US 2022/0016418 A1Published application

Noninvasive heart and/or intrathoracic impedance sensor

AssigneeSigmasense, LLC.

InventorsJohn Christopher Price, Shayne X. Short, Ph.D., Timothy W. Markison

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An electrical stimulation system includes a sheath that includes conductive points that are operative to facilitate electrical stimulation to a bodily portion of a user. Drive-sense circuits (DSCs) generate electrical stimulation signals based on reference signals and provide those electrical stimulation signals via electrodes to the conductive points of the sheath. The electrical stimulation signal is coupled into respective locations of the bodily portion of the user that are in proximity to or in contact with the conductive points of the sheath. In addition, the DSCs sense, via the conductive points of the sheath and via the electrodes, changes of the electrical stimulation signals based on coupling of them into the respective locations of the bodily portion of the user. The DSCs provide digital signals that are representative of the changes of the electrical stimulation signals to one or more processing modules that includes and/or is coupled to memory.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A noninvasive impedance sensing system, the system comprising:

a drive-sense circuit (DSC) operably coupled and configured to provide a drive signal via an electrode that is coupled to a sensing conductive point and simultaneously to sense the drive signal via the electrode to sense impedance of a bodily portion of a subject based on the sensing conductive point being in contact with the bodily portion of the subject, the DSC including:
a comparator configured to produce an error signal based on comparison of a reference signal to the drive signal, wherein the reference signal is received at a first input of the comparator, and the drive signal is received at a second input of the comparator;
a dependent current supply configured to generate the drive signal based on the error signal and to provide the drive signal via a single line that couples to the electrode and the second input of the comparator;
and
an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to process the error signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of the impedance of the bodily portion of the subject that is sensed via the electrode that is coupled to the sensing conductive point;
memory that stores operational instructions;
and
one or more processing modules operably coupled to the DSC and the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or more processing modules is configured to execute the operational instructions to process the digital signal generated by the DSC to determine the impedance of the bodily portion of the subject that is sensed via the electrode that is coupled to the sensing conductive point.

5 more elements

A noninvasive impedance sensing system, the system comprising:

a drive-sense circuit (DSC) operably coupled and configured to provide a drive signal via an electrode that is coupled to a sensing conductive point and simultaneously to sense the drive signal via the electrode to sense impedance of a bodily portion of a subject based on the sensing conductive point being in contact with the bodily portion of the subject, the DSC including:
a comparator configured to produce an error signal based on comparison of a reference signal to the drive signal, wherein the reference signal is received at a first input of the comparator, and the drive signal is received at a second input of the comparator;
a first dependent current supply and a second first dependent current supply configured to generate the drive signal based on the error signal and to provide the drive signal via a single line that couples to the electrode and the second input of the comparator, wherein the first dependent current supply configured to source current in accordance with providing the drive signal, and the second dependent current supply configured to sink current in accordance with providing the drive signal;
and
an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to process the error signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of the impedance of the bodily portion of the subject that is sensed via the electrode that is coupled to the sensing conductive point;
memory that stores operational instructions;
one or more processing modules operably coupled to the DSC and the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or more processing modules is configured to execute the operational instructions to process the digital signal generated by the DSC to determine the impedance of the bodily portion of the subject that is sensed via the electrode that is coupled to the sensing conductive point;
and
a signal generator operably coupled to the second input of the comparator, wherein, when enabled, the signal generator configured to generate the reference signal and provide the reference signal to the second input of the comparator.

6 more elements

A noninvasive impedance sensing system, the system comprising:

a drive-sense circuit (DSC) operably coupled and configured to provide a drive signal via an electrode that is coupled to a sensing conductive point and simultaneously to sense the drive signal via the electrode to sense impedance of a bodily portion of a subject based on the sensing conductive point being in contact with the bodily portion of the subject, the DSC including:
a comparator configured to produce an error signal based on comparison of a reference signal to the drive signal, wherein the reference signal is received at a first input of the comparator, and the drive signal is received at a second input of the comparator;
a first dependent current supply and a second first dependent current supply configured to generate the drive signal based on the error signal and to provide the drive signal via a single line that couples to the electrode and the second input of the comparator, wherein the first dependent current supply configured to source current in accordance with providing the drive signal, and the second dependent current supply configured to sink current in accordance with providing the drive signal;
and
an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to process the error signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of the impedance of the bodily portion of the subject that is sensed via the electrode that is coupled to the sensing conductive point;
memory that stores operational instructions;
one or more processing modules operably coupled to the DSC and the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or more processing modules is configured to execute the operational instructions to process the digital signal generated by the DSC to:
generate the reference signal and provide the reference signal to the second input of the comparator;
and
determine the impedance of the bodily portion of the subject that is sensed via the electrode that is coupled to the sensing conductive point.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/490,245Filed 30 Sep 2021
Priority: 3 Jun 2020
Published: 20 Jan 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

A61N 1/0484
Structure-related aspects: garment electrodes worn by the patient
A61N 1/0587
For implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode: epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
A61B 5/053
Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves:…
A61B 5/287
Invasive: holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]

Family

Application16/891,591Continuation · filed 3 Jun 2020
Application17/490,245Continuation
US 11,439,812 B2Related patent
US 12,157,004 B2Related patent
US 2021/0379368 A1Published application
US 2022/0016418 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.