Sensors for monitoring movements, apparatus and systems therefore, and methods for manufacturing and use
First Claim
1. A sensor for monitoring bodily functions comprising:
- at least one sensor having attachment units adapted to be attached to external body skin at two separate locations for providing indications of skin deformation between the two locations,wherein the sensor comprises a coil having an input excitation winding and an output pick up winding wound concentrically one on top of the other and a magnetic core positioned within the coil by a loose mechanical coupling, wherein the core and coil are movable with respect to each other in a generally linear direction to follow deformations of the skin to provide indications in the form of sensor inductive reactance changes as function of the skin deformations, and wherein the mass of the sensor and the loose mechanical coupling between the coil and core are such as to insignificantly interfere with the deformation of the skin to be attached between the attachments.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sensors, apparatus, and methods for measuring movements are disclosed. The sensors include input and output windings wound about a common location and an armature is equally positioned relative to both windings movable to vary inductance reactance of the sensor. The mass of the sensor and the ease of movements are such that flexible membranes, such as skin, can be monitored with insignificant interference. The sensor can be included in “Band-aid” bandage arrangement in which the bandage backing can be removed and held in place on skin by the bandage. A monitoring circuit, responsive to the changes in sensor impedance, provides indications of the detected movements. The monitoring circuit includes an arrangement for self-adjusting parameters so that the system can be automatically preset and continually reset. The monitoring circuit includes a power savings arrangement.
41 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A sensor for monitoring bodily functions comprising:
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at least one sensor having attachment units adapted to be attached to external body skin at two separate locations for providing indications of skin deformation between the two locations, wherein the sensor comprises a coil having an input excitation winding and an output pick up winding wound concentrically one on top of the other and a magnetic core positioned within the coil by a loose mechanical coupling, wherein the core and coil are movable with respect to each other in a generally linear direction to follow deformations of the skin to provide indications in the form of sensor inductive reactance changes as function of the skin deformations, and wherein the mass of the sensor and the loose mechanical coupling between the coil and core are such as to insignificantly interfere with the deformation of the skin to be attached between the attachments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for use in monitoring internal physiological changes of a body based upon deformations of body skin comprising:
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a sensor including a coil having an input winding and an output winding and a magnetic core extending into the coil, wherein changes in inductive reactance are exhibited by the sensor output winding that are a function of the relative dispositions between the core into the coil, the coil and core being adapted to be attached to body skin at separate points, and a monitoring circuit coupled to the sensor input and output windings for applying electrical pulses to the input winding, and wherein the mass of the sensor is such as to insignificantly interfere with the deformation of the skin to be attached between the separate points, wherein the output winding provides a decaying signal in response to the electrical pulses applied to the input winding and the monitoring circuit analyzes the decaying signal at times between pulses for indications of changes of deformation of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification