Patent · US Expired

Device and method obtaining an audible indication of EEG in conjunction with electroconvulsive therapy

US4777952A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
5References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 1985
Grant dateOct 18, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 31, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/38
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An audible electroencephalograph (EEG) for use with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A voltage controlled oscillator converts the magnitude of the signal received from the patient's brain into an audible tone indicative of brain activity. The tone undergoes frequency modulation about 500 hertz to indicate to the attending physician the brain seizure produced by the ECT. The audible signal informs the physician of the results of the ECT without requiring any attention to or waiting for a strip recorder to provide a graphic display. This permits the physician to continuously watch the patient during the ECT. Used in conjunction with the ECT equipment, a first, warning tone may indicate a short hiatus between pressing the treatment button and the commencement of the ECT stimulus. A second tone indicates the application of the ECT stimulus, while the third tone, as described above audibly delineates the resulting effect upon the patient.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.