Voiding detection with learning mode

• US 20070255176A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rondoni, John, Gerber, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/414,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20070255176A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/573
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/202 Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/204 Determining bladder volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/205 Determining bladder or urethral pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6808 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6874 Bladder
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

The disclosure describes an implantable stimulation system that learns to identify a voiding signature of a bladder and log the voiding events. The system may adjust stimulation therapy according to the voiding signature. The system includes an implantable neurostimulator and a sensor that senses a physiological event indicative of a voiding event. The sensor may sense neurological activity, bladder dimensions, bladder characterizes, external wetness, or other activities related to patient voiding. The neurostimulation correlates the sensed event to an input by a user to learn what sensed data is indicative of a voiding event. In addition, the system may use a secondary sensor to negate a voiding signature detection when the patient may not be having a voiding event.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a sensor signal;

comparing the sensor signal to a voiding signature indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient; and

indicating a voiding event based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voiding signature specifies one or more characteristics of the sensor signal that indicate the actual voiding event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the voiding signature is defined based on one or more characteristics of the sensor signal during a natural voiding event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the voiding signature is defined based on one or more characteristics of the sensor signal during an induced voiding event.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering electrical stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence to the patient in response to the indication of the voiding event.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying one or more parameters associated with electrical stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence delivered to the patient in response to indication of the voiding event.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the comparison includes comparing the sensor signals to respective voiding signatures indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the comparison includes determining whether the sensor signals map to a point within a region of a classification map corresponding to the voiding signature.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the comparison includes comparing the sensor signals to respective voiding signatures indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient, and wherein the sensor signals indicate physiological conditions including two or more of nerve activity, bladder volume, bladder pressure, bladder impedance, sphincter pressure, and external wetness.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor signal indicates a physiological condition including at least one of nerve activity, bladder volume, bladder pressure, bladder impedance, sphincter pressure, and external wetness.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second sensor signal; and

determining whether the indication of a voiding event is false indication based on the second sensor signal.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the voiding event in a voiding log.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising delivering electrical stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence to the patient in response to an analysis of the voiding log.

14. A system comprising:

a sensor that generates a sensor signal;

a processor that compares the sensor signal to a voiding signature indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient, and indicates a voiding event based on the comparison.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the voiding signature specifies one or more characteristics of the sensor signal that indicate the actual voiding event.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the voiding signature is defined based on one or more characteristics of the sensor signal during a natural voiding event.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the voiding signature is defined based on one or more characteristics of the sensor signal during an induced voiding event.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising an electrical stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence to the patient in response to the indication of the voiding event.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising an electrical stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence to the patient, wherein the processor modifies one or more parameters associated with the electrical stimulation therapy in response to the indication of the voiding event.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of sensors that generate a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the processor compares the sensor signals to respective voiding signatures indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of sensors that generate a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the comparison by the processor includes determining whether the sensor signals map to a point within a region of a classification map corresponding to the voiding signature.

22. The system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of sensors that generate a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the processor compares the sensor signals to respective voiding signatures indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient, and wherein the sensor signals indicate physiological conditions including two or more of nerve activity, bladder volume, bladder pressure, bladder impedance, sphincter pressure, and external wetness.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor signal indicates a physiological condition including at least one of nerve activity, bladder volume, bladder pressure, bladder impedance, sphincter pressure, and external wetness.

24. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second sensor that generates a second sensor signal, and the processor determines whether the indication of a voiding event is false indication based on the second sensor signal.

25. The system of claim 14, further comprising an electrical stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence to the patient in response to the indication of the voiding event, wherein the processor resides within the stimulator.

26. The system of claim 14, further comprising an electrical stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence to the patient in response to the indication of the voiding event, and an external device that communicates with the electrical stimulator, wherein the processor resides within the external device.

27. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a processor to:

receive a sensor signal;

compare the sensor signal to a voiding signature indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient; and

indicate a voiding event based on the comparison.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the voiding signature specifies one or more characteristics of the sensor signal that indicate the actual voiding event.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the voiding signature is defined based on one or more characteristics of the sensor signal during a natural voiding event, or one or more characteristics of the sensor signal during an induced voiding event.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions cause the processor to modify one or more parameters associated with electrical stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence delivered to the patient in response to indication of the voiding event.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions cause the processor to receive a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the comparison includes comparing the sensor signals to respective voiding signatures indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions cause the processor to receive a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the comparison includes determining whether the sensor signals map to a point within a region of a classification map corresponding to the voiding signature.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions cause the processor to receive a plurality of sensor signals, wherein the comparison includes comparing the sensor signals to respective voiding signatures indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient, and wherein the sensor signals indicate physiological conditions including two or more of nerve activity, bladder volume, bladder pressure, bladder impedance, sphincter pressure, and external wetness.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

receive a second sensor signal; and

determine whether the indication of a voiding event is false indication based on the second sensor signal.

35. A system comprising:

means for receiving a sensor signal;

means for comparing the sensor signal to a voiding signature indicating an actual urinary voiding event in a patient; and

means for indicating a voiding event based on the comparison.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the voiding signature specifies one or more characteristics of the sensor signal that indicate the actual voiding event.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the voiding signature is defined based on one or more characteristics of the sensor signal during a natural voiding event or one or more characteristics of the sensor signal during an induced voiding event.