Method and device for anesthesiology measurement and control

• US 8,914,102 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Rey, Jose I., Connolly, Richard J., Gilbert, Richard, Llewellyn, John Anthony, Jaroszeski, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANEGA, RENEE A
• Application Number:
  US12/763,740
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/01 specially adapted for anaesthetising A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 19/00 Local anaesthesia syringes therefor A61M5/00; Hypothermia A61M5/42 takes precedence; cooling blood in a bypass of the arterial system A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1588 having means for monitoring, controlling or visual inspection, e.g. for patency check, avoiding extravasation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1726 the body parameters being measured at, or proximate to, the infusion site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type

Abstract

Cell or tissue permeability to electrical signals can be used to determine the depth of anesthesia of a patient. A method and device is presented to measure, record and control the effects of anesthesia or analgesics on humans and/or animals. Based on impedance values of tissues measured at single, multiple, or a domain of frequencies, the system detects tissue permeability alterations as determined by electromagnetic, impedance, and/or dielectric spectroscopy. The system measures the permeability of tissues to electrical signals and correlates these values to the depth of anesthesia or sedation level of a certain tissue or individual. This method and device can be used to measure the effects of anesthesia or analgesic for either local or systemic administration.

Claims

1. A method of measuring depth of anesthesia in a patient comprising:

providing at least one electrode capable of providing an electric signal to interrogate an electromagnetic property of at least one cell of the patient;

providing a control unit which receives data from the at least one electrode wherein the control unit measures the electromagnetic property of the at least one cell; and

correlating the measurement data to level of sedation;

wherein the depth of anesthesia is measured using only the electromagnetic property and not a biopotential measurement.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of contact electrodes, non-contact electrodes, surface electrodes, penetrating electrodes and implantable electrodes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic properties measured are selected from the group consisting of resistance, reactance, impedance, mechanical permeability, electrical permeability, capacitance, phase angle and zeta potential.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagenetic property is measured at least one frequency.

5. A method of measuring the depth of anesthesia in a patient comprising:

providing at least one electrode to interrogate the permeability of at least one cell of the patient;

providing a control unit which receives data from the at least one electrode wherein the control unit measures the permeability of the at least one cell to an electrical signal to generate a bioimpedance measurement; and

correlating the measurement data to level of sedation;

wherein the depth of anesthesia is measured using only the bioimpedance measurements and no biopotential measurements.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of contact electrodes, non-contact electrodes, surface electrodes, penetrating electrodes and implantable electrodes.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the permeability of the at least one cell is measured at least one frequency.

8. A method of measuring the depth of anesthesia in a patient comprising:

providing an electromagnetic wave propagation system to interrogate at least one electromagnetic property of at least one cell of the patient;

providing a control unit wherein the control unit measures the at least one electromagnetic property of at least one cell of the patient; and

correlating the measurement data to level of sedation;

wherein the electromagnetic wave propagation system is selected from the group consisting of ion deposition waves, ultrasound waves, and microwaves.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the electromagnetic properties measured are selected from the group consisting of resistance, reactance, impedance, mechanical permeability, electrical permeability, capacitance, phase angle and zeta potential.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the electromagenetic property is measured at least one frequency.

11. A device for measuring the depth of anesthesia comprising:

at least one electrode capable of providing an external electric charge to at least one cell to interrogate at least one electromagnetic property of the at least one cell;

a control unit containing a microprocessor wherein the control unit receives data from the at least one electrode and correlates the data to the depth of anesthesia; and

a vaporizer connected to the control unit that dispenses general anesthesia to the patient.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of contact electrodes, non-contact electrodes, surface electrodes, penetrating electrodes and implantable electrodes.

13. A device for measuring the depth of anesthesia comprising an adhesive patch further comprising:

an anesthesia reservoir disposed within the adhesive patch;

at least one electrode disposed within the anesthesia reservoir;

a plurality of microvalves disposed within the anesthesia reservoir; and

a control unit containing a microprocessor wherein the control unit receives data from the at least one electrode.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of contact electrodes, non-contact electrodes, surface electrodes, penetrating electrodes and implantable electrodes.

15. A device for measuring the depth of anesthesia comprising:

a syringe further comprising;

a hollow needle having a first and second end wherein the second end is open;

at least one electrode disposed within the needle;

a base fixedly connected to the first end of the needle; and

a control unit containing a microprocessor incorporated into the base wherein the control unit receives data from the at least one electrode;

whereby the device measures electromagnetic properties of at least one cell of a patient.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of contact electrodes, non-contact electrodes, surface electrodes, penetrating electrodes and implantable electrodes.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic property is selected from the group consisting of resistance, reactance, impedance, mechanical permeability, electrical permeability, capacitance, phase angle and zeta potential.