Device and method for detecting the potential level of the electromagnetic field of a living organism

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for measuring the condition of a living organism as a function of the electrical potential of an electromagnetic field present in said living organism between a reference location and a test location of said living organism, said apparatus comprising:

reference electrode means and test electrode means electrically contactable with the surface of a living organism at relatively spaced apart locations for detecting the electrical potential of the electromagnetic field of said organism between said test location and said reference location;

analog-to-digital converter means coupled to said reference and test electrode means for generating a digital signal as a function of the electrical potential detected by said electrode means; and

processing means coupled to said analog-to-digital converter means for generating an output signal as a function of said digital signal said processing means output signal being a measure of the condition of said living organism.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic field comprises a varying DC voltage signal, and said apparatus further comprises filter means interposed between said reference and test electrode means and said analog-to-digital converter means for removing undesirable AC components superimposed on said varying DC signal prior to said DC voltage signal being operated on in said analog-to-digital converter means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said reference and test electrodes comprises:

an outer layer consisting essentially of concentrated NaCl electrically contactable with said living organism;

an adjacent inner layer consisting essentially of AgCl in electrical contact with said NaCl layer;

a next adjacent inner layer consisting essentially of Ag in electrical contact with said AgCl layer; and

an electrical lead electrically contacting said Ag layer.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said reference and test electrodes comprises:

an outer layer consisting essentially of concentrated NaCl electrically contactable with said living organism;

an adjacent inner layer consisting essentially of AgCl in electrical contact with NaCl layer;

a next adjacent inner layer consisting essentially of Ag in electrical contact with said AgCl layer; and

an electrical lead electrically contacting said AG layer.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said outer layer is composed of a polymer of NaCl.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said outer layer is composed of a colloid of NaCl.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said reference and test electrodes is composed of materials which substantially inhibit production of a battery effect between the electrode and the living organism with which said electrode is in electrical contact.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said reference and test electrodes is composed of materials which substantially inhibit production of a battery effect between the electrode and the living organism with which said electrode is in electrical contact.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said analog-to-digital converter means exhibits an effective input impedance of greater than 8 megohms and less than 1,000 megohms.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising low pass filter means for filtering output signals from said electrode means and for supplying said filtered signals to said analog-to-digital converter means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said low pass filter means has a substantially 3 dB cutoff frequency of greater than or equal to about 100 hertz.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digital-to-analog converter includes means for sampling the potential levels detected by said electrode means and for generating a digital signal corresponding to each sampled level.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said digital signal is in binary-coded-decimal format.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means comprises a programmed digital signal processing means having a stored program for providing said output signal as a function of said digital signal and said stored program.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digital-to-analog converter means includes means for sampling the potential levels detected by said electrode means and for generating a digital signal corresponding to each sampled level; and

wherein said processing means includes means for generating said processing means output signal as a statistical function of said digital signal.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said sampling means samples said detected potential levels at a substantially constant rate.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means comprises central processor means, interface means, data bus means coupled to said interface means and said central processor means, and stored program means coupled to said data bus means for providing program instructions, including read and write instructions to said data bus in accordance with selected address and control signals:

(a) said central processor means sending and receiving digital data to and from said data bus in accordance with a read and write signal, respectively, and in accordance with address and control signals from said stored program means, and

(b) said interface means being responsive to said digital signal output of said converter means for providing said digital signal to said data bus in accordance with said read signal and selected address and control signals, and for providing said output signal from said data bus in accordance with said write signal and selected address and control signals.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said central processor comprises a microprocessor and wherein said stored program means comprises a read only memory.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for visually and/or audibly displaying said processing means output signal.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising telemetry means for transmitting said processing means output signal.

21. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing said processing means output signal.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the presence of atypical cellular formations.

23. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is an indication of ovarian events therein.

24. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the level of neurological activity therein.

25. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the viability level of seeds.

26. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the state of consciousness thereof.

27. A method for measuring the condition of a living organism, comprising the steps of:

detecting the electrical potential of an electromagnetic field present in said living organism between a reference location and a test location on said living organism;

generating a digital signal as a function of the detected electrical potential of said electromagnetic field of said organism; and

processing said digital signal and generating an output signal as a function of the processed digital signal, said output signal being a measure of the condition of said living organism.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the presence of atypical cellular formations.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is an indication of ovarian events therein.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the level of neurological activity therein.

31. The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the viability level of the seeds.

32. The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition of said living organism being measured is the state of consciousness thereof.

33. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of low pass filtering an analog signal representing the detected electrical potential of the electromagnetic field of said organism between said reference location and said test location prior to converting said analog signal to a corresponding digital signal.

34. A method according to claim 27, wherein said step of generating a digital signal comprises the step of sampling the detected electrical potential at a predetermined sampling rate and providing a digital signal corresponding to each sampled level.

35. A method according to claim 34, further comprising generating said output signal as a function of said sampled digital signals.

36. A method according to claim 34, further comprising generating said output signal as a statistical function of said sampled digital signals.

37. A method according to claim 34, further comprising generating said output signal as a function of said sampled digital signals and a stored program.

38. A method according to claim 27 in which said electrical potential is measured by reference electrode means and test electrode means electrically contactable with the surface of the living organism at relatively spaced apart reference and test locations, respectively, said method comprising the further step of:

substantially inhibiting production of a battery effect between at least one of said reference and test electrodes and the living organism with which said at least one electrode is in electrical contact.

39. A method according to claim 27 in which said electrical potential is measured by reference electrode means and test electrode means electrically contactable with the surface of the living organism at relatively spaced apart reference and test locations, respectively, said method comprising the further step of:

substantially inhibiting production of a battery effect between said reference and test electrodes and the living organism with which said electrodes are in electrical contact.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for detecting parameters of living organisms and, more particularly, relates to a device and method for providing an output signal indicative of a parameter or parameters of a living organism, which output signal being derived by detecting the potential of the electromagnetic field present between a reference point and a test point or test points of a living organism.

2. Prior Art

Over the years there have been two prevailing theories on the operation of living organisms. The more widely accepted theory even to this day is that all living organisms are made up of discontinuous entities called cells, which are organized in accordance with the interaction between themselves. This is often referred to as the cell theory of life or physiology. Its modern origin is based on the work, among others, of Harvey and Laviosier, who respectively applied this atomistic theory to explain the circulation of blood and the chemical nature of respiration and metabolism. Their analysis of life was based upon the mechanistic premise that life was no more than a complex reaction between discontinuous chemical or atomic entities. In summary, this analysis states that a living organism is equal to the sum of its parts. Even today, molecular biology and medicine rests on this analysis.

The less widely accepted theory is often referred to as vitalism. Vitalism states that a living organism is greater than the sum of its atomic constituents. Vitalism in essence postulates that there is a non-atomic force that acts to organize the atomic constituents. This non-atomic force was used to explain the constancy of form of organisms over time despite ongoing chemical reactions, which constancy could not be explained by the cell theory. Vitalism has gone under several names: Driesch's "entelechy," Rignano's "biological energy," Child's "physiological gradient," and Kohler's "Gestalten." Vitalism, however, fell into disrepute because the non-atomic force could not be empirically demonstrated.

In the 1920's and 1930's, Harold S. Burr of the Yale School of Medicine and Filmer S. C. Northrop of the Yale School of Law set forth their theory addressing the problems of both mechanism and vitalism. Their electrodynamic theory states that "the pattern or organization of any biological system is established by a complex electrodynamic field, which is in part determined by its atomic physio-chemical components and which in part determines the behavior and orientation of those components." Burr, H. S. and F. S. C. Northrop, "The Electro-Dynamic Theory of Life," Quarterly Revue of Biology, Vol. 10, pages 322-333, 1935. The theory synthesized the cell and vitalism theories by applying modern relativistic field physics to biological systems. In essence, this electromagnetic field (also referred to as a quasi-electrostatic field) is the intermediary vector force between Cartesian and Gaussian coordinates.

This electro-dynamic field postulated by the theory was empirically demonstrated. Burr, H. S. and C. I. Hovland, "Bio-Electric Potential Gradients in the Chick," Yale J. Biology and Medicine, Vol. 9, pages 247-158, 1937. Burr, H. S. and C. I. Hovland, "Bio-Electric Correlates of Development in Amblystoma," Yale J. Biology and Medicine, Vol. 9, pages 540-549, 1937. The potential level of the electro-dynamic field was measured using a very high impedance vacuum tube volt meter (VTVM) and special electrodes. Each electrode was designed in accordance with Willard Gibb's equations governing the mechanics of fluid junction potentials so as not to generate an offset potential between itself and the organism being measured. The high impedance, typically 10 megohms, of the VTVM was calculated in accordance with Maxwell's equations and was necessary to prevent any appreciable current from being drawn from the organism and to eliminate any errors caused by changes in the resistance of the organism test interface. The electro-dynamic field would be distorted causing a disturbance to the organism and an error in the potential level value if appreciable current was drawn during the test.

Despite repeated empiric demonstrations of the validity of the electro-dynamic field theory by Dr. Burr and others, major technical problems contribute substantially to its failure to become an established diagnostic and predictive means for indicating the state of a parameter or parameters of a living organism. Reference and test electrodes produce errors due to their design, temperature variations, and the uneven pressure between the organism and the electrodes. The available structures and configurations of these electrodes is also quite limited and cannot be tailored for many test applications.

The potential level of the electromagnetic field of organisms usually does not exceed an absolute value of 100 millivolts. Therefore, a resolution of 100 microvolts is needed to obtain a measure of the field of sufficient accuracy to ascertain a diagnostic parameter or parameters. Conventional high gain instrument operational amplifiers exhibit a characteristic temperature coefficient for output bias voltage of 700 microvolts per degree Centigrade. Thus, the desired resolution of 100 microvolts cannot be achieved unless the ambient temperature of the operational amplifier is kept within one-seventh degree Centigrade during the entire test. This narrow temperature tolerance is not possible, however, unless a very expensive, technically complicated, physically cumbersome, and high electrical load temperature control system, such as a temperature oven, is used in conjunction with the operational amplifier.

Another problem associated with temperature variation is that the very slowly varying electromagnetic field often has a period of substantial time, such as 30 seconds or more. If real time integration is used as the measuring technique, conventional high gain operational amplifiers cannot provide the necessary 100 microvolt resolution for a time period greater than 2 seconds, because the ambient temperature of the amplifier cannot be maintained within the one-seventh degree centigrade range without the use of a temperature control system as stated above.

A further problem is the presence of undesired alternating current signals having frequencies, for example, greater than 100 Hertz and undesired charges present on the electromagnetic field signals furnished to the measuring apparatus and method by the reference and test electrodes. These undesired alternating current signals and charges act to mask the desired slowly varying DC signal indicating the potential of the electromagnetic field. The problem becomes particularly severe in areas having high levels of electromagnetic radiation produced by television, radio, communication radio frequency transmissions, etc., which affect the electromagnetic fields of organisms. In addition, natural environmental events, such as sunspots, also affect the electromagnetic field of organisms.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method of measuring the potential level of the electromagnetic field present between a reference point and a test point or test points of a living organism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device and method for providing an output signal indicative of a parameter or parameters of a living organism in accordance with the potential level of the electromagnetic field present between a reference point and a test point or test points.

It is a further object of the device and method of the present invention to provide reference and test electrodes used in measuring the potential level of the electromagnetic field, which electrodes do not create a substantial battery effect between themselves and the living organism and which can be fabricated to assume various configurations and structures suitable for tests down to the unicellar level.

It is another object of the method and device of the present invention to provide a resolution of at least 100 microvolts in the measurement of the potential level of the electromagnetic field without the use of temperature control systems, such as a temperature-controlled oven.

It is a further object of the device and method of the present invention to provide accurate measurement of the potential level of the electromagnetic field having a time period greater than 2 seconds.

It is another object of the device and method of the present invention to eliminate substantially undesired charges and alternating current signals from the slowly varying DC signal indicating the potential level of the electromagnetic field.

It is a further object of the device and method of the present invention to produce a diagnostic and predictive function, for example, of the presence or absence of atypical cellular growth, ovarian events, cancer, neurological activity, etc., in accordance with the potential level of the electromagnetic field of the organism.

It is an additional object of the device and method of the present invention to provide a diagnostic and/or predictive device of low cost, small size and weight, and low power consumption, while still providing high accuracy and reliability as well as requiring only a low level of skill to operate.

These and other objects are achieved by the method and device of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device and method for detecting the potential level of the electromagnetic field present between a reference point and a test point of a living organism is disclosed. A reference electrode provides a first signal indicative of the potential level of the electromagnetic field at the reference point. A test electrode provides a second signal indicative of the potential level of the electromagnetic field at the test point. More than one test electrode and corresponding second signals can be employed. An analog-to-digital converter responsive to the first and second signals generates a digital signal as a function of the potential difference between the first and second signals. A processor provides an output signal indicative of a parameter or parameters of the living organism as a function of the digital signal. In addition, a low pass filter can be provided ahead of the analog-to-digital converter for filtering out undesired charges and alternating current signals from the first and second signals. The analog-to-digital converter can sample the potential difference between the first and second signals at a desired rate, and the processor can generate the output signal as a function of the digital signal and a stored program. The output signal can provide a diagnostic and predictive function, for example, of the presence or absence of atypical cellular growth, ovarian events, cancer, neurological activity, etc.

A preferrable form for the reference and test electrodes is that which does not create a substantial battery effect between itself and the point of the organism under test. One preferred form for the electrode comprises concentrated NaCl disposed on said reference or test point of the living organism. An AgCl electrode is disposed on the surface of the NaCl opposite the reference or test point. An Ag electrode is electrically connected to the AgCl electrode and provides the first or second signal respectively. Alternately, a NaCl polymer or colloid can be employed, allowing the structure and configuration of the electrode to take any shape needed for a particular test application.

The effective input impedance of the analog-to-digital converter can be in the range of 5 megohms to 1,000 megohms, with the typical value being 10 megohms. The 3 dB cutoff frequency of the low pass filter can be greater than or equal to 100 Hertz.

In one preferred form, the processor comprises a central processor for sending and receiving digital data to or from a data bus in accordance with a read or write signal, respectively, and address and control signals. An interface responsive to said digital signal provides the digital signal to the data bus in accordance with said read signal and selected address and control signals, and provides the output signal from the data bus in accordance with the write signal and selected address and control signals. A stored program means provides program instructions to said data bus in accordance with selected address and control signals. Preferably the central processor is a microprocessor and the stored program means is a read only memory.

The present invention may further comprise a utilization means for providing a function in response to said output signal. One suitable form for the utilization means is a visual display. Another suitable form is a telemetry system and a further suitable form is a storage device.

The method of the present invention detects the potential level of the electromagnetic field present between a reference point and a test point of a living organism in accordance with the following steps. A first signal is provided indicative of the potential of the electromagnetic field at the reference point. A second signal is provided indicative of the potential of the electromagnetic field at the test point. (More than one second signal can be provided.) A digital signal is generated as a function of the potential difference between the first and second signals. An output signal is provided indicative of a parameter or parameters of the living organism as a function of the digital signal.

The output signal can provide a diagnostic and predictive function, for example, of the presence or absence of atypical cellular growth, ovarian events, cancer, neurological activity, etc. In addition, the first and second signals can be low pass filtered before their difference is converted to a digital form. The first and second signals can be sampled to produce a digital signal for each sample. Furthermore, the output signal can be any statistical function of any set of digital signals including an average or mean of the digital signals. The step of providing a first signal can utilize a first electrode which does not create a substantial battery effect between itself and the reference point, and the step of providing a second signal can utilize a second electrode which does not create a substantial battery effect between itself and the test point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the device and method of the present invention for measuring the potential level of the electromagnetic field present between a reference point and a test point or test points of a living organism.

FIG. 2 is a side block diagram representation of the elements of a preferred electrode used at either the reference point or the test point of the living organism.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the device for implementing the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system memory map of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the reset routine of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the run routine of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of the basic embodiment of the device and method of the present invention for measuring the potential level of the electromagnetic field present between a reference point and a test point or points of a living organism is shown.

The living organism, designated generally by reference numeral 10, generates an electromagnetic field of either a positive or negative polarity and having a potential level in the millivolt range. Most living organisms do not have an electromagnetic field having a potential level greater than 100 millivolts. It should be understood that the term potential and potential level hereinafter refers both to the absolute value and to the polarity of the electromagnetic field. Depending upon the parameter or parameters being tested, one reference point and one or more test points on the surface of the living organism 10 are used to measure the electromagnetic field of the living organism. For purposes of explanation, only one test point is shown. It should be understood, however, that the present invention encompasses the use of one or more test electrodes as well as one or more reference electrodes.

A reference electrode 12 is disposed on the living organism at a reference point, and a test electrode 14 is disposed on the living organism at a test point. The reference electrode 12 and the test electrode 14 can take any suitable form. The device and method of the present invention measures the electromagnetic field 14 inherent in the living organism 10 between the reference electrode 12 and the test electrode 14.

The signal (first signal) provided by the reference electrode 12 is supplied to an input of a low pass filter, designated generally by reference numeral 16. Similarly, the signal (second signal) provided by the test electrode 14 is applied to another input of the low pass filter 16. Low pass filter 16 acts to remove undesired high frequency signal components superimposed on the signals from reference electrode 12 and test electrode 14. As stated above, the electromagnetic field is a slowly varying DC voltage signal. Undesired AC components appear on this signal due to static charges, electromagnetic interference, and signals from other sources.

The output from low pass filter 16 is applied to the input of an analog-to-digital converter, designated generally by reference numeral 18. Analog-to-digital converter 18 preferably has a high input impedance, for example, greater than 8 megohms, so as not to cause any appreciable current to be drawn from the organism during the test of the electromagnetic field potential level. Analog-to-digital converter 18 can be of any suitable form for providing a digital signal output indicative of the potential level of the differential analog signal at its input.

The digital signal output from analog-to-digital converter 18 (which is representative of the potential level of the analog signals at its input provided by low pass filter 16) is provided to the input of a processor, designated generally by reference numeral 20. Processor 20 performs designated functions on the digital signal provided by analog-to-digital converter 18, so as to provide an output signal indicative of a parameter or parameters of the living organism 10 whose electromagnetic field is being sensed. Processor 20 can take any number of suitable forms. Processor 20 can, for example, sum the normalized values of the digital signals so as to provide an average or mean signal at its output. Similarly, proce