NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING PATIENT ACTIVITY

• US 20080188909A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bradley, Kerry A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

Electrical energy is conveyed via an implanted tissue stimulation system into tissue of the patient over a period of time. Electrical parameter data (e.g., impedance data and/or field potential data) is measured based on the electrical energy conveyed into the tissue of the patient, whereby the electrical parameter data is modulated in response to the physical activity of the patient to generate a time-varying signal (e.g., an oscillating signal). The time-varying signal is analyzed, and the physical activity of the patient (e.g., the physical activity level of the patient or the physical events performed by the patient) is tracking during the time period based on the analyzed time-varying signal.

Claims

1. A method of providing therapy to a patient, comprising:

conveying electrical energy from an implanted tissue stimulation device into tissue of the patient over a period of time;

measuring electrical parameter data based on the electrical energy conveyed into the tissue of the patient, whereby the electrical parameter data is modulated in response to the physical activity of the patient to generate a time-varying signal;

analyzing the time-varying signal; and

tracking the physical activity of the patient during the time period based on the analyzed time-varying signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy conveyed from the tissue stimulation device provides therapy to the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical parameter data is one or both of electrical impedance data or field potential data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the time-varying signal analysis comprises determining a magnitude of the time-varying signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the time-varying signal magnitude determination comprises detecting peak-to-peak amplitude values of the time-varying signal, detecting an energy of the time-varying signal, or detecting an envelope of the time-varying signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time-varying signal analysis comprises determining a morphology of the time-varying signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the time-varying signal morphology determination comprises detecting an envelope of the time-varying signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking the physical activity of the patient comprises tracking the physical activity level of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking the physical activity of the patient comprises tracking the physical events performed by the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying therapy provided to the patient by the stimulation device based on the tracked physical activity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the time-varying signal is an oscillating signal.

12. A tissue stimulation system, comprising:

an implantable electrode lead;

an implantable electrical stimulation device configured for being coupled to the electrode lead, the electrical stimulation device configured for conveying electrical energy from the electrode lead into tissue of a patient over a period of time and measuring electrical parameter data based on the electrical energy conveyed into the tissue of the patient, whereby the electrical parameter data is modulated in response to the physical activity of the patient to generate a time-varying signal; and

a processing device configured for analyzing the time-varying signal, and tracking the physical activity of the patient during the time period based on the analyzed time-varying signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electrical energy conveyed from the electrode lead provides therapy to the patient.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the electrical parameter data is one or both of electrical impedance data or field potential data.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing device is the stimulation device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing device is an external programmer configured for communicating with the stimulation device.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the time-varying signal analysis comprises determining a magnitude of the time-varying signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the time-varying signal magnitude determination comprises detecting peak-to-peak amplitude values of the time-varying signal, detecting an energy of the time-varying signal, or detecting an envelope of the time-varying signal.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the time-varying signal analysis comprises determining a morphology of the time-varying signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the time-varying signal morphology determination comprises detecting an envelope of the time-varying signal.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein tracking the physical activity of the patient comprises tracking the physical activity level of the patient.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein tracking the physical activity of the patient comprises tracking the physical events performed by the patient.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the time-varying signal is an oscillating signal.

24. An electrical stimulation device implantable within a patient, comprising:

one or more electrical contacts configured for coupling to one or more electrodes;

control circuitry configured for conveying electrical energy to the one or more electrical contacts for a period of time;

monitoring circuitry configured for measuring electrical parameter data based on the electrical energy conveyed into the tissue of the patient, whereby the electrical parameter data is modulated in response to the physical activity of the patient to generate a time-varying signal; and

processing circuitry configured for analyzing the time-varying signal, and tracking the physical activity of the patient during the time period based on the analyzed noise.

25. The stimulation device of claim 24, wherein the electrical energy conveyed to the one or more electrical contacts is configured to provide therapy to the patient.

26. The stimulation device of claim 24, wherein the electrical parameter data is one or both of electrical impedance data or field potential data.

27. The stimulation device of claim 24, wherein the time-varying signal analysis comprises determining a magnitude of the time-varying signal.

28. The stimulation device of claim 27, wherein the time-varying signal magnitude determination comprises detecting peak-to-peak amplitude values of the time-varying signal, detecting an energy of the time-varying signal, or detecting an envelope of the time-varying signal.

29. The stimulation device of claim 24, wherein the time-varying signal analysis comprises determining a morphology of the time-varying signal.

30. The stimulation device of claim 29, wherein the time-varying signal morphology determination comprises detecting an envelope of the time-varying signal.

31. The stimulation device of claim 24, wherein tracking the physical activity of the patient comprises tracking the physical activity level of the patient.

32. The stimulation device of claim 24, wherein tracking the physical activity of the patient comprises tracking the physical events performed by the patient.

33. The stimulation device of claim 24, wherein the time-varying signal is an oscillating signal.