System and method for non-invasive autonomic nerve activity monitoring

• US 10,448,852 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indiana University Research & Technology Corporation (Indiana University)
• Original Assignee: Indiana University Research & Technology Corporation (Indiana University)
• Inventors: Chen, Peng-Sheng, Lin, Shien-Fong
• Primary Examiner(s): Eiseman, Adam J
• Application Number:
  US14/649,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20150297104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,143 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0209 Special features of electrodes classified in A61B5/24, A61B5/25, A61B5/283, A61B5/291, A61B5/296, A61B5/053
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/361 Detecting fibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6869 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring nerve activity in a subject. The system includes a plurality of electrodes placed in proximity to skin of the subject, an amplifier electrically connected to the electrodes and configured to generate a plurality of amplified signals corresponding to electrical signals received from the subject through the electrodes, and a signal processor. The signal processor applies a high-pass filter to the amplified signals to generate filtered signals from the amplified signals, identifies autonomic nerve activity in the plurality of filtered signals; and generates an output signal corresponding to the filtered signals. The high-pass filter attenuates a plurality of the amplified signals having frequencies that correspond to heart muscle activity during a heartbeat.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring nerve activity in a subject comprising:

amplifying, using a signal amplifier connected to a plurality of electrodes configured to be placed in proximity to the subject'"'"'s skin, electrical signals received from the plurality of electrodes to generate a plurality of amplified signals; and

using a signal processor operatively connected to the signal amplifier;

applying a high-pass filter to the plurality of amplified signals to generate a plurality of filtered signals, the high-pass filter configured to attenuate a plurality of the amplified signals having frequencies that correspond to muscle activity in the subject;

identifying nerve activity in the plurality of filtered signals;

generating an output signal corresponding to the nerve activity in the plurality of filtered signals; and

activating, based on the output signal, a therapeutic device implanted in the subject to deliver a therapeutic signal to the subject.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a visual display of the identified nerve activity in the plurality of filtered signals from the output signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the generation of the visual display further comprises:

integrating, using the signal processor, the identified nerve activity to identify a total magnitude of the nerve activity over a predetermined period of time; and

generating the visual display including the total magnitude of the nerve activity.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying an arrhythmia in the heartbeat of the subject with reference to a change in the identified nerve activity and generating an alarm in response to identifying the arrhythmia, using the signal processor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identification of the arrhythmia in the heartbeat further comprises identifying the arrhythmia prior to onset of the arrhythmia in the heartbeat.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the therapeutic device is a pacing device implanted in the subject and the therapeutic signal is a pacing signal to heart muscle in response to identifying the arrhythmia.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the therapeutic device is a defibrillator device implanted in the subject and the therapeutic signal is a defibrillation signal to heart muscle in response to identifying the arrhythmia.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing using the signal processor:

identifying, using the identified nerve activity, a suitability for the subject to receive a therapy aimed at modifying the identified nerve activity;

or evaluating an effectiveness of a neuromodulation therapy with reference to a difference in the identified nerve activity, or both.

9. A method for monitoring nerve activity m a subject comprising:

amplifying, using a signal amplifier, electrical signals received from a plurality of electrodes that are configured to be placed in proximity to skin of the subject to generate a plurality of amplified signals;

applying, using a signal processor operatively connected to the signal amplifier, a high-pass filter to the plurality of amplified signals to generate a plurality of filtered signals, the high-pass filter configured to attenuate a plurality of the amplified signals having frequencies that correspond to muscle activity in the subject;

identifying nerve activity in the plurality of filtered signals using the signal processor;

generating, using the signal processor an output signal corresponding to the nerve activity in the plurality of filtered signals; and

activating, based on the output signal, a therapeutic device implanted in the subject to deliver a therapeutic signal to the subject.