The EEG monitor for the operating room and the intensive care unit

The Narcotrend

Automatic assessment of the EEG during anaesthesia and sedation

validated for i.v.-anesthesia (e.g. propofol, etomidate, thiopental, methohexital) and
 all common inhaled anesthetics (e.g. desflurane, sevoflurane, enflurane, halothan)

  • Automatic classification of the EEG for intravenious and inhalational anaesthetics
    with EEG index (fine tuning of the EEG stages)

  • Extremely low running costs 
    (ECG electrodes, needle electrodes or cup electrodes can be used)

  • 1- and 2-channel-recordings from different electrode positions possible, therefore suitable for use in all surgical disciplines

  • Colour display for various representations of  the EEG and EEG parameters

  • Special algorithms for preventing misclassifications of the EEG during anesthesia if special patterns, e.g. epileptiform activity, occur

  • Easy integration into the anesthesia work place

  • Easy operation via touchscreen

  • Data transfer via serial interface

  • Report function for documentation of EEG recordings

  • Compact and robust hardware

  • Modular solution in preparation

The Narcotrend is an easy-to-use EEG monitor for the automatic assessment of brain waves.

The automatic classification of the EEG by the Narcotrend makes it possible to assess the patient's hypnotic state during anesthesia and sedation even for users without any specialist knowledge of EEGs.

The comfortable program handling and the small, robust hardware permit the use of the system in clinical routine in the operating theatre and in the intensive care unit.

The electroencephalogram (EEG) as parameter for assessing depth of anesthesia and sedation

Fields of application

Specifications

Screen display

References

Contact

 


The electroencephalogram (EEG) as parameter for
assessing depth of anesthesia and sedation

Under the impact of anesthetics/narcotics the EEG changes in a characteristic way. Thus, the patient's hypnotic state is reflected in the pattern of the EEG signal.

The EEG monitor Narcotrend performs a computer-assisted analysis of the EEG signal, including:

  • Automatic assessment of the patient's hypnotic state

Based on a number of processed EEG parameters an automatic classification of the EEG is conducted by means of multivariate statistical analysis. The classification of the EEG signal is done on an established scale proposed by Kugler ranging from stage A (awake) to stage F (very deep narcosis). The automatic classifications of the EEG over time form the cerebrogram. In this way, the user gets important information about the patient's hypnotic state in the course of time even without special knowledge of the EEG.

  • Reliable recognition of artefacts

Absolutely necessary for an efficient EEG interpretation is the recognition of artefacts in the EEG signal. Comprehensive algorithms for detecting artefacts are implemented to ensure a reliable automatic classification of the EEG.

  • Continuous testing of the electrodes

During the recording impedances and electrode potentials are tested in defined time intervals to ensure a constantly high quality of the EEG signal.

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Fields of application

In the operating theatre

Ideal for monitoring anesthesia

  • individually adjusted dosage of anesthetics / narcotics, of particular benefit is cost reduction
  • prevention of very flat stages of anesthesia (e.g. danger of intraoperative awareness), particularly in risk patients
  • prevention of very deep stages of anesthesia (e.g. danger of cumulation of anesthetic agents), particularly in geriatric patients

Supplementary safety monitoring

  • recognition of dangerous situations, e.g. hypoxia
  • comparison of both hemispheres, e.g. in carotid surgery

 

In the intensive care unit

Improved monitoring of sedation

  • individually adjusted dosage of sedative agents
  • prevention of very flat stages of sedation (e.g. danger of undesirable awareness)
  • prevention of very deep stages of sedation (e.g. danger of cumulation of sedative agents), particularly in geriatric patients

Optimized therapeutic monitoring

  • monitoring of barbiturate therapy during status epilepticus and in cases of elevated intracranial pressure
  • brief, orientating diagnosis and monitoring of therapeutic measures in cases of epileptic seizures

Easy coma screening

  • orientating recordings allowing an assessment of the actual state and of trends of the cerebral function

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Specifications

Clearly arranged screen display

  • cerebrogram (trend display of the automatic EEG classifications)
  • raw-EEG signal
  • power spectrum
  • two quantiles of the power spectrum (median and spectral edge frequency)
  • power and cumulative representation of relative power in the standard frequency bands
  • comparison of signals from both hemispheres
  • 1 or 2 channels

Additional trend display

  • cerebrogram
  • power and two quantiles of the power spectrum
  • relative power in the standard frequency bands
  • comparison of signals from both hemispheres
  • trend displays on screen up to 24 hours

Comfortable program handling

  • easy, menu-driven operation
  • individually adjustable scaling of diagrams
  • complete storage of all data

Additional options

  • defining and setting of markers
  • 15 Hz- or 30 Hz filter
  • Automatic generation and printing of protocols

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Screen display

The Narcotrend offers different screen displays which can be chosen and adjusted according to the user's individual needs.

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Contact

Addres for correspondence:
PD Dr. Dr. Arthur Schultz
Arbeitsgruppe Informatik / Biometrie
Anästhesie
Klinikum Hannover Oststadt
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Podbielskistr. 380
D - 30659 Hannover
GERMANY

Phone:  +49 511 906 - 3100
Fax:      +49 511 906 - 3106

E-Mail: info@narcotrend.de
Copyright © 2005  PD Dr. Dr. Arthur Schultz last update: 17.06.2005