Stimulus sequencer for a closed loop neuromodulator

• US 20100063348A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dymedix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dymedix Corporation
• Inventors: Johnston, Evan S., Henke, Reinhold, Stasz, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,834,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4058 for evaluating the central nervous system A61B5/4806, A61B5/4821 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0033 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0011 in a subliminal way, i.e. below the threshold of sensation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 Respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 1/0007 of radio frequency interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/1252 Two integrator-loop-filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/126 using a single operational amplifier H03H11/1204 takes precedence; parallel-T filters H03H11/1295
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for generating a sleep therapy stimulus waveform for a patient. Stimulus sequence information can be selected from a sequence memory array, and stimulus sequence information can be received from the sequence memory array at a stimulus generator selector. A generator select signal can be provided to a stimulus generator of a closed loop neuromodulator using the stimulus sequence information and a stimulus duration signal, wherein the generator select signal can include stimulus type information related to stimulus pulses generated using the closed loop neuromodulator.

Claims

1. A stimulus sequencer for generating a sleep therapy stimulus waveform for a patient, the stimulus sequencer comprising:

a sequence address generator configured to receive a stimulus start signal from a timer of a closed loop neuromodulator and to provide an address related to a stimulus sequence of the sleep therapy;

a sequence memory array coupled to the sequence address generator, the sequence memory array configured to select stimulus sequence information related to the address;

a stimulus generator selector coupled to the sequence memory array, the stimulus generator selector configured to receive the stimulus sequence information from the sequence memory array, to receive a stimulus duration signal from the timer of the closed loop neuromodulator, and to provide a generator select signal to a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator using the stimulus sequence information and the stimulus duration signal, the generator select signal including stimulus type information related to stimulus pulses generated using the closed loop neuromodulator; and

wherein the sleep therapy stimulus waveform includes a sequence of one or more stimulus types.

2. The stimulus sequencer of claim 1, wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, in response to the stimulus start signal, a first stimulus to the patient using information from the stimulus sequencer, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt a detected sleep disorder event;

and

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the patient using information from the stimulus sequencer, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event.

3. The stimulus sequencer of claim 1, including a sequence address register configured to receive or provide stimulus address information using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

4. The stimulus sequencer of claim 1, including a sequence load control register configured to receive or provide a sequence load control command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

5. The stimulus sequencer of claim 1, including a sequence load address register configured to receive or provide a sequence address load command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

6. The stimulus sequencer of claim 1, including a sequence load data register configured to receive or provide a sequence data load command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

7. The stimulus sequencer of claim 1, wherein the sequence memory array is configured to select a stimulus sequence from a group comprising at least one of a fixed sequence, a sequential sequence, a circular sequence, a random sequence, a periodic sequence, a custom sequence, a patterned sequence, or a continuous sequence.

8. A system for generating a sleep therapy stimulus waveform for a patient, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect information indicative of respiration from a patient;

a closed loop neuromodulator configured to optimize sleep therapy for the patient, the closed loop neuromodulator including;

a stimulus sequencer configured to provide a generator select signal to a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator, the stimulus sequencer including;

a sequence address generator configured to receive a stimulus start signal from a timer of a closed loop neuromodulator and to provide an address related to a stimulus sequence of the sleep therapy;

a sequence memory array coupled to the sequence address generator, the sequence memory array configured to select stimulus sequence information related to the address;

a stimulus generator selector coupled to the sequence memory array, the stimulus generator selector configured to receive the stimulus sequence information from the sequence memory array, to receive a stimulus duration signal from the timer of the closed loop neuromodulator, and to provide a generator select signal to a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator using the stimulus sequence information and the stimulus duration signal, the generator select signal including stimulus type information related_to stimulus pulses generated using the closed loop neuromodulator;

wherein the sleep therapy stimulus waveform includes a sequence of one or more stimulus types; and

a sequence address register configured to receive or provide stimulus address information using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator;

a sequence load control register configured to receive or provide a sequence load control command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator;

a sequence load address register configured to receive or provide a sequence address load command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator; and

a sequence load data register configured to receive or provide a sequence data load command using a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator;

wherein the sequence memory array is configured to select a stimulus sequence from a group comprising at least one of a fixed sequence, a sequential sequence, a circular sequence, a random sequence, a periodic sequence, a custom sequence, a patterned sequence, or a continuous sequence;

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, in response to the stimulus start signal, a first stimulus to a transducer using information from the stimulus sequencer, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt a detected sleep disorder event;

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the transducer using information from the stimulus sequencer, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event; and

wherein the transducer is configured to deliver the first and second stimuli to the patient.

9. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a thermocouple, a thermistor, an air pressure transducer, an electrode, a respiratory effort belt, or a pyro/piezoelectric sensor;

and

wherein the transducer includes at least one of an acoustic transducer, a tactile mechanical agitator, an ocular stimulator, an electrical stimulator, a thermal stimulator, or an ultrasonic stimulator configured to modulate an audible signal onto an ultrasonic sound carrier.

10. A method for generating a sleep therapy stimulus waveform for a patient, the method comprising:

receiving a stimulus start signal from a timer of a closed loop neuromodulator;

providing an address related to a stimulus sequence of the sleep therapy;

selecting stimulus sequence information related to the address from a sequence memory array;

receiving the stimulus sequence information from the sequence memory array at a stimulus generator selector;

receiving a stimulus duration signal from the timer of the closed loop neuromodulator at the stimulus generator selector;

providing a generator select signal to a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator using the stimulus sequence information and the stimulus duration signal, the generator select signal including stimulus type information related to stimulus pulses generated using the closed loop neuromodulator; and

wherein the sleep therapy stimulus waveform includes a sequence of one or more stimulus types.

11. The method of claim 10, including:

providing, in response to the stimulus start signal, a first stimulus to the patient using the generator select signal, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt a detected sleep disorder event; and

providing, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the patient using the generator select signal, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event.

12. The method of claim 10, including receiving or providing stimulus address information using a sequence address register coupled to a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving or providing includes receiving stimulus address information from a user or providing stimulus address information to the user.

14. The method of claim 10, including receiving or providing a sequence load control command using a sequence load control register coupled to a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving or providing includes receiving a sequence load control command from a user or providing a sequence load control command to a user.

16. The method of claim 10, including receiving or providing a sequence address load command using a sequence load address register coupled to a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving or providing includes receiving a sequence address load command from a user or providing a sequence address load command to a user.

18. The method of claim 10, including receiving or providing a sequence data load command using a sequence load data register coupled to a control bus of the closed loop neuromodulator.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the receiving or providing includes receiving a sequence data load command from a user or providing a sequence data load command to a user.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the selecting stimulus sequence information related to the address includes selecting a stimulus sequence from a group comprising at least one of a fixed sequence, a sequential sequence, a circular sequence, a random sequence, a periodic sequence, a custom sequence, a patterned sequence, or a continuous sequence.