Patent · US Expired

Multiple frequency bio-impedance measurement system

US5063937A · kind A · utility

156Cited by
32References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 12, 1990
Grant dateNov 12, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/0535
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The multiple frequency impedance measurement system of the present invention permits noninvasive examination of living tissue at any one of a plurality of frequencies. Precise frequency control is provided by a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit which is adjustable among at least a plurality of frequencies by locking the loop to the output signal generated by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) divided by a selectable divisor. By selecting the divisor of the output signal of the VCO, the frequency is changed and, due to the use of a PLL circuit, each selected frequency is stably maintained. Electrodes connecting the circuit to tissue to be monitored are driven by a high-Q filter and buffer amplifier which convert the square wave output from a voltage controlled clipper circuit to a sine wave signal. The clipper circuit receives the output signal from the VCO and is part of a feedback loop which maintains a constant examination current for the system. By monitoring the examination current via a precision resistor, a current reference signal is generated and used in the feedback loop to maintain the current at a substantially constant but selectable level. The reference signal is also…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.