Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
In a method of dialysis of a patient in which there is an established selected electrical characteristic having a normal magnitude indicative of a normal body fluid condition and which electrical characteristic changes in response to dialysis, the steps comprising: attaching a first pair of electrodes to the patient, attaching a second pair of electrodes to the patient, supplying an electrical signal to said first pair of electrodes, operating on said electrical signal via said second pair of electrodes to provide an indication of the measured magnitude of the selected electrical characteristic of the patient, performing dialysis on the patient, monitoring the change in magnitude of the selected electrical characteristic as a result of dialysis on the patient and comparing the change in magnitude of the selected electrical characteristic as measured on the patient with said normal magnitude whereby an indication of the effectiveness of the dialysis can be determined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a method of dialysis of a patient in which there is an established selected electrical characteristic having a normal magnitude indicative of a normal body fluid condition and which electrical characteristic changes in response to dialysis, the steps comprising: attaching a first pair of electrodes to the patient, attaching a second pair of electrodes to the patient, supplying an electrical signal to said first pair of electrodes, operating on said electrical signal via said second pair of electrodes to provide an indication of the measured magnitude of the selected electrical characteristic of the patient, performing dialysis on the patient, monitoring the change in magnitude of the selected electrical characteristic as a result of dialysis on the patient and comparing the change in magnitude of the selected electrical characteristic as measured on the patient with said normal magnitude whereby an indication of the effectiveness of the dialysis can be determined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said selected electrical characteristic is the electrical impedance of the patient between selected ones of said electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said electrical characteristic includes resistance and capacitive reactance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said electrical signal is generated from a constant current source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said characteristic includes the transfer impedance of the electrode network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said transfer impedance is the ratio of the voltage between the second pair of electrodes to the current between the first pair of electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said characteristic is the phase angle of the impedance of the patient between selected ones of said electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said electrical signal is generated from a constant current source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical signal is an alternating current signal of a preselected frequency and wherein said characteristic is the capacitive reactance of the patient between selected ones of said electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said electrical signal is generated from a constant current source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said preselected frequency is less than 50 megahertz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 with said dialysis being terminated upon said measured magnitude attaining a preselected relationship to said normal magnitude.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 12 with one of said first pair of electrodes being placed on the metacarpal-phalangeal region and the other placed over the metatarsal-phalangeal region and with said second pair of electrodes being located proximate the associated wrist and ankle of said regions.