Method and composition for probing the body through the skin

• US 7,142,904 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Magstim Group, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electrical Geodesics, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Luu, Phan, Tucker, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, TU BA
• Application Number:
  US10/369,489
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 600/365, 600391-393, 600396-397, 600407-414, 600/453, 600/425, 600/473, 600/310, 600/392, 600/342, 600/365.1, 604/20, 607152-153, 156/242, 264/28, 264/101, 264/154, 424/78.2, 424/78.06, 424/487, 524/90, 524/505, 736/33, 128/660.1, 356/342
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4509 Bone density determination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4272 involving the acoustic interface between the transducer and the tissue

Abstract

A method and composition for probing the body through the skin. In one embodiment of the invention, the method includes providing a medium for interfacing with the skin, applying the medium to the skin at a selected location, and coupling at least two of (a) an electric signal, (b) an acoustic signal, and (c) an optical signal through the skin and through the medium at the selected location.

Claims

1. A method for probing interior portions of a body through the skin, comprising applying a coupling medium to the skin, and coupling, through said medium, (a) an electrical signal, and at least one of (b) an optical signal and (c) an acoustic signal in which case said medium has an acoustic impedance of 1.5+/−

0.15 kg/s-m².

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of coupling couples said signals to the body substantially contemporaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said medium comprises a hydrogel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said hydrogel is thermoresponsive.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said hydrogel has an acoustic impedance of about 1.5+/−

0.15 kg/s-m², and a refractive index of about 1.5+/−

0.15.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said hydrogel has a minimum conductivity of about 1.0 (ohm-meter)⁻

1.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said hydrogel has a minimum conductivity of about 1.0 (ohm-meter)⁻

1 and a refractive index of about 1.5+/1 0.15.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein said hydrogel has a minimum conductivity of about 1.0 (ohm-meter)⁻

1 and an acoustic impedance of about 1.5+/−

0.15 kg/s-m².

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said hydrogel has a refractive index of about 1.5+/−

0.15.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein said hydrogel has a refractive index of about 1.5+/−

0.15.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of coupling couples said signals to the body substantially contemporaneously.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising coupling through said medium, through the skin, at least (a) and (b).

13. The method of claim 11, comprising coupling through said medium, through the skin, at least (a) and (c).

14. The method of claim 2, comprising coupling through said medium, through the skin, at least (a) and (b).

15. The method of claim 2, comprising coupling through said medium, through the skin, at least (a) and (c).

16. The method of claim 1, comprising coupling through said medium, through the skin, at least (a) and (b).

17. The method of claim 1, comprising coupling through said medium, through the skin, at least (a) and (c).

18. A composition for probing interior portions of a body through the skin, comprising a hydrogel having a minimum conductivity of about 1.0 (ohm-meter)⁻

1 and a refractive index of about 1.5+/−

0.15.

19. The composition of claim 18, wherein said hydrogel has an acoustic impedance of about 1.5+/−

0.15 kg/s-m².

20. The composition of claim 18, wherein said hydrogel is thermoresponsive.

21. The composition of claim 19, wherein said hydrogel is thermoresponsive.

22. A composition for probing interior portions of a body through the skin, comprising a hydrogel having a minimum conductivity of about 1.0 (ohm-meter)⁻

1 and an acoustic impedance of 1.5+/−

0.15 kg/s-m².

23. The composition of claim 22, wherein said hydrogel is thermoresponsive.