Measurement of Edema

Abstract

The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for measuring sub-epidermal moisture to provide clinicians with information related to physical conditions and ailments associated with accumulation or depletion of extracellular fluid.

1 .- 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method for detecting preeclampsia in a patient, said method comprising:
 measuring sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) values using a SEM scanner, wherein the SEM scanner comprises one or more sensors and a processor, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure an electrical property of the local tissue of the patient;   obtaining a first SEM value at a first location; obtaining a second SEM value at a second location, wherein said first location and said second location are corresponding locations on a patient's body; and   determining that said patient has preeclampsia when said first SEM value and said second SEM value are both above a predetermined threshold and are also within a predetermined range of each other.   
     
     
         6 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for detecting compartment syndrome at a first location of a patient's skin, the method comprising:
 measuring sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) values using a SEM scanner, wherein the SEM scanner comprises one or more sensors and a processor, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure an electrical property of the local tissue of the patient's skin;   obtaining a first SEM value at said first location, wherein said first location is located in a first compartment of the patient's body;   obtaining a second SEM value at a second location of the patient's skin, wherein said second location is located in a second compartment of the patient's body; and   determining whether the difference between said first SEM value and said second SEM value exceeds a predetermined amount indicative of compartment syndrome.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second locations are symmetric with respect to a centerline of the patient's body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first SEM value exceeding said second SEM value by said predetermined amount is indicative of compartment syndrome at said first location. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said second SEM value exceeding said first SEM value by said predetermined amount is indicative of compartment syndrome at said second location. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first SEM value corresponds to a level of extracellular fluid (ECF) at said first location of the patient's skin, and wherein said second SEM value corresponds to a level of ECF at said second location of the patient's skin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first compartment is a forearm compartment in one arm and said second compartment is the corresponding forearm compartment in the other arm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first compartment is a calf compartment in one leg and said second compartment is the corresponding calf compartment in the other leg. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first compartment is an osteofascial compartment in one hand and said second compartment is the corresponding osteofascial compartment in the other hand. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second SEM values are converted from capacitance measurements. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of bipolar radio frequency (RF) sensors, virtual sensors, and toroidal bioimpedance sensors. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said first SEM value corresponds to a level of extracellular fluid (ECF) at said first location on the patient's body, and wherein said second SEM value corresponds to a level of ECF at said second location on the patient's body. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said first and second locations are symmetric with respect to a centerline of the patient's body. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said first and second SEM values are converted from capacitance measurements. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of bipolar RF sensors, virtual sensors, and toroidal bioimpedance sensors.