Apparatuses and methods for automatically assessing and monitoring a patient's responsiveness

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nursing system and related method for alleviating pain, anxiety and discomfort of patients due to medical and surgical procedures. The nursing system has a patient response monitoring system (12) that monitors the patient's responsiveness and generates a signal reflecting the patient's responsiveness, thereby enabling the clinician to safely and effectively provide sedation to the patient , means of analgesia and a means of amnesia to a certain extent. In another aspect of the invention, the responsiveness monitoring system is an automated system including a patient interrogation and response device. The accompanying embodiments of the system and method are directed to relieving the pain or discomfort of the patient and administering the drug safely based on the monitoring data of the patient's health status.

Description

[0001] Cross-Referenced Related Patent Applications [0002] 1. This invention is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 09 / 324,759, filed June 3, 1999, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 087,841, filed June 3, 1998 . This patent application is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 342,773, filed December 28,2001. This patent application is also incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] 2. The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for alleviating pain and / or anxiety in a patient. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for sedative, analgesic and / or amnestic in a conscious patient who is undergoing a painful or anxiety-inducing medical or surgical procedure or is undergoing Suffering from post-procedure or other pai...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, these techniques are often unsatisfactory

[0007] 6. For conscious sedation with oral, rectal, or intramuscular sedatives and opioids administered by the operating physician, there is often a lack of effective means to ensure that the effects of the agents can be easily controlled to suit the needs of the patient

In order to avoid such complications, operating doctors usually choose insufficient sedatives and analgesics. Although this reduces the risk of the above-mentioned complications, it also means that a small number of patients cannot get enough drugs during medical and surgical operations. Appropriate relief of pain and / or anxiety as prescribed by anesthesiology guidelines

[0008] 7. Intravenous administration of sedatives and analgesics to conscious patients by operating physicians in conditions such as hospital laboratories, doctor's offices, and other ambulatory facilities is often unsatisfactory

Previous billing and billing techniques are inappropriate and ineffective for tracking recurring charges from reusable medical devices such as the device of the present invention

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