Abstract: A system and method for monitoring lung water content of a patient. The system may include microwave sensors and a processor. The system may transmit microwave signals into, and receive microwave signals from, the thorax of a patient using the microwave sensors. The received microwave signals may each have at least one frequency component with a magnitude and a phase. The system may analyze the phase of the received microwave signal corresponding to a first pair of the microwave signals to monitor changes in the lung water content. The system may analyze the magnitude of the received microwave signal corresponding to a second, different pair of the microwave sensors to determine whether the lung water content is increasing or decreasing. The system may also analyze the received microwave signals to determine a blood pressure indicator and to determine lung water content.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring lung water content of a patient. The system may include at least two microwave sensors and a processor. The system may transmit one or more microwave signals into the thorax of a patient using one or more of the microwave sensors. The system may then receive one or more of the microwave signals using one or more of the microwave sensors. The one or more received microwave signals may each have at least one associated frequency component with a magnitude and a phase. The system may analyze the phase of one or more received microwave signals to monitor changes in the lung water content. The system may analyze the magnitude of one or more received microwave signals to determine whether the lung water content is increasing or decreasing.

Abstract: A microwave stethoscope measurement method and sensor design employ a microwave transmission sensor and a microwave reception sensor placed on a patient's chest in spaced-apart side-by-side configuration for monitoring patient vital signs, lung water content and other critical measurements. The side-by-side sensors are spaced apart a separation distance of about 1-3 cm in lateral chest orientation. The sensors may be formed with a textile fabric for wearer comfort and to improve contact with the patient's skin. The microwave sensor measurements are digitally processed using a modified short time Fourier Transform (STFT) spectrum windowed-averaged algorithm. Output data extracted from the microwave sensor measurements may be transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device such as a smartphone for remote monitoring of the patient's medical condition.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring lung water content of a patient. The system may include at least two microwave sensors and a processor. The system may transmit one or more microwave signals into the thorax of a patient using one or more of the microwave sensors. The system may then receive one or more of the microwave signals using one or more of the microwave sensors. The one or more received microwave signals may each have at least one associated frequency component with a magnitude and a phase. The system may analyze the phase of one or more received microwave signals to monitor changes in the lung water content. The system may analyze the magnitude of one or more received microwave signals to determine whether the lung water content is increasing or decreasing.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring lung water content of a patient. The system may include at least two microwave sensors and a processor. The system may transmit one or more microwave signals into the thorax of a patient using one or more of the microwave sensors. The system may then receive one or more of the microwave signals using one or more of the microwave sensors. The one or more received microwave signals may each have at least one associated frequency component with a magnitude and a phase. The system may analyze the phase of one or more received microwave signals to monitor changes in the lung water content. The system may analyze the magnitude of one or more received microwave signals to determine whether the lung water content is increasing or decreasing.

Abstract: A microwave stethoscope measurement method and sensor design employ a microwave transmission sensor and a microwave reception sensor placed on a patient's chest in spaced-apart side-by-side configuration for monitoring patient vital signs, lung water content and other critical measurements. The side-by-side sensors are spaced apart a separation distance of about 1-3 cm in lateral chest orientation. The sensors may be formed with a textile fabric for wearer comfort and to improve contact with the patient's skin. The microwave sensor measurements are digitally processed using a modified short time Fourier Transform (STFT) spectrum windowed-averaged algorithm. Output data extracted from the microwave sensor measurements may be transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device such as a smartphone for remote monitoring of the patient's medical condition.

Abstract: A slotted TEM transmission line and an in-situ TEM transmission line are utilized to determine both complex permittivity and permeability of soil. The permittivity and permeability information may be used by underground sensing techniques such as GPR and EMI to enhance information from these techniques. The in-situ probe provides that both complex permittivity and permeability can be measured simultaneously over a broad frequency range without disturbing the soil conditions.

Abstract: A slotted TEM transmission line and an in-situ TEM transmission line are utilized to determine both complex permittivity and permeability of soil. The permittivity and permeability information may be used by underground sensing techniques such as GPR and EMI to enhance information from these techniques. The in-situ probe provides that both complex permittivity and permeability can be measured simultaneously over a broad frequency range without disturbing the soil conditions.

Abstract: A phase shifter comprises a substrate, a ground plane formed on a first surface of the substrate, a support structure positioned on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, three parallel, non-co-planar microstrip lines supported by the support structure above the second surface of the substrate, a ferrite element supported by the support structure between the second surface of the substrate and the three non-co-planar microstrip lines, and means for applying a magnetic field to the ferrite element.

Abstract: An improved continuous transverse stub (CTS) antenna has coplanar waveguide (CPW) feed elements spaced apart aligned in parallel and mounted perpendicular to a planar substrate base made of a low dielectric material. A continuous transverse stub extends perpendicularly through a clearance gap in the CPW feed elements on the ground plane of the substrate base. The antenna is fed with a simple coplanar waveguide transmission line formed by the parallel CPW elements. The antenna employs the coplanar waveguide with CTS technology, preferably in a planar microstrip configuration, to produce a broadside radiation pattern with a maximum in the +z direction, perpendicular to the plane of the antenna. The CPW-CTS antenna offers the advantages of a broadside radiation pattern, low input impedance, high radiation efficiency, low fabrication cost, use of simple coaxial or microstrip transmission line feed, and simple integration with microstrip circuitry in a transceiver front-end.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for processing a ceramic material includes placing the ceramic material in a microwave heating apparatus having a microwave cavity; subjecting the ceramic material to a combination of microwave radiation and conventional heat; and controlling the uniformity of the processing of the ceramic material so as to avoid deformations and cracking by applying the microwave radiation to the ceramic material through at least one branched slotted waveguide which substantially uniformly distributes the microwave radiation throughout the microwave cavity.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for processing a ceramic material includes placing the ceramic material in a microwave heating apparatus having a microwave cavity; subjecting the ceramic material to a combination of microwave radiation and conventional heat; and controlling the uniformity of the processing of the ceramic material so as to avoid deformations and cracking by applying the microwave radiation to the ceramic material through at least one branched slotted waveguide which substantially uniformly distributes the microwave radiation throughout the microwave cavity.

Abstract: A continuous transverse stub element array structure which forms a coaxial geometry formed from a plurality of cylindrical segments, wherein each of the cylindrical segments has a rim at a top end and a bottom end, wherein each rim extends transversely away from the cylindrical segment relative to a longitudinal axis thereof to thereby form a stub element, wherein the individual cylindrical transverse stub elements are aligned end-to-end to thereby form a coaxial cable structure which surrounds a central core material. The series of these stubs form reactive or radiating elements for microwave, millimeter-wave, and quasi-optical filters and antennas. Purely reactive elements are formed by leaving the conductive coating on the terminus of the stub elements, whereas radiating elements are formed when stub elements of moderate radius are opened to free space.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for time-domain tracking of high-speed chemical reactions. The apparatus of the present invention includes an RF heating system for heating a reaction zone and a probe system in the reaction zone for measuring the complex permittivity in the reaction volume. A feedback system controls the RF source by adjusting the frequency of the RF source as a function of the relaxation frequency as determined by the permittivity measured by the probe system. Advantageously, the novel apparatus and method of this invention is particularly useful for RF dielectric heating to recover products from oil shales since it was found that the optimum RF frequency for heating oil shale changes rapidly as the kerogen is heated to elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for time-domain tracking of high-speed chemical reactions. The apparatus of this invention includes a feedback system for controlling the RF frequency of an RF radiator system to thereby provide the optimum RF frequency for heating the reaction. The apparatus and method of this invention are particularly useful in the recovery of products from oil shale wherein the oil shale is heated by RF dielectric heating and the feedback system adjusts the RF frequency as the permittivity of the oil shale changes during the heating process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling electromagnetic energy into a dielectric material such as tissue while substantially reducing external leakage of the energy. The apparatus may also be used as a receiver for electromagnetic energy transmitted through tissue. The apparatus includes an open transmission line which is inherently non-radiating and may be configurated with a centrally disposed, central strip conductor. A ground plane conductor is placed in spaced relationship to the central strip conductor and on both sides of the central strip conductor. Alternatively, the central strip conductor may be placed in spaced relationship to one side of a ground plane conductor. The central strip conductor is terminated with a resistor of resistance equal to the characteristic impedance of the open transmission line.