Measurement of internal body structure during biomagnetometry
AssigneeBiomagnetic Technologies, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Crowley, D. Scott Buchanan, Waldo S. Hinshaw
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A biomagnetometer measures a magnetic field produced by a source within the body of a subject, using a magnetic field sensor system. The biomagnetometer includes an ultrasonic transceiver that determines the internal physical structure of the body with ultrasonic waves. An electromagnetic transmitter/receiver establishes the position of the ultrasonic transceiver relative to the magnetic field sensor system. A computer controls and integrates the magnetic field sensor system, the ultrasonic transceiver, and the electromagnetic transmitter/receiver. The biomagnetometer permits a direct association between the measured biomagnetic field and the location of the source within the body of the subject.
Claims18
A biomagnetometer that measures a magnetic field produced by a source organ within the body of a subject, comprising:
- means for measuring a magnetic field produced by a source organ, the means for measuring being external to the body and including a magnetic field sensor;
- first position measuring means for measuring the location of the magnetic field sensor relative to the body of the subject, the first position measuring means including a first position sensor;
- means for determining the internal structure of the body relative to the means for determining, the means for determining being external to the body and including a structure-locating sensor;
- second position measuring means for measuring the location of the structure-locating sensor relative to the magnetic field sensor, the second position measuring means including a second position sensor;
- and
- a computer that controls the means for measuring, the means for determining, the first position measuring means, and the second position measuring means.
A biomagnetometer that measures a magnetic field produced within a body of a subject, comprising:
- means for measuring a magnetic field, the means for measuring being external to a body of a subject;
- ultrasonic means for determining the location of a feature within the body of the subject, the ultrasonic means including means for measuring a time of flight of an ultrasonic wave from a location external to the body to the feature within the body and determining the location of the feature from the time of flight measurement;
- and
- means for establishing the position of the ultrasonic means relative to the means for measuring.
A biomagnetometer that measures a magnetic field produced within a body of a subject, comprising:
- means for measuring a magnetic field, the means for measuring being external to a body of a subject;
- an ultrasonic transceiver system that transmits an ultrasonic wave into the body of the subject at a selected location on the body and receives a reflected ultrasonic wave from the interior of the body of the subject;
- and
- means for establishing the position of the ultrasonic transceiver system relative to the means for measuring, the means for establishing including
- a first position sensor, at least a portion of which is fixed to the body of the subject, and
- a second position sensor, at least a portion of which is fixed to the ultrasonic transceiver system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.