Abstract:
A stimulator is adapted to electrically stimulate a muscle of a patient. A detector is adapted to detect a response of the stimulated muscle. A processor is operable to obtain a plurality of parameters indicative of muscle relaxation of the patient based on the detected response. A display is operable to display the parameters simultaneously while showing chronological changes thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a method and a monitor apparatus for displaying parameters indicative of muscle relaxation.  
         [0002]     Examples of measurement and monitoring items required for medical care of a patient undergoing surgical procedures include blood gases, movements of the circulatory system, respiration, anesthetic depth, and muscle relaxation. Among these items, parameters which can be monitored in a real time manner include electrocardiogram output, blood pressure, SpO 2 , body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and the like.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, monitoring a muscle relaxation state of a patient undergoing surgical procedures is also an extremely important issue. From the above viewpoint, a nerve stimulation system has conventionally been employed as an apparatus for monitoring a muscle relaxation state. The nerve stimulation system is configured so as to stimulate an ulnar nerve of a patient, and measure contraction of an adductor muscle of the thumb in response to the stimulation. As examples of an apparatus of this type for monitoring a muscle relaxation state, there has generally known an apparatus of a type which measures changes in a measured myogenic potential, and an apparatus of another type which measures kinetic effects deriving from muscle contraction (e.g., measuring an acceleration of muscular response).  
         [0004]     The following methods have been adopted as stimulation patterns for detecting and measuring a muscle relaxation state by electric stimulator.  
         [0005]     (1) Single Stimulation Method: a stimulation method of applying stimulating current of 200 microsecond at intervals of one or ten seconds, thereby applying single stimulation.  
         [0006]     (2) TOF (train of four) Method: a stimulation method of applying stimulation trains at 15-second intervals, each train constituted of four repeated stimuli at 0.5 second intervals. In the TOF method, a ratio (a TOF ratio) between the height of the first stimulation and that of the fourth stimulation is expressed in %, which reaches 100% when the administered muscle relaxant is not exerting any effect.  
         [0007]     (3) DBS (double burst signal) Method: a stimulation method of generating a stimulation train, generally constituted of three stimuli at 20 millisecond intervals, and another train after 0.75 second, thereby determining a difference in responses to these two burst signals by hand (palpation).  
         [0008]     (4) PTC (post tetanic count) Method: a stimulation method to be employed when a response to the stimulation applied by the single stimulation method and the TOF method is completely faded under a state of deep muscle relaxation. First, stimulation at 1 Hz is applied for 15 cycles. When no response to the stimulation is ascertained, tetanic stimulation is applied. Subsequently, after three seconds, by stimulation at 1 Hz is applied for 15 cycles. Timing when a response to the TOF stimulation emerges next is estimated on the basis of the number of evoked responses.  
         [0009]     (5) Tetanic Stimulation Method: a stimulation method of making an evaluation by palpation on the basis of tetanic stimulation, in accordance with which stimulation at 50 or 100 Hz is applied for only five seconds.  
         [0010]     The related-art apparatus for monitoring and displaying muscle relaxation state has a function of simply displaying the timing of electric stimulation and a degree of a change in the acceleration of a muscle with respect to time. However, the apparatus involves a problem, in that it lacks a function of monitoring timing at which a muscular relaxant is administered, thereby being unable to ascertain a chronological relationship between administration of a drug and changes in an acceleration of a muscle. Therefore, the related-art apparatus of this type has failed to accurately ascertain a duration between administration of a drug and timing at which the drug starts to exert its effect, or the like.  
         [0011]     In view of the above, Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-57320A discloses a monitor apparatus in which event data such as an event pertaining to administration of a muscle relaxant can be input, and there are displayed the timing that the event is occurred and a timing and a magnitude of a response of an electrically stimulated muscle.  
         [0012]     However, in the above monitor apparatus, among parameters indicative of the muscle relaxation, such as a TOF ratio, a TOF count, and a PTC, are to be displayed on a monitor screen, only a single parameter is displayed in the form of a numerical value or a graph. Accordingly, it is impossible to determine a change in a muscle relaxation state continuously on the basis of the muscle relaxation parameters which are not displayed on the monitor screen.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and a monitor apparatus which enable appropriate ascertainment of the degree of muscle relaxation, appropriate determination of timing when a muscle relaxant is to be additionally administered or an antagonist is to be administered, and accurate ascertainment of a muscle relaxation state and prediction of transition of the same.  
         [0014]     In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a display method, comprising:  
         [0015]     stimulating electrically a muscle of a patient;  
         [0016]     detecting a response of the stimulated muscle;  
         [0017]     obtaining a plurality of parameters indicative of muscle relaxation of the patient based on the detected response; and  
         [0018]     displaying the parameters on a display simultaneously while showing chronological changes thereof.  
         [0019]     The parameters may include at least two of a TOF rate, a TOF count and a PTC.  
         [0020]     According to the invention, there is also provided a monitor apparatus, comprising:  
         [0021]     a stimulator, adapted to electrically stimulate a muscle of a patient;  
         [0022]     a detector, adapted to detect a response of the stimulated muscle;  
         [0023]     a processor, operable to obtain a plurality of parameters indicative of muscle relaxation of the patient based on the detected response; and  
         [0024]     a display, operable to display the parameters simultaneously while showing chronological changes thereof.  
         [0025]     The parameters may include at least two of a TOF rate, a TOF count and a PTC.  
         [0026]     With the above configurations, appropriate ascertainment of the degree of muscle relaxation and appropriate determination of timing when a muscle relaxant is to be additionally administered or an antagonist is to be administered are performed, so that ascertainment of a muscle relaxation state and prediction about transition of the same can be made accurately. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a monitor apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the monitor apparatus;  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing operation for displaying parameters indicative of muscle relaxation which is executed in the monitor apparatus;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows an example of the parameters displayed on a display of a bedside monitor in the monitor apparatus; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows another example of the parameters displayed on the display of the bedside monitor.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a monitor apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a stimulation detector  10 , and a bedside monitor  20  provided with a display  30 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the stimulation detector  10  comprises: a button  11   a  for selecting an stimulation mode; a display  11   b ; a pair of electrode clips  13   a ,  13   b ; an acceleration sensor  15   a ; and a surface temperature sensor  15   b . The electrode clips  13   a ,  13   b  and the sensors  15   a ,  15   b  are connected to a detector body by way of electric wires. The above members serve as a stimulator  12  and a muscle relaxation sensor  14  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0036]     The stimulator  12  is configured so as to be capable of applying, to predetermined positions of a patient, a plurality of types of stimulation patterns for detecting and measuring the above-described muscle relaxation state by way of the electrode clips  13   a  and  13   b  under a stimulation mode selected by the button  11   a . In this case, the stimulator  12  is configured such that data pertaining to the thus-selected stimulation patterns are appropriately displayed on the display  11   b.    
         [0037]     Meanwhile, the muscle relaxation sensor  14  is configured so as to detect a muscle relaxation state of a patient by use of the acceleration sensor  15   a , and measure muscle relaxation parameters, such as a TOF ratio, a TOF count, and a PTC. Meanwhile, the surface temperature sensor  15   b  measures a skin surface temperature of a patient under a muscle relaxation state.  
         [0038]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the muscle relaxation parameters detected and measured by the muscle relaxation sensor  14  are converted by a communication converter into data in a format which can be processed by the bedside monitor  20 , and transferred to a communicator  24  of the bedside monitor  20  by way of a communication terminal  18 . Meanwhile, reference numeral  22  denotes a power supply of the bedside monitor  20 .  
         [0039]     Thus, the data pertaining to the muscle relaxation parameters having been transferred to the communicator  24  of the bedside monitor  20  are converted again into signals which can be displayed as muscle parameters on a screen in the display  30  by a communication analyzer  26 . Hence, the muscle relaxation parameters, such as the TOF ratio, the TOF count, and the PTC, are displayed on the screen in the form of numerical values or graphs.  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , first, the apparatus for monitoring and displaying muscle relaxation state is activated (step S 1 ). Subsequently, the display  30  of the bedside monitor  20  is caused to display a screen (step S 2 ). In this condition, the communicator  24  of the bedside monitor  20  starts to receive data pertaining to the muscle relaxation parameters transmitted from the stimulation detector  10  (step S 3 ). Then, the communication analyzer  26  of the bedside monitor  20  receives data pertaining to, e.g., the TOF ratio and the TOF count (step S 4 ). A basic screen on the display  30  displays respective numerical values (step S 5 ). Subsequently, at least one of the TOF ratio and the TOF count is displayed on the display  30  as a trend (step S 6 ).  
         [0041]     Thereafter, communication status with respect to the stimulation detector  10  is ascertained in the communicator  24  of the bedside monitor  20  (step S 7 ). When the communication is finished, receiving operation is terminated (step S 8 , and the monitor apparatus is deactivated (step S 9 ). Meanwhile, there is made a setting for causing repetition of operations pertaining to step S 4  through step S 6  during the communication.  
         [0042]     In this embodiment, a trend of the TOF ratio and the TOF count are displayed as shown in  FIG. 4 . More specifically, a graph is divided along the Y-axis into an upper section and a lower section, with the X axis representing time, wherein the upper section displays a bar graph of the TOF ratio [%], and the lower section displays a bar graph of the TOF count. The drawing depicts respective state sequentially, from a measurement start point in time, wherein (1) depicts a state in which a muscle relaxant is administered, indicating the TOF ratio as 100%; (2) depicts a state of entering into a muscle relaxation state, indicating a gradual decrease in the TOF ratio; (3) depicts a deep muscle relaxation state; (4) depicts a state of starting to recover from the muscle relaxation state; and (5) depicts a state in which the muscle relaxant is administered again, whereby the patient again enters a deep muscle relaxation state.  
         [0043]     The graph of the TOF ratio is displayed, in the upper divided section, with a first color on a background having a second color. On the other hand, the graph of the TOF count indicating the deep muscle relaxation state is displayed, in the lower divided section, with the second color on a background having the first color while sharing a temporal axis with the graph of TOF ratio. Therefore, a muscle relaxation state including the TOF ratio and the TOF count can be displayed continuously in the form of graphs. By indicating the muscle relaxation state in the form of graphs as described above, progress with time of the muscle relaxation state can be ascertained readily. Hence, there is provided an advantage of enabling accurate prediction about future transition (e.g., to be deepened or to be recovered) of the muscle relaxation state of a muscle relaxation patient.  
         [0044]     Here, the color of the TOF count graph may not be the background color of the upper divided section so long as the background color of the lower divided section and the color of the TOF ratio graph are the same. Further, the color of the TOF ratio graph may not be the background color of the lower divided section so long as the background color of the upper divided section and the color of the TOF count graph are the same.  
         [0045]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the trend of the TOF ratio and the TOF count illustrated in  FIG. 4  can be displayed on-screen in conjunction with vital signal parameters such as electrocardiogram, blood pressure, SpO 2 , body temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate.  
         [0046]     Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. Such changes and modifications as are obvious are deemed to come within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as defined in the appended claims.  
         [0047]     For instance, muscle relaxation parameters, such as a PTC, can be displayed in conjunction with the trend of the TOF ratio and the TOF count. In addition, a hypnotic level measured by a BIS (Bispectal Index: trademark) monitor, which is an anesthesia-related parameter, can be displayed in conjunction with the trend of the TOF ratio and the TOF count. Other than those, anesthesia-related parameters, including a number of muscle relaxation parameters, can be displayed in combination, or the like.