Patent ID: 7460963

Claim:
Device for health monitoring of an area of a structural element comprising at least one dielectric material of dielectric permittivity ε r comprising: (A) means of emission of electromagnetic radiation extending in a direction, the electromagnetic field generating an electric field in the area, (B) detection means suitable for measuring a first measured component of an electric field, along a first direction of detection, and (C) calculation means suitable for obtaining a value of the dielectric permittivity ε r in the area on the basis of the first measured component, in which the structural element is an inhomogeneous structural element comprising an imperfectly conducting material, of electrical conductivity σ, in which the means of emission is means of emission of magnetic radiation that is suitable for generating a magnetic field, the magnetic field being, at the area, equivalent to a magnetic field emitted by a magnetic dipole extending in the direction, and in which the calculation means is furthermore suitable for obtaining a value of the electrical conductivity σ in the area on the basis of the first measured component.