Anesthetic alleviation by sensory stimulation

• US 6,275,340 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rayford K. Brown
• Original Assignee: Rayford K. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Rayford K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lucas, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/488,959
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 359/630, 359/631, 359/632, 359/642, 359/649, 349/1, 349/11, 349/58
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/59 Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients

Abstract

A device according to the invention is useful for providing viewable images and sounds to persons undergoing medical treatments, including radiotherapy, cosmetic, and other surgeries. According to the invention, there is provided an image source means, a Fresnel lens and an enclosure which is adapted to contain the image source means and Fresnel lens, and which also includes a means for attaching the enclosure to existing equipment associated with a medical procedure, wherein the existing equipment includes a flat surface portion upon which the patient is intended to lay in either a supine or prone position. A device according to the invention is especially useful in rendering children immobile during radiotherapy without the need for administration of anesthetics which are otherwise necessary to keep the child from shifting position while the therapy is administered. Elimination of anesthesia according to the invention improves the quality of life for the patient and his/her family, and imposes no burden on vital organs such as the liver, which is otherwise attendant to the administration of anesthetics.

Claims

1. A device useful for decreasing the awareness of a patient to his/her surroundings prior to or during administration of a medical procedure which comprises:

a) an enclosure portion;

b) an image source means disposed within said enclosure portion, wherein said image source means includes a display surface;

c) an essentially planar Fresnel lens disposed within the enclosure in a substantially perpendicular configuration with respect to a normal line that projects outward from about the center of said display surface; and

d) means for attaching said enclosure means to existing equipment associated with a medical procedure so that the images displayed by said image source means is within the view of said patient.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means for attaching includes a support frame that is constructed from a material which is translucent to radiation employed during said medical procedure.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said image source means is within 2 meters of the eyes of said patient.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said existing equipment includes a flat surface portion adapted to support a patient in a supine or prone position and wherein said means for attaching includes a support frame, so that a patient resting upon the flat surface portion of said existing equipment may view video images displayed by said image source means.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the distance between the patient'"'"'s eyes and the enclosure means is less than 1 meter.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the support frame is an integral part of the closure.

7. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a reflective surface disposed within said enclosure portion on the opposite side of said Fresnel lens from said image source means.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said enclosure portion further comprises a cover portion, wherein said cover portion includes a hole through which images may be viewed.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said reflective surface is disposed at an angle with respect to the surface of the Fresnel lens.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said angle is between 20 degrees and 75 degrees, including every degree therebetween.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure portion includes a floor portion, two side wall portions, a first end wall portion, and a second end wall portion, wherein each wall portion has one surface facing the interior of said enclosure and one surface facing the exterior of said enclosure.

12. A device according to claim 11 further comprising a cover portion, wherein said cover portion is contoured to completely shroud components contained within the enclosure from physical damage.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the means for attaching said enclosure to said existing equipment is attached to said cover portion.

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein the means for attaching said enclosure to existing equipment associated with a medical procedure is an integral part of said cover portion.

15. A device according to claim 12 wherein the inner surfaces of said side wall portions of said enclosure portion include a series of slots adapted to receive said Fresnel lens, to provide adjustability of the location of said Fresnel lens within said enclosure.

16. A device according to claim 12 wherein said support frame includes a front portion and a rear portion, each having end portions, wherein said front portion and said rear portion are connected to one another by two side wall portions, each side wall portion having an upper and a lower edge portion, wherein one of each of the side wall portions is attached to an end portion of each of said front portion and said rear portion.

17. A device according to claim 16 further comprising a portion of said means for attaching the support frame to said existing equipment associated with a medical procedure disposed at said lower edge portion of said side wall portion.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein a portion of said means for attaching the support frame to said existing equipment associated with a medical procedure is disposed upon said existing equipment.

19. A device according to claim 18 wherein said existing equipment by its design comprises a surface portion upon which a patient may rest in a position selected from the group consisting of:

a supine position, a prone position, or a seated position.

20. A device according to claim 16 wherein said enclosure portion is disposed between said front portion and said rear portion of said support frame, and wherein each of said first end wall portion and said second end wall portion of said enclosure are connectively attached to said front portion and said rear portion of said support frame, so as to form a viewing assembly especially adapted for persons in a supine position by virtue of the enclosure being disposed above the cranium of a patient resting on said existing equipment.

21. A device according to claim 20 comprising void regions through which radiotherapy may be applied to the cranium of a patient resting beneath the enclosure, uninhibited by any of the structural features of said support frame.

22. A device according to claim 16 further comprising at least one speaker means disposed within said enclosure.

23. A device according to claim 16 further comprising a source of video images in effective electrical contact with said image source means.

24. A device according to claim 16 wherein said source of video images is selected from the group consisting of cable:

TV, VCR, DVD player, cable TV, random access digital hard disk recorder/playback system, video camera, television tuner, and closed circuit television.

25. A device according to claim 1 wherein said Fresnel lens has a cross sectional area that facilitates the line of sight from each eye to view said display surface through the lens.

26. A device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a) a framework insert having a floor portion, wherein said framework insert is adapted to receive said speaker means; and

b) at least one speaker means disposed within said insert,

wherein said framework is disposed within said enclosure portion such that the floor portion of the framework insert is substantially parallel to said floor portion of said enclosure.

27. A process for enhancing the overall quality of the experience of a medical procedure by a patient which comprises the steps of:

a) providing a device according to claim 1;

b) providing a surface upon which said person is caused to rest;

c) causing images to exist on said image source means, wherein said images are effective to captivate the visual attention of the patient; and

d) effecting a medical procedure.

28. A process according to claim 27 further comprising the step of:

providing sound impulses to the ears of said person simultaneously with the step of causing images to exist on said image source means.

29. A process according to claim 28 wherein said images are selected from the group consisting of:

music videos, cartoons, movies, nature scenes, sports games, sit-coms, news shows, comedy shows, drama, fights, and Shakespearean tragedies.

30. A process according to claim 27 wherein said procedure includes a procedure requiring patient immobility.

31. A process according to claim 27 wherein said procedure includes a procedure selected from the group consisting of:

radiotherapy, cosmetic surgery, procedures involving X-Rays, and CT scans.

32. A device useful for decreasing the awareness of a patient to his/her surroundings prior to or during administration of a medical procedure which comprises:

a) an enclosure portion;

b) an image source means disposed within said enclosure portion, wherein said image source means includes a display surface;

c) an essentially planar Fresnel lens disposed within the enclosure in a substantially perpendicular configuration with respect to a normal line that projects outward from about the center of said display surface; and

d) means for attaching said enclosure means to existing equipment associated with a medical procedure so that the images displayed by said image source means are within the view of said patient, wherein the means for attaching includes a support frame that includes at least one void through which a target region on the patient'"'"'s body is accessible for laser alignment of a radiation source used in a medical procedure.