Method and apparatus for autonomic nervous system sensitivity-point testing
First Claim
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1. A method for autonomic nervous system sensitivity-point testing on a skin of a patient, the method comprising:
- generating an electrotherapy signal that stimulates a vagal response of an autonomic nervous system of the patient when the patient is tested;
providing an electrically conductive tip that electrically contacts but does not puncture the skin when the patient is tested;
coupling the electrotherapy signal to the electrically conductive tip;
applying the electrotherapy signal to a first portion of the skin with the electrically conductive tip;
applying an electrode to a second portion of the skin, the electrode providing a return signal path for the electrotherapy signal;
measuring a first sympathovagal balance of the patient based on the electrotherapy signal passed through the electrically conductive tip and the electrode, wherein the first sympathovagal balance of the patient is associated with an arrow on a balance trajectory;
wherein the balance trajectory projecting on an abscissa running from smaller numbers to larger numbers such that movement of the balance trajectory toward the smaller numbers along the abscissa corresponds to the vagal response, while movement of the balance trajectory toward the larger numbers along the abscissa corresponds to a sympathetic response; and
determining a response outcome based on the arrow on the balance trajectory of the patient, wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the skin is suitable for electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance moves towards the smaller numbers along the abscissa when the electrotherapy signal is passed through the patient, and wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the skin is unsuitable for the electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance does not move towards smaller numbers along the abscissa, when the electrotherapy signal is passed through the patient.
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Abstract
A method for autonomic nervous system sensitivity-point testing on a skin of a patient is described. The method includes generating an electrotherapy signal that stimulates a vagal response of an autonomic nervous system of the patient when the patient is tested. The method further includes providing an electrically conductive tip that electrically contacts but does not puncture the skin when the patient is tested and coupling the electrotherapy signal to the electrically conductive tip.
84 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for autonomic nervous system sensitivity-point testing on a skin of a patient, the method comprising:
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generating an electrotherapy signal that stimulates a vagal response of an autonomic nervous system of the patient when the patient is tested; providing an electrically conductive tip that electrically contacts but does not puncture the skin when the patient is tested; coupling the electrotherapy signal to the electrically conductive tip; applying the electrotherapy signal to a first portion of the skin with the electrically conductive tip; applying an electrode to a second portion of the skin, the electrode providing a return signal path for the electrotherapy signal; measuring a first sympathovagal balance of the patient based on the electrotherapy signal passed through the electrically conductive tip and the electrode, wherein the first sympathovagal balance of the patient is associated with an arrow on a balance trajectory;
wherein the balance trajectory projecting on an abscissa running from smaller numbers to larger numbers such that movement of the balance trajectory toward the smaller numbers along the abscissa corresponds to the vagal response, while movement of the balance trajectory toward the larger numbers along the abscissa corresponds to a sympathetic response; anddetermining a response outcome based on the arrow on the balance trajectory of the patient, wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the skin is suitable for electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance moves towards the smaller numbers along the abscissa when the electrotherapy signal is passed through the patient, and wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the skin is unsuitable for the electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance does not move towards smaller numbers along the abscissa, when the electrotherapy signal is passed through the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electrical system for autonomic nervous system sensitivity-point testing on a skin of a patient, the electrical system comprising:
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a stimulator apparatus, including; a circuit configured to generate an electrotherapy signal that stimulates a response of an autonomic nervous system of the patient when the patient is tested; an electrically conductive tip configured to electrically contact but not puncture a first portion of the skin when the patient is tested, wherein the electrotherapy signal is coupled to the electrically conductive tip; and an electrode configured to be applied to a second portion of the skin, the electrode configured to provide a return signal path for the electrotherapy signal to facilitate measurement of a first sympathovagal balance of the patient based on the electrotherapy signal passed through the electrically conductive tip and the electrode; and a computing apparatus, including processing circuitry configured to; measure the first sympathovagal balance of the patient based on the electrotherapy signal passed through the electrically conductive tip and the electrode, wherein the first sympathovagal balance of the patient is associated with an arrow on a balance trajectory, the balance trajectory projecting on an abscissa running from smaller numbers to larger numbers such that movement of the balance trajectory toward the smaller numbers along the abscissa corresponds to a vagal response, while movement of the balance trajectory toward the larger numbers along the abscissa corresponds to a sympathetic response; and determining a response outcome based on the arrow on the balance trajectory of the patient, wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the skin is suitable for electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance moves towards the smaller numbers along the abscissa when the electrotherapy signal is passed through the patient, and wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the skin is unsuitable for the electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance does not move towards the smaller numbers along the abscissa, when the electrotherapy signal is passed through the patient. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electrical testing system, comprising:
a stimulator apparatus, including; a battery; a circuit configured to generate a periodic signal in time; an electrically conductive tip configured to electrically contact but not puncture a first portion of a surface when the surface is tested, wherein the periodic signal is coupled to the electrically conductive tip; an electrode configured to be applied to a second portion of the surface, the electrode being configured to provide a return signal path for the periodic signal to facilitate measurement of a first sympathovagal balance of a patient based on the periodic signal passed through the electrically conductive tip and the electrode; and a computing apparatus, including processing circuitry configured to; measure the first sympathovagal balance of the patient based on the periodic signal passed through the electrically conductive tip and the electrode, wherein the first sympathovagal balance of the patient is associated with an arrow on a balance trajectory;
the balance trajectory projecting on an abscissa running from smaller numbers to larger numbers such that movement of the balance trajectory toward the smaller numbers along the abscissa corresponds to a vagal response, while movement of the balance trajectory toward the larger numbers along the abscissa corresponds to a sympathetic response; anddetermine a response outcome based on the arrow on the balance trajectory of the patient, wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the surface is suitable for electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance moves towards smaller-numbers along the abscissa when the periodic signal is passed through the patient, and wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the surface is unsuitable for the electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance does not move toward the smaller numbers along the abscissa, when the periodic signal is passed through the patient. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for electrical testing comprising:
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providing a battery; generating a periodic signal in time from a circuit; providing an electrically conductive tip adapted to electrically contact but not puncture a first portion of a skin when the skin is tested; coupling the periodic signal to the electrically conductive tip; applying an electrode to a second portion of the skin, the electrode being a return signal path for the periodic signal; measuring a first sympathovagal balance of the patient based on the periodic signal passed through the electrically conductive tip and the electrode, wherein the first sympathovagal balance of the patient is associated with an arrow on a balance trajectory;
the balance trajectory projecting on an abscissa running from smaller numbers to larger numbers such that movement of the balance trajectory toward the smaller numbers along the abscissa corresponds to a vagal response, while movement of the balance trajectory toward the larger numbers along the abscissa corresponds to a sympathetic response; anddetermine a response outcome based on the arrow on the balance trajectory of the patient, wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the skin is suitable for electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance moves towards the smaller-numbers along the abscissa when the periodic signal is passed through the patient, and wherein the response outcome indicates that the first portion of the skin is unsuitable for the electrotherapy when the arrow of the first sympathovagal balance does not move toward the smaller numbers along the abscissa when the periodic signal is passed through the patient. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification