Patent · US Expired

Nonmagnetic tactile stimulator and biomagnetometer utilizing the stimulator

US5220921A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 25, 1991
Grant dateJun 22, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/246
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for making bioelectromagnetic measurements of the human body includes an apparatus for measuring the bioelectromagnetic reaction of a living body to a tactile stimulation and a tactile stimulator that controllably applies a tactile stimulation to the body without creating a magnetic or electrical field that is detected directly by the apparatus for measuring the bioelectromagnetic reaction. The tactile stimulator includes a pressure chamber closed on one side by a movable body such as a piston or flexible membrane, a conduit that transmits pneumatic pressure to the pressure chamber, and apparatus for applying pneumatic pressure to the conduit. The measuring apparatus, such as a biomagnetometer, may be located within a shielded room, and in this case the pressure chamber and movable body are preferably located within the shielded room, the apparatus for applying pneumatic pressure is located outside the room, and the conduit passes from the exterior to the interior of the room.

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