Microwave Monitoring of Heart Function
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of antennas, which are configured to be disposed at different, respective locations on a thorax of a living body so as to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from different, respective directions toward a heart in the body and to output RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from the heart; and
processing circuitry, which is configured to process the RF signals over time so as to provide a multi-dimensional measurement of a movement of the heart.
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Abstract
Diagnostic apparatus includes a plurality of antennas, which are configured to be disposed at different, respective locations on a thorax of a living body so as to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from different, respective directions toward a heart in the body and to output RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from the heart. Processing circuitry is configured to process the RF signals over time so as to provide a multi-dimensional measurement of a movement of the heart.
148 Citations
59 Claims
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1. Diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of antennas, which are configured to be disposed at different, respective locations on a thorax of a living body so as to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from different, respective directions toward a heart in the body and to output RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from the heart; and processing circuitry, which is configured to process the RF signals over time so as to provide a multi-dimensional measurement of a movement of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna, which is configured to be disposed on a thorax of a living body so as to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves toward a heart in the body while sweeping the waves over multiple different frequencies and to output an ultra-wideband RF signal responsively to the waves that are scattered from the heart; and processing circuitry, which is configured to process the RF signal over time so as to provide a measurement of a movement of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. Diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
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one or more antennas, which are configured to be disposed on a thorax of a living body so as to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves through a lung in the body and to output RF signals responsively to the waves that have passed through the lung; and processing circuitry, which is configured to process the RF signals over time so as to measure RF path characteristic of the RF electromagnetic waves and, based on the path characteristic, to assess a fluid content of the lung. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna unit, which has a front surface configured to be brought into contact with an outer surface of a living body and which comprises; a planar antenna element, which is configured to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from the front surface into the body and to output RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from within the body; and a conductive element, which is configured to receive electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from the outer surface of the body; a cable, which is connected to the antenna unit so as to communicate with the planar antenna element and the conductive element; and processing circuitry, which is connected to the cable so as to receive and process the RF and ECG signals. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Diagnostic apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna unit, which has a front surface configured to be brought into contact with an outer surface of a living body and which comprises; a planar antenna element, which is formed on the front surface and is configured to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves into the body and to output RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from within the body; a ground plane behind the front surface; and an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure between the ground plane and the front surface; and processing circuitry, which is coupled to the antenna unit so as to receive and process the RF signals. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. Therapeutic apparatus, comprising:
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at least one pacing electrode, configured to apply a pacing signal to a heart in a living body; one or more antennas, which are configured to be disposed on a thorax of the body so as to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves toward the heart and to output RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from the heart; and processing circuitry, which is configured to process the RF signals over time so as to measure a movement of the heart and to drive the at least one pacing electrode so as to pace the heart responsively to the measured movement.
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37. A method for diagnosis, comprising:
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directing radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from a plurality of antennas, which are disposed at different, respective locations on a thorax of a living body, toward a heart in the body from different, respective directions, and outputting RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from the heart; and processing the RF signals over time so as to provide a multi-dimensional measurement of a movement of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for diagnosis, comprising:
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directing radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from an antenna, which is disposed on a thorax of a living body, toward a heart in the body while sweeping the waves over multiple different frequencies, and outputting an ultra-wideband RF signal responsively to the waves that are scattered from the heart; and processing the RF signal over time so as to provide a measurement of a movement of the heart.
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48. A method for diagnosis, comprising:
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directing radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from one or more antennas disposed on a thorax of a living body so that the waves pass through a lung in the body, and outputting RF signals responsively to the waves that have passed through the lung; and processing the RF signals over time so as to measure a RF path characteristic of the RF electromagnetic waves and, based on the path characteristic, to assess a fluid content of the lung. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for diagnosis, comprising:
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bringing a front surface of an antenna unit into contact with an outer surface of a living body, the antenna unit comprising; a planar antenna element; and a conductive element, which is configured to receive electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from the outer surface of the body; driving the planar antenna element to direct radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves from the front surface into the body and to output RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from within the body; and receiving and processing both the RF and the ECG signals from the antenna unit. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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59. A therapeutic method, comprising:
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directing radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves toward a heart in a living body from one or more antennas disposed on a thorax of the body, and outputting RF signals responsively to the waves that are scattered from the heart; processing the RF signals over time so as to measure a movement of the heart; and pacing the heart responsively to the measured movement.
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Specification