Apparatus and method for non-invasive detection of strictures in conductive fluid conduits

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A method and apparatus are disclosed for noninvasively detecting the location of a constriction in a vessel through which a conductive fluid is flowing by externally measuring the streaming potentials generated by the flowing fluid. In an exemplary embodiment the present in-, vention detects the location of atherosclerotic lesions in human arteries through which the blood is being pumped in a pulsatile manner. The lesion creates a turbulent flow in the blood which in turn results in a significantly larger streaming potential being generated. The apparatus comprises two closely spaced apart, passive electrodes which can be, relatively movably mounted on a housing and a voltage detecting …