System for detecting fluid changes and sensoring devices therefor
First Claim
1. A sensor device for detecting a change in the level of fluid within tissue of a body, the sensor device comprising:
- a housing having a plurality of bridge segments, the bridge segments connecting at intersections and being arranged to circumscribe an opening defined by the housing; and
a plurality of antenna elements at least partially seated within the housing at intersections of the bridge segments, each of the plurality of antenna elements comprising a generally planar antenna mounted to a substrate material at a base of the planar antenna, an outer surface of the planar antenna facing away from the substrate, each of the plurality of antenna elements further comprising an electrical shield surrounding the substrate,wherein the each of the plurality of antenna elements comprises at least a first antenna element pair and a second antenna element pair, the first antenna element pair comprising a first transmitting antenna element, a first receiving antenna element, and a first bridging segment, the second antenna element pair comprising a second transmitting antenna element, a second receiving antenna element and a second bridging segment,wherein a first high sensitivity zone is formed between the first transmitting antenna element and the first receiving antenna element and a second high sensitivity zone is formed between the second transmitting antenna element and the second receiving antenna elementwherein the first antenna element pair and the second antenna element pair are spaced from each other to create an area of reduced sensitivity between the first high sensitivity zone and the second high sensitivity zone,wherein the space between the first antenna element pair and the second antenna element pair is set so that the sensor is insensitive to fluid changes of a predetermined volume within the area of reduced sensitivity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor device for detecting a change fluid level within body tissue comprising a housing with bridge segments connecting at intersections arranged to circumscribe an opening. Further, antenna elements are partially seated within the housing at intersections of bridge segments, comprise a generally planar antenna mounted to a substrate material at a base of the planar antenna, and an electrical shield surrounding the substrate. Also, an outer surface of the planar antenna faces away from the substrate. The antenna elements comprise at least first and second antenna element pairs having transmitting and receiving antenna elements and a bridging segment. A high sensitivity zone is formed between the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna. The antenna element pairs are spaced to create an area of reduced sensitivity between the high sensitivity zones, and the space is set so that the sensor is insensitive to fluid changes of a predetermined volume.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sensor device for detecting a change in the level of fluid within tissue of a body, the sensor device comprising:
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a housing having a plurality of bridge segments, the bridge segments connecting at intersections and being arranged to circumscribe an opening defined by the housing; and a plurality of antenna elements at least partially seated within the housing at intersections of the bridge segments, each of the plurality of antenna elements comprising a generally planar antenna mounted to a substrate material at a base of the planar antenna, an outer surface of the planar antenna facing away from the substrate, each of the plurality of antenna elements further comprising an electrical shield surrounding the substrate, wherein the each of the plurality of antenna elements comprises at least a first antenna element pair and a second antenna element pair, the first antenna element pair comprising a first transmitting antenna element, a first receiving antenna element, and a first bridging segment, the second antenna element pair comprising a second transmitting antenna element, a second receiving antenna element and a second bridging segment, wherein a first high sensitivity zone is formed between the first transmitting antenna element and the first receiving antenna element and a second high sensitivity zone is formed between the second transmitting antenna element and the second receiving antenna element wherein the first antenna element pair and the second antenna element pair are spaced from each other to create an area of reduced sensitivity between the first high sensitivity zone and the second high sensitivity zone, wherein the space between the first antenna element pair and the second antenna element pair is set so that the sensor is insensitive to fluid changes of a predetermined volume within the area of reduced sensitivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A sensor for detecting a change in the level of fluid within tissue of a body, comprising:
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a first antenna pair comprising a first transmitting antenna element and a first receiving antenna element, the first transmitting antenna element being spaced from and connected to the first receiving antenna element by a first bridging segment; and at least a second antenna pair comprising a second transmitting antenna element and a second receiving antenna element, the second transmitting antenna element being spaced from and connected to the second receiving antenna element by a second bridging segment, the first antenna pair and the second antenna pair being placed in spaced connection by a first spacing segment and a second spacing segment so that an open area is defined by the first antenna pair, the second antenna pair, the first spacing segment and the second spacing segment, wherein the first spacing segment connects a housing section of the first transmitting antenna element to a housing section of the second transmitting antenna element and the second spacing segment connects a housing section of the first receiving antenna element to a housing section of the second receiving antenna element, wherein the first spacing segment and the second spacing segment space the first antenna pair and the second antenna pair to create an area of reduced sensitivity between a first high sensitivity zone and a second high sensitivity zone, wherein the space between the first antenna pair and the second antenna pair is set so that the sensor is insensitive to fluid changes of a predetermined volume within the area of reduced sensitivity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification