Active electrode, bio-impedance based, tissue discrimination system and methods of use
First Claim
1. A method of discriminating a location of nerve tissue within a subject, comprising:
- placing a waveform electrode array on skin of the subject, wherein each electrode in the waveform electrode array has an area of no more than approximately 10 mm2;
placing a return electrode on skin of the subject at a position on the skin removed from the waveform electrode array at a linear inter-electrode separation distance that falls within a tail region of an impedance v. distance curve for the subject;
applying a signal serially to each of the electrodes in the waveform electrode array and the return electrode;
measuring a change in a characteristic of the signal resulting from transmission through tissue between each electrode in the waveform array and the return electrode; and
discriminating a location of nerve tissue located beneath the waveform electrode array by processing the measured change in the characteristics of the signal to identify anisotropic features in underlying tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for discriminating and locating tissues within a body involve applying a waveform signal to tissue between two electrodes and measuring the electrical characteristics of the signal transmitted through the tissue. At least one of the electrodes is constrained in area so that localized electrical characteristics of the tissue are measured. Such localized electrical characteristics are determined over a portion of a body of the subject by using an array of electrodes or electrodes that can be moved over the body. A controller may implement the process and perform calculations on the measured data to identify tissue types and locations within the measured area, and to present results in graphical form. Results may be combined with other tissue imaging technologies and with image-guided systems.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of discriminating a location of nerve tissue within a subject, comprising:
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placing a waveform electrode array on skin of the subject, wherein each electrode in the waveform electrode array has an area of no more than approximately 10 mm2; placing a return electrode on skin of the subject at a position on the skin removed from the waveform electrode array at a linear inter-electrode separation distance that falls within a tail region of an impedance v. distance curve for the subject; applying a signal serially to each of the electrodes in the waveform electrode array and the return electrode; measuring a change in a characteristic of the signal resulting from transmission through tissue between each electrode in the waveform array and the return electrode; and discriminating a location of nerve tissue located beneath the waveform electrode array by processing the measured change in the characteristics of the signal to identify anisotropic features in underlying tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification