detecting is in the form of an area.

2. A method for detecting corporeal functional and metabolic data of a person by detecting in the person a substance which influences at least one of natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields in the person, comprising:

applying electrodes to the person;

activating the electrodes alternatingly as sensors and as actuators;

detecting signals resulting from said activating of the electrodes;

said signals representing changes of a physical parameter of said natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields;

registering and storing the detected signals;

inputting the stored signals into data processing equipment;

processing the stored signals in the data processing equipment thereby to measure said substance;

wherein said physical parameter is density of field.

14. Method according to claim 2, wherein said physical parameter is a potential difference.

15. Method according to claim 2 wherein said physical parameter is amperage.

16. Method according to claim 2 wherein said physical parameter is voltage.

17. Method according to any one of claim 2, 14, 15 or 16, further comprising charting the detected signals.

3. A method for detecting corporeal functional and metabolic data of a person by detecting in the person a substance which influences at least one of natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields in the person, comprising:

applying electrodes to the person;

activating the electrodes alternatingly as sensors and as actuators;

detecting signals resulting from said activating of the electrodes;

said signals representing chances of a physical parameter of said natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields;

registering and storing the detected signals;

inputting the stored signals into data processing equipment;

processing the stored signals in the data processing equipment thereby to measure said substance;

comprising detecting parallel reflected signals and classifying said reflected signals as being attributable to body temperature of the person.

4. A method for detecting corporeal functional and metabolic data of a person by detecting in the person a substance which influences at least one of natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields in the person, comprising:

applying electrodes to the person;

activating the electrodes alternatingly as sensors and as actuators;

detecting signals resulting from said activating of the electrodes;

said signals representing changes of a physical parameter of said natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields;

registering and storing the detected signals;

inputting the stored signals into data processing equipment;

processing the stored signals in the data processing equipment thereby to measure said substance;

comprising detecting parallel reflected signals and classifying said reflected signals as being attributable to skin resistance of the person.

5. A method for detecting corporeal functional and metabolic data of a person by detecting in the person a substance which influences at least one of natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields in the person, comprising:

applying electrodes to the person;

activating the electrodes alternatingly as sensors and as actuators;

detecting signals resulting from said activating of the electrodes;

said signals representing changes of a physical parameter of said natural and artificial electric, electrochemical, and electromagnetic fields;

registering and storing the detected signals;

inputting the stored signals into data processing equipment;

processing the stored signals in the data processing equipment thereby to measure said substance;

comprising detecting parallel reflected signals and classifying said reflected signals as being attributable to gas exchange through the skin of the person per time unit.

18. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises lactate.

19. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises alcohol.

20. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises cholesterin.

21. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises stearin.

22. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises protein.

23. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises a drug.

24. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises blood lipids.

25. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises glucose.

26. Method according to claim 5, wherein the substance comprises blood sugar.

6. An apparatus for detecting in a person a substance which influences at least one of natural and artificial electric, electrochemical and electromagnetic fields comprising:

electrodes for application to the person and capable of alternatingly functioning as sensors and as actuators;

an analog switch connected to the electrodes;

connected to the switch an operational amplifier stage comprising an impedance converter amplifier;

an analog-digital converter connected to the amplifier stage;

a digital signal processor connected to the amplifier stage and to the analog-digital converter; and

connected to the processor a computer system stage for processing of thus normalized and digitalized signals;

means for wireless transmission of the field strength, field density, or parallel reflected signals which comprises an optical communication interface.

27. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein individual components are arranged separately.

28. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the electrodes are arranged in groups.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the groups comprise a matrix.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein at least part of the apparatus is implantable in the person.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the amplifier stage is adapted to physical properties of the electrodes.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the analog-digital converter together with the digital signal processor is scalable according to the number of primary contacts to be used.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the computer system stage is scalable.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising a generator connected to the electrodes through the switch for enabling each electrode to function alternatingly as a sensor or an actuator.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising a display connected to the computer system stage.

36. Apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a storage unit integrated with the computer system stage.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the amplifier stage further comprises a filter connected to the preamplifier for elimination of interferences.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the filter is multistage.