Method of positioning electrodes for central nervous system monitoring and sensing pain reactions of a patient

Abstract

A method concerning measurements by using an electrode array comprising three electrodes for central nervous system (CNS) monitoring from the forehead of a patient's head. A first electrode of said three electrodes is positioned between the eyebrows or immediately above the eyebrows of the patient. A third electrode of said three electrodes is positioned apart from the first electrode on the hairless fronto-lateral area of the forehead the patient. A second electrode is positioned between the first and the third electrodes on the forehead of the patient.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . Method of sensing pain reactions of a patient in which method an array comprising three electrodes for central nervous system (CNS) monitoring comprising frontal electromyography (FEMG) signal from a patient's head, said method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a first electrode of said three electrodes on the hairless area of the patient's head in which the FEMG signal is strong;    positioning a third electrode of said three electrodes on the hairless area of the patient's head;    positioning a second electrode on the hairless area of the patient's head; and recording mainly frontal electromyography (FEMG) signals by using the first electrode to obtain an early indication of pain reactions.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , in which method the central nervous system (CNS) monitoring comprises electroencephalography (EEG) signal from the patient's head and in which method the first electrode is positioned on the area of the patient's head in which the FEMG signal is stronger than the EEG signal and the third electrode is positioned on the area of the patient's head in which the EEG signal is stronger than the FEMG signal.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the first electrode is positioned between the eyebrows or above the eyebrows near frontalis and orbicularis muscles of the patient, the third electrode is positioned apart from the first electrode on the hairless fronto-lateral area of the frontal lobe of the patient, and the second electrode is positioned between the first and the third electrodes.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , in which the first and the third electrodes are measuring electrodes and the second electrode is a ground electrode.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the second electrode is positioned essentially in the middle of the first and the second electrodes having essentially the same distance to said first and third electrodes.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , the method further comprising the step of positioning at least one additional electrode on the area surrounding the eye of the patient to monitor the movements of the eye.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , in which two additional electrodes are used.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , in which the additional electrodes are positioned above or/and under the eye or/and adjacent to the eye.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the first electrode is positioned between the eyebrows or above the eyebrows near frontalis and orbicularis muscles of the patient, the third electrode is positioned apart from the first electrode on the hairless fronto-lateral area of the frontal lobe of the patient, and the second electrode is positioned between the first and the third electrodes.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the first and the third electrodes are measuring electrodes and the second electrode is a ground electrode.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 12 , in which the first and the third electrodes are measuring electrodes and the second electrode is a ground electrode.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , in which the additional electrodes are positioned above or/and under the eye or/and adjacent to the eye.