Treatment and warning of recurring therapy and other events using an implantable device

• US 20080021514A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Pless, Benjamin D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

An implantable neurostimulator system is capable of responsively treating epileptiform activity with electrical stimulation and other therapies and is further configured to detect periods of increased susceptibility to clinical seizures. The event densities of therapy applications (or detections or other events) in time are observed and calculated, and if high enough, measures are taken to warn the patient or provide additional therapy.

Claims

1. An implantable device for detecting susceptibility to neurological events, the device comprising:

a central processing unit located within the control module; and

a detection subsystem located within the control module and comprising a waveform analyzer;

wherein the detection subsystem is configured to identify a plurality of events; and

wherein the device is configured to identify a density of the plurality of events and to determine whether the density meets an event density criterion.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of events represents an application of a responsive therapy.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of events represents an occurrence of epileptiform activity

4. A method for detecting susceptibility to neurological events using an implantable device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an electrical signal with an electrode pair;

processing the electrical signal;

identifying a plurality of events; and

determining whether the density of events meets an event density criterion; and

if the density of events meets the event density criterion, causing the implantable device to perform an action.

5. The implantable device of claim 4, further comprising the step of detecting an occurrence of epileptiform activity and applying a therapy in response thereto, and wherein each of the plurality of events represents an application of a responsive therapy.

6. The implantable device of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of events represents an occurrence of epileptiform activity

7. The method for detecting susceptibility to neurological events of claim 4, wherein the action comprises delivering a warning to the patient.

8. The method for detecting susceptibility to neurological events of claim 4, wherein the action comprises initiating an intervention.

9. The method for detecting susceptibility to neurological events of claim 8, wherein the action comprises delivering a course of therapy.

10. The method for detecting susceptibility to neurological events of claim 4, wherein the action comprises modifying a characteristic of a therapy.