System for detection of electrical bioimpedance signals

Claim 1

A system for determining or measuring fluid content or fluid flow in a human or animal body segment, comprising: (a) a current generator means for generating a periodic high frequency current output in response to a periodic control signal, the current generator means comprising: (i) a first and a second output terminal means for carrying the current output, wherein the first and the second output terminal means are adapted to be electrically connectable to a first and a second portion of the human or animal body segment, respectively; and (ii) an input terminal means for receiving the control signal; (b) a controller means for generating the periodic control signal to control operation of the current generator means, the controller means including an output terminal means for carrying the control signal, wherein the output terminal means of the controller means is electrically connected to the input terminal means of the current generator means; and (c) an electrical bioimpedance detector means for detecting a voltage between the first and the second portion of the human or animal body segment caused by the current output of the current generator means flowing between the first and the second portion of the human or animal body segment, and for generating an output signal in response, wherein the output signal is indicative of impedance in the human or animal body segment between the first and the second portion, the bioimpedance detector comprising: (i) a first and a second input terminal means for detecting said voltage, wherein the first and the second input terminal means of the bioimpedance detector means are adapted to be electrically connectable to the human or animal body segment proximate said first and second output terminal means of the current generator means, respectively; (ii) a sensing circuit means, coupled to the input terminal means of the bioimpedance detector means, for receiving said voltage and generating an output signal having a magnitude that changes in accordance with the content or flow of fluids in the human or animal body segment between the first and second body segment portions; (iii) a third input terminal electrically connected to the output terminal means of the controller means, whereby the control signal of the controller means is simultaneously received by both the current generator means and the bioimpedance detector means; and (iv) a synchronizer means, coupled to the sensing circuit means, for controlling the operation of the sensing circuit means in response to the control signal from the controller means, whereby the sensing circuit means periodically detects said voltage in synchrony with the operation of the current generator means; and (v) an output terminal means for carrying the detector's output signal.

Claim 2

A system for determining or measuring fluid content or fluid flow in a human or animal body segment, comprising: (a) a current generator means for generating a periodic high frequency current output in response to a periodic control signal, the current generator means comprising: (i) a first and a second output terminal means for carrying the current output, wherein the first and the second output terminal means are adapted to be electrically connectable to a first and a second portion of the human or animal body segment, respectively; and (ii) an input terminal means for receiving the control signal; (b) a controller means for generating the periodic control signal to control operation of the current generator means, the controller means including an output terminal means for carrying the control signal, wherein the output terminal means of the controller means is electrically connected to the input terminal means of the current generator means; and (c) an electrical bioimpedance detector means for detecting a voltage between the first and the second portion of the human or animal body segment caused by the current output of the current generator means flowing between the first and the second portion of the human or animal body segment, and for generating an output signal in response, wherein the output signal is indicative of impedance in the human or animal body segment between the first and the second portion, the bioimpedance detector comprising: (i) a first and a second input terminal means for detecting said voltage, wherein the first and the second input terminal means of the bioimpedance detector means are adapted to be electrically connectable to the human or animal body segment proximate said first and second output terminal means of the current generator means, respectively; (ii) a sensing circuit means, coupled to the input terminal means of the bioimpedance detector means, for receiving said voltage and generating an output signal having a magnitude that changes in accordance with the content or flow of fluids in the human or animal body segment between the first and second body segment portions; (iii) a third input terminal electrically connected to the output terminal means of the controller means, whereby the control signal of the controller means is simultaneously received by both the current generator means and the bioimpedance detector means; and (iv) a synchronizer means, coupled to the sensing circuit means, for controlling the operation of the sensing circuit means in response to the control signal from the controller means, whereby the sensing circuit means periodically detects said voltage in synchrony with the operation of the current generator means; and (v) an output terminal means for carrying the detector's output signal.

Claim 10

A method of determining or measuring fluid content or fluid flow in a human or animal body segment, comprising: (a) periodically generating a high frequency current; (b) applying the current to a first and a second portion of the human or animal body segment; (c) periodically detecting a voltage between a third and a fourth portion of the human or animal body segment, wherein the third and the fourth portions are located proximate the first and the second portion of the human or animal body segment and the detected voltage is caused by impedance to the current flow in the human or animal body segment between the third and the fourth portions, wherein the periodic detection of the voltage is in synchrony with the periodic generation of the current; and (d) generating a signal based on the detected voltage, wherein the signal is indicative of impedance in the human or animal body segment between the third and the fourth portions.

Claim 11

A method of determining or measuring fluid content or fluid flow in a human or animal body segment, comprising: (a) periodically generating a high frequency current; (b) applying the current to a first and a second portion of the human or animal body segment; (c) periodically detecting a voltage between a third and a fourth portion of the human or animal body segment, wherein the third and the fourth portions are located proximate the first and the second portion of the human or animal body segment and the detected voltage is caused by impedance to the current flow in the human or animal body segment between the third and the fourth portions, wherein the periodic detection of the voltage is in synchrony with the periodic generation of the current; and (d) generating a signal based on the detected voltage, wherein the signal is indicative of impedance in the human or animal body segment between the third and the fourth portions.

Claim 12

A method of determining or measuring fluid content or fluid flow in a human or animal body segment, comprising: (a) periodically applying a high frequency current to a first and a second portion of the human or animal body segment; (b) periodically detecting a voltage between a third and a fourth portion of the human or animal body segment, wherein the third and the fourth portions are located proximate the first and the second portion of the human or animal body segment and the detected voltage is caused by impedance to the current flow in the human or animal body segment between the third and the fourth portions, wherein the detection of the voltage is in synchrony with periodic application of the current; and (c) generating a signal based on the detected voltage, wherein the signal is indicative of impedance in the human or animal body segment between the second and the fourth portions.

Claim 13

A method of determining or measuring fluid content or fluid flow in a human or animal body segment, comprising: (a) periodically applying a high frequency current to a first and a second portion of the human or animal body segment; (b) periodically detecting a voltage between a third and a fourth portion of the human or animal body segment, wherein the third and the fourth portions are located proximate the first and the second portion of the human or animal body segment and the detected voltage is caused by impedance to the current flow in the human or animal body segment between the third and the fourth portions, wherein the detection of the voltage is in synchrony with periodic application of the current; and (c) generating a signal based on the detected voltage, wherein the signal is indicative of impedance in the human or animal body segment between the second and the fourth portions.