Apparatus, method and computer program for measuring properties of an object
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring properties of a moving object in a patient, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- one or more antennas configured to send electromagnetic waves to the moving object and which receive Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves reflected from the moving object; and
a movement determination unit configured to determine movement information correlated to a movement of the object based on the Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves, wherein the one or more antennas comprise an electrically conductive element configured to detect an electrical signal having a frequency which differs from a frequency of the electromagnetic waves sent by the antenna and the Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves received from the moving object, wherein the one or more antennas are configured to function as an electrode to measure a second property of the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus measures properties of an object such as a heart in a patient (2). The apparatus includes an antenna (3, 4) for sending and/or receiving electromagnetic waves to and/or from the object (2) for measuring a property of the object. The antenna (3, 4) includes an electrically conductive element for functioning as an electrode for measuring a further property of the object. The electromagnetic waves are reflected by the object, causing a Doppler shift. The apparatus uses this shift to provide mechanical information about the object and uses the electrode to provide electrical information about the object, such as an electrocardiogram.
14 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring properties of a moving object in a patient, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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one or more antennas configured to send electromagnetic waves to the moving object and which receive Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves reflected from the moving object; and a movement determination unit configured to determine movement information correlated to a movement of the object based on the Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves, wherein the one or more antennas comprise an electrically conductive element configured to detect an electrical signal having a frequency which differs from a frequency of the electromagnetic waves sent by the antenna and the Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves received from the moving object, wherein the one or more antennas are configured to function as an electrode to measure a second property of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for measuring properties of a moving object in a patient comprising:
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sending electromagnetic waves to the moving object with an antenna comprising an electrically conductive element configured for connection to the patient, the moving object reflecting the electromagnetic waves causing a Doppler shift in the reflected electromagnetic waves; receiving the Doppler shifted, reflected electromagnetic waves with the conductive element of the antenna; analyzing the Doppler shifted, reflected electromagnetic waves to determine movement information indicative of a movement of the moving object; with the electrically conductive element of the antenna, receiving from the object an electric signal having a frequency different from a frequency of the Doppler shifted, reflected electromagnetic waves; and determining a second property the object from the received electric signal. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An apparatus for measuring mechanical movement and an electrocardiogram of a heart in a patient comprising:
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a first antenna configured to be connected with the patient, to send electromagnetic waves toward the heart, to receive Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves reflected by a first surface of the heart, and to receive electrocardiogram signal; a second antenna configured to be connected with the patient, to send electromagnetic waves toward the heart, to receive Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves reflected by a second surface of the heart, and to receive electrocardiogram signals; a wave generating and processing unit comprising; a first transmitter electrically connected with the first antenna and configured to cause the first antenna to transmit the electromagnetic waves; a second transmitter electrically connected with the second antenna and configured to cause the second antenna to transmit the electromagnetic waves; a first signal processing unit electrically connected to the first antenna configured to receive the Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves and the first transmitter to receive the transmitted electromagnetic waves and configured to output a first Doppler shift signal; a second signal processing unit electrically connected to the second antenna configured to receive the Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves and the second transmitter to receive the transmitted electromagnetic waves and configured to output a second Doppler shift signal; and an electrocardiogram output circuit electrically connected to the first and second antennas and including a filter which separates the electrocardiogram signal from the Doppler shifted electromagnetic waves and is configured to output the electrocardiogram signal; and a movement determining unit which processes the electrocardiogram signal from the electrocardiogram output circuit and the first and second Doppler shift signals from the first and second signal processing units and which is configured to generate information about heart wall motion. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification