Optical Imaging for Anesthesia Awareness Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for monitoring patient awareness and pain during medical procedures are inefficient, expensive, and lack objectivity, often relying on heuristics and impractical imaging techniques like MRI, leading to potential unconscious awareness or unaddressed pain during anesthesia.

Innovation Solution

The use of optical imaging systems to measure hemodynamic parameters in specific brain regions, such as the somatosensory and frontal cortices, to identify patterns indicative of awareness or pain, including sequential blood flow peaks and time delays, providing a more objective and cost-effective method for monitoring patient consciousness and pain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If functional MR imaging is used to monitor brain activity, then awareness detection is possible, but equipment unavailability, large physical size, and high operating costs make it impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveawareness detection accuracyVSAvoidequipment complexity and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical imaging systems (MRI) with optical measurement systems. Optical sensors detect hemodynamic changes in the brain using light absorption properties, substituting the need for large, expensive MRI equipment with smaller, more practical optical devices that can be used during medical procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs cost-effective optical sensors and disposable elements instead of expensive, complex MRI equipment. The optical measurement system uses inexpensive light sources and detectors that can be continuously monitored during procedures without requiring the high infrastructure costs of MRI facilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Adaptability or versatility

If heuristics and anesthesiologist experience are used for dosing, then flexibility is maintained, but measurement precision and objectivity are insufficient leading to unintended awareness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosing flexibilityVSAvoidawareness detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time feedback monitoring where optical sensors continuously detect brain hemodynamic changes during anesthesia. This objective feedback signal allows anesthesiologists to adjust dosing based on actual physiological responses rather than solely on heuristics and experience, improving both precision and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes subjective clinical judgment with objective optical measurement systems. The optical sensors provide quantifiable, real-time data on brain activity that replaces the need for anesthesiologists to rely entirely on their experience and heuristics for dosing decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If regional anesthetics are used to render part of the body insensitive, then the subject remains conscious and can communicate, but heavy sedation is administered to reduce stress which may incapacitate communication about pain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestress reductionVSAvoidpain communication capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses real-time optical monitoring to detect brain activity indicators of pain and awareness during regional anesthesia. This feedback allows the anesthesiologist to adjust sedation levels dynamically, ensuring the patient remains comfortable while preserving the ability to communicate pain sensations through objective neural signal detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for continuous, real-time monitoring of patient awareness and pain, reducing the risk of unintended consciousness or unmanaged pain during procedures, and objectively evaluating the efficacy of analgesic compounds.

Implementation Method 1

blood flow is measured by detecting optical signals from oxygenated hemoglobin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

performing optical imaging using a optical imaging system on at least one cortical region of the brain of the subject

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical imaging:

Data Source

PatentUS8951202B2Recognizing awareness in an anesthetized subject

Publication Date: 2015.02.10 BORSOOK DAVID

AI summary

A method for recognizing awareness in a subject includes performing optical imaging on at least one cortical region of the brain of the subject. Optical imaging data are obtained over time measuring one or more hemodynamic parameters in the at least one cortical region of the subject's brain. An observed variation pattern is determined in the measured hemodynamic parameters, and the observed variation pattern is compared to one or more known variation patterns characteristic of awareness. Substantial similarity between the observed and known variation patterns signals awareness in the subject.