Methods for obtaining quick, repeatable and non-invasive bioelectrical signals in living organisms

• US 7,536,220 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prolung Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Biomeridian International, Inc.
• Inventors: Dietz, Phillip, Swift, Harold E., Horne, Douglas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOEKSTRA, JEFFREY GERBEN
• Application Number:
  US11/944,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547, 600/548
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4854 Diagnosis based on concepts of traditional oriental medicine

Abstract

The present invention is a method for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient that corresponds to a meridian. The present method contemplates locating a dermal area of a patient proximate a meridian. One embodiment of the present invention comprises locating a dermal area by iteratively measuring and comparing the conductivity of a patient'"'"'s skin until a significant level of conductance is indicated. A probe may then be placed in contact with the dermal area, and actuated to obtain an electrical signal therefrom. The probe tip may be specially designed to apply an appropriate amount of pressure to the dermal area to directly sense a meridian, and configured to avoid erroneous measurements resulting from misalignment of the probe or probe tip.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient at the patient'"'"'s skin, said method comprising:

locating a probe in contact with the patient'"'"'s skin for measuring an electrical signal of a dermal area, wherein the probe comprises a distally disposed isolation hood and a probe tip configured to independently slide through the isolation hood;

contacting, with the isolation hood of said probe, the first dermal area;

actuating a motor and feedback loop to apply pressure to the probe tip independent of the pressure on the isolation hood against the skin; and

measuring, at the skin, an electrical attribute corresponding to the applied pressure of the probe tip against the dermal area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein locating a probe for measuring an electrical signal of a dermal area further comprises providing a point locator for indicating a dermal location having a substantially greater electrical signal values than a surrounding dermal area, said point locator configured to produce audible signals indicating said dermal location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said probe further comprises:

a biasing element operably connected to said probe tip to control at least one of the following;

a) the rate that pressure is applied to said probe tip, and

b) the amount of pressure applied to said probe tip.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is controlled via a feedback loop to provide a feedback signal containing information with respect to said electrical signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said probe tip further comprises:

a convex conductive base; and

an abrasive bristly matrix coupled to a surface area of said convex conductive base, wherein a plurality of bristles of said abrasive bristly matrix simultaneously contact said dermal area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said applying pressure to said probe further comprises:

stabilizing said probe against said dermal area;

iteratively measuring a electrical signal value of said dermal area as said pressure increases

iteratively comparing a present electrical signal value of said dermal area corresponding to a present amount of pressure to a previous electrical signal value corresponding to a previous amount of pressure; and

;

changing said future amount of pressure when said present electrical signal value is substantially different than said previous electrical signal value.

7. A method for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient at the patient'"'"'s skin, said method comprising:

locating a probe in contact with the patient'"'"'s skin for measuring an electrical signal of a first dermal area exhibiting higher conductivity than adjacent dermal areas, wherein the probe comprises a distally disposed isolation hood and a probe tip configured to independently slide through the isolation hood;

contacting, with the isolation hood of said probe, the first dermal area;

actuating a motor and feedback loop to apply pressure to the probe tip independent of the pressure on the isolation hood against the skin; and

measuring, at the skin, an electrical attribute corresponding to the applied pressure of the probe tip against said first dermal area.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein locating a probe for measuring an electrical signal of a first dermal area further comprises providing a point locator for indicating a dermal location having a substantially greater electrical signal values than a surrounding dermal area, said point locator configured to produce audible signals indicating said dermal location.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said probe further comprises:

a biasing element operably connected to said probe tip to control at least one of the following;

a) the rate that pressure is applied to said probe tip, and

b) the amount of pressure applied to said probe tip.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the biasing element is controlled via a feedback loop to provide a feedback signal containing information with respect to said electrical signal.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said probe tip further comprises:

a convex conductive base; and

an abrasive bristly matrix coupled to a surface area of said convex conductive base, wherein a plurality of bristles of said abrasive bristly matrix simultaneously contact said first dermal area.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said applying pressure to said probe further comprises:

stabilizing said probe against said first dermal area;

iteratively measuring a electrical signal value of said first dermal area as said pressure increases;

iteratively comparing a present electrical signal value of said first dermal area corresponding to a present amount of pressure to a previous electrical signal value corresponding to a previous amount of pressure; and

;

changing said future amount of pressure when said present electrical signal value is substantially different than said previous electrical signal value.