Volumetric physiological measuring system and method
First Claim
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1. A device for measuring the movement of a patient'"'"'s body part comprising:
- (a) first and second matched pairs of fixed coils;
(b) a patient coil configured to wrap elastically around the patient'"'"'s body part;
(c) a current source coupled to, and adapted to energize, either the matched pairs of fixed coils or the patient coil; and
(d) a volume sensing element comprising whichever of the matched pairs of fixed coils or the patient coil that is not coupled to the current source;
wherein the first and second matched pairs of fixed coils are arranged (i) to reduce a sum of magnetic noise signals from remote sources to zero when the current source is coupled to, and adapted to energize, the patient coil and the volume sensing element comprises the matched pairs of fixed coils and (ii) to generate a relatively homogeneous magnetic field in a spatial volume occupied by the patient'"'"'s body part and to reduce potential interference with other electronic instruments when the current source is coupled to, and adapted to energize, the matched pairs of fixed coils and the volume sensing element comprises the patient coil.
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Abstract
A system and method for measuring volumes and areas using electromagnetic induction techniques. A current is generated and fed into one of two coil assemblies to induce voltage into another coil assembly to provide accurate values for volume or area.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device for measuring the movement of a patient'"'"'s body part comprising:
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(a) first and second matched pairs of fixed coils; (b) a patient coil configured to wrap elastically around the patient'"'"'s body part; (c) a current source coupled to, and adapted to energize, either the matched pairs of fixed coils or the patient coil; and (d) a volume sensing element comprising whichever of the matched pairs of fixed coils or the patient coil that is not coupled to the current source; wherein the first and second matched pairs of fixed coils are arranged (i) to reduce a sum of magnetic noise signals from remote sources to zero when the current source is coupled to, and adapted to energize, the patient coil and the volume sensing element comprises the matched pairs of fixed coils and (ii) to generate a relatively homogeneous magnetic field in a spatial volume occupied by the patient'"'"'s body part and to reduce potential interference with other electronic instruments when the current source is coupled to, and adapted to energize, the matched pairs of fixed coils and the volume sensing element comprises the patient coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A device for measuring the movement of a patient'"'"'s body part comprising:
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(a) first and second matched pairs of fixed coils; (b) a patient coil configured to wrap elastically around the patient'"'"'s body part and be positioned in a spatial volume; (c) a current source coupled to, and adapted to energize, the patient coil; and (d) a volume sensing element comprising the matched pairs of fixed coils; wherein the first and second matched pairs of fixed coils are arranged (i) to reduce a sum of magnetic noise signals from remote sources to zero and (ii) such that they would generate a relatively homogeneous magnetic field in the spatial volume if the current source were coupled to, and adapted to energize, the matched pairs of fixed coils and if the volume sensing element comprised the patient coil. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for measuring the movement of a patient'"'"'s body part comprising:
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(a) first and second matched pairs of fixed coils; (b) a patient coil configured to wrap elastically around the patient'"'"'s body part and be positioned in a spatial volume; (c) a current source coupled to, and adapted to energize, the first and second matched pairs of fixed coils; and (d) a volume sensing element comprising the patient coil; wherein the first and second matched pairs of fixed coils are arranged (i) to generate a relatively homogeneous magnetic field in the spatial volume and (ii) to reduce potential interference with other electronic instruments. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of measuring the movement of a patient'"'"'s body part comprising:
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(a) arranging first and second matched pairs of fixed coils; (b) wrapping a patient coil around the patient'"'"'s body part; (c) positioning the patient coil and the patient'"'"'s body part in a spatial volume; (d) energizing the patient coil; (e) sensing a volume of the body part with the matched pairs of fixed coils; wherein the first and second matched pairs of fixed coils are arranged (i) to reduce a sum of magnetic noise signals from remote sources to zero and (ii) such that they would generate a relatively homogeneous magnetic field in the spatial volume if the current source were coupled to, and adapted to energize, the matched pairs of fixed coils and if the volume sensing element comprised the patient coil. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification