Response testing for conscious sedation utilizing a cannula for support/response

• US 20050066971A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Donofrio, William T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,261,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.230
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1106 to assess neuromuscular blockade, e.g. to estimate depth of anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/224 Measuring muscular strength
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/01 specially adapted for anaesthetising A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 : Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 : partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity

Abstract

A conscious sedation system and a cannula and response testing assemblage for a conscious sedation system. In one embodiment, a controller generates a request for a predetermined response from a patient and analyses at least a response made by the patient to the request to determine a level of sedation of the patient. A cannula is disposable on the face of the patient for monitoring the breathing of the patient. A request assembly communicates to the patient the request generated by the controller. A response assembly senses the response and communicates the response to the controller. At least a part of at least one of the request and response assemblies is supported by the cannula. In another embodiment, the cannula itself is used as the response assembly wherein the response is a breathing response of the patient to the request.

Claims

1. A conscious sedation system comprising:

a) a controller which generates a request for a predetermined response from a patient and which analyses at least a response made by the patient to the request to determine a level of sedation of the patient; and

b) a cannula which is disposable on the face of the patient proximate at least one of the nose and the mouth of the patient for monitoring the breathing of the patient; and

c) a response testing apparatus including;

(1) a request assembly which communicates to the patient the request generated by the controller; and

(2) a response assembly which senses the response and which communicates the response to the controller,

wherein at least a part of at least one of the request and response assemblies is supported by the cannula.

2. The conscious sedation system of claim 1, wherein a user and/or the controller determines a delivery schedule of a conscious-sedation drug to the patient based at least in part on the determined level of sedation of the patient.

3. The conscious sedation system of claim 1, wherein the request assembly includes a first vibrator supported by the cannula.

4. The conscious sedation system of claim 3, wherein the first vibrator produces a tactile request to the face of the patient.

5. The conscious sedation system of claim 4, wherein the first vibrator is disposed in the cannula.

6. The conscious sedation system of claim 4, wherein the first vibrator is disposed on the cannula.

7. The conscious sedation system of claim 3, wherein the request assembly includes a second vibrator disposable to produce a tactile request to a site on the patient other than to the face of the patient.

8. The conscious sedation system of claim 7, wherein the controller at least compares responses of the patient to tactile requests from the first and second vibrators in determining the level of sedation of the patient.

9. The conscious sedation system of claim 5, wherein the first vibrator is the only vibrator of the request assembly producing a tactile request.

10. The conscious sedation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined response is a patient head-generated response, and wherein at least a part of the response assembly is supported by the cannula.

11. The conscious sedation system of claim 10, wherein the patient head-generated response is a patient-generated vocal response, and wherein the response assembly includes a sound detector supported by the cannula.

12. The conscious sedation system of claim 11, wherein the controller at least uses at least one of the intensity and the tonal qualities of the vocal response in determining the level of sedation of the patient.

13. The conscious sedation system of claim 10, wherein the patient head-generated response is a patient-generated head movement response, and wherein the response assembly includes a motion sensor supported by the cannula.

14. The conscious sedation system of claim 10, wherein the patient head-generated response is a patient-generated breathing response, and wherein the response assembly includes a breathing sensor and/or a breathing-detection tube supported by the cannula.

15. The conscious sedation system of claim 14, wherein the patient-generated breathing response includes at least one of a yawn and a breath deeper than an immediate previous breath.

16. The conscious sedation system of claim 14, wherein the breathing sensor detects the pressure of the exhaled breathing of the patient.

17. A conscious sedation system comprising:

a) a controller which generates a request for a predetermined breathing response from a patient and which analyses at least a breathing response made by the patient to the request to determine a level of sedation of the patient; and

b) a response testing apparatus including;

(1) a request assembly which communicates to the patient the request generated by the controller; and

(2) a cannula which is disposable on the face of the patient proximate at least one of the nose and the mouth of the patient for monitoring the breathing of the patient, wherein the cannula is operatively connected to the controller.

18. The conscious sedation system of claim 17 wherein a user and/or the controller determines a delivery schedule of a conscious-sedation drug to the patient based at least in part on the determined level of sedation of the patient.

19. A cannula and response testing assemblage for a conscious sedation system comprising:

a) a cannula which is disposable on the face of a patient proximate at least one of the nose and the mouth of the patient for monitoring the breathing of the patient; and

b) a response testing apparatus including;

(1) a request assembly which communicates to the patient a request generated by a controller of the conscious sedation system for a predetermined response from the patient; and

(2) a response assembly which senses a response made by the patient to the request and which communicates the response to the controller which analyses at least the response to determine a level of sedation of the patient,

wherein at least a part of at least one of the request and response assemblies is supported by the cannula.

20. The cannula and response testing assemblage of claim 19, wherein the request assembly includes a first vibrator supported by the cannula.

21. The cannula and response testing assemblage of claim 19, wherein the response is a patient head-generated response, and wherein at least a part of the response assembly is supported by the cannula.

22. The cannula and response testing assemblage of claim 21, wherein the response assembly includes at least one of a sound detector, a motion sensor, a breathing sensor, and a breathing-detection tube supported by the cannula.