Devices and methods for monitoring physiological information relating to sleep with an implantable device

• US 20080195166A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Sun, Felice, Pless, Benjamin D., Gibb, Barbara
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters

Abstract

Described here are implantable devices and methods for monitoring physiological information relating to sleep. The implantable devices are generally designed to include at least one sensor for sensing physiological information, a processor for processing the physiological information using low computational power to detect a sleep stage, and a battery. The detected sleep stage information may then be used to indicate sleep quality, identify or monitor a medical condition, or guide treatment thereof.

Claims

1. An implantable device for monitoring physiological information relating to sleep comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sense physiological information; and

a processor configured to process the physiological information using low computational power to detect at least one sleep state or stage; and

a battery.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising memory configured to store at least a portion of the physiological information or the processed physiological information.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless system configured to transmit at least a portion of the physiological information or the processed physiological information to a remote location.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the physiological information comprises electrographic information.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the electrographic information is obtained from an electroencephalogram (EEG) recording.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the electrographic information is obtained from an electrocorticogram (ECOG) recording.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein the electrographic information is obtained from an electrocardiogram (ECG) recording.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein the electrographic information comprises cardiac information.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one stimulation electrode.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is an electrode that is also configured to provide stimulation.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a drug pump.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least two sensors configured to sense physiological information.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the at least two sensors sense the same type of physiological information.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the at least two sensors sense a different type of physiological information.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the battery is rechargeable.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising a component for recording events configured to be triggered by a patient.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the patient-triggered event-recording component is a sensor configured to sense a change in magnetic field.

18. The device of claim 1 further comprising a positional sensor configured to sense a position of a user.

19. The device of claim 6 wherein at least one sensor is configured to sense physiological information selected from the group consisting of:

blood oxygen saturation, partial pressure of oxygen within blood, core temperature, head movement, cerebral metabolic rate, and cerebral blood flow.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor further processes the physiological information to indicate the quality of sleep.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is either a depth electrode or a cortical electrode and is configured for monopolar or bipolar sensing.

22. A method for monitoring physiological information relating to sleep comprising sensing physiological information and processing the physiological information using low computational power to detect at least one sleep state or stage.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising storing at least a portion of the physiological information or the processed physiological information.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the physiological information or the processed physiological information to a remote location.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising treating a condition.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of a neurological condition, a psychological condition, a cardiac condition, a respiratory condition, and a sleep condition.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the condition is a movement disorder.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the movement disorder is selected from the group consisting of Parkinson'"'"'s disease, Tourette'"'"'s disorder, tremor, and restless leg syndrome.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the condition is epilepsy.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the condition is depression.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the condition is a sleep condition.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein treating the condition comprises stimulation.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the stimulation is selected based on the detection of the at least one sleep stage.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the stimulation can be regulated based on the detection of the at least one sleep stage.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the stimulation is regulated by changing the frequency, pulse-width, amplitude, duration, or the stimulation montage.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the stimulation can be initiated or terminated based on the detection of the at least one sleep stage.

37. The method of claim 25 wherein treating the condition comprises drug delivery.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the drug delivery is selected based on the detection of the at least one sleep stage.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the drug delivery can be regulated based on the detection of the at least one sleep stage.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the drug delivery is regulated by changing the dosage, drug delivery rate, or drug selection.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the drug delivery can be initiated or terminated based on the detection of the at least one sleep stage.

42. The method of claim 22 wherein processing the physiological information utilizes an algorithm that uses low computational power.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the algorithm uses half waves.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein the algorithm uses a histogram counter.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein the algorithm uses a threshold detector.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein the algorithm uses Fourier transforms.