US3980075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric physiological measuring apparatus
Assignee: AUDRONICS Inc
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Filing: 1974-09-27
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Granted: 1976-09-14
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Expires: 1994-09-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is disclosed which comprises a photoelectric probe for introducing light pulses into a measurement area and for producing a measurement signal representative of the light as modulated in the measurement area, such modulation including modulations characteristic of the circulatory system blood volume variations of the area. Demodulation circuitry is disclosed which demodulates the meaningful from the non-meaningful data of the measurement signal, and utilization devices responsive to various characteristics of the meaningful data are disclosed, which utilization devices include a pulse wave meter, pulse amplitude meter, pulse rate meter, and tissue perfusion meter.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Heule
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6814; A61B5/02; A61B5/024; A61B5/02416
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of physiological data obtainable from monitoring blood flow in the circulatory ststem comprising: a. a pulsating light source adapted to be placed in non-invasive adjacent relationship to at least a portion of said circulatory system; b. light receiving means for receiving light signals from said light source after reflection from said circulatory system, and for generating electrical signals representative of said received light signals; c. a demodulating circuit means, connected to said light receiving means, for demodulating said electrical signals to amplitude modulate said pulsating light representations, and having an output terminal for transmitting said demodulating signals; d. circuit means, connected to said output terminal, for providing at least one of the electrical functions: i. averaging over a predetermined time interval, ii. detecting peak signal magnitudes, and iii. passing signals over a predetermined frequency band; and e. display means, connected to said circuit means, for providing a visual display of said electrical functions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of physiological data obtainable from monitoring blood flow in the circulatory ststem comprising: a. a pulsating light source adapted to be placed in non-invasive adjacent relationship to at least a portion of said circulatory system; b. light receiving means for receiving light signals from said light source after reflection from said circulatory system, and for generating electrical signals representative of said received light signals; c. a demodulating circuit means, connected to said light receiving means, for demodulating said electrical signals to amplitude modulate said pulsating light representations, and having an output terminal for transmitting said demodulating signals; d. circuit means, connected to said output terminal, for providing at least one of the electrical functions: i. averaging over a predetermined time interval, ii. detecting peak signal magnitudes, and iii. passing signals over a predetermined frequency band; and e. display means, connected to said circuit means, for providing a visual display of said electrical functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a common housing wherein said pulsating light source and said light receiving means are mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pulsating light source further comprises a plurality of light emitting elements mounted in a symmetrical relationship about said light receiving means in said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pulsating light source further comprises three light-emitting diodes and said light receiving means further comprises a photocell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said circuit means providing the electrical function of averaging over a predetermined time further comprises an integrating circuit means having the capability of averaging over at least 50 seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said circuit means for providing the electrical function of passing signals over a predetermined frequency band further comprises a band pass filter circuit means for passing signals in the frequency range 3.75 - 6.75 Hz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said circuit means for providing the electrical function of detecting peak signal magnitude further comprises a trigger circuit adjustable for detecting signal magnitudes representative of heart beats.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a pulse amplitude circuit, connected to said output terminal, said pulse amplitude circuit having an integrating means for storing a voltage representative of said demodulated signals peak amplitudes; and display means for providing a visual display of the value of said stored voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a means for selectively discharging said integrating means, said discharging means comprising a timing circuit activated by said circuit means for detecting peak signal magnitude.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said timing circuit activation interval is predetermined and fixed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said integrating means is discharged by said discharging means at a rate corresponding to the heartbeat rate.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of physiological data obtainable from monitoring blood flow in the circulatory system, comprising: a. a housing including a pulsating light source adapted to be placed in non-invasive relationship and adjacent to at least a portion of the circulatory system; b. a light receiving means, located in said housing in fixed relationship to said pulsating light source, for receiving light signals reflected from said circulatory system portion, and for generating electrical signals representative of said received light signals; c. demodulating circuit means, connected to said light receiving means, for developing an envelope signal tracking said electrical signals' peak amplitudes; d. an averaging circuit connected to said demodulating circuit means, said averaging circuit having means for developing a voltage representative of said envelope signal average value over a time period of at least about 50 seconds; and e. an indicator connected to said averaging circuit, said indicator having a visual display means for displaying said average voltage signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of physiological data obtainable from monitoring blood flow in the circulatory system, comprising: a. a housing including a pulsating light source adapted to be placed in non-invasive relationship and adjacent to at least a portion of the circulatory system; b. a light receiving means, located in said housing in fixed relationship to said pulsating light source, for receiving light signals reflected from said circulatory system portion, and for generating electrical signals representative of said received light signals; c. demodulating circuit means, connected to said light receiving means, for developing an envelope signal tracking said electrical signals' peak amplitudes; d. an averaging circuit connected to said demodulating circuit means, said averaging circuit having means for developing a voltage representative of said envelope signal average value over a time period of at least about 50 seconds; and e. an indicator connected to said averaging circuit, said indicator having a visual display means for displaying said average voltage signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said pulsating light source further comprises a plurality of light emitting elements mounted in a symmetrical relationship about said light receiving means in said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said pulsating light source further comprises three light-emitting diodes and said light receiving means further comprises a photocell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said pulsating light source frequency of pulsation is about 1000 Hz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said pulsating light source has a duty cycle of about 10%, and a light wavelength of about 9000 A.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said averaging circuit further comprises an integrating capacitor circuit having a discharge time constant of about 50 seconds and a charge time constant of about 1 second.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said indicator further comprises a voltage meter of the D'Arsonval type.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of physiological data obtainable from monitoring blood flow in the circulatory system, comprising: a. a housing including a pulsating light source adapted to be placed in non-invasive relationship and adjacent to at least a portion of the circulatory system; b. a light receiving means, located in said housing in fixed relationship to said pulsating light source, for receiving light signals reflected from said circulatory system portion, and for generating electrical signals representative of said received light signals; c. demodulating circuit means, connected to said light receiving means, for developing an envelope signal tracking said electrical signals' peak amplitudes; d. a band pass circuit connected to said demodulating circuit means, said band pass circuit having means for passing signals in the frequency range 3.75 - 6.75 Hz; and e. an indicator connected to said band pass circuit, said indicator having a visual display means for displaying signals passed.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of physiological data obtainable from monitoring blood flow in the circulatory system, comprising: a. a housing including a pulsating light source adapted to be placed in non-invasive relationship and adjacent to at least a portion of the circulatory system; b. a light receiving means, located in said housing in fixed relationship to said pulsating light source, for receiving light signals reflected from said circulatory system portion, and for generating electrical signals representative of said received light signals; c. demodulating circuit means, connected to said light receiving means, for developing an envelope signal tracking said electrical signals' peak amplitudes; d. a band pass circuit connected to said demodulating circuit means, said band pass circuit having means for passing signals in the frequency range 3.75 - 6.75 Hz; and e. an indicator connected to said band pass circuit, said indicator having a visual display means for displaying signals passed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said pulsating light source further comprises a plurality of light emitting elements mounted in a symmetrical relationship about said light receiving means in said housing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said pulsating light source further comprises three light-emitting diodes and said light receiving means further comprises a photocell.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said pulsating light source frequency of pulsation is about 1000 Hz.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said pulsating light source has a duty cycle of about 10%, and a light wavelength of about 9000 A.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of physiological data obtainable from monitoring blood flow in the circulatory system, comprising: a. a housing including a pulsating light source adapted to be placed in non-invasive relationship and adjacent to at least a portion of the circulatory system; b. a light receiving means, located in fixed relationship to said pulsating light source, for receiving light signals reflected from said circulatory system portion, and for generating electrical signals representative of said received light signals; c. demodulating circuit means, connected to said light receiving means for developing an envelope signal tracking said electrical signals' peak amplitudes; d. an amplitude indicating circuit connected to said demodulating circuit means, said amplitude indicating circuit having means for developing a voltage representative of the average value of said envelope signals' peak amplitudes; e. an indicator connected to said amplitude indicating circuit, said indicator having a visual display means for displaying said developed voltage signal.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of physiological data obtainable from monitoring blood flow in the circulatory system, comprising: a. a housing including a pulsating light source adapted to be placed in non-invasive relationship and adjacent to at least a portion of the circulatory system; b. a light receiving means, located in fixed relationship to said pulsating light source, for receiving light signals reflected from said circulatory system portion, and for generating electrical signals representative of said received light signals; c. demodulating circuit means, connected to said light receiving means for developing an envelope signal tracking said electrical signals' peak amplitudes; d. an amplitude indicating circuit connected to said demodulating circuit means, said amplitude indicating circuit having means for developing a voltage representative of the average value of said envelope signals' peak amplitudes; e. an indicator connected to said amplitude indicating circuit, said indicator having a visual display means for displaying said developed voltage signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a peak detector circuit connected to said demodulating circuit means and to said amplitude indicating circuit, said peak detector circuit having means for detecting peak envelope signal voltages and for disabling said amplitude indicating circuit for a predetermined time interval after each peak voltage detection.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said pulsating light source further comprises a plurality of light emitting elements mounted in a symmetrical relationship about said light receiving means in said housing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said pulsating light source further comprises three light-emitting diodes and said light receiving means further comprises a photocell.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said pulsating light source frequency of pulsation is about 1000 Hz.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said pulsating light source has a duty cycle of about 10%, and a light wavelength of about 9000 A.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-14 | 1980-03-15 | 1980-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-14 | 1984-03-15 | 1984-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-14 | 1988-03-15 | 1988-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |