1. A conscious sedation system comprising:
a) a controller which generates a request for a predetermined response from a patient and which analyses at least a response made by the patient to the request to determine a level of sedation of the patient; and
b) a cannula which is disposable on the face of the patient proximate at least one of the nose and the mouth of the patient for monitoring the breathing of the patient; and
c) a response testing apparatus including:
(1) a request assembly which communicates to the patient the request generated by the controller; and
(2) a response assembly which senses the response and which communicates the response to the controller,
wherein at least a part of at least one of the request and response assemblies is supported by the cannula.
2. The conscious sedation system of claim 1, wherein a user andor the controller determines a delivery schedule of a conscious-sedation drug to the patient based at least in part on the determined level of sedation of the patient.
3. The conscious sedation system of claim 1, wherein the request assembly includes a first vibrator supported by the cannula.
4. The conscious sedation system of claim 3, wherein the first vibrator produces a tactile request to the face of the patient.
5. The conscious sedation system of claim 4, wherein the first vibrator is disposed in the cannula.
6. The conscious sedation system of claim 4, wherein the first vibrator is disposed on the cannula.
7. The conscious sedation system of claim 3, wherein the request assembly includes a second vibrator disposable to produce a tactile request to a site on the patient other than to the face of the patient.
8. The conscious sedation system of claim 7, wherein the controller at least compares responses of the patient to tactile requests from the first and second vibrators in determining the level of sedation of the patient.
9. The conscious sedation system of claim 5, wherein the first vibrator is the only vibrator of the request assembly producing a tactile request.
10. The conscious sedation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined response is a patient head-generated response, and wherein at least a part of the response assembly is supported by the cannula.
11. The conscious sedation system of claim 10, wherein the patient head-generated response is a patient-generated vocal response, and wherein the response assembly includes a sound detector supported by the cannula.
12. The conscious sedation system of claim 11, wherein the controller at least uses at least one of the intensity and the tonal qualities of the vocal response in determining the level of sedation of the patient.
13. The conscious sedation system of claim 10, wherein the patient head-generated response is a patient-generated head movement response, and wherein the response assembly includes a motion sensor supported by the cannula.
14. The conscious sedation system of claim 10, wherein the patient head-generated response is a patient-generated breathing response, and wherein the response assembly includes a breathing sensor andor a breathing-detection tube supported by the cannula.
15. The conscious sedation system of claim 14, wherein the patient-generated breathing response includes at least one of a yawn and a breath deeper than an immediate previous breath.
16. The conscious sedation system of claim 14, wherein the breathing sensor detects the pressure of the exhaled breathing of the patient.
17. A conscious sedation system comprising:
a) a controller which generates a request for a predetermined breathing response from a patient and which analyses at least a breathing response made by the patient to the request to determine a level of sedation of the patient; and
b) a response testing apparatus including:
(1) a request assembly which communicates to the patient the request generated by the controller; and
(2) a cannula which is disposable on the face of the patient proximate at least one of the nose and the mouth of the patient for monitoring the breathing of the patient, wherein the cannula is operatively connected to the controller.
18. The conscious sedation system of claim 17 wherein a user andor the controller determines a delivery schedule of a conscious-sedation drug to the patient based at least in part on the determined level of sedation of the patient.
19. A cannula and response testing assemblage for a conscious sedation system comprising:
a) a cannula which is disposable on the face of a patient proximate at least one of the nose and the mouth of the patient for monitoring the breathing of the patient; and
b) a response testing apparatus including:
(1) a request assembly which communicates to the patient a request generated by a controller of the conscious sedation system for a predetermined response from the patient; and
(2) a response assembly which senses a response made by the patient to the request and which communicates the response to the controller which analyses at least the response to determine a level of sedation of the patient,
wherein at least a part of at least one of the request and response assemblies is supported by the cannula.
20. The cannula and response testing assemblage of claim 19, wherein the request assembly includes a first vibrator supported by the cannula.
21. The cannula and response testing assemblage of claim 19, wherein the response is a patient head-generated response, and wherein at least a part of the response assembly is supported by the cannula.
22. The cannula and response testing assemblage of claim 21, wherein the response assembly includes at least one of a sound detector, a motion sensor, a breathing sensor, and a breathing-detection tube supported by the cannula.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A high-voltage indicator for use with an AC electric field source near ground comprising:
a probe including a probe tip for coupling to the source,
a reference conductor,
detection circuitry connected between the probe and the reference conductor for detecting the voltage difference therebetween, the detection circuitry being calibrated for electric fields typical of sources remote from ground,
an annunciator connected to the detection circuitry for indicating the voltage magnitude of the source, and
a substantial impedance connected between the probe tip and the detection circuitry sufficient to compensate for the greater field strength of the source near ground so as to indicate the source voltage with an accuracy comparable to that achievable when the detection circuitry is used with sources remote from ground.
2. The indicator of claim 1, and further comprising a housing enclosing the reference conductor, the detection circuitry and the annunciator.
3. The indicator of claim 2, wherein the housing is formed of plastic and the reference conductor comprises a conductive shield on an inner surface of the housing.
4. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry includes a voltage divider.
5. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the impedance is capacitive.
6. The indicator of claim 5, wherein the probe includes first and second electrodes respectively connected to the probe tip and the detection circuitry, and dielectric material disposed between the electrodes for cooperation therewith to define a capacitor in series with the probe tip.
7. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the detection circuitry includes a rectifier.
8. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the annunciator includes a digital display.
9. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the impedance is sufficient to provide insulation from an inadvertent bridging of the probe and voltage indicator from an energized terminal to a grounded conductor causing a short circuit or electric arc.
10. A high-voltage indicator for use with an AC electric field source near ground comprising:
a probe including a probe tip for coupling to the source,
a reference conductor,
detection circuitry connected between the probe and the reference conductor for detecting the voltage difference therebetween, the detection circuitry being calibrated for electric fields typical of sources remote from ground,
an annunciator connected to the detection circuitry for indicating the voltage magnitude of the source, and
a substantial impedance connected between the probe tip and the detection circuitry sufficient to provide insulation from an inadvertent bridging of the probe and voltage indicator from an energized terminal to a grounded conductor causing a short circuit or electric arc.