Monitoring system

• US 8,939,913 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ThermImage, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ThermImage, Inc.
• Inventors: Turnquist, Douglas G., Snow, Brent W., Eggers, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): EISEMAN, ADAM JARED
• Application Number:
  US12/713,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 600/549, 600/587, 600/595, 374/158, 374/163
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/201 Assessing renal or kidney functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 15/10 Parts, details or accessories A61G15/14 takes precedence; dental instruments A61C
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/025 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment

Abstract

A heating and monitoring system is described having a focused antenna to monitor temperature of internal tissue and or bodily fluids in a non-invasive way. The focused antenna is shielded to form and relatively small and manageable package that can be placed to monitor internal tissue and/or bodily fluids.

Claims

1. A detector comprising:

a first radiometer coupled to a first focused antenna configured to determine a temperature of a first portion of a targeted deep tissue structure;

a second radiometer coupled to a second focused antenna configured to determine a temperature of a second portion of the targeted deep tissue structure;

a holding mechanism adapted for holding the first and second focused antenna to a skin surface;

an output configured to couple the first and second radiometers to a computer; and

a shielding enclosure configured to isolate at least the first focused antenna and second focused antenna from ambient radiation and further configured to provide directionality to direct the first focused antennae to the first portion of the targeted deep tissue structure and the second focused antenna to the second portion of the targeted deep tissue structure.

2. The detector of claim 1, wherein the enclosure further comprises a shielding material.

3. The detector of claim 1;

wherein the targeted deep tissue structure comprises a kidney.

4. The detector of claim 3;

wherein the portion of a targeted deep tissue structure comprises urine in the kidney.

5. The detector of claim 4;

wherein the portion of a targeted deep tissue structure comprises urine in the bladder.

6. The detector of claim 5, wherein the condition comprises the temperature of urine in a bladder.

7. The detector of claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to be coupled to a chair during use.

8. The detector of claim 1, further comprising an analog to digital converter.

9. The detector of claim 1, wherein the targeted deep tissue structure comprises a targeted deep tissue organ.

10. The detector of claim 1, wherein the shielding enclosure is configured to at least reduce receipt of noise signals from a patient'"'"'s skin tissue.

11. The detector of claim 1, wherein the shielding enclosure is configured to at least reduce receipt of noise signals from deep tissue structures other than the targeted deep tissue structure.

12. The detector of claim 11, wherein the targeted deep tissue structure comprises a targeted deep tissue organ.

13. The detector of claim 1, wherein the shielding enclosure is part of a detachable fixture.

14. The detector of claim 13, wherein the shielding enclosure comprises an impedance matching element.

15. The detector of claim 14, wherein the impedance matching element comprises a conductive foam.

16. The detector of claim 13, wherein the detachable fixture comprises a disposable fixture.

17. The detector of claim 13, wherein the detachable fixture comprises a receptacle configured to receive the first focused antenna and the second focused antenna and to direct the first focused antenna and the second focused antenna towards the first and second portions of the targeted deep tissue structure once the detector has been coupled with the skin surface.

18. The detector of claim 1, wherein the first radiometer is further configured to sense the temperature of the first portion of the targeted deep tissue structure by taking a first measurement at a first electromagnetic frequency.

19. The detector of claim 18, wherein the second radiometer is configured to sense the temperature of the second portion of the targeted deep tissue structure by taking a second measurement at a second electromagnetic frequency.

20. The detector of claim 19, wherein the second electromagnetic frequency is distinct from the first electromagnetic frequency.