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

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, vitality of seeds, etc.

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.

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, processor 20 can note the change of sign of the digital signals 
so as to indicate a desired parameter or parameters of the living 
organism. It should also be noted that processor 20 can provide an output 
signal indicative of more than one parameter of the living organism from a 
single series of tests of the potential level of the electromagnetic 
field. Furthermore, processor 20 can provide an output signal indicative 
of any function involving the interrelationship of two or more parameters 
of the same organisms over time. 
In some of the applications of the device and method of the present 
invention, one or more of the digital signals are analyzed by processor 20 
to provide the output signal indicative of the parameter of the living 
organism under test. It has been found, for example, when the period of 
the electromagnetic field is long, for example, 30 seconds, a digital 
sample of the analog signal should be taken once every sixth of a second. 
Under this test routine, 180 samples of the electromagnetic field are 
taken within the course of a 30 second test period, which corresponds 
roughly to the period of the electromagnetic field. These 180 digital data 
are normalized and summed to provide an average or mean value of the 
electromagnetic field over the 30 second test period. This average signal 
constitutes the output signal indicative of the parameter of the living 
organism under test. The sign of the output signal can also be indicative 
of the parameter or parameters. 
Processor 20 can take any suitable mechanization, for example, a program 
controlled microprocessor system, as described below. In addition, 
processor 20 could take the form of a hard-wire system without a program 
control. All that is required is one or more digital signals be used as 
samples to provide the output signal indicative of the parameter or 
parameters of the living organism. 
The output signal from processor 20 is provided to a utilization device, 
designated generally by reference numeral 22. Utilization device 22 can 
take any number of suitable forms. For example, utilization device 22 
could be in the form of a visual display, typically disposed on the front 
of the test instrument. The visual display could either be a numerical 
display of the potential level and/or polarity of the electromagnetic 
field over the course of the test period, or could be a light or sound 
that either indicates the presence or absence of the parameter or 
parameters being measured. In addition, utilization device 22 could take 
the form of a storage device for storing the output signal or signals, so 
that output signals over successive tests could be retained for future 
analysis. Furthermore, utilization device 22 could take the form of a 
telemetry unit for transmitting the output signal to a receiving station. 
Other forms of the utilization device 22 are contemplated by this 
invention. 
Reference electrode 12 and test electrode 14 can take any suitable form. 
However, neither of these electrodes should cause a substantial battery 
effect between itself and the point of the living organism under test. One 
suitable form for either electrode 12 or electrode 14 which does not 
produce a substantial battery effect is that which utilizes a concentrated 
NaCl material 100 disposed between the living organism 10 and the surface 
of a layer 102, substantially silver chloride (AgCl), of the electrode 13, 
as shown in FIG. 2. Electrically attached to the silver chloride layer 102 
is another layer 104, substantially made up of silver (Ag). The electrode 
lead 106, in turn, is electrically attached to the silver electrode 104. 
This configuration for the electrode 13 prevents any substantial battery 
effect from being created between the living organism 10 and electrode 13. 
In addition, an insulated housing (not shown) can be provided around 
electrode 13 to reduce undesired electromagnetic interference and to guard 
against leakage. 
The NaCl material 100 can be obtained from several commercial sources, 
including Beckman Instruments, Inc., of the United States. In addition, 
PolySciences, Inc., of the United States produces a NaCl polymer material 
which also performs the same function as the NaCl material. The NaCl 
polymer or colloid material is particularly advantageous because it allows 
an electrode 13 of any desired shape or configuration to be fabricated. 
Thus, for example, measurements down to the molecular level can be 
achieved using micro-pipette type electrodes. It should be noted that 
other forms for material 100 are contemplated by the present invention. 
A preferred embodiment of the device for implementing the method of 
detecting the potential level of the electromagnetic field present between 
a reference point and a test point or points of a living organism of the 
present invention is shown in FIG. 3. The system shown in FIG. 3 is a 
microprocessor based system whose processor 20 can provide, for example, a 
statistical function of the digital signals provided by the 
analog-to-digital converter 18. Like numbers between FIGS. 1 and 3 refer 
to the same basic functional components between the block diagram system 
of FIG. 1 and the actual embodiment of FIG. 3. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, an input 202 is connected to test electrode 14 
(not shown). Similarly, an input 204 is connected to the reference 
electrode 12 (not shown). Input 204 is also connected to electrical 
ground. 
Input 202 is connected to the input of the low pass filter contained within 
dashed-line box 16. Low pass filter 16 is made up of a resistor 206 
connected between input 202 and electrical ground. A resistor 208 is 
connected between input 202 and the input 210 of the analog-to-digital 
converter 18. A capacitor 212 is connected between input 210 and 
electrical ground. 
The input impedance of analog-to-digital converter 18 is of a very high 
value, for example, 1,000 megohm range, because the input active devices 
of analog-to-digital converter 18 are MOSFET's. Consequently, resistor 208 
is used to shunt this value to the 10 megohm range. In this case, the 
resistance value for resistor 206 is approximately 10 megohms. Resistor 
206 thus functions as setting the input impedance of analog-to-digital 
converter 18. 
Resistor 208 acts as a current limiter so that the analog-to-digital 
converter 18 is prevented from being burned out in the event that input 
204 is connected to a high voltage source accidentally. Resistor 208 also 
prevents charge build-up from occurring on the input active devices of 
analog-to-digital converter 18 which could result in their being damaged 
substantially. Because of the very high input impedance exhibited by the 
input active devices of analog-to-digital converter 18, charges tend to 
build-up on these devices which can cause electrical failure. Resistor 208 
also prevents this. 
Capacitor 216 and resistor 208 also function as a low pass filter. The 3 dB 
frequency cutoff point of this RC combination is set so as to pass signals 
having a frequency below a preselected point. For example, the preselected 
frequency point can be 100 Hertz. 
Analog-to-digital converter 18 provides a binary-coded-decimal (BCD) output 
on lines A0 through A7 as a digital signal representation of the analog 
signal present at its input 210. Analog-to-digital converter 18 can be of 
any suitable type. One presently available version for analog-to-digital 
converter 18 is that designated as the MC14433 made by the Motorola 
Corporation of the United States. 
The CA1 line from analog-to-digital converter 18 is an end of conversion 
signal indicating that the sample present on the BCD output lines is 
indeed a proper digital signal representation of the analog signal present 
at the input 210. In the case of the MC14433, the EOC signal present on 
line CA1 occurs on the rising edge of the pulse. The analog-to-digital 
converter MC14433 is of the dual slope conversion type. That is to say, a 
set time period is used to cause the analog signal present at the input 
210 to charge a known capacitor. Thereafter, a known current source is 
used as a means for discharging this known capacitor. The time that it 
takes to discharge the signal present on the known capacitor indicates the 
digital level of the analog signal present at the input 210. In the event 
that the capacitor cannot be discharged by the known current source within 
the time period, an over-range (OR) signal is provided on line CA2. This 
over-range signal indicates that the signal present on the BCD outputs is 
not indicative of the analog signal present on input 210. 
A voltage reference is required to be applied to the input 218 of 
analog-to-digital converter 18. The voltage reference signal must be very 
precise. One suitable form for providing the voltage reference signal is 
that of using a voltage reference 220 whose input is connected to a 
voltage source, for example, 5 volts. The output of voltage reference 
source 220 is connected via a resistor 222 to input 218 and also to 
electrical ground. The value of resistor 222 sets the voltage level 
present on line 218. One example voltage level is that of 0.2 volts. 
The sample rate of the analog-to-digital converter 18 is set by a capacitor 
224 and a resistor 226. Analog-to-digital converter 18 has a fixed sample 
rate set by capacitor 224 and resistor 216 and, thus, provides a BCD 
output signal to data bus 216 after each sample time period has lapsed. A 
representative sample time is that of one sixth of a second. 
Capacitors 226 and 228 are for purposes of stabilization and are well-known 
in the art. 
The digital signal, in BCD format, is provided by an eight bit parallel bus 
216 to the port A input of a parallel interface adapter 230. In addition, 
the CA1 signal on line 212 and the CA2 signal on line 214 are also applied 
as inputs to parallel interface adapter 230. 
Parallel interface adapter 230 is a slave of the microprocessor, designated 
generally by reference numeral 232. The parallel interface adapter 230 
provides the BCD signal from port A to the microprocessor data bus 234 on 
command from the microprocessor 232. Similarly, parallel interface adapter 
230 on command from microprocessor 232 provides the output signal on 
microprocessor bus 234 to the utilization device 22. 
Parallel interface adapter 230 can take any suitable form. One suitable 
type, for example, is that of the MC6821 manufactured by the Motorola 
Corporation. Other suitable forms for the parallel interface adapter 230 
are contemplated by the present invention. 
Microprocessor 232 controls the operation of the parallel interface adapter 
230 in the following fashion. Microprocessor 232 first polls the status 
register associated with CA1 and CA2 signals. This status register has a 
hexidecimal address, for example, of 0080, a shown in the system memory 
map of FIG. 4, discussed below. This polling of the status register 
containing the CA1 and CA2 signals is performed by microprocessor 232 by 
providing a read signal on a line 236, a selected register address signal 
on lines 238 and 240, an enabled (E) signal on a line 242, and a valid 
memory address (VMA) signal on a line 244. In addition, the A7 address 
signal on line 246 applied to the chip select 1 (CS1) input of parallel 
interface adapter 230 must be in the high state, while the A15 address 
signal on a line 248 applied to the chip select 2 (CS2) must also be in 
the low state. 
This addressing scheme for the parallel interface adapter 230 eliminates 
the need for providing the entire 16 line address to parallel interface 
adapter 230 from microprocessor 232. In other words, the presence of an 
address signal on line 246, corresponding to the A7 address output, 
indicates that the microprocessor is operating in the system memory map 
above its random access memory (RAM), as shown by the system memory map of 
FIG. 4. In addition, the actions of an address signal on the A15 line 248 
indicates that the microprocessor is operating below the read only memory 
(ROM) region of the system memory map, as shown by FIG. 4. 
When the microprocessor 232 has provided the read signal on line 236, the 
enable signal on line 242, the valid memory address signal on line 244, 
and the proper address signals on lines 246 and 248, as well as the 
register select on lines 238 and 240, the parallel interface adapter 230 
provides on the microprocessor data bus 234 the contents of its status 
register at hexidecimal address 0080, which contains the CA1 and CA2 
signals. When this address signal is obtained, the parallel interface 
adapter 230 provides a signal on the microprocessor data bus 234 
indicative of whether a sample is ready to be provided on the 
microprocessor data bus 234 from the port A input. It should be noted that 
the parallel interface adapter 230 for purposes of economy does not 
contain storage registers or latches for the sample signals provided on 
port A. Thus, the microprocessor must obtain the digital signals from the 
date bus 216 as they are provided by the analog-to-digital converter 18. 
This polling of the status registers provides the indication to the 
microprocessor 232 that it must be ready to cause the parallel interface 
adapter 232 to provide the signal at port A to data bus 234. 
If the microprocessor obtains polling information indicating that a signal 
is about to be provided on port A by the analog-to-digital converter 18, 
microprocessor 232 can then cause this signal to be provided by the 
parallel interface adapter to the microprocessor data bus 234. Thereafter, 
the microprocessor 232 can accept this BCD digital signal for processing 
at its data input port. 
By this point in the explanation, it has become apparent that the 
analog-to-digital converter 18 is operating asynchronously with respect to 
the microprocessor system made up of microprocessor 232, parallel 
interface adapter 230 and read only memory (ROM) 250. This asynchronous 
operation means that the digital samples provided by the analog-to-digital 
converter at the sample rates set by capacitor 224 and resistor 226 are 
not provided on command of the microprocessor 232. However, the 
microprocessor 232 makes the decision when to accept these digital signals 
present at its port A of the parallel interface adapter 230. 
The program which controls the operation of the microprocessor 232 is 
stored in the read only memory (ROM) 250. ROM 250 can take any suitable 
form. In most systems contemplated by the device and method of the present 
invention, ROM 250 would only have to have a one kilobyte or two kilobyte 
capacity. In the one kilobyte case, a representative example for ROM 250 
is that of the 2758 made by the Intel Corporation of the United States. In 
the case of the 2 kilobyte ROM 250, a representative example is the 2716 
manufactured by the Intel Corporation. 
Microprocessor 232 reads the program information out of ROM 250 on 
microprocessor data bus 234 by providing ROM 250 with appropriate address 
and control signals. These appropriate control signals consist of (1) an 
appropriate address signal on an address bus 252 which designates the 
storage location in ROM 250 at which the information to be read out is 
located, (2) an inverted enable signal on a line 254, and (3) an enable 
signal CE on a line 256 which is present only when the microprocessor 232 
is operating in the upper portion of the system memory map. The use of the 
signals on lines 254 and 256 eliminate the need for a 16 line address bus 
252 to be provided between microprocessor 232 and ROM 250. In other words, 
the signal on line 256 is absent only when the signal on line A15 is in 
the high state (indicating that the microprocessor 232 is operating above 
the F300 hexidecimal address, as shown in FIG. 4) and that a valid memory 
address signal is present on line 244. The CE signal on line 256 is 
provided at the output of a NAND gate 258 whose inputs are connected 
respectively to the A15 address of microprocessor 232 and the valid memory 
address line 244. 
The inverted enable signal on line 254 is provided by an inverter 260 of 
conventional design connected to the enable line 242. The inversion of the 
enable signal on line 254 is only to accommodate ROM 250. Obviously, the 
non-inverted enable signal could also be used as another one of the 
control signals. 
ROM 250 provides on the microprocessor data bus 234 the information stored 
at the location addressed by microprocessor 232 using the control signal 
scheme discussed above. Thus, ROM 250 only can be read out by 
microprocessor 232. ROM 250 can be programmed using any number of 
presently available methods, such as mask or electronic programming. 
Microprocessor 232, after performing the processing on the digital signals 
provided from the analog-to-digital converter 18 through port A of the 
parallel interface data bus 234. This output signal, in turn, is provided 
at port B of parallel interface adapter 230 to the utilization device 22 
when proper control signals are provided to the parallel interface adapter 
230 by microprocessor 232. The control signals are similar to those used 
with respect to the addressing of port A: (1) a write signal on line 236, 
(2) an enable signal on line 242, (3) an A7 address signal on line 246, 
and (4) the absence of an A15 address signal on line 248. These control 
signals indicate the 0081 hexidecimal address of Port B peripherally, as 
shown by the system map of FIG. 4. It should be noted that the status 
registers for CB1 and CB2 associated with port B of parallel interface 
adapter 230 are not used in the present invention because port B is only 
being used as an output and not as an input port. 
The output signal on port B is provided to a utilization device 22. 
Typically, the output signal on port B is in a BCD format. It should be 
understood, however, that the present invention contemplates other digital 
formats for the output signal. 
One suitable form for the utilization device 22 is that of a visual display 
which displays numerically the value of the output signal. Such a visual 
display could include a digit driver stage 280, which indicates to a 
visual display unit 282 which combination of the four display elements 
(not shown) is to be lighted, and also would include a segment driver 
stage 284 which would cause the various segments of each of the displays 
to be scanned. Since the segments of each display element are scanned at a 
rate faster than the eye can detect, the eye acts as an integrator and 
thus the display appears to be on continuously to the observer. Such a 
scanned display technique is well-known in the art and thus is not 
discussed in detail herein. 
As stated above, utilization device 22 can take any number of other 
suitable forms. For example, utilization device 22 could constitute a 
single output light or audible signal which indicates whether a given 
parameter or parameters of the organism is present or absent (not shown). 
Alternately, utilization device 22 could take the form of a telemetry unit 
or a storage unit (not shown). 
Two representative programs which can be implemented by microprocessor 232 
are shown by the flow charts of FIGS. 5 and 6. 
Referring first to FIG. 5, the reset routine is shown in flow chart form. 
Before this routine is discussed, it should be noted that the 
microprocessor 232 is provided with a reset circuit made up of a momentary 
contact switch 290 connected between the reset input of microprocessor 232 
and electrical ground. A capacitor 291 is connected between the reset 
input and electrical ground. A voltage source, for example, 5 volts, is 
connected via a resistor 292 to capacitor 291. When microprocessor 232 is 
first turned on, the capacitor is in the uncharged state, which causes the 
reset input to be in the low state. At this time, microprocessor 232 is 
automatically caused to be reset. Thereafter, microprocessor 232 can be 
reset by the momentary depression of switch 290, which causes capacitor 
291 to be discharged so that the reset input goes to the low state. The 
reset input of microprocessor 232 is a Schmidt trigger and thus detects 
when the reset input goes to the high state. 
Referring again to FIG. 5, the reset routine is initiated by either turning 
on microprocessor 232 or momentarily depressing switch 290. Either of 
these steps cause the start mode to occur, as indicated by block 500. 
Thereafter, microprocessor 232 initializes the parallel interface adapter 
230, as indicated by block 502. This initialization of parallel interface 
adapter 230 takes the form of setting all of the shift registers and 
control registers of parallel interface adapter 230 to a desired state. 
Once these shift and control registers have been initialized, 
microprocessor 232 then reads the first digital signal sample of the 
analog input at input 210 of analog-to-digital converter 18, as indicated 
by block 504. The digital signal provided at port A is then supplied by 
microprocessor 232 to the utilization device 22, where display 282 
provides the visual display of the actual potential level of the 
electromagnetic field present between the reference and test electrodes. 
The display of this digital signal is indicated by block 506. A do loop 
for this voltmeter function of the device of the present invention of FIG. 
3 is indicated by line 508. This continuous reading of each sample 
provided by analog-to-digital converter 18 continues until the operator 
causes the microprocessor 232 to enter the run routine. 
Microprocessor 232 enters the run routine when a nonmaskable interrupt 
signal is provided to the nonmaskable interrupt input of microprocessor 
232. The nonmaskable interrupt signal is provided by momentarily 
depressing a switch 293, connected between the nonmaskable interrupt input 
and electrical ground. A voltage source, for example, 5 volts, is 
connected via a resistor 295 to the nonmaskable interrupt signal. Thus, 
when switch 292 is depressed, the signal present on the nonmaskable 
interrupt input goes to the low state, causing the microprocessor 232 to 
interrupt the reset routine and start the run routine. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, the provision of the non-maskable interrupt signal 
which initiates the run routine is indicated by block 600. Once the 
nonmaskable interrupt signal has been provided, microprocessor 232 
initializes all timers and registers in the system, as indicated by block 
602. Thereafter, microprocessor 232 reads the first digital signal sample 
present on port A from analog-to-digital converter 18, as indicated by 
block 604. This digital signal is then normalized by dividing it by the 
total number of samples of the test. For example, when the period of the 
test is 30 seconds and a sampling rate of one-sixth of a second is being 
used, the normalization would be provided by dividing each of the digital 
signal samples by a denominator of 180. This normalization is indicated by 
block 606. The normalized value is then summed with the previous data 
values, as indicated by block 608. Thus, a running sum of the normalized 
values is obtained as the microprocessor executes the program contained in 
ROM 250 during the course of the run routine. The microprocessor then 
determines whether the full number of test samples have been obtained. For 
example, if 180 test samples have not been obtained, the test is still 
ongoing and the run routine is continued. This testing of whether the 
number of test samples has been obtained is indicated by the IF block 610. 
In the event that the total number of samples have not been obtained, a do 
loop 612 causes the run routine to go back to reading an additional 
sample, as indicated by block 604. Thereafter, the routine is continued 
through block 604 to block 608 and another decision is made by the IF 
block 610 to decide whether the total number of samples have been 
obtained. 
Once the total number of samples have been obtained, the sum indicated by 
block 608 constitutes the total sum of all of the samples during the 
period of the test. Thereafter, microprocessor 232 causes this sum to be 
displayed by the utilization device 282, as indicated by block 612. 
It is apparent to those skilled in the art that other processing routines 
could be utilized in accordance with the device and method of the present 
invention so as to provide an output signal indicative of one or more 
parameters of the living organism as indicated by the state of the 
electromagnetic field. The reset and run routines shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, 
respectively, are thus representative and are not limiting to the routines 
which can be performed in accordance with the device and method of present 
invention. 
FIG. 4 shows the system memory map of the system shown in FIG. 3. As shown, 
the random access memory (RAM) is contained between the hexidecimal 
address 0000 and 007F. The register selects in the parallel interface 
adapter 230 are contained between hexidecimal addresses 0080 and 0083. The 
portion of the memory map between hexidecimal addresses 0084 and F2FF, 
which constitutes an approximate 61 kilobyte address space, is unused in 
the present system. The hexidecimal addresses above F300 are used for 
addressing ROM 250. 
As is apparent, the 16 bit address is used in the system shown in FIG. 3. 
Thus, 64 kilobytes of addresses are available. It should be understood 
that any address scheme could be used by the device and method of the 
present invention, including an 8 bit or 12 bit address scheme. 
EXAMPLE 1 
The device and method of the present invention has been used experimentally 
to assess the time of ovulation of human subjects. Eight test subjects 
were used. A total of sixteen cycles were assessed. The potential level 
between the index fingers, middle fingers, and thumbs was measured and 
these values were averaged for each daily test. The electrodes described 
with respect to FIG. 2 were used and these electrodes included an 
insulated housing. Ovulation was indicated by a peak aggregate value of 
the potential level of the electromagnetic field within plus or minus two 
days of ovulation. These ovulation peaks were compared against the time of 
ovulation as indicated by basal body temperature shifts and in some cases 
change in cervical mucus viscosity. In that basal body temperature is 
presently considered one of the most accurate method of assessing the time 
of ovulation, the test results were compared against the basal body 
temperature results. A correlation of 87.5% was obtained. Additional tests 
in this area are now being planned. 
This should be compared to the very inaccurate results obtained by other 
researchers measuring the potential level of the electromagnetic field of 
the subjects using conventional devices. For example, reference is made to 
the results set out in: Poulson, A. Marsh, M.D. and Grant Carter, M.D., 
"Detection of Ovulation by a Method of Change in Finger-Finger 
Electropotential Readings," Contraception, Vol. 18, No. 3, September 1978, 
pages 295-308; Kuhtik, Nellie J., "An Abstract of an Experimental 
Investigation of Ovulation in White Females and Bioelectric Potential 
Differences," Ph.D. Thesis, New York University, 1968. 
EXAMPLE 2 
The device and method of the present invention is being used experimentally 
to assess the presence or absence of breast cancer. The reference 
electrode is disposed on the opposite nipple of the breast under test. 
Normally, four test points per breast are used, with a test point falling 
within each quadrant of the breast under test. The absence of cancer is 
indicated by a positive polarity of the electromagnetic field, while the 
presence of cancer is indicated by negative polarity of the 
electromagnetic field. Additional tests in this area are also ongoing. 
EXAMPLE 3 
The device and method of the present invention has been used experimentally 
to monitor the healing rate of a lesion of a human subject. The reference 
electrode was disposed on the hand not having the lesion, while the test 
electrode was disposed on the lesion. Tests were conducted every day. The 
potential level of the electromagnetic field assumed a substantially 
bell-shaped curve of positive polarity with respect to time. After healing 
had been completed, the potential level assumed a quiescent state. 
While there have been shown and described what are at present considered to 
be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, modifications 
thereto will readily occur to those skilled in the art. It is not desired, 
therefore, that the invention be limited to the specific arrangements 
shown and described, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims 
all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the 
invention.