Zero-crossing receiver for orthopedic parameter sensing
First Claim
1. A sensor comprising:
- a non gaseous energy propagating structure, where the energy propagating structure does not include living tissue; and
a zero crossing receiver, where the receiver is configured to detect transition states of energy waves directly propagating through the energy propagating structure in response to a parameter of a muscular-skeletal system.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor system uses positive closed-loop feedback to provide energy waves into a medium. It comprises a transducer (604), a propagating structure (602), and a transducer (606). A parameter is applied to the propagating structure that affects the medium. A sensor is coupled to a propagation tuned oscillator (416) that forms a positive closed-loop feedback path. The propagation tuned oscillator (416) includes a zero-crossing receiver (200) that generates a pulse upon sensing a transition of an energy wave from the propagating structure (602). The zero-crossing receiver (200) is in the feedback path that maintains the emission of energy waves into the propagating structure (602). The zero-crossing receiver (200) comprises a preamplifier (206), a filter (208), an offset adjustment circuit (210), a comparator (212) and a pulse circuit (218). The transit time, phase, or frequency is measured of the propagating energy waves and correlated to the parameter being measured.
42 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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a non gaseous energy propagating structure, where the energy propagating structure does not include living tissue; and a zero crossing receiver, where the receiver is configured to detect transition states of energy waves directly propagating through the energy propagating structure in response to a parameter of a muscular-skeletal system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of propagating energy waves into a non gaseous energy propagating structure, where the energy propagating structure does not include living tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing energy waves in the energy propagating structure at a first location; sensing each energy wave after directly propagating to a second location; and maintaining positive closed-loop feedback with a zero-crossing receiver where an energy wave is provided at the first location after a transition of an energy wave at the second location is detected. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for measuring a parameter comprising:
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a sensor coupled to a zero-crossing receiver where the sensor comprises; a first transducer for emitting an ultrasonic energy wave; a non gaseous energy propagating structure, where the energy propagating structure does not include living tissue, where the first transducer is coupled to the energy propagating structure at a first location; and a second transducer for receiving a directly propagated ultrasonic energy wave where the second transducer is coupled to the energy propagating structure at a second location, where the second transducer converts the propagated energy wave to a corresponding electrical wave having an equal frequency or repetition rate; and the zero-crossing receiver comprising; a preamplifier coupled to receive the energy wave; a filter operatively coupled to the preamplifier to reduce noise in the receiver; an offset adjustment operatively coupled to the filter to offset the energy wave; a comparator operatively coupled to the offset adjustment; and a pulsecircuit operatively coupled to the comparator where the comparator triggers the pulse circuit when a trigger level is detected and where the pulse circuit outputs a pulse in response to the comparator detecting the trigger level. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification