Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient. The method comprises steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin through a measurement interval, calculating a characteristic of said skin conductance signal, establishing a first output signal indicating the state of pain or discomfort in the patient, and a second output signal indicating the state of awakening in the patient, based on said characteristic of said skin conductance signal. The calculating of the signal characteristic comprises calculating a value representative of a statistical dispersion, e.g., the standard deviation, of the values of the skin conductance signal through the measurement interval.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring a sedated patient, the method comprising the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin, establishing the existence of at least one fluctuation peak in the skin conductance signal through a time interval, providing a width value of said fluctuation peak in the skin conductance signal through said time interval, and comparing the width value with a reference value. If said width value is larger than the reference value, an output signal is provided which indicates the state of awakening in the patient. If the width value is less than the reference value, an output signal is provided which indicates the state of pain in the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient. According to the method, skin conductance is measured through a time interval. Average skin conductance values and the number of fluctuation peaks are in the interval are calculated and analyzed, and an indication is given of the state of pain/discomfort in the patient as well as the state of awakening in the patient. The invention is particularly applicable for use with anaesthetized or artificially ventilated patents, as separate output signals are automatically provided, indicating the need for analgesics and hypnotics, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient. A skin conductance signal is measured at an area of the patient's skin during a measurement interval. A first measure and a second measure, both reflecting the state of the autonomous nervous system of the patient, is calculated by means of certain integral functions. The largest one of the first and second measures is then selected as the output signal (Y) that reflects the state of the autonomous nervous system of the sedated patient.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring the sedation level of a sedated patient during anaesthesia, in particular during a pre-surgical phase. The method comprises the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin, calculating a derivative signal of said conductance signal with respect to time, and establishing said sedation level based on said derivative signal.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for medical purposes comprises a to first electrode 11electrically connected to a first connecting line 15, a second electrode 12electrically connected to a second connecting line 16, and a third electrode 13electrically connected to a third connecting line 17. The first, second and third electrodes are GI arranged in a single patch 14. The shape or area of the second electrode is different from the shape or area of the first and third electrodes. The first, second and third connection lines may be coded by visible or tactile coding means.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring a sedated patient, the method comprising the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin through a time interval, establishing the existence of at least two fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal through said time interval, considering if the amplitudes of fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal through said interval, the basal level of the skin conductance signal through said interval and the width of the fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal fulfils a predetermined criterion, activating a first output signal which indicates the state of awakening in the patient if said criterion is fulfilled, and activating a second output signal which indicates the state of pain in the patient if said criterion is not fulfilled.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient. The method comprises steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin through a measurement interval, calculating a characteristic of said skin conductance signal, establishing a first output signal indicating the state of pain or discomfort in the patient, and a second output signal indicating the state of awakening in the patient, based on said characteristic of said skin conductance signal. The calculating of the signal characteristic comprises calculating a value representative of a statistical dispersion, e.g., the standard deviation, of the values of the skin conductance signal through the measurement interval.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient. A skin conductance signal is measured at an area of the patient's skin during a measurement interval. A first measure and a second measure, both reflecting the state of the autonomous nervous system of the patient, is calculated by means of certain integral functions. The largest one of the first and second measures is then selected as the output signal (Y) that reflects the state of the autonomous nervous system of the sedated patient.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring a sedated patient, the method comprising the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin through a time interval, establishing the existence of at least two fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal through said time interval, considering if the amplitudes of fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal through said interval, the basal level of the skin conductance signal through said interval and the width of the fluctuation peaks in the skin conductance signal fulfils a predetermined criterion, activating a first output signal which indicates the state of awakening in the patient if said criterion is fulfilled, and activating a second output signal which indicates the state of pain in the patient if said criterion is not fulfilled.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring the sedation level of a sedated patient during anaesthesia, in particular during a pre-surgical phase. The method comprises the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin, calculating a derivative signal of said conductance signal with respect to time, and establishing said sedation level based on said derivative signal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring a sedated patient, the method comprising the steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin, establishing the existence of at least one fluctuation peak in the skin conductance signal through a time interval, providing a width value of said fluctuation peak in the skin conductance signal through said time interval, and comparing the width value with a reference value. If said width value is larger than the reference value, an output signal is provided which indicates the state of awakening in the patient. If the width value is less than the reference value, an output signal is provided which indicates the state of pain in the patient.