Device and Method for Determining a State of Consciousness

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 SpO.sub.2, 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.

12. (canceled)

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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Next the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a principle of an exemplary sequence of consciousness monitoring according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary device and arrangement for determining the state of a human being according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a principle of an exemplary sequence 100 of consciousness monitoring according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary arrangement 200 and device 201 for determining the state of a human being according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 200 and/or the device 201 are advantageously configured to implement the steps method 100.

[0025] The device 201 may be located at the chest, wrist or other parts of the human body. Advantageously it is a wristband device. The device 201 contains a light source 202, a sound generator 203 and a mechanical vibrator 204, which are advantageously digitally adjustable, based for example a controlling commands received from the data processing device 211 of the backend 210. In addition the device comprises a feedback or acknowledge detection device 207, such as an accelerometer or a button to be pressed as a response to the stimuli or the like. The accelerometer is configured to determine different kinds of motions, such as typical motion response to light, sound or vibrational stimulus.

[0026] The device 201 advantageously communicates wirelessly 205 and comprises thus suitable wireless, advantageously bi-directional communication devices 206. The device is capable of monitoring the physical activity, and is possibly able to detect fall or convulsions, for example based on the accelerator sensors. The device is also able to monitor by the sensors and detection devices the response of the patient and of generating a visual stimulus 102, an auditory stimulus 106 and physical stimuli (vibration, pain) 110 by the stimulus devices 202-204. The method steps are performed correspondingly.

[0027] The device or arrangement is capable of adjusting 101 the time interval of monitoring based most importantly on the currently determined state of consciousness, i.e. the time interval is decreased when the state is other than A and preferably increased if the state is A, on information from the following inputs: the motion sensors, in the device itself and also from external sensors (not shown, may also be included into the device 201 or at least they may be in data communication with the device 201) providing data on heart rate, blood pressure, arterial blood oxygen saturation and respiratory rate. According to an embodiment the device 201 may also comprise suitable sensors 208 for at least gathering necessary measuring information for determination said additional information, such as heart rate, blood pressure, arterial blood oxygen saturation and respiratory rate, for example.

[0028] Advantageously the communication between the device 201 and the backend 210 is two-way so that the arrangement is also capable of adjusting the time interval for the determination of the input signals. This way, a preset deviation of for example but not limited to heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, ECG alterations, body temperature, arterial blood oxygen saturation results in altered duration of the monitoring intervals and these alterations also modify the frequency for the determination of heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, ECG and SpO2. Similarly, if the accelerometers do not detect any movement for a pre-set monitoring period, the emission of the stimulus is executed. A rapid increase in acceleration may also indicate a fall or convulsions and executes an immediate sequence resulting in determination of the state of consciousness.

[0029] The data processing backend may be implemented e.g. cloud server 212, any computer or mobile phone application 213-215.

[0030] Advantageously a light stimulus emitted in step 102 is such that it exceeds the threshold to be seen by an awake patient despite having eyes closed. The appearance of all the stimuli (visual, auditory, physical) may be adjusted, i.e. they may be continuous, intermittent at a desired rate or produce sequences in a pre-determined manner, e.g. increase in strength, or with a certain waveform. The waveform and sequence of the stimulus may be adjusted e.g. according to current state and response. The patient must respond (104, 108, 112) to a stimulus in a pre-determined way which can also be adjusted and defined. The appropriate response of the patient may be increased heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure or increased motion detected by the accelerometers 207 or pre-instructed voluntary action of a patient to tap the device (for example twice but not necessarily limited to that action) to confirm the state.

[0031] The movement or voluntary action is detected by the accelerometers as peaks in the continuous waveform. For example, in response to a blinking light 102, the patient must tap the device or move in a pre-determined way to confirm the state A within a pre-determined time. If there is no response 104, the stimulus may be strengthened or repeated. If there is no response 104, an auditory stimulus 106 is given and the patient must respond 108 as earlier. If the patient responds 108, then the patient is classified as state V. If there is no response 108, a physical stimulus 110 is induced. If there is appropriate response 112, then the state is classified as P. If no response 112 is received, then the patient is classified as unconscious (U) 114 and an alarm sequence is executed 116. Sequentially strengthening of the stimulus enables determination of the state of consciousness and classification of the patient to a certain consciousness level, namely A-V-P-U.

[0032] The invention has been explained above with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, and several advantages of the invention have been demonstrated. It is clear that the invention is not only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possible embodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and the following patent claims. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0033] It is to be noted that according to an embodiment two kinds of feedbacks can be determined, namely the state of consciousness can estimated passively by using the monitored movement and physiological signals, but also 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. The active feedback can be understood as an “acknowledge”, which is very convenient to determine by the accelerometer, as is described in this document in many embodiments, but can also be determined by a button to be pressed, for example. The passive feedback can be understood as a “reaction”, which is also very convenient to determine by the accelerometer, because there is no need for any action by the patient. The passive reaction may be e.g. an awaking reaction for stimulus, turning on a sleep. Alternatively or in addition to also heart rate can be determined and noticed changes in pulse as a reaction for stimulus, for example by using EKG or EEC sensors or the like.