Heart monitoring system or other system for measuring magnetic fields

• US 8,591,427 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zuckerman, Lawrence H., Maida, Michael X., Monticelli, Dennis M., Wieser, James B., Ramdani, Jamal, Mawson, Paul, Ibourk, Moulay Mohamed
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAHMOOD, NADIA AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US12/927,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20110152703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 600/508, 600/518
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/243 specially adapted for magnetocardiographic [MCG] signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7239 using differentiation including higher order derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots

Abstract

A system includes at least one first magnetic field sensor configured to measure first and second magnetic fields. The system also includes at least one second magnetic field sensor configured to measure the second magnetic field substantially without measuring the first magnetic field. The system further includes processing circuitry configured to perform signal cancellation to generate measurements of the first magnetic field and to generate an output based on the measurements of the first magnetic field. The sensors could represent magneto-electric sensors. The magneto-electric sensors could be configured to up-convert electrical signals associated with the first and/or second magnetic fields to a higher frequency. The processing circuitry could be configured to identify one or more problems associated with a patient'"'"'s heart.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one first magnetic field sensor configured to measure first and second magnetic fields;

at least one second magnetic field sensor configured to measure the second magnetic field substantially without measuring the first magnetic field;

wherein the first and second magnetic field sensors comprise magneto-electric sensors, each magneto-electric sensor comprising alternating layers of magnetostrictive material and piezo-electric material;

wherein each magneto-electric sensor further comprises;

a magnet configured to sensitize the sensor;

an electromagnet configured to at least partially desensitize the sensor;

wherein the electromagnet in each magneto-electric configured sensor is configured to receive a carrier signal;

the at least one first magnetic field sensor is configured such that the carrier signal modulates the biasing magnetic field thereby emulating an up-converting heterodyne mixer, wherein the low frequency magnetic field signal is outputted from the sensor as coherent sidebands near the carrier frequency;

the at least one second magnetic field sensor is configured such that the carrier signal modulates the biasing magnetic field thereby emulating an up-converting heterodyne mixer, wherein the low frequency magnetic field signal is outputted from the sensor as coherent sidebands near the carrier frequency;

thereby repeatedly sensitizing and at least substantially desensitizing the at least one first and second magnetic field sensors; and

processing circuitry configured to perform signal cancellation to generate measurements of the first magnetic field and to generate an output based on the measurements of the first magnetic field.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second magnetic field sensors comprise one of:

magneto-resistive sensors, magneto-electric sensors, giant magnetic tunneling junctions, spin-valve sensors, cesium vapor sensors, flux gate sensors, optically-pumped sensors, and micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system comprises multiple channels, each channel comprising one or more first magnetic field sensors; and

the system comprises a single second magnetic field sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

generate a waveform associated with a patient'"'"'s heart;

identify T-waves in the waveform; and

determine whether a difference between average amplitudes of alternating beat T-waves exceeds a threshold.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the processing circuitry is configured to generate and process a waveform associated with a patient'"'"'s heart; and

the system further comprises a triggering unit configured to synchronize at least one of the processing circuitry and a display device with heartbeats of the patient.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a signal cancellation unit configured to;

receive signals from at least one first magnetic field sensor configured to measure first and second magnetic fields;

receive signals from at least one second magnetic field sensor configured to measure the second magnetic field substantially without measuring the first magnetic field; and

wherein the first and second magnetic field sensors comprise magneto-electric sensors, each magneto-electric sensor comprising alternating layers of magnetostrictive material and piezo-electric material;

wherein each magneto-electric sensor further comprises;

a magnet configured to sensitize the sensor;

an electromagnet configured to at least partially desensitize the sensor;

wherein the electromagnet in each magneto-electric configured sensor is configured to receive a carrier signal;

the at least one first magnetic field sensor is configured such that the carrier signal modulates the biasing magnetic field thereby emulating an up-converting heterodyne mixer, wherein the low frequency magnetic field signal is outputted from the sensor as coherent sidebands near the carrier frequency;

the at least one second magnetic field sensor is configured such that the carrier signal modulates the biasing magnetic field thereby emulating an up-converting heterodyne mixer, wherein the low frequency magnetic field signal is outputted from the sensor as coherent sidebands near the carrier frequency;

thereby repeatedly sensitizing and at least substantially desensitizing the at least one first and second magnetic field sensors;

the at least one first and second magnetic field sensors configured to perform signal cancellation to generate measurements of the first magnetic field; and

processing circuitry configured to generate an output based on the measurements of the first magnetic field.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the signal cancellation unit comprises a difference amplifier or a difference preamplifier.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the apparatus comprises multiple channels, each channel configured to receive signals from one or more first magnetic field sensors; and

the apparatus is configured to receive signals from a single second magnetic field sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

generate a waveform associated with a patient'"'"'s heart;

identify T-waves in the waveform; and

determine whether a difference between average amplitudes of alternating beat T-waves exceeds a threshold.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the processing circuitry is configured to generate and process a waveform associated with a patient'"'"'s heart; and

the apparatus is further comprises to receive a trigger signal and synchronize with heartbeats of the patient.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a carrier signal source configured to generate a carrier signal for electromagnets in the magnetic field sensors that operate to up-convert signals of interest in outputs of the magnetic field sensors.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the carrier signal source is configured to generate the carrier signal at a resonance frequency of the magnetic field sensors.

13. A method comprising:

receiving signals identifying first and second magnetic fields from at least one first magnetic field sensor;

receiving signals identifying the second magnetic field but substantially not the first magnetic field from at least one second magnetic field sensor;

performing signal cancellation to generate measurements of the first magnetic field; and

generating an output based on the measurements of the first magnetic field.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the output comprises:

generating a waveform associated with a patient'"'"'s heart;

identifying T-waves in the waveform; and

determining whether a difference between average amplitudes of alternating beat T-waves exceeds a threshold.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the output comprises coherent sidebands associated with the first magnetic field around a frequency of the drive signal; and

the method further comprises performing down-conversion using the drive signal or an inverted version of the drive signal.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

operating each of the first and second magnetic field sensors at its resonance frequency.