초록 ▼

An electrode assembly adapted to be attached to the skin over selected facial muscle groups picks up signals to be analyzed by an anesthesia adequacy monitor that measures the level of awareness of a living animal, typically a human being. The electrode assembly also includes a stimulator that stimu

An electrode assembly adapted to be attached to the skin over selected facial muscle groups picks up signals to be analyzed by an anesthesia adequacy monitor that measures the level of awareness of a living animal, typically a human being. The electrode assembly also includes a stimulator that stimulates a facial nerve to determine the level of paralysis, or neuro muscular block, of the facial muscles. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the electrode assembly by printing a pattern of electrically conductive material through a silk-screen or an ink type process onto a flexible layer, and then coating the result with a non-conducting adhesive except at points corresponding to sensing points for the desired muscle groups. Finally, a method for using such sensing and stimulating devices is shown in determining and maintaining an appropriate level of patient awareness, muscle paralysis, and analgesia under anesthesia.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. An apparatus for indicating the consciousness of a person, comprising in combination:(A) an array of facial muscle sensors adapted to generate sensor signals representing the simultaneous activity of at least four different facial muscle areas, each of which elicit distinctive pa

[ We claim:] [1.]1. An apparatus for indicating the consciousness of a person, comprising in combination:(A) an array of facial muscle sensors adapted to generate sensor signals representing the simultaneous activity of at least four different facial muscle areas, each of which elicit distinctive patterns of facial expressions of the person;(B) a sensor signal processor operatively coupled to the sensors to receive the sensor signals from the facial muscle sensors and, based on the sensor signals, automatically generate an output signal indicating the consciousness of the person;wherein the facial muscle sensors are surface electromyograms adapted to be physically attached the person's face in positions allowing the monitoring of the different facial muscles: andalso having: (i) a facial muscle stimulator adapted to activate a facial nerve in at least one of said facial muscle areas, and (ii) a facial nerve processor adapted to (a) receive sensor signals from the facial muscles sensors in said nerve-activated facial muscle area, (b) determine a paralysis level for said nerve-activated facial muscle area, and (c) adjust the sensor signal processor's generation of at least a portion of the output signal according to the determined paralysis level, whereby the output signal indicates the consciousness of the person despite partial paralysis of the nerve-activated facial muscle area.