Patent ID: 6961609

Claim:
A non-invasive method for quantitative measurement of the functional state of the autonomic nervous system, including the balance between its sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, comprising the steps of: a. attaching a fastening belt to a surface of the human body, said fastening belt comprising a set of a predetermined number of electrodes with a predetermined diameter, covered with filter paper circles soaked with predetermined concentrations of substances selected from the group consisting of sympathomimetic and parasympathomimetic drugs, and a reference electrode covered with electrically conductive matter, b. applying iontophoretically said predetermined concentration of substances selected from the group consisting of sympathomimetic, and parasympathomimetic drugs on a surface of the human body by means of an electric current of predetermined micro-amperes supplied by a housing box comprising a DC electric source, an on-off switch, a device selected from the group consisting of electric current regulating means, a device selected from the group consisting of electric current measuring means, further a 2-conductor cable supplying said electric current to the electrodes of said fastening belt, c. assessing visually the concentration under which a change of the skin color caused by vasoconstriction and respectively vasodilatation of the cutaneous vessels appears, whereby an objective quantitative method for diagnosing illnesses and disorders, for testing the effect of new medical drugs on human subjects, for assessing the damage caused by drug, alcohol, and nicotine abuse, as well as by physiological and mental stress, and for the selection of men appropriate for severely stressful occupations such as astronauts, pilots, and sportsmen, is offered.