Non-resistive contact electrosonic sensor systems

Abstract

A method of correlating sonic activity with electric activity in an entity of interest includes interrogating, via a sonic sensor device, the physical structure, shape and/or form of an object in the entity of interest, interrogating, via an electric field sensor, the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the object or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the object while avoiding resistive contact with other portions of the entity of interest, and linking results from the sonic sensor device to results from the electric field sensor.

1 . A method of correlating sonic activity with electric activity in an entity of interest, comprising:
 (a) interrogating, via a sonic sensor device, the physical structure, shape and/or form of an object in an entity of interest;   (b) interrogating, via an electric field sensor, the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the object or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the object while avoiding resistive contact with other portions of the entity of interest; and   (c) linking results from the sonic sensor device to results from the electric field sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entity of interest is a living organism, and wherein the object in the entity of interest is a biological tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of interrogating the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the object or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the object while avoiding resistive contact with other portions of the entity of interest includes interrogating the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the biological tissue or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the biological tissue while avoiding resistive contact with any external surface of the organism. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising a step of maintaining the electric field sensor at a distance of at least one micrometer from all external surfaces of the organism while carrying out the interrogating steps. 
     
     
         5 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the object is a muscle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the object is a nerve. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising a preliminary step of implanting or temporarily placing the electric field sensor within the entity of interest at a location of at least one micrometer away from the object. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing a plurality of electric field sensors around a central sonic sensor device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of arranging the sonic sensor device and the electric field sensor together within a single housing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sonic sensor device and the electric field sensor are not physically attached to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interrogating steps are carried out simultaneously. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interrogating steps are carried out at different times. 
     
     
         17 . A non-resistive contact electrosonic sensor system for correlating sonic activity with electric activity in an entity of interest, comprising:
 (a) a sonic sensor device for interrogating the physical structure, shape and/or form of an object in an entity of interest;   (b) an electric field sensor for interrogating the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the object or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the object while avoiding resistive contact with other portions of the entity of interest; and   (c) control circuitry for linking results from the sonic sensor device to results from the electric field sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The electrosonic sensor system of  claim 17 , wherein the sonic sensor device is adapted to interrogate the physical structure, shape and/or form of a biological tissue in a living organism of interest, and the electric field sensor is adapted to interrogate the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the biological tissue or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the biological tissue while avoiding resistive contact with other portions of the organism. 
     
     
         19 . The electrosonic sensor system of  claim 18 , wherein the electric field sensor is adapted to interrogate the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the biological tissue or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the biological tissue while avoiding resistive contact with any external surface of the organism. 
     
     
         20 . The electrosonic sensor system of  claim 19 , wherein the electric field sensor is adapted to interrogate the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the biological tissue or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the biological tissue while maintaining a distance of at least one micrometer from all external surfaces of the organism. 
     
     
         21 . The electrosonic sensor system of  claim 17 , wherein the electric field sensor includes a plurality of electric field sensors for interrogating the electric and/or magnetic potential associated with the object or the physical displacement of the geo-electric field by the object while avoiding resistive contact with other portions of the entity of interest, and wherein the plurality of electric field sensors is arranged around the sonic sensor device. 
     
     
         22 . The electrosonic sensor system of  claim 17 , wherein the sonic sensor device and the electric field sensor are disposed within a single housing. 
     
     
         23 . The electrosonic sensor system of  claim 17 , wherein the sonic sensor device includes an acoustic sensor. 
     
     
         24 . The electrosonic sensor system of  claim 17 , wherein the sonic sensor device includes an ultrasonic device.