US5522386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus particularly for use in the determination of the condition of the vegetative part of the nervous system
Assignee: PROGNOMED NV
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Filing: 1992-04-29
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Granted: 1996-06-04
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Expires: 2012-04-29
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for use in the determination of the condition of the vegetative part of the nervous system and/or of sensory functions of an organism, i.e. a human being or animal. The apparatus comprises devices for generating and supplying to said organism at least one sensory stimulus chosen from a group of sensory stimuli, such as visual, sound, olfactory, gustatory, tactile or pain stimuli, and devices for measuring the skin potential and the evoked response of the organism to a stimulus. The measured data are processed by processing devices for automatically controlling the supply of at least one stimulus for providing a non-rhythmical sequence of stimuli. Preferably, pairs of stimuli are supplied for developing a conditioned reflex.
Inventors
- 👤 Eduard N. Lerner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/053; A61B5/0531; A61B5/0533; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1104; A61B5/1106; A61B5/40; A61B5/4029; A61B5/4035; A61B5/4005; A61B5/4011
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for use in the determination of the condition of the vegetative part of the nervous system and/or of sensory functions of an organism, comprising: first means for measuring the skin or organ surface potential of the organism; means for generating and supplying to the organism at least one sensory stimulus selected from the group consisting of pain, visual, sound, tactile, olfactory and gustatory, and second means for measuring the evoked response of the organism to the at least one sensory stimulus, processing means for processing the skin or organ surface potential and the evoked response values measured by the measuring means, and control means operating independently of the second means for measuring the evoked response, said control means controlling the supply of the at least one stimulus in terms of its type, intensity, duration and/or repetition rate subject to the skin or organ surface potential and the evoked response values measured by said first and second measuring means and processed by said processing means, for automatically providing a non-rhythmical sequence of stimuli.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for use in the determination of the condition of the vegetative part of the nervous system and/or of sensory functions of an organism, comprising: first means for measuring the skin or organ surface potential of the organism; means for generating and supplying to the organism at least one sensory stimulus selected from the group consisting of pain, visual, sound, tactile, olfactory and gustatory, and second means for measuring the evoked response of the organism to the at least one sensory stimulus, processing means for processing the skin or organ surface potential and the evoked response values measured by the measuring means, and control means operating independently of the second means for measuring the evoked response, said control means controlling the supply of the at least one stimulus in terms of its type, intensity, duration and/or repetition rate subject to the skin or organ surface potential and the evoked response values measured by said first and second measuring means and processed by said processing means, for automatically providing a non-rhythmical sequence of stimuli.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means are arranged for determining the condition of the vegetative nervous system by ascertaining the average value of the skin or organ surface potential in terms of DC and AC parameters, measured without a stimulus being supplied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing means are arranged for detecting habituation or adaptation of the organism to the sensory stimuli supplied by analyzing the amplitude of the measured evoked response.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means are arranged for providing a first and second stimulus selected from said group of sensory stimuli, the second stimulus provoking an emotional type response, its type, intensity, duration and/or repetition rate being subject to the determined condition of the vegetative nervous system and the detected habituation or adaptation of the organism to the first stimulus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first stimulus is adapted to a sensory function of the organism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processing means comprise analog or digital peak value detecting means for detecting a decrease in the amplitude of the measured evoked response, below a certain, predetermined level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprise analog or digital filter means for analyzing the measured skin or organ surface potential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprise waveform analyzing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means and the control means (8) comprise programmable computer means having memory means (15,16) for processing the measured values and controlling the sequence of stimuli to be supplied to the organism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first means for measuring the skin or organ surface potential of the organism comprise DC voltmeter means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first measuring means for measuring the skin or organ surface potential and the second means for measuring the evoked response of the organism comprise at least one amplifier having a pair of electrodes for application to the skin or the surface of an organ, the at least one amplifier having a time constant of 1 sec or higher.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one amplifier is a DC amplifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one amplifier comprises means for compensating the background level of the skin or organ surface potential.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first measuring means comprise recording means for recording measured electric signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating and supplying at least one sensory stimulus comprise several stimulus generators for supplying sensory stimuli of a mutually different type, the control means being arranged for providing a non-rhythmical arbitrary sequence of stimuli of different type.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control means are arranged for providing pairs of stimuli of mutually different type.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one electrical generator, having means for supplying an adjustable electrical signal above the pain threshold of the organism, and at least one optical signal generator, having means for supplying an adjustable optical signal to the organism, and at least one sound generator, having means for supplying an adjustable sound signal to the organism, and means for supplying an adjustable, selective tactile stimulus to the organism, and means for supplying an adjustable, selective olfactory stimulus to the organism, and means for supplying an adjustable, selective gustatory stimulus to the organism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus generating means and processing means are cooperatively interconnected, in order to uniquely determine the response to a specific stimulus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprise means for presenting processed measured data relating to a medical condition of the organism under examination.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing means comprise means for inputting, data relating to a medical condition of the organism under examination.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-06-04 | 1999-12-04 | 2000-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-04 | 2003-12-04 | 2004-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-04 | 2007-12-04 | 2008-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |