Coil system and method for obtaining volumetric physiological measurements
First Claim
1. A system for measuring volume, the system comprising:
- an electromagnet configured to produce a magnetic field;
a single winding of a conductor configured to cover a portion of a subject for which a volumetric measurement is desired, the conductor, having a plurality of angled segments, configured to wrap around the subject only once in a first direction and extending non-linearly along a width generally perpendicular to the first direction, wherein upon placement of the conductor in the magnetic field the conductor is configured to produce a signal representing an average cross-sectional area, averaged over the width of the conductor, of the portion of the subject, wherein the plurality of angled segments have at least one of varying lengths and varying angles such that the width of the conductor varies along a length of the conductor; and
a control system configured to determine a volume of the portion of the subject based on the signal produced by the conductor, wherein a strength of a correlation between the signal and the volume of the portion of the subject depends on a number of and configuration of the angled segments, wherein the signal is proportional to the volume of the portion by a proportionality constant determined based on the width of the conductor corresponding to a distance between a first edge of the conductor and a second edge of the conductor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coil device is provided having a member adapted to extend around and conform to an outer surface of a subject and a conductor adapted to extend only once around a first portion of the subject. The coil device can be positioned about the subject in order to measure a volume of the subject. When placed about the subject in the presence of a relatively homogeneous magnetic field, the conductor can generate a signal indicative of a volume of the first portion of the subject. The coil device may also include two or more conductors separately generating signals indicating volumes of two or more corresponding portions of the subject. In some cases the coil device includes associated authorization data that can limit use of the coil device. Systems and methods incorporating the coil device are also provided.
36 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for measuring volume, the system comprising:
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an electromagnet configured to produce a magnetic field; a single winding of a conductor configured to cover a portion of a subject for which a volumetric measurement is desired, the conductor, having a plurality of angled segments, configured to wrap around the subject only once in a first direction and extending non-linearly along a width generally perpendicular to the first direction, wherein upon placement of the conductor in the magnetic field the conductor is configured to produce a signal representing an average cross-sectional area, averaged over the width of the conductor, of the portion of the subject, wherein the plurality of angled segments have at least one of varying lengths and varying angles such that the width of the conductor varies along a length of the conductor; and a control system configured to determine a volume of the portion of the subject based on the signal produced by the conductor, wherein a strength of a correlation between the signal and the volume of the portion of the subject depends on a number of and configuration of the angled segments, wherein the signal is proportional to the volume of the portion by a proportionality constant determined based on the width of the conductor corresponding to a distance between a first edge of the conductor and a second edge of the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification