System and method for determining a spatial thermal property profile of a sample
US9851316B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 5, 2014 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00875
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sensing system uses three-omega sensing to determine a spatial profile of thermal property within a sample. The sensing system electrically powers a lossy electrical conductor at different driving frequencies. The different driving frequencies produce different penetration depths within the sample. The sensing system takes multiple measurements of thermal property at the different driving frequencies. Each measurement is associated with a different penetration depth, and therefore is averaged over a differently-sized volume within the sample. The sensing system performs a fit on the multiple measurements of material thermal property versus material geometry. If one of thermal property or geometry is known beforehand, then the fit can determine the other. The lossy electrical conductor can be formed on a polymeric flexible membrane, on a probe that can be placed at a suitable location in a patient's body, and/or directly onto a heating or cooling element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.