Paralysis monitoring system
OwnerRobert S. Bray, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A paralysis monitoring system can be utilized during various medical procedures. Generally, the system is used during procedures involving anesthesia, when general paralysis is necessary, e.g., during surgery that requires cutting through or mobilizing muscle tissue. The paralysis monitoring system stimulates a nerve with low voltage signals and can provide for continuous monitoring and recording of the evoked muscle activity throughout and after a procedure. By monitoring a quantitative response of the muscle activity to nerve stimulation, an anesthesiologist may adjust subsequent doses of a paralytic agent to achieve a desired level of paralysis.
Claims20
A paralysis monitoring system comprising:
- a nerve stimulation device configured to deliver a series of low voltage electrical impulses to a nerve, wherein the low voltage electrical impulses are 4 millivolts or less;
- wherein the nerve stimulation device is configured to transmit the low voltage electrical impulses to a patient based on a body mass index of the patient;
- wherein the nerve stimulation device is configured to transmit the low voltage electrical impulses in the range of about 0.5 millivolts to 1.5 millivolts to patients having a body mass index in a first range;
- wherein the nerve stimulation device is configured to transmit the low voltage electrical impulses in the range of about 1.5 millivolts to 4 millivolts to patients having a body mass index in a second range that is higher than the first range;
- a first recording device configured to record electrical activity associated with an evoked muscle response to the nerve stimulation device;
- a second recording device configured to record electrical activity associated with the series of low voltage electrical impulses to the nerve;
- wherein the first recording device is configured to be placed over a target muscle group associated with the nerve;
- and
- wherein the second recording device is configured to be disposed away from the target muscle group.
A method of administering a paralysis agent to a patient, the method comprising:
- attaching a nerve stimulation device to a patient's anatomy that includes a nerve;
- attaching a first recording device to the patient's anatomy that includes a target muscle group associated with the nerve, wherein the first recording device is configured to record electrical activity associated with an evoked muscle response in the target muscle group to the nerve stimulation device;
- attaching a second recording device to the patient's anatomy that is disposed away from the target muscle group, wherein the second recording device is configured to record electrical activity associated with electrical impulses to the nerve from the nerve stimulation device;
- administering a first dose of a paralysis agent to the patient;
- transmitting a series of low voltage electrical impulses from the nerve stimulation device to the patient, wherein the low voltage electrical impulses are 4 millivolts or less;
- receiving, in response to the low voltage electrical impulses, a first response signal corresponding to the evoked muscle response in the target muscle group of the patient at the first recording device;
- receiving, in response to the low voltage electrical impulses, a second response signal corresponding to the electrical activity in the patient's anatomy that is disposed away from the target muscle group at the second recording device;
- using information related to the first response signal and the second response signal to determine an amount of the paralysis agent to administer as a second dose;
- and
- administering the second dose of the paralysis agent to the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.