Closed-loop feedback-driven neuromodulation

• US 20050240242A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc, DiLorenzo Biomedical, LLC
• Original Assignee: NeuroVista Corporation
• Inventors: DiLorenzo, Daniel John
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

A neurological control system for modulating activity of any component or structure comprising the entirety or portion of the nervous system, or any structure interfaced thereto, generally referred to herein as a “nervous system component.” The neurological control system generates neural modulation signals delivered to a nervous system component through one or more neuromodulators to control neurological state and prevent neurological signs and symptoms. Such treatment parameters may be derived from a neural response to previously delivered neural modulation signals sensed by one or more sensors, each configured to sense a particular characteristic indicative of a neurological or psychiatric condition.

Claims

1. A system for neural modulation in the treatment of disease, comprising:

A. a signal conditioning circuit;

B. a sensor array in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit;

C. a signal processor in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit, wherein said signal processor performs neural state estimation;

D. a control circuit in electronic communication with said signal processor;

E. an output stage circuit in electronic communication with said control circuit; and

F. a stimulating electrode array, in electronic communication with said output stage circuit.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to remain within a normal range.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to remain within a control range.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to remain outside of a borderline range.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to remain outside of a critical range.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of at least one of neurological signs and neurological symptoms.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of at least one of neurological signs and neurological symptoms.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of precursors to at least one of neurological sings and neurological symptoms.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent entry into a critical range, in which neurological sings and neurological symptoms are possible.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent entry into a critical range, in which precursors to at least one of neurological sings and neurological symptoms are possible.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of EEG abnormalities.

12. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural chaos is controlled.

13. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein synchronization of neural chaos is controlled.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural entrainment is controlled.

15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein neural disentrainment is controlled.

16. A system for neural modulation in the treatment of disease, comprising:

A. a sensor array in communication with said signal conditioning circuit;

C. a signal processor in communication with said sensor array, whereby said signal processor calculates at least one state;

D. a control circuit in communication with said signal processor;

E. an output stage circuit in communication with said control circuit; and

F. a neuromodulator array, in communication with said output stage circuit.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to remain within a normal range.

18. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to remain within a control range.

19. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to remain outside of a borderline range.

20. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to remain outside of a critical range.

21. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of at least one of neurological signs and neurological symptoms.

22. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of at least one of neurological signs and neurological symptoms.

23. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of precursors to at least one of neurological sings and neurological symptoms.

24. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent entry into a critical range, in which neurological sings and neurological symptoms are possible.

25. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent entry into a critical range, in which precursors to at least one of neurological sings and neurological symptoms are possible.

26. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of EEG abnormalities.

27. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural chaos is controlled.

28. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein synchronization of neural chaos is controlled.

29. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural entrainment is controlled.

30. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein neural disentrainment is controlled.

31. A system for modulating the activity of at least one nervous system component, the system comprising:

A. at least one neuromodulator, each constructed and arranged to deliver a neural modulation signal to at least one nervous system component or non-neural structure;

B. at least one sensor, each constructed and arranged to sense at least one parameter, including but not limited to physiologic values and neural signals, whereby said parameter is used to calculate at least one of neural state, disease state, magnitude of symptoms, and response to therapy; and

C. a stimulating and recording unit constructed and arranged to generate said neural modulation signal, whereby said neural modulation signal is based upon at least one neural state and whereby said neural state is calculated from at least one of said parameter

32. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to remain within a normal range.

33. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to remain within a control range.

34. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to remain outside of a borderline range.

35. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to remain outside of a critical range.

36. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of at least one of neurological signs and neurological symptoms.

37. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of at least one of neurological signs and neurological symptoms.

38. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of precursors to at least one of neurological sings and neurological symptoms.

39. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent entry into a critical range, in which neurological sings and neurological symptoms are possible.

40. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent entry into a critical range, in which precursors to at least one of neurological sings and neurological symptoms are possible.

41. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural state is controlled to prevent the occurrence of EEG abnormalities.

42. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural chaos is controlled.

43. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein synchronization of neural chaos is controlled.

44. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural entrainment is controlled.

45. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein neural disentrainment is controlled.

46. A system for modulating the activity of at least one nervous system component, the system comprising:

A. at least one means for sensing neural activity, whereby each means for sensing neural activity is constructed and arranged to sense at least one parameter, including but not limited to physiologic values and neural signals;

B. at least one means for calculating neural state, whereby said neural state is a function of at least one of said parameter

C. at least one means for calculating neural modulation signal, whereby said neural modulation signal is based upon at least one neural state

D. at least one means for modulating neural activity, whereby each means for modulating neural activity is constructed and arranged to deliver a neural modulation signal to at least one nervous system component or non-neural structure;

47. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein said neural state is a function of neural chaos.

48. A system as in claim 46, wherein said neural state is substantially representative of at least one of disease state, magnitude of symptoms, and response to therapy.

49. A method for the treatment of neurological disease comprising:

A. sensing neural signals using at least one sensor;

B. calculating neural state from at least one said neural signal;

C. calculating at least one neural modulation signal from at least one said neural state

D. delivering neural modulation signal via at least one neuromodulator

50. A method as recited in claim 49, wherein said neural state is a function of neural chaos.