Seizure therapy and suppression using an implantable device

• US 20070213784A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Pless, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US11/374,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213784A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

A system and method for detecting neurological conditions, including periods of high ictal activity and periods of low ictal activity, uses a relatively low-power central processing unit in connection with signal processing circuitry to identify characteristics of an electrographic signal received from a patient'"'"'s brain. Cerebral blood flow may also be monitored. Observed characteristics are used to drive targeted responsive therapy and suppressive responsive therapy, or the modulation of cerebral blood flow, to prevent or terminate imminent seizures and to reduce the likelihood of future seizures.

Claims

1. An implantable device for treating a neurological disorder in a patient, the device comprising:

an implantable control module;

a central processing unit located within the control module; and

a detection subsystem located within the control module, wherein the detection subsystem is programmed to identify an first condition representative of low ictal activity and to perform an action in response thereto.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the implantable control module.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is epilepsy.

4. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first condition comprises a nonictal condition represented by a presence of an electrographic signal characteristic of low ictal activity.

5. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem is programmed to identify a second condition, wherein the second condition is representative of high ictal activity and comprises a presence of an electrographic signal characteristic of high ictal activity.

6. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first condition comprises a non-ictal condition represented by an absence of an electrographic signal characteristic of high ictal activity.

7. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first condition comprises hypoperfusion of a site in the patient'"'"'s brain.

8. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem is programmed to identify a second condition, wherein the second condition is representative of high ictal activity and comprises hyperperfusion of a site in the patient'"'"'s brain.

9. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising a therapy subsystem adapted to deliver a first therapeutic action in response to the non-ictal condition.

10. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the therapeutic action comprises an application of a suppressive responsive therapy.

11. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the detection subsystem is programmed to identify a second condition of high ictal activity, wherein the therapy system is adapted to deliver a second therapeutic action in response to the second condition.

12. The implantable device of claim 11, wherein the second therapeutic action comprises an application of a targeted responsive therapy.

13. A method for treating a neurological disorder in a patient with an implantable device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electrical signal from a sensor;

processing the electrical signal with a detection subsystem, wherein the detection subsystem is programmed to identify a non-ictal condition;

identifying the non-ictal condition; and

providing a therapy to the patient in response to the identification of the non-ictal condition.

14. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 13, further comprising the step of causing the implantable device to perform a first action in response to identifying the non-ictal condition.

15. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 13, wherein the first action comprises an application of a suppressive responsive therapy.

16. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 13, wherein the detection subsystem is programmed to identify a second condition representative of high ictal activity, and further comprising the step of identifying the second condition.

17. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 16, further comprising the step of causing the implantable device to perform a second action in response to identifying the second condition.

18. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 17, wherein the second action comprises an application of a targeted responsive therapy.

19. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 16, wherein the step of identifying the second condition comprises observing a presence of an electrographic signal characteristic of high ictal activity.

20. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 13, wherein the step of identifying the non-ictal condition comprises observing a presence of an electrographic signal characteristic of low ictal activity.

21. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises an electrode pair.

22. The method for treating a neurological disorder of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a thermal sensor.

23. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the step of identifying the non-ictal condition comprises observing an absence of an electrographic signal characteristic of high ictal activity.

24. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the step of identifying the first condition comprises observing hypoperfusion of a site in the patient'"'"'s brain.

25. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the step of identifying the second condition comprises observing hyperperfusion of a site in the patient'"'"'s brain.