US5602342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and device for measuring the flow of an electrolytic fluid
Assignee: Pacesetter AB
•
Filing: 1996-07-10
•
Granted: 1997-02-11
•
Expires: 2016-07-10
Abstract
Abstract In a method for measuring the flow of an electrolytic fluid, the voltage or current is measured between two stationary electrodes immersed in the electrolytic fluid. A device for measuring the flow has at least two electrodes intended for immersion in the electrolyte. The electrodes are stationary, and a measurement unit is arranged to measure the voltage or current between the electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Strandberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/365; A61N1/36514; G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/56; G01F1/64; G01P; G01P5/00; G01P5/008; G01P5/08; G01P5/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the steps: connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by supplying a continuous current to said two stationary electrodes and measuring a resulting voltage between said electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the steps: connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by supplying a continuous current to said two stationary electrodes and measuring a resulting voltage between said electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the steps: connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by supplying a pulsed current between 10 and 500 nA to said two stationary electrodes and measuring a resulting voltage between said electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the steps: connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by supplying a pulsed current between 10 and 500 nA to said two stationary electrodes and measuring a resulting voltage between said electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of supplying a pulsed current to said two stationary electrodes is further defined by supplying said pulsed current as polarized pulses to said two stationary electrodes, each pulse having a pulse duration, and adjusting the pulse duration for obtaining a voltage of an appropriate magnitude for measurement.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the steps: connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by applying a constant voltage between said two stationary electrodes and measuring the current between said electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the steps: connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by applying a constant voltage between said two stationary electrodes and measuring the current between said electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 for use in an implantable cardiac stimulator for measuring blood flow, comprising the additional step of delivering a stimulation pulse to a patient in whom blood flow is to be measured, and wherein the step of measuring at least one of the voltage or current between said two stationary electrodes is further defined by generating a measurement of blood flow in said patient by measuring said current or voltage between said two stationary electrodes immersed in said blood flow immediately prior to generating said stimulation pulse.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for measuring the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of: two electrodes; means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured; a pulsed power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary electrodes are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid by applying a pulsed voltage across said two stationary electrodes of between 0.3 and 1.0 V; and means for measuring a current between said electrodes arising as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for measuring the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of: two electrodes; means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured; a pulsed power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary electrodes are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid by applying a pulsed voltage across said two stationary electrodes of between 0.3 and 1.0 V; and means for measuring a current between said electrodes arising as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for measuring the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of: two electrodes; means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured; a pulsed power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary electrodes are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid by supplying current pulses of between 50 and 500 nA to one of said stationary electrodes; and means for measuring a voltage between said stationary electrodes, said pulses each having a pulse duration for generating a voltage appropriate for measurement between said electrodes arising as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for measuring the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of: two electrodes; means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured; a pulsed power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary electrodes are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid by supplying current pulses of between 50 and 500 nA to one of said stationary electrodes; and means for measuring a voltage between said stationary electrodes, said pulses each having a pulse duration for generating a voltage appropriate for measurement between said electrodes arising as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 for use in a pacemaker for measuring blood flow, wherein said electrodes comprise respective poles of a bipolar pacemaker lead, said poles respectively consisting of carbon and platinum.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the steps: connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by applying a voltage pulse between 0.3 and 1.0 V across said two stationary electrodes and measuring a resulting current between said electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the steps: connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by applying a voltage pulse between 0.3 and 1.0 V across said two stationary electrodes and measuring a resulting current between said electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of supplying a continuous current to said two stationary electrodes comprises supplying a current between 10 and 500 nA between said two stationary electrodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured comprises immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid having a pH of about 5 or more.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the step; connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic, selected from the group consisting of voltage and current, arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by applying a voltage of between 0.3 and 1.0 V across said two stationary electrodes and a current of between 50 and 500 nA between said two stationary electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for measuring a change in the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of the step; connecting two stationary electrodes respectively to opposite poles of a power source; immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured and briefly producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid; measuring an electrical characteristic, selected from the group consisting of voltage and current, arising between said two stationary electrodes as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition by applying a voltage of between 0.3 and 1.0 V across said two stationary electrodes and a current of between 50 and 500 nA between said two stationary electrodes; and identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic while maintaining said electrodes stationarily immersed in said electrolytic fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the step of immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured comprises immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid having a pH of about 5 or more.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus used in a pacemaker for measuring blood flow consisting of: a bipolar pacemaker lead having two poles; means for stationarily immersing said two poles in a blood flow whose flow is to be measured; a power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary poles are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary pole in said blood, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said blood, by applying a continuous current to said two stationary poles; and means for measuring a voltage between said stationary arising as a result of the blood flow causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said blood flow from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said voltage.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus used in a pacemaker for measuring blood flow consisting of: a bipolar pacemaker lead having two poles; means for stationarily immersing said two poles in a blood flow whose flow is to be measured; a power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary poles are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary pole in said blood, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said blood, by applying a continuous current to said two stationary poles; and means for measuring a voltage between said stationary arising as a result of the blood flow causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said blood flow from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said voltage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured comprises means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid having a pH of about 5 or more.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for measuring the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of: two electrodes; means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured; a power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary electrodes are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid by producing a voltage across said two stationary electrodes of between 0.3 and 1.0 V and producing a current between said two stationary electrodes of between 50 and 500 nA; and means for measuring an electrical characteristic, selected from the group consisting of voltage and current, between said electrodes arising as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for measuring the flow of an electrolytic fluid consisting of: two electrodes; means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured; a power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary electrodes are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary electrode in said electrolytic fluid, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said electrolytic fluid by producing a voltage across said two stationary electrodes of between 0.3 and 1.0 V and producing a current between said two stationary electrodes of between 50 and 500 nA; and means for measuring an electrical characteristic, selected from the group consisting of voltage and current, between said electrodes arising as a result of the flow of said electrolytic fluid causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said flow of said electrolytic fluid from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said electrical characteristic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured comprises means for stationarily immersing said two electrodes in an electrolytic fluid having a pH of about 5 or more.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 for use in an implantable cardiac stimulator for measuring blood flow, comprising the additional step of delivering a stimulation pulse to a patient in whom blood flow is to be measured, and wherein the step of measuring said electrical characteristic is further defined by generating a measurement of blood flow in said patient by measuring said electrical characteristic between said two stationary electrodes immersed in said blood flow immediately prior to generating said stimulation pulse.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the step of immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured comprises immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid having a pH of about 5 or more.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 for use in an implantable cardiac stimulator for measuring blood flow, comprising the additional step of delivering a stimulation pulse to a patient in whom blood flow is to be measured, and wherein the step of measuring said electrical characteristic is further defined by generating a measurement of blood flow in said patient by measuring said electrical characteristic between said two stationary electrodes immersed in said blood flow immediately prior to generating said stimulation pulse.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured comprises immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid having a pH of about 5 or more.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 for use in an implantable cardiac stimulator for measuring blood flow, comprising the additional step of delivering a stimulation pulse to a patient in whom blood flow is to be measured, and wherein the step of measuring said electrical characteristic is further defined by generating a measurement of blood flow in said patient by measuring said electrical characteristic between said two stationary electrodes immersed in said blood flow immediately prior to generating said stimulation pulse.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid whose flow is to be measured comprises immersing said two stationary electrodes spaced from each other in an electrolytic fluid having a pH of about 5 or more.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said power source means comprises means for producing a current between said two stationary electrodes of between 50 and 500 nA.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said stationary poles respectively consist of carbon and platinum.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said means for stationarily immersing said two poles in said blood flow to be measured comprises means for stationarily immersing said two poles in blood having a pH of about 5 or more.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for use in a pacemaker for measuring blood flow consisting of: a bipolar pacemaker lead having two poles; means for stationarily immersing said two ploes in a blood flow whose flow is to be measured; a pulsed power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary poles are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary pole in said blood, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said blood, by applying a constant voltage between said two stationary poles; and means for measuring a current between said electrodes arising as a result of the blood flow causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said blood flow from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said current.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
136 words
An apparatus for use in a pacemaker for measuring blood flow consisting of: a bipolar pacemaker lead having two poles; means for stationarily immersing said two ploes in a blood flow whose flow is to be measured; a pulsed power source means, having opposite poles to which said two stationary poles are respectively connected, for producing respective electrochemical reactions at each stationary pole in said blood, said reactions having an equilibrium condition at a reference flow of said blood, by applying a constant voltage between said two stationary poles; and means for measuring a current between said electrodes arising as a result of the blood flow causing a change in said electrical characteristic from said equilibrium condition and for identifying changes in said blood flow from said reference flow exclusively from the measurement of said current.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein said stationary poles respectively consist of carbon and platinum.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein said means for stationarily immersing said two poles in said blood whose flow is to be measured comprises means for stationarily immersing said two poles in blood having a pH of about 5 or more.
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