Pharmacological management system

Abstract

A pharmacological management system has sensors, a pharmacological status monitor and a drug administrator. The sensors attach to the patient so as to generate corresponding sensor signals. The pharmacological status monitor is responsive to the sensor signals so as to generate an output indicative of the drug-induced effects of the pharmacological agent on the patient. Further, the monitor output is fed-back to the drug administrator so as to regulate administration of the agent for a desired effect.

1 . A pharmacological management system comprising:
 a drug administrator that provides a pharmacological agent to a patient;   a plurality of sensors attached to the patient so as to generate a corresponding plurality of sensor signals;   a pharmacological status monitor responsive to the sensor signals so as to generate an output indicative of the drug-induced effects of the pharmacological agent on the patient; and   the monitor output fed-back to the drug administrator so as to regulate administration of the agent for a desired effect.   
     
     
         2 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 1  wherein the monitor comprises:
 a hematological processor responsive to an optical sensor signal; and 
 a neurological processor responsive to a bio-potential sensor. 
 
     
     
         3 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 2  wherein the hematological processor has a photoplethysmograph input and provides a level of pain output to the pharmacological status monitor. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 3  wherein the neurological processor has an EEG input and provides a depth of consciousness output to the pharmacological status monitor. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 4  wherein the pharmacological status monitor generates a control output to a drug-infusion pump. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 5  wherein the level of pain output is a perfusion index. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 6  wherein the pharmacological status monitor generates a combined index related to both depth of consciousness and level of pain. 
     
     
         8 . A pharmacological management method comprising:
 inputting a plurality of sensor signals derived from a patient;   the sensor signals providing measurements of a plurality of physiological systems;   calculating a plurality physiological parameters from the sensor signals; and   operating on the parameters to generate monitor outputs;   the monitor outputs are indicative of levels of both consciousness and pain.   
     
     
         9 . The pharmacological management method according to  claim 8  wherein calculating comprises:
 utilizing a first sensor signal to generate a consciousness index; and 
 utilizing a second sensor signal to generate a perfusion index. 
 
     
     
         10 . The pharmacological management method according to  claim 9  wherein operating comprises displaying cues indicating a patient with a stable or unstable physiological condition. 
     
     
         11 . The pharmacological management method according to  claim 10  wherein operating further comprises controlling at least one of drug-infusion equipment and medical gas ventilation equipment. 
     
     
         12 . The pharmacological management method according to  claim 11  wherein operating further comprises diagnosing patient wellness. 
     
     
         13 . A pharmacological management system measures physiological parameters derived from at least some of a patient's central nervous system, respiratory system and cardio-vascular system so as to assess level of pain and depth of consciousness during the administration of anesthetic and analgesic agents, the pharmacological management system comprising:
 a plurality of sensors in communications with a patient so as to generate a plurality of sensor signals;   a monitor front-end in communications with the sensor signals so as to generate digitized sensor signals;   a signal processor in communications with the front-end so as to generate a plurality of physiological parameters;   the signal processor deriving an electrical-based depth of consciousness (DOC) indicator from an electrical one of the sensors in communications with the patient's central nervous system;   the signal processor deriving a pleth-based level of pain (LOP) indicator derived from an optical one of the sensors in communications with the patient's cardio-vascular system; and   an instrument manager generating a monitor output in response to a combination of the DOC indicator and the LOP indicator.   
     
     
         14 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 13  further comprising
 a drug administrator that administers a pharmacological agent to the patient; and 
 the drug administrator responsive to the monitor output. 
 
     
     
         15 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 14  wherein the LOP indicator is responsive to a perfusion index (PI) parameter. 
     
     
         16 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 14  wherein the LOP indicator is responsive to a plethysmograph variability index (PVI) parameter. 
     
     
         17 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 15  where the monitor output comprises an electronic signal to the drug administrator that affects the dose of pharmacological agent. 
     
     
         18 . The pharmacological management system according to  claim 17  where the monitor output comprises a combined display of LOP and DOC.