Measurement for autonomic function

Abstract

The present invention is an article of manufacture and method for using same, comprising at least two self adhesive sensors having a paired offset potential of consistently below about +/−1.0 mV; and a data gathering device connected to the sensors capable of measuring the voltage difference between the sensors. The sensors preferably are AgCl coated Silver.

1 . An article of manufacture, to quantify nociception and pain comprising:
 at least two self adhesive low offset sensors having an offset potential consistently below about +/−0.01 mV to measure a difference in electrical potential caused by an activation of a sympathetic nerve and an activation of a parasympathetic nerve;   said at least two self adhesive low offset sensors having a coating to conduct the difference in electrical potential caused by an activation of a sympathetic nerve and an activation of a parasympathetic nerve;   and a data gathering device connected to the sensors capable of measuring a voltage difference between the electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the sensors possess a sensing side having an AgCl coating on a Silver substrate 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is a pre-applied conductive gel disposed on the sensing side of the sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are connected to a data gathering device via lead wires across a resistor of 0.5 to 500 k-Ohms. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are 10 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are disposable. 
     
     
         7 . A device suitable for detecting a shift in the autonomic nervous system, comprising:
 a first sensor, wherein said first sensor is utilized with at least one other sensor, and said first sensor has an offset potential of consistently below about +/−0.01 mV when used with said other sensor for measuring a difference in electrical potential caused by an activation of a sympathetic nerve and an activation of a parasympathetic nerve;   the first sensor and the at least one other sensor having a coating to conduct the difference in electrical potential caused by an activation of a sympathetic nerve and an activation of a parasympathetic nerve.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the sensors have an exposed-to-gel sensing side of silver chloride coated silver. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein a conductive gel is pre-applied to the sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is about 10 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is disposable. 
     
     
         12 . A method for detecting a shift in the autonomic nervous system, comprising: affixing at least two sensors having a paired offset potential of consistently below about +/−0.01 mV to contralateral sides of an animal or human; and measuring the voltage difference between said sensors to quantify a difference in electrical potential caused by an activation of a sympathetic nerve and an activation of a parasympathetic nerve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the voltage differential is measured continuously. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the voltage differential is recorded, displayed or both recorded and displayed by a data gathering device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the voltage differential is correlated to a Visual Analogue Scale and self-reported pain. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method is used to diagnose conditions of altered ANS function. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method is used to ascertain the effectiveness of medicine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method is used on a human. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method is used on an animal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one sensor is affixed to each hand of a human.