Coil system and method for obtaining volumetric physiological measurements
First Claim
1. Apparatus for measuring volume, the apparatus comprising:
- a substrate having a length, and a top and a bottom separated by a width, wherein the substrate is configured to extend, along the length of the substrate, around a portion of a subject;
a first conductor fastened to the substrate and extending only once along the length of the substrate, the first conductor occupying a first portion of the width of the substrate corresponding to a first portion of the subject, wherein the first conductor has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is electrically coupled to a first electrical lead that exits the substrate, the first conductor configured to provide via the first electrical lead a signal representative of a volume corresponding to the first portion of the subject; and
a second conductor fastened to the substrate and providing for the first conductor a return electrical path along the length of the substrate in a direction opposite to the first conductor, the second conductor extending only once along the length of the substrate and occupying a second portion of the width of the substrate, wherein the second conductor has a first end and a second end, the first end is electrically coupled to the second end of the first conductor, and the second end of the second conductor is electrically coupled to a second electrical lead that exits the substrate, the second conductor configured to generate a noise signal having an opposite polarity to a noise signal generated by the first conductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coil device is provided having a member adapted to extend around and conform to an outer surface of a subject and a conductor adapted to extend only once around a first portion of the subject. The coil device cats be positioned about the subject in order to measure a volume of the subject. When placed about the subject in the presence of a relatively homogeneous magnetic field, the conductor can generate a signal indicative of a volume of the first portion of the subject. The coil device may also include two or more conductors separately generating signals indicating volumes of two or more corresponding portions of the subject. In sonic cases the coil device includes associated authorization data that can limit use of the coil device. Systems and methods incorporating the coil device are also provided.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for measuring volume, the apparatus comprising:
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a substrate having a length, and a top and a bottom separated by a width, wherein the substrate is configured to extend, along the length of the substrate, around a portion of a subject; a first conductor fastened to the substrate and extending only once along the length of the substrate, the first conductor occupying a first portion of the width of the substrate corresponding to a first portion of the subject, wherein the first conductor has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is electrically coupled to a first electrical lead that exits the substrate, the first conductor configured to provide via the first electrical lead a signal representative of a volume corresponding to the first portion of the subject; and a second conductor fastened to the substrate and providing for the first conductor a return electrical path along the length of the substrate in a direction opposite to the first conductor, the second conductor extending only once along the length of the substrate and occupying a second portion of the width of the substrate, wherein the second conductor has a first end and a second end, the first end is electrically coupled to the second end of the first conductor, and the second end of the second conductor is electrically coupled to a second electrical lead that exits the substrate, the second conductor configured to generate a noise signal having an opposite polarity to a noise signal generated by the first conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification