Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a modular patient care system provides patient monitoring and the supply of therapeutic requirements. Specifically, the system is comprised of an interface unit and a plurality of patient functional units. The interface unit provides an interface between the user and the system, and may be configured and adapted to provide different levels of functionality. Interface units with different levels of functionality may be interchanged so as to provide greater flexibility, safety, and cost effectiveness. Each interface unit contains interface ports for the transfer of information such as drug libraries, system configuration values, and event history. The functional units are internally programmed and controlled so as to provide a high level of system modularity, and require only power and interfacing functionality from the interface unit.

Abstract: An inexpensive apparatus for sensing and displaying the duration of the Silent Periods of masticatory muscles, which is suitable for diagnostic applications made in a doctor's office. The apparatus includes electrode means to be applied to the skin overlying a masticatory muscle and for sensing electrical activity within the muscle, and means providing an electrical signal representative of the sensed electrical activity. The apparatus further includes means receiving the representative electrical signal and sensing therein the onset of a Silent Period. Further means rejects those Silent Periods which have a duration less than a predetermined time interval, which time interval is selected to establish a minimum Silent Period of interest. Finally, the apparatus determines and displays the duration only of those Silent Periods longer than the predetermined time interval.