Therapeutic treatment of disorders based on timing information

• US 20020038137A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stein, Marc T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,923,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0693 Brain, cerebrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1003 Spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

The present invention discloses techniques for operation of neurostimulation or drug delivery devices to stop treatment therapy during times when the patient does not need to be treated. Advantageously, the present invention reduces battery usage and/or drug dosage during periods when treatment therapy need not be provided. Further, the present invention slows or reduces the tolerance the patient may develop from the electrical stimulation or treatment therapy. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a timer or a real time clock for shutting off the device during periods when the patient is sleeping in accordance with a preset schedule. The present invention preferably turns off after the patient has fallen asleep and right before the patient has awakened. Alternatively, the invention may include a sensor for sensing conditions indicative of whether the patient is awake or asleep. This sensed information may also be used to determine whether the treatment therapy should be delivered or stopped.

Claims

1. A neurostimulation device for treatment of a disorder comprising in combination:

(a) an implantable signal generator;

(b) a timer to provide timing information to the signal generator to establish whether the signal generator is to provide electrical stimulation energy; and

(c) at least one implantable electrode coupled to the signal generator and adapted to deliver the electrical stimulation energy to at least one predetermined site in a body of a patient.

2. A neurostimulation device of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) a controller responsive to the timing information for controlling whether the signal generator is to provide electrical stimulation energy.

3. A neurostimulation device of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) a microprocessor responsive to the timing information for controlling whether the signal generator is to provide electrical stimulation energy.

4. A neurostimulation device of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) circuitry responsive to the timing information for controlling whether the signal generator is to provide electrical stimulation energy.

5. A neurostimulation device of claim 2, further comprising:

(e) a sensor coupled to the signal generator for generating a signal indicative of whether a patient is asleep or awake, wherein the controller is also responsive to the signal.

6. A neurostimulation device of claim 5, further comprising:

(f) an analog-to-digital converter coupling the sensor to the signal generator.

7. A neurostimulation device of claim 1, wherein the timer is a real time clock.

8. A neurostimulation device of claim 7, wherein the real time clock is responsive to a external source for providing time of day information.

9. A neurostimulation device of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) a switch coupled to the signal generator and responsive to input by a patient to allow the patient to manually turn on or off the device.

16. A drug delivery system of claim 9, wherein the timer is a real time clock.

18. A drug delivery system of claim 9, further comprising:

(d) a switch coupled to the pump and responsive to input by a patient to allow the patient to manually turn on or off the system.

10. A drug delivery system device for treatment of a disorder comprising in combination:

(a) an implantable pump having at least one reservoir for storing at least one drug;

(b) a timer coupled to the pump and providing timing information to establish whether the pump is to deliver the drug; and

(c) at least one implantable catheter coupled to the pump and adapted to deliver the drug to at least one predetermined site in a body of a patient.

11. A drug delivery system of claim 10, further comprising:

(d) a controller responsive to the timing information for controlling whether the pump is to deliver the drug.

12. A drug delivery system of claim 10, further comprising:

(d) a microprocessor responsive to the timing information for controlling whether the pump is to deliver the drug.

13. A drug delivery system of claim 10, further comprising:

(d) circuitry responsive to the timing information for controlling whether the pump is to deliver the drug.

14. A drug delivery system of claim 10, further comprising:

(d) a sensor coupled to the pump for generating a signal indicative of whether a patient is asleep or awake, wherein the circuitry is also responsive to the signal.

15. A drug delivery system of claim 14, further comprising:

(e) an analog-to-digital converter coupling the sensor to the pump.

17. A drug delivery system of claim 16, wherein the real time clock is responsive to a external source for providing time of day information.

20. A method of claim 19, wherein a third parameter corresponds to a pattern indicative of whether the patient is asleep or awake and further comprising the step of:

(e) if the third parameter indicates that the patent is awake, automatically initiating the device to start delivering treatment therapy to the patient; and

(f) if the third parameter indicates that the patient is asleep, automatically initiating the device to stop the delivery of the treatment therapy.

21. A method of claim 19, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of pain, movement disorder and epilepsy.

19. In an implanted therapeutic device for treatment of a disorder, a method of automatically starting and stopping delivery of treatment therapy to a patient comprising the steps of:

(a) calibrating the device with at least two parameters for determining whether treatment is to be delivered, a first parameter corresponding to a first time of day indicating that the therapy is to be started and a second parameter corresponding to a second time of day indicating that the therapy is to be stopped;

(b) monitoring a timer to determine whether at least one of the parameters is satisfied;

(c) if the first parameter is satisfied, automatically initiating the device to start delivering treatment therapy to the patient; and

(d) if the second parameter is satisfied, automatically initiating the device to stop the delivery of the treatment therapy.