Measurement of autonomic function

Abstract

The present invention is an article of manufacture and method for using same, comprising at least two sensors having a paired offset potential of 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, comprising: 
 at least two sensors having an offset potential of below about +/−1.0 mV; and    a data gathering device connected to the sensors capable of measuring the 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 offset potential is below about +/−0.5 mV.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the offset potential is about +/−0.01 mV.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein a pre-applied conductive gel is disposed on the sensing side of the sensors.  
     
     
         6 . 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.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are less than 20 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are 10 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are disposable.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors have an adhesive collar.  
     
     
         11 . A device suitable for detecting a shift in the autonomic nervous system, comprising: 
 a sensor, wherein said sensor is utilized with at least one other sensor, and    said sensor has an offset potential of less than 0.5 mV when used with said other sensor.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensors have an exposed-to-gel sensing side of silver chloride coated silver.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the offset potential is below about +/−0.5 mV.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the offset potential is about +/−0.01 mV.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein a conductive gel is pre-applied to the sensor.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is less than 50 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is less than 20 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is about 10 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is disposable.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor has an adhesive collar.  
     
     
         21 . A method for detecting a shift in the autonomic nervous system, comprising: 
 affixing at least two sensors having a paired offset potential of less than 0.5 mV to contralateral sides of an animal or human; and    measuring the voltage difference between said sensors.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the voltage differential is measured continuously.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the voltage differential is recorded, displayed or both recorded and displayed by a data gathering device.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the voltage differential is correlated to a Visual Analogue Scale and self-reported pain.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method is used to diagnose conditions of altered ANS function.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method is used to ascertain the effectiveness of medicine.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method is used on a human.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method is used on an animal.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one sensor is affixed to each hand of a human.