Device and Method for Determining a State of Consciousness

• US 20170360334A1
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: OKSALA, Niku, VEHKAOJA, Antti
• Application Number:
  US15/528,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20170360334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• 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 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1104 induced by stimuli or drugs; A61B5/1102 takes precedence; investigating medicinal preparations G01N33/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1106 to assess neuromuscular blockade, e.g. to estimate depth of anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation

Abstract

An arrangement and device for determining a state of consciousness of a patient includes an accelerometer or other feedback detection device for detecting movements or other responses of the patient. In addition the arrangement and device includes visual, auditory and physical stimulus generators, and are configured to emit of a visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus for a given time period. In addition a response signal is provided of the patient to the emitted stimulus, where said response signal is recorded using said accelerometer or said feedback detection device. In addition the response of the patient is determined and the patient is labelled as alert (A), responsive to verbal or auditory stimulus (V), responsive to pain or physical stimulus (P) or unconscious patient (U) based on the response.

Claims

1. An arrangement for determining a state of consciousness of a patient, wherein the arrangement comprises:

an accelerometer or other feedback detection device

visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus generators, whereupon the arrangement is configured to

emitting of a visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus by the visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus generators for a given time period,

providing a response signal of the patient to the emitted stimulus, said response signal configured to be recorded using said accelerometer or said feedback detection device,

determining the response of the patient and labelling the patient as alert (A), responsive to verbal or auditory stimulus (V), responsive to pain or physical stimulus (P) or unconscious patient (U) based on the response.

2. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is further configured for monitoring the patient for a pre-determined time interval, wherein the time interval is adjusted according to a current state of consciousness determined.

3. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured to provide motion data of the patient based on the accelerometer or feedback detection device measurement data, and if there is no movement for a given pre-determined duration of time, the arrangement is configured to provide said emitting of a visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus.

4. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer, feedback detection device and other sensors, as well as said visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus generators are to be located at the wrist or chest area of the patient.

5. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer data is used to provide data on both movements and but also on accidental incidents such as falls.

6. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured to emit said visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus of various modalities and strength levels, and wherein said visual, auditory and physical stimulus generators are used sequentially so that first is emitted visual stimulus, secondly auditory stimulus and third physical stimulus if there is no response for previous stimulus.

7. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein state of consciousness is estimated passively by using the monitored movement and physiological signals, and actively by emitting stimuli of various modalities and strength levels, and at the same time monitoring the physiological vital parameters of the person and evaluating physiological responses to the provided stimuli.

8. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configure to gather and take into account additional information, such as patient'"'"'s other biosignals, comprising information of heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, arterial blood oxygen saturation, blood oxygen saturation or SpO₂, temperature, ECG, pulse plethysmography, impedance plethysmography or motion sensors comprising 1-D, 2-D or 3-D accelerometers and composite early warning scores.

9. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprises a device, such as wristband or chest worn device, and backend data processing unit, whereupon the device comprised said an accelerometer, visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus generators, and data communication interface to data transmission between said device and the backend data processing unit, and wherein said device is configured to transfer said measured response signals to said backend data processing unit, and wherein said backend data processing unit is configured to label the patient as alert (A), responsive to verbal or auditory stimulus (V), responsive to pain or physical stimulus (P) or unconscious patient (U) based on the response.

10. A device for determining a state of consciousness of a patient, wherein the device comprises:

an accelerometer or other feedback detection device,

visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus generators, whereupon the device is configured to

emit of a visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus by the visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus generators for a given time period,

provide a response signal of the patient to the emitted stimulus, said response signal configured to be recorded using said accelerometer or other feedback detection device, and either

determine the response of the patient and labelling the patient as alert (A), responsive to verbal or auditory stimulus (V), responsive to pain or physical stimulus (P) or unconscious patient (U) based on the response, or

send said response signal to a backend data processing unit for said determination.

11. A method for determining a state of consciousness of a patient, wherein the method comprises:

a) emitting of a visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus by the visual, auditory and/or physical stimulus generators for a given time period,

b) providing a response signal of the patient to the emitted stimulus, said response signal configured to be recorded using said accelerometer or other feedback detection device,

c) determining the response of the patient and labelling the patient as alert (A), responsive to verbal or auditory stimulus (V), responsive to pain or physical stimulus (P) or unconscious patient (U) based on the response.

13. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising the method as claimed in claim 11.

12. (canceled)