Instrumentarium Corporation

Iikka Kimmo Korhonen

Matti Veli Huiku

To monitor subcortical responsiveness of a patient at least one first measurement signal is acquired from a patient and at least one second measurement signal is derived from the at least one first measurement signal. The second measurement signal is indicative of pain-related activity in the patient. A predetermined stimulus signal is then supplied to the patient and a response caused by the stimulus signal in the at least one second measurement signal is monitored in synchronization with the supplying of the stimulus signal. Based on the monitoring step, an indicator of subcortical responsiveness is determined, the indicator being indicative of the patient's level of antinociception.

Monitoring subcortical responsiveness of a patient

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a condition of a patient under anaesthesia or sedation. In the method a signal (S) is acquired representing a cardiovascular activity of the patient, and periodically repeated waveforms (P) are detected, followed by calculation of time intervals (T ) between, and/or pressures (B ) from, and/or temporal rates (R ) from successive waveforms. Next at least one of the following&mdash;a mathematical time series (T , T . . . T , T . . . ), or a mathematical pressure series (B , B . . . B , B . . . ), or a mathematical rate series (R , R . . . R , R . . . ) is/are formed. Further in the method said time series and/or said pressure series and/or said rate series is mathematically filtered to provide successive average values ({overscore (T)} ; {overscore (B)} ; {overscore (R)} ) over a predetermined first time period (&tgr;), and a substantial decrease, or increase respectively in said average values is detected.

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Lempäälä, Finland

Iikka Kimmo Korhonen