Underwater measurement of bioelectric signals
AssigneeQuantum Applied Science and Research, Inc.
InventorsIgor V. Fridman, Robert Matthews
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method of measuring bioelectric signals generated by an individual, inclusive of humans or other living organisms, comprises a plurality of sensors, at least one of the plurality of sensors being constituted by a capacitive-type sensor. Sensor has an associated insulated layer of material preventing the conduction of direct current between an electrode and individual, wherein a bioelectric signal of individual can be measured underwater.
Claims22
A method for measuring bioelectric signals underwater comprising:
- placing two sensors on an individual, wherein each sensor of the two sensors is a capacitive-type sensor having an input electrode, a first stage amplifier connected to the input electrode, a wire and an associated insulating layer of material, wherein placing the two capacitive-type sensors involves placing each capacitive-type sensor at a distance from the individual and forming a respective gap between the associated insulating layer of material and skin of the individual so as to prevent conduction of direct current between the skin of the individual and each capacitive-type sensor;
- preventing the conduction of the direct current by covering each input electrode with the associated insulated layer of material;
- encasing the input electrode in a conductive housing;
- driving a guard voltage to the conductive housing to protect the input electrode from electromagnetic interference;
- and
- measuring the bioelectric signals with the two capacitive-type sensors while at least one of the two capacitive-type sensors is at least partially underwater and while there can be at least some water present between the individual's skin and the associated insulating layer of at least one of the two capacitive-type sensors wherein the guard voltage protects the bioelectric signals from electromagnetic interference.
A sensor system for measuring a bioelectric signal of an individual having skin, said system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, at least two of the plurality of sensors being constituted by a capacitive-type sensors, wherein each capacitive-type sensor has an associated insulated layer of material and is configured to be placed at a distance from the individual, to form a gap between the associated insulated layer of material and the skin so as to prevent conduction of direct current between the skin of the individual and the capacitive-type sensor, and to measure the bioelectric signal of the individual when the capacitive-type sensor is partially underwater with at least some water present between the individual's skin and the associated insulating layer of the capacitive-type sensor, wherein each capacitive-type sensor has an input electrode covered with the associated insulated layer of material preventing the conduction of the direct current, a first stage amplifier connected to the input electrode, a conductive housing encasing the input electrode, a wire, and circuitry configured to provide a guard voltage to the conductive housing, so that said conductive housing is configured to receive the guard voltage connected to an active guard driven at a guard voltage for protecting the input electrode from electromagnetic interference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.