Methods and systems for monitoring intrabody tissues

Abstract

A method for monitoring an intrabody region of a patient. The method comprises intercepting electromagnetic (EM) radiation from the intrabody region in a plurality of EM radiation sessions during a period of at least 6 hours, calculating a dielectric related change of the intrabody region by analyzing respective the intercepted EM radiation, detecting a physiological pattern according to said dielectric related change and outputting a notification indicating the physiological pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable monitoring device for monitoring an intrabody region during a stress ergometry procedure and/or stress exercise, comprising:
 at least one probe comprising at least one transducer configured for transmitting to and intercepting electromagnetic (EM) radiation from at least one intrabody region of the lungs of a patient while said patient is performing a stress examination test;   a processing unit configured for:
 calculating a dielectric related change of the at least one intrabody region by analyzing respective said intercepted EM radiation, and 
 detecting a fluid accumulation rate and/or a fluid amount in the lungs during said stress examination test according to said dielectric related change; 
   an output unit configured for outputting a notification indicative of said fluid accumulation rate and/or a fluid amount.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting includes:
 estimating an expected signal of intercepted electromagnetic radiation, and   matching said estimated signal to a detected signal of intercepted electromagnetic radiation, thereby detecting said fluid accumulation rate and/or said fluid amount.   
     
     
         3 . The wearable monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one probe ( 204 ) is configured for intercepting said electromagnetic (EM) radiation from a reference intrabody region of said patient;
 wherein said processing unit ( 201 ) is further configured for calculating a reference dielectric related change in said reference intrabody region according to said intercepted EM radiation;   wherein said processing unit is further configured to detect said fluid accumulation rate and/or said fluid amount according to a combination of said dielectric related change and reference dielectric related change.   
     
     
         4 . The wearable monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transducer of said at least one probe ( 204 ), a reporting unit, and said processing unit ( 201 ) are contained in a housing. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein said processing unit ( 201 ) is configured for calibrating said intercepting EM radiation with a breathing cycle of said patient taking into account expected differences between the signals received during inhalation and the signals received during exhalation. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein said EM radiation passes through the intrabody region. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein said dielectric related change reflects a change in a plurality of properties of said intrabody region. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable monitoring device of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of properties comprises a member of a group consisting of a density, a size, a shape, and a concentration of fluids. 
     
     
         9 . A method for monitoring an intrabody region, comprising:
 intercepting electromagnetic (EM) radiation from the at least one intrabody region of a patient performing a stress examination test in at least one EM radiation session;   calculating a dielectric related change of the at least one intrabody region by analyzing respective said intercepted EM radiation, and   detecting a fluid accumulation rate and/or a fluid amount in the lungs during said stress examination test according to said dielectric related change; and   outputting a notification indicating said accumulation rate and/or said fluid amount.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said fluid accumulation is a blood accumulation.