Impedance measurement process
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject, the apparatus including:
- a) a probe having a plurality of electrodes, the probe being configured to allow at least some of the electrodes to be in contact with a site defined by cervical tissue of the subject, the probe including;
i) a probe portion including the plurality of electrodes positioned at an end of the probe portion, the probe portion being shaped to conform to a shape of a vagina and cervix, said probe portion being insertable into the subject to provide for at least a portion of the electrodes to be contactable with cervical tissues; and
,ii) a handle portion, the probe portion being removably attached to the handle portion allowing the probe portion to be replaced, and the handle portion being configured for allowing the at least some of the electrodes to be positioned in contact with the site; and
,b) a signal generator for applying drive signals to the subject using drive electrodes;
c) a sensor for determining measured signals using measurement electrodes;
d) a switching device for selectively interconnecting the signal generator and the sensor to the electrodes; and
,e) a processing system configured to allow impedance measurements to be performed using different electrode configurations by selectively interconnecting the signal generator and the sensor to different electrodes using the switching device, the processing system being configured to;
i) determine at least one first impedance value, measured at a first contacted portion of cervical tissue using a first electrode configuration, the first electrode configuration using a first electrode and a second electrode as drive electrodes and using a third electrode and a fourth electrode as measurement electrodes;
ii) determine at least one second impedance value, measured at the first contacted portion of cervical tissue using a second electrode configuration, the second electrode configuration using the first electrode and the third electrode as drive electrodes and using the second electrode and the fourth electrode as measurement electrodes;
iii) determine a difference between the first and second impedance values; and
,iv) determine an indicator indicative of the presence, absence or degree of an anomaly using the determined difference.
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Abstract
Apparatus for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject, the apparatus including a probe having a plurality of electrodes, the probe being configured to allow at least some of the electrodes to be in contact with at least part of the subject and a processing system for, determining at least one first impedance value, measured at a site using a first electrode configuration, determining at least one second impedance value, measured at the site using a second electrode configuration and determining an indicator indicative of the presence, absence or degree of an anomaly using the first and second impedance values.
329 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject, the apparatus including:
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a) a probe having a plurality of electrodes, the probe being configured to allow at least some of the electrodes to be in contact with a site defined by cervical tissue of the subject, the probe including; i) a probe portion including the plurality of electrodes positioned at an end of the probe portion, the probe portion being shaped to conform to a shape of a vagina and cervix, said probe portion being insertable into the subject to provide for at least a portion of the electrodes to be contactable with cervical tissues; and
,ii) a handle portion, the probe portion being removably attached to the handle portion allowing the probe portion to be replaced, and the handle portion being configured for allowing the at least some of the electrodes to be positioned in contact with the site; and
,b) a signal generator for applying drive signals to the subject using drive electrodes; c) a sensor for determining measured signals using measurement electrodes; d) a switching device for selectively interconnecting the signal generator and the sensor to the electrodes; and
,e) a processing system configured to allow impedance measurements to be performed using different electrode configurations by selectively interconnecting the signal generator and the sensor to different electrodes using the switching device, the processing system being configured to; i) determine at least one first impedance value, measured at a first contacted portion of cervical tissue using a first electrode configuration, the first electrode configuration using a first electrode and a second electrode as drive electrodes and using a third electrode and a fourth electrode as measurement electrodes; ii) determine at least one second impedance value, measured at the first contacted portion of cervical tissue using a second electrode configuration, the second electrode configuration using the first electrode and the third electrode as drive electrodes and using the second electrode and the fourth electrode as measurement electrodes; iii) determine a difference between the first and second impedance values; and
,iv) determine an indicator indicative of the presence, absence or degree of an anomaly using the determined difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification