Quantitative pupillometry as a bedside predictor of postoperative respiratory depression

1. A quantitative pupillometry system for predicting respiratory depression comprising:

a pupillometer including an image acquisition device and a stimulus light source, the image acquisition device configured to detect pupillary effects from a pupil of a patient in response to light from the stimulus light source being applied to the pupil;

a memory unit, wherein opioid pharmacokinetic data is stored within the memory unit;

a processor in communication with the pupillometer and the memory unit, the processor including:

a pharmacokinetic association module for associating the opioid pharmacokinetics with anticipated pupillary effects; and

a respiratory depression prediction module for predicting a probability of opioid-related respiratory depression by comparing the anticipated pupillary effects from the pharmacokinetic association module and the detected pupillary effects from the pupillometer; and

a user interface in communication with the processor, the user interface configured to provide the prediction of the probability of opioid-related respiratory depression from the respiratory depression prediction module to a user.

2. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 1 , wherein the memory unit processes the opioid pharmacokinetic data.

3. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 1 , wherein the image acquisition device comprises a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, and the stimulus light source comprises an infrared light source.

4. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 1 , wherein the pupillary effects detected include at least one of a resting pupil diameter, a maximum pupil constriction velocity, an average pupil constriction velocity, a minimum diameter, a constriction amplitude, or a relaxation velocity.

5. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 1 , wherein the respiratory depression prediction module predicts the probability of opioid related respiratory depression based upon at least one of a difference of pupillary constriction over time, a difference of pupillary average constriction velocity over time, a difference of maximum constriction velocity over time, or a difference of pupillary size recovery over time.

6. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 5 , wherein the difference of pupillary constriction over time is between a measure at the end of surgery and a baseline measure.

7. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 6 , wherein the baseline measure is taken before surgery.

8. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 5 , wherein the difference of pupillary average constriction velocity over time is between a measure at 3 minutes after opioid is administered to the patient and a baseline measure.

9. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 5 , wherein the difference of maximum constriction velocity over time is between a measure at 3 minutes after opioid is administered to the patient and a baseline measure.

10. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 5 , wherein the difference of maximum constriction velocity over time is between a measure at postoperative care and a baseline measure.

11. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 5 , wherein the difference of pupillary size recovery over time is between a measure at postoperative care and a baseline measure.

12. A quantitative pupillometry system for predicting a probability of at least one opioid-related central effect comprising:

a pupillometer including an image acquisition device and a stimulus light source, the image acquisition device configured to detect pupillary effects from a pupil of a patient in response to light from the stimulus light source being applied to the pupil;

a processor in communication with the pupillometer, the processor including an opioid-related central effect prediction module for predicting a probability of at least one opioid-related central effect in response to the pupillary effects detected by the pupillometer, wherein the at least one opioid-related central effect includes respiratory depression, sedation or vomiting;

a memory storing opioid pharmacokinetic data;

the processor including a pharmacokinetic association module for associating the opioid pharmacokinetic data with the detected pupillary effects; and

a user interface in communication with the processor, the user interface configured to display the prediction of the probability of the at least one opioid-related central effect from the processor to a user.

13. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 12 , wherein the image acquisition device comprises a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, and the stimulus light source comprises an infrared light source.

14. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 12 , wherein the pupillary effects detected include at least one of a resting pupil diameter, a maximum pupil constriction velocity, an average pupil constriction velocity, a minimum diameter, a constriction amplitude, and a relaxation velocity.

15. The quantitative pupillometry system of claim 12 , wherein the opioid-related central effect prediction module predicts the probability of at least one opioid-related central effect based upon at least one of a difference of pupillary constriction over time, a difference of pupillary average constriction velocity over time, a difference of maximum constriction velocity over time, or a difference of pupillary size recovery over time.

16. A method of predicting a probability of at least one opioid-related central effect comprising:

administering an opioid to a patient;

providing a pupillometer including a stimulus light source and an image acquisition device;

stimulating a pupil of the patient via the stimulus light source of the pupillometer;

acquiring an image of the stimulated pupil via the image acquisition device of the pupillometer;

detecting pupillary effects of the pupil via the image acquisition device of the pupillometer;

providing a processor in communication with the pupillometer, the processor including an opioid-related respiratory depression prediction module and a pharmacokinetic association module;

providing a memory storing opioid pharmacokinetic data;

associating, via the pharmacokinetic association module, the opioid pharmacokinetic data with anticipated pupillary effects;

predicting, via the opioid-related respiratory depression prediction module of the processor, a probability of opioid-related respiratory depression by comparing the anticipated the anticipated pupillary effects from the pharmacokinetic association module and the detected pupillary effects from the pupillometer; and

providing the predicted probability of the at least one opioid-related respiratory depression to a user by displaying the predicted probability of the at least one opioid-related respiratory depression on a user interface.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of predicting the probability of the at least one opioid-related central effect is based upon one of a difference of pupillary constriction over time, a difference of pupillary average constriction velocity over time, a difference of maximum constriction velocity over time, and a difference of pupillary size recovery over time.