Seizure prediction and neurological disorder treatment

• US 20120150257A1
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Aur, Dorian, Buckmaster, Paul, Bower, Mark R., Toyoda, Izumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36096 Mood disorders, e.g. depression, anxiety or panic disorder
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency

Abstract

A prediction and stimulation system or method is provided for neurological disorders characterized by a local dysfunction in neuronal activity regulation. An array of electrodes detects neuronal electrical activity of selected brain region. A detection module detects in each electrode changes in electric field and neuronal activity. A prediction module predicts for each electrode abnormal regimes determined by neurological disorder. A neuromodulation module interfaced with the electrodes selects one or more electrodes in the array where a predefined threshold has been exceeded and stimulates the brain region through each of these selected electrodes using an intermittent therapeutic stimulation pattern with a frequency between 150 and 200 Hz. The provided therapy allows for seizure prediction and detection with high accuracy, potential low risk and increased battery life. The flexibility of the method and system allows it to be used in different neurological disorders by tuning the parameters using a calibration procedure.

Claims

1. A prediction and stimulation system for a neurological disorder, comprising:

(a) an array of electrodes for detecting neuronal electrical activity of a brain region;

(b) a detection module interfaced with said array of electrodes, wherein said detecting module is operable to detect in each of said electrodes changes in said neuronal electrical activity;

(c) a prediction module for predicting for each of said electrodes in said array a future occurrence of a neurological disorder based on said detected changes, wherein said future occurrence of said neurological disorder is predicted when said prediction module computes that one or more parameters from said detected changes in said neuronal electrical activity exceeds a predefined threshold; and

(d) a neuromodulation module interfaced with said array of electrodes for selecting one or more electrodes in said array where said predefined threshold has been exceeded and stimulating said brain region through each of said selected electrodes using an intermittent therapeutic stimulation pattern with a frequency between 150 and 200 Hz.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said neurological disorder is an epileptic seizure disorder, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, bipolar disorder, or depression.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said neurological disorder is an epileptic seizure disorder and said future occurrence is a seizure.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one or more parameters pertains to firing rate, chaotic dynamics estimated by computed complexity measures, a high frequency oscillation envelope, a low frequency envelope, or a combination thereof.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said therapeutic stimulation can be amplitude and duration modulated.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predefined threshold is determined by a calibration phase.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising using a low frequency oscillation with a bandwidth in the range of (0.01÷

1) Hz or a high frequency oscillation with a bandwidth in the range of (200÷

300) Hz to predict or detect seizures.