US4328809A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Device and method for detecting the potential level of the electromagnetic field of a living organism
Assignee: BIOCHRON Corp A CORP OF
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Filing: 1979-06-26
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Granted: 1982-05-11
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Expires: 1999-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A device and method for detecting the potential level of the electromagnetic field present between a reference point and a test point of a living organism is disclosed. A reference electrode provides a first signal indicative of the potential level of the electromagnetic field at the reference point. A test electrode provides a second signal indicative of the potential level of the electromagnetic field at the test point. More than one test electrode and corresponding second signals can be employed. An analog-to-digital converter responsive to the first and second signals generates a digital signal as a function of the potential difference between the first and second signals. A processor provides an output signal indicative of a parameter or parameters of the living organism as a function of the digital signal. In addition, a low pass filter can be provided ahead of the analog-to-digital converter for filtering out undesired charges and alternating current signals from the first and second signals. The analog-to-digital converter can sample the potential difference between the first and second signals at a desired rate, and the processor can generate the output signal as a function of the digital signal and a stored program. The output signal can provide a diagnostic and predictive function, for example, of the presence or absence of atypical cellular growth, ovarian events, cancer, neurological activity, vitality of seeds, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry H. Hirschowitz
- 👤 Kwok-Leung Li
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/2415; A61B5/30; G; G01; G01K; G01K11/00; G01K11/006; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0209; A61B2562/0215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for measuring the condition of a living organism as a function of the electrical potential of an electromagnetic field present in said living organism between a reference location and a test location of said living organism, said apparatus comprising: reference electrode means and test electrode means electrically contactable with the surface of a living organism at relatively spaced apart locations for detecting the electrical potential of the electromagnetic field of said organism between said test location and said reference location; analog-to-digital converter means coupled to said reference and test electrode means for generating a digital signal as a function of the electrical potential detected by said electrode means; and processing means coupled to said analog-to-digital converter means for generating an output signal as a function of said digital signal said processing means output signal being a measure of the condition of said living organism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for measuring the condition of a living organism as a function of the electrical potential of an electromagnetic field present in said living organism between a reference location and a test location of said living organism, said apparatus comprising: reference electrode means and test electrode means electrically contactable with the surface of a living organism at relatively spaced apart locations for detecting the electrical potential of the electromagnetic field of said organism between said test location and said reference location; analog-to-digital converter means coupled to said reference and test electrode means for generating a digital signal as a function of the electrical potential detected by said electrode means; and processing means coupled to said analog-to-digital converter means for generating an output signal as a function of said digital signal said processing means output signal being a measure of the condition of said living organism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic field comprises a varying DC voltage signal, and said apparatus further comprises filter means interposed between said reference and test electrode means and said analog-to-digital converter means for removing undesirable AC components superimposed on said varying DC signal prior to said DC voltage signal being operated on in said analog-to-digital converter means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said reference and test electrodes comprises: an outer layer consisting essentially of concentrated NaCl electrically contactable with said living organism; an adjacent inner layer consisting essentially of AgCl in electrical contact with said NaCl layer; a next adjacent inner layer consisting essentially of Ag in electrical contact with said AgCl layer; and an electrical lead electrically contacting said Ag layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said reference and test electrodes comprises: an outer layer consisting essentially of concentrated NaCl electrically contactable with said living organism; an adjacent inner layer consisting essentially of AgCl in electrical contact with NaCl layer; a next adjacent inner layer consisting essentially of Ag in electrical contact with said AgCl layer; and an electrical lead electrically contacting said AG layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said outer layer is composed of a polymer of NaCl.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said outer layer is composed of a colloid of NaCl.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said reference and test electrodes is composed of materials which substantially inhibit production of a battery effect between the electrode and the living organism with which said electrode is in electrical contact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said reference and test electrodes is composed of materials which substantially inhibit production of a battery effect between the electrode and the living organism with which said electrode is in electrical contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said analog-to-digital converter means exhibits an effective input impedance of greater than 8 megohms and less than 1,000 megohms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising low pass filter means for filtering output signals from said electrode means and for supplying said filtered signals to said analog-to-digital converter means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said low pass filter means has a substantially 3 dB cutoff frequency of greater than or equal to about 100 hertz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digital-to-analog converter includes means for sampling the potential levels detected by said electrode means and for generating a digital signal corresponding to each sampled level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said digital signal is in binary-coded-decimal format.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means comprises a programmed digital signal processing means having a stored program for providing said output signal as a function of said digital signal and said stored program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digital-to-analog converter means includes means for sampling the potential levels detected by said electrode means and for generating a digital signal corresponding to each sampled level; and wherein said processing means includes means for generating said processing means output signal as a statistical function of said digital signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said sampling means samples said detected potential levels at a substantially constant rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means comprises central processor means, interface means, data bus means coupled to said interface means and said central processor means, and stored program means coupled to said data bus means for providing program instructions, including read and write instructions to said data bus in accordance with selected address and control signals: (a) said central processor means sending and receiving digital data to and from said data bus in accordance with a read and write signal, respectively, and in accordance with address and control signals from said stored program means, and (b) said interface means being responsive to said digital signal output of said converter means for providing said digital signal to said data bus in accordance with said read signal and selected address and control signals, and for providing said output signal from said data bus in accordance with said write signal and selected address and control signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said central processor comprises a microprocessor and wherein said stored program means comprises a read only memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for visually and/or audibly displaying said processing means output signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising telemetry means for transmitting said processing means output signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing said processing means output signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the presence of atypical cellular formations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is an indication of ovarian events therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the level of neurological activity therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the viability level of seeds.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the state of consciousness thereof.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for measuring the condition of a living organism, comprising the steps of: detecting the electrical potential of an electromagnetic field present in said living organism between a reference location and a test location on said living organism; generating a digital signal as a function of the detected electrical potential of said electromagnetic field of said organism; and processing said digital signal and generating an output signal as a function of the processed digital signal, said output signal being a measure of the condition of said living organism.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for measuring the condition of a living organism, comprising the steps of: detecting the electrical potential of an electromagnetic field present in said living organism between a reference location and a test location on said living organism; generating a digital signal as a function of the detected electrical potential of said electromagnetic field of said organism; and processing said digital signal and generating an output signal as a function of the processed digital signal, said output signal being a measure of the condition of said living organism.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the presence of atypical cellular formations.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is an indication of ovarian events therein.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the level of neurological activity therein.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the viability level of the seeds.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the state of consciousness thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of low pass filtering an analog signal representing the detected electrical potential of the electromagnetic field of said organism between said reference location and said test location prior to converting said analog signal to a corresponding digital signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein said step of generating a digital signal comprises the step of sampling the detected electrical potential at a predetermined sampling rate and providing a digital signal corresponding to each sampled level.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 34, further comprising generating said output signal as a function of said sampled digital signals.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 34, further comprising generating said output signal as a statistical function of said sampled digital signals.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 34, further comprising generating said output signal as a function of said sampled digital signals and a stored program.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 27 in which said electrical potential is measured by reference electrode means and test electrode means electrically contactable with the surface of the living organism at relatively spaced apart reference and test locations, respectively, said method comprising the further step of: substantially inhibiting production of a battery effect between at least one of said reference and test electrodes and the living organism with which said at least one electrode is in electrical contact.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 27 in which said electrical potential is measured by reference electrode means and test electrode means electrically contactable with the surface of the living organism at relatively spaced apart reference and test locations, respectively, said method comprising the further step of: substantially inhibiting production of a battery effect between said reference and test electrodes and the living organism with which said electrodes are in electrical contact.
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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) | 1985-05-10 | 1985-11-09 | 1986-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-10 | 1989-11-09 | 1990-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-10 | 1993-11-09 | 1994-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |