Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for monitoring a patient&#39;s blood oxygen content (through, e.g., an external finger probe using a pulse oximeter). If the patient&#39;s blood oxygen content falls below a selected level, a safe, yet effective, level of peripheral nerve stimulation would be delivered to the patient&#39;s wrist in the form of a milliamp current to arouse the patient.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/900,540 filed on Feb. 9, 2007 and titled PERIPHERAL OXISTIMULATOR APPARATUS AND METHODS, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
       [0002]    Obstructive sleep apnea is a potentially fatal condition affecting up to 18 million Americans. The majority of these individuals, 80-95%, remain undiagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnea consists of repeated episodes of partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep due to relaxation of the muscles that support the upper airway. These episodes of apnea cause declines in blood oxygen saturation by 4% or more. Arousal ends the obstruction. Central nervous system arousal mechanisms are secondary to chemoreceptor activation and upper airway mechanoreceptors. Extreme episodes of apnea from airway obstruction, which are not ended through arousal, can cause respiratory arrest. 
         [0003]    Administration of narcotics or other sedating medications to hospitalized patients who were ultimately diagnosed with OSA, has been associated with respiratory arrest and death. The effects of narcotic analgesia attenuates arousal and awakening, leading to airway obstruction, hypoxemia, and respiratory arrest. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) appear to be much more vulnerable to apnea than normal individuals under the same level of sedation. This increased tendency of OSAS patients to develop airway obstruction can occur out of proportion to the level of sedation. Many patients who developed an obstructive sleep apnea episode had complained of, and were treated for, significant pain shortly before the episode. 
         [0004]    Also complicating safe postoperative pain management of undiagnosed OSAS patients is the increasing number of surgeries done late in the day. Post-op, these patients are frequently transferred from the PACU to a standard nursing floor late in the evening or at night. The patient&#39;s level of postoperative pain is most likely to be at its highest when the nurse-to-patient staffing ratio is typically at its lowest. 
         [0005]    Hospitalized patients with undiagnosed sleep apnea will continue to be at risk for sudden death unless a system is implemented that can prevent this. Presently, several steps are practiced to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes in hospitalized OSAS patients. The first is identification of patients with undiagnosed OSAS. This is done by a careful exam and history of every patient undergoing anesthesia. This approach can fail in common clinical practice for a variety of reasons. Specifically, a patient&#39;s ability to compensate for changes in respiratory controls and mechanics are quite different under the effects of sedation and analgesics than that of normal sleep. Two signs highly correlated with OSAS, snoring and obesity, are common in the general population. Therefore, combinations of clinical variables and patient self-report symptoms have good sensitivity but modest specificity. 
         [0006]    After individuals at risk for OSAS are identified, it is common practice to have them monitored postoperatively in an ICU or by pulse oximetry on the floor. Postoperative critical care monitoring of all potential OSAS patients is not feasible due to high cost and limited resources. Audible pulse oximeter monitoring on the floor has limitations. In many of the OSAS medical malpractice cases, an attempt was made to create a middle ground monitoring environment by placing the patient in a room near the nursing station, putting an audible pulse oximeter (spO 2 ) on the finger, and perhaps some sort of apnea alarm monitor on the patient. These monitoring solutions simply did not work; e.g., no nurse passes by the room for many minutes, no one hears the alarms of the pulse oximeter or apnea monitor. 
         [0007]    When no reasonable alternatives are available, care providers often are reluctant to give the patient medication for pain hoping to minimize the risk of sudden death. Inadequate pain management for moderate to severe pain is not a humane or satisfactory solution to this problem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides apparatus and methods for monitoring a patient&#39;s blood oxygen content (through, e.g., an external finger probe using a pulse oximeter). Should the patient&#39;s blood oxygen content fall below a selected level, a safe, yet effective, level of peripheral nerve stimulation would be delivered to the patient&#39;s wrist in the form of a milliamp current to arouse the patient. 
         [0009]    The apparatus and methods of the invention would be used as a backup for the patient&#39;s own intrinsic mechanism of arousal which may have become obtunded by medication. In various embodiments, the apparatus could combine a pulse oximeter with a peripheral nerve stimulator in one integral unit. The apparatus and methods could be used as an adjunct with other safety precautions for OSA patients. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, the present invention provides peripheral oxistimulator apparatus, the apparatus including a blood oxygen saturation monitor; a peripheral nerve stimulator adapted to deliver electrical energy to the skin of a patient; and an interconnect system operatively connecting the blood oxygen saturation monitor and the peripheral nerve stimulator, wherein the peripheral nerve stimulator is activated when oxygen saturation in a patient reaches a selected value. 
         [0011]    In various embodiments, the present invention may include one or more of the following: a blood oxygen saturation monitor in the form of a pulse oximeter; a blood oxygen saturation monitor including a sensor, a power source, a control system operatively connected to the sensor and the power source, and a pulse oximeter cable connecting the sensor to the control system; a peripheral nerve stimulator including a power source, an electrical stimulation generator, one or more electrodes adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to the skin of a patient, and a stimulator cable connecting the one or more electrodes to the electrical stimulation generator; a common housing containing the blood oxygen saturation monitor and the peripheral nerve stimulator; a wristband that comprises one or more surface electrodes adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to the skin of a patient wearing the wristband; an external event indicator operatively connected to the control system, wherein the control system activates the external event indicator when the peripheral nerve stimulator is activated; a motion sensor operatively connected to the peripheral nerve stimulator, wherein movement of the patient deactivates the peripheral nerve stimulator; etc. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of protecting patients receiving narcotics and/or sedatives from respiratory arrest due to sleep apnea, the method including monitoring blood oxygen saturation levels of a patient using a blood oxygen saturation monitor; and delivering electrical energy to the skin of the patient when the monitored blood oxygen saturation level of the patient falls below a selected level. 
         [0013]    In various embodiments, the methods may include one or more of the following: delivering electrical energy using a peripheral nerve stimulator; providing the peripheral nerve stimulator and the blood oxygen saturation monitor in a common housing; monitoring movement of the patient; increasing the duration and/or intensity of the electrical energy delivered to the patient until the patient moves; delivering a signal to a remote monitoring system when electrical energy is delivered to the skin of the patient; using a wristband with the peripheral nerve stimulator that includes one or more surface electrodes adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to the skin of a patient wearing the wristband 
         [0014]    The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Rather, a more complete understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated by reference to the following Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments and claims in view of the accompanying figures of the drawing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]    The present invention will be further described with reference to the figures of the drawing, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting optional components of one potential system according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram depicting activities in one exemplary method according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    In the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawing which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  depicts one exemplary embodiment of a peripheral oxistimulator according to the present invention. The system includes a peripheral nerve stimulator  10  and a blood oxygen monitor  20 . Other optional components also depicted in connection with the exemplary system of  FIG. 1  are a motion detector  30  and an external event indicator  40 . 
         [0020]    The peripheral nerve stimulator  10  may preferably include a power source  12  and an electrical stimulation generator  14 , along with electrodes  16  that may preferably be provided on a wristband  18  (other mechanism for attaching the electrodes  16  to a patient) such that electrical energy from the electrical stimulation generator  14  can be delivered to the patient. The electrodes  16  are preferably operably connected to the electrical stimulation generator using a stimulator cable  15 . 
         [0021]    The electrical stimulation generator  14  is preferably capable of delivering an electric current (e.g., a milliamp current) to the patient&#39;s skin that is of sufficient duration and/or intensity to arouse a patient in the event the patient&#39;s blood oxygen content falls below a selected level. The electric current is preferably delivered through the electrodes  16  that are preferably retained in contact with the patient&#39;s skin. 
         [0022]    The blood oxygen monitor  20  may preferably include a power source  22  and control system  24 , along with a sensor  26 . The components of the blood oxygen saturation monitor are preferably operably interconnected to each other. It may be preferred that the blood oxygen monitor  20  provide a signal in the form of a blood oxygen saturation in percent, although other measurements may be used as an indicator of blood oxygen content. 
         [0023]    It may be preferred that at least some components of the peripheral nerve stimulator  10  and the blood oxygen content monitor  20  be located within a common housing  50 . The common housing  50  may, for example, contain power sources  12  and  22  for the electrical stimulation generator  14  and the blood oxygen content monitor control system  24 , respectively. Although depicted as separate, the power sources  12  and  22  may be shared. Further, the power sources may be self-contained within the housing  50  (e.g., in the form of batteries, fuel cells, capacitive discharge units, etc.). Alternatively, the power sources used by the components may be from a centralized power source (e.g., wall outlets providing 120/220V power. 
         [0024]    The blood oxygen monitor  20  may preferably be a non-invasive sensor such as a pulse oximeter. As used herein, the term “pulse oximeter” will include both the optical sensor and the circuitry used to determine blood oxygen saturation levels using the optical sensor. Pulse oximeters may be available form a variety of sources, such as, e.g., Masimo Corporation (Irvine, Calif.). It may be preferred that the sensor  26  of the pulse oximeter be attached to the finger of a patient. Alternative embodiments may employ sensors that attach elsewhere on the body. 
         [0025]    While a pulse oximeter is one preferred non-invasive oxygen sensor, it should be understood that any blood oxygen sensor, invasive or non-invasive, useful for determining blood oxygen content levels (preferably continuously) could be used in connection with the present invention. It should also be apparent to those skilled in the art that developing technologies, such as an implantable, micro-electromechanical (MEMS) blood gas analyzer, may provide the blood oxygen content information needed in connection with the present invention. Furthermore, measurements other than oxygen saturation may be used in connection with the present invention, such as, e.g., the level of carboxyhemoglobin, etc. 
         [0026]    Blood oxygen content measuring in connection with the present invention may be described as “continuous” although it will be understood that the measurements made using, e.g., pulse oximeters and other devices, may actually be taken at discrete intervals. As discussed above, “continuous” as used in connection with the measuring of blood oxygen content in the present invention includes measurement of the blood oxygen content levels of the patient at intervals (fixed or variable) that are sufficiently small to provide the advantages of the invention. Preferably the sampling intervals will be less than about five minutes, more preferably less than about one minute. 
         [0027]    The system of  FIG. 1  also includes an optional motion detector  30  that is capable of determining movement by the patient. It may be advantageous to determine, e.g., whether a patient is aroused by delivery of a peripheral nerve stimulation from the peripheral nerve stimulator. If the patient is not aroused (as indicated by, e.g., movement), the duration and/or intensity of the electrical stimulation delivered to the patient may be increased or otherwise changed in an attempt to arouse the patient. 
         [0028]    The motion detector  30  may preferably include a motion sensor  32  attached to the patient such that movement by the patient can be sensed. The motion sensor may take any number of a variety of forms, e.g., an accelerometer, attitude sensor, etc. 
         [0029]    Also included in the system of  FIG. 1  is an external event indicator  40  that may preferably be capable of delivering a signal to a remote monitoring system  42  when the blood oxygen content of a patient has fallen below a selected level such that electrical stimulation is being delivered to the patient. The remote monitoring system  42  may be, e.g., a nursing station, etc. that is in a location removed from the immediate vicinity of the patient. 
         [0030]    The systems of the present invention may also be capable of storing data indicative of the patient&#39;s blood oxygen content, the number of times peripheral nerve stimulation is delivered, the duration/intensity of any peripheral nerve stimulation, etc. The data may be stored within one or more components of the system (e.g., the peripheral nerve stimulator  10 , blood oxygen monitor  20 , etc.). Alternatively (or in addition to on-board storage), the data may be transmitted to a remote monitoring system for storage if a remote monitoring system is used in connection with the invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of one exemplary method according to the present invention. As discussed herein, the method of the invention may be advantageously practiced in connection with sleeping patients who have been administered narcotics and/or sedatives as a back-up for their intrinsic arousal mechanisms (which may have been obtunded by the medications) in the event of a sleep apnea incident. 
         [0032]    The method involves monitoring blood oxygen content  60  by any suitable technique. Typically, the user (doctor, nurse, etc.) will set the level at or above which blood oxygen content should be maintained. If (as indicated by decision box  62 ) the patient&#39;s blood oxygen content falls below the selected level, then peripheral nerve stimulation may preferably be delivered to the patient (as indicated at box  64 ). If the monitored blood oxygen content level is at or above the selected value, then the system would continue monitoring blood oxygen content levels. 
         [0033]    Some optional activities are also depicted in the flow diagram of  FIG. 2 . Among the optional activities is the one depicted in box  66 , where a signal is provided to a remote monitoring system to provide an indication that the patient&#39;s blood oxygen content has fallen below the selected level and/or that peripheral nerve stimulation has been delivered to the patient. 
         [0034]    Another optional activity included in the method depicted in the flow diagram of  FIG. 2  is determining whether the patient is moving after electrical stimulation has been delivered to them (decision box  68 ). Motion detection may be may be carried out by any suitable technique. One potentially preferred technique is through the use of a motion sensor attached to the patient. The motion sensor may take the form of an accelerometer, inclinometer, etc. as are known in the art. Changes in acceleration or inclination of the sensor can be used to indicate that the patient has been aroused and moved (typically in response to the peripheral nerve stimulation). 
         [0035]    If the patient has moved, then the method may preferably involve returning to the monitoring of patient blood oxygen content as indicated in box  60 . If the patient has not moved in response to the peripheral nerve stimulation, then the method may preferably involve increasing the duration and/or intensity of the peripheral nerve stimulation (box  70 ) in an attempt to arouse the patient. 
         [0036]    The complete disclosure of any patents, patent documents, and publications cited in the Background, the Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments, and elsewhere herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each were individually incorporated. 
         [0037]    Illustrative embodiments of this invention are discussed and reference has been made to possible variations within the scope of this invention. These and other variations and modifications in the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, and it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the claims provided below and equivalents thereof.