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Measurement of autonomic function

a measurement and function technology, applied in the field of measuring autonomic function, can solve the problems of lack of consistency in manufacture, lack of useful information to be obtained, and inability to use uniformly,

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-04-17
BIOGRAPHS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] It is yet a further object of the invention to teach a device and method which allows consistent quantifiable measurement of pain.

Problems solved by technology

Data gathered with high offset sensors would lead to inconsistent measurements and the conclusion that there was no useful information to be obtained this way.
One was a lack of consistency in manufacture.
Still another was a lack of consistency in use.
In addition, if the examiner fails to fill one of the cups completely to the brim, this may introduce a difference between the area of contact of the two recording electrodes that also may produce a smaller coupled signal.
Occasionally, good readings can be taken, such as those selected for the posters, but they cannot be obtained consistently with the type of sensor methodolgy shown in the posters even with trained personnel in the time conscious environment of a clinical setting.
Levengood and Gedye in U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,238 utilize some of the same hardware as the disclosed invention but their method has great limitations.
Since the magnitude of the coupled resistance loaded signal is affected by the area of contact, even very slight variations in pressure produce artifacts, namely variations in the recording.
Levengood's method is further limited by its use of solid metals.
Thus the other cited prior art does not teach the disclosed method.
None of the cited prior art deals with offset potentials of the sensors used.
Without consideration of offset potentials, the weak two site voltage difference cannot be measured accurately.

Method used

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  • Measurement of autonomic function
  • Measurement of autonomic function
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Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

example 1

[0059]FIGS. 3a and b show examples of the graphic display of a reading on a computer, showing effects of a known ANS trigger. Specifically, FIG. 3a shows distress in a cat. The sensors were placed on the cat's paws. The computerized trace shows a rise in sympathetic tone (upward movement on the Y-axis) known to be associated with distress in animals caused by proximity of an operating vacuum cleaner. Vacuum was switched on at 107 seconds (X-axis) and moved closer until at 140 seconds after measurement began, the cat fled the device.

[0060]FIG. 3b shows a human doing controlled breathing: Trace rising and falling (re. Y-axis) illustrates the known ANS effects of controlled breathing. Inhalation causes a rise in sympathetic tone (rise in trace on graph) and exhalation causes a rise in parasympathetic (i.e. vagal) tone (fall in trace). This 41 year old female human was inhaling for 5 seconds (x-axis), followed by exhaling for 5 seconds, for approximately one minute. This type of contro...

example 2

[0061]FIG. 4 shows epilepsy-like alterations in ANS activity: Reading depicted on strip chart recorder is for a 75 year old male with sporadic, pronounced, and uncontrollable hand tremors. As is known to happen with some types of epilepsy, the seizure-like activity occurs at the peak of a rise in sympathetic tone (rise of trace on Y-axis) and is immediately followed by a strong rise in parasympathetic tone (shown by a fall in subject's trace on the Y-axis) as the body attempts to restore homeostasis. This example depicts how the proposed method may help diagnose non-manifesting forms of epilepsy, as well as catch epileptic-like activity early in its development with a subject before it grows into full-blown seizures. Likewise, such measurements might help the physician titrate the dosage of seizure medications.

example 3

[0062]FIGS. 5a-d show dental pain in 51 year old male human, depicted on strip chart recorder. In FIG. 5a, the subject reports substantial pain. Trace is well below the X axis, indicating moderate to severe pain. In FIG. 5b, the same subject is shown 20 minutes after ingestion of oxycodone (½ tablet of 5 / 500TA). Trace is rising slightly. In FIG. 5c, 70 minutes after oxycodone ingestion, half of trace is above X-axis. Subject reports significant pain relief. In FIG. 5d, 180 minutes after oxycodone ingestion, subject is pain free and trace is completely above X-axis in 3 separate measurements. Oxycodone is known to take 3 hours to achieve its full effect.

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Abstract

The present invention is an article of manufacture and method for using same, comprising at least two sensors having a paired offset potential of below about + / −1.0 mV; and a data gathering device connected to the sensors capable of measuring the voltage difference between the sensors. The sensors preferably are AgCl coated Silver.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based on provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 837,658 filed Aug. 15, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to methods of detecting and quantifying nociception and pain, and devices and components related thereto. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The autonomic nervous system (ANS) governs the functioning of numerous organs in the body of humans and other mammals. Yet there exists no quick, simple, inexpensive, or reliable test to measure the full range of autonomic function in an individual, nor its current state. [0004] The two major components of the ANS are the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Nerves from both usually innervate the organs they control. Thus organ performance is the result of the interplay of both PNS and SNS. A measure of either SNS or PNS is not very useful in assessing the condition of the subject. For example, a subject may have high PNS tone without...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A61B5/0408A61B5/04A61B5/296
CPCA61B5/04001A61B5/6825A61B5/4824A61B5/4035A61B2562/0215A61B5/24A61B5/388
Inventor BURKE, JOHN
Owner BIOGRAPHS
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