Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery

• US 20070179534A1
• Filed: 10/19/2005
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sloan, Leif, Gliner, Bradford, Firlik, Andrew, Sheffield, W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/704 computer-controlled, e.g. robotic control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/05 combined with other kinds of therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• 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 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/361 Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 : relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training

Abstract

Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes affecting a target neural population of the patient by providing to the patient at least one of an electromagnetic signal and a chemical substance. The method can further include detecting at least one characteristic of the patient, with the characteristic at least correlated with the patient'"'"'s performance of an adjunctive therapy task that is performed in association with affecting the target neural population. The method can still further include controlling at least one parameter in accordance with which the target neural population is affected, based at least in part on the detected characteristic.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

affecting a target neural population of the patient by providing to the patient at least one of an electromagnetic signal and a chemical substance;

detecting at least one characteristic of the patient, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least correlated with the patient'"'"'s performance of an adjunctive therapy task, and wherein the adjunctive therapy task is performed in association with affecting the target neural population; and

based at least in part on the detected characteristic, controlling at least one parameter in accordance with which the target neural population is affected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling at least one parameter includes controlling at least one parameter on an at least approximately real time basis with respect to the detected characteristic.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one characteristic of the patient includes detecting at least one characteristic of the patient while the patient engages in an adjunctive therapy task that is conducted at least approximately concurrently with affecting the target neural population.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling at least one parameter includes changing at least one parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one characteristic of the patient includes detecting a manner in which the patient performs the adjunctive therapy task.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one characteristic of the patient includes detecting a physiologic characteristic of the patient.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the physiologic characteristic includes at least one of a patient heart rate and a patient blood oxygenation characteristic.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one characteristic of the patient includes detecting a characteristic at least proximate to the patient'"'"'s central nervous system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein detecting at least one characteristic of the patient includes detecting a characteristic at the patient'"'"'s cortex.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein affecting a target neural population includes affecting a target neural population at the patient'"'"'s central nervous system.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein affecting a target neural population includes delivering at least one of a chemical substance and an electrical signal to the patient'"'"'s brain from a location within the patient'"'"'s skull.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one characteristic of the patient includes detecting at least one motion undertaken by the patient.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one characteristic of the patient includes detecting at least one characteristic of the patient while the patient engages in an adjunctive therapy task that includes an activity of daily living.

14. A computer-readable medium having contents configured to:

direct the treatment of a target neural population of the patient, wherein the treatment includes delivery of at least one of an electromagnetic signal and a chemical substance;

receive information corresponding to at least one characteristic of the patient that is at least correlated with the patient'"'"'s performance of an adjunctive therapy task; and

based at least in part of the detected characteristic, controlling at least one parameter in accordance with which the target neural population is treated.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein controlling at least one parameter in accordance with which the target neural population is treated includes changing at the at least one parameter.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the contents are further configured to store information corresponding to the stimulation parameter.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the contents are further configured to store information corresponding to the at least one characteristic of the patient.

18. A system for treating a patient, comprising:

an adjunctive therapy device;

a patient treatment delivery device that includes at least one of an electromagnetic stimulator and a chemical delivery device;

a control system operatively coupled to the adjunctive therapy device and the patient treatment device, the control system including a computer-readable medium having instructions for;

automatically receiving information from the adjunctive therapy device, the information being correlated with the patient'"'"'s performance of a task at the adjunctive therapy device; and

based at least in part on the information received from the adjunctive therapy device, automatically controlling a parameter in accordance with which the patient treatment delivery device provides treatment to the patient.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the control system has instructions for automatically controlling a parameter in an at least approximately real time manner relative to receiving information from the adjunctive therapy device.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the patient treatment device includes an implantable electrode and pulse generator.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the patient treatment device includes an implantable drug delivery device.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the adjunctive therapy device includes a patient actuatable element and a feedback sensor, the feedback sensor being coupled to the control system to direct to the control system at least one signal corresponding to the patient'"'"'s manipulation of the actuatable element.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the feedback sensor is configured to detect a motion of the patient.

24. A system for sensing patient activity, comprising:

a household object configured for manipulation by a patient;

a sensor carried by the household object, the sensor being positioned to detect a characteristic of the patient'"'"'s manipulation of the object during normal use; and

a communication link operatively coupled to the sensor to transmit a signal indicative of the patient'"'"'s manipulation of the object.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the household object includes a personal hygiene product.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the household object includes an office product.