METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING AND COUNTERACTING EXCESS BRAIN ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO PREVENT EPILEPTIC SEIZURES AND THE LIKE

• US 3,850,161 A
• Filed: 04/09/1973
• Issued: 11/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saul Liss
• Original Assignee: Saul Liss
• Inventors: Liss, Saul
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/348,864
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.1R,2.1B,2.1P,2.1Z,2.6D,419R,419S,422,1C,410
• US Class Current: 600/544
• 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

Abstract

This invention pertains to a biomedical detecting and control apparatus wherein electrical signals in the brain of mammals are continuously monitored by electrodes implanted in certain critical places in the brain wherein excess electrical energy is manifest during epileptic seizure conditions as well as during psychic storms of some types of mental illness. Such signals are processed via electrical systems of various circuits for inversion, comparison, vector analog addition, filtering, modulation, level set, safety level limits and self test to provide a controlled signal output which automatically reduces or eliminates the excess electrical energy at the point of detection. The points of detection and control may be, but do not have to be, the same spots on the brain. The probes may be near the surface of the brain or deep set in the brain depending upon the area affected. In addition to the method, there is described an electronic device which is contemplated to be housed in a small housing outside the body of the mammal and connected through wire conductors connected to the electrodes at the point of detection and at the other end of the conductors to outlet connectors in the housing providing the point of control.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring, analyzing and when required counteracting excess brain electrical energy of a patient to prevent epileptic seizures and the like, said apparatus including:

(a) three electrodes adapted to be implanted in the brain being monitored, each electrode connected through conductors to a constantly energized and connected electronic circuit, said electrodes including a first implantable electrode adapted to be placed in a zero activity point of the brain, the electrical output from this first electrode detecting the levels of normal and abnormal electrical energy and feeding this output as a signal to the electronics circuit portion of the apparatus, a second implantable electrode adapted to be placed in a typical point of detection area of the brain, the output from this electrode sent as a signal from This area to the electronic circuit, and a third implantable electrode adapted to be placed in a typical point of control of the same brain, this electrode receiving countermotive forces from the electronic circuit when said circuit so determines;

(b) an electronic means and an amplifier means in said electronic circuit, said electronic means receiving the output of the implantable second electrode and inverting this output after which the resulting electrical signal is fed to said amplifier means of the electronic circuit, said amplifier means providing a comparison and addition means to incoming signals;

(c) a conductor connected to the first electrode, said conductor being connected to said amplifier means and carrying the electrical energy level of the zero activity portion of the brain to the amplifier which analyzes and compares this energy level in relation to previously established normal;

(d) means for sending a reference voltage to the amplifier comparison and addition circuit, this reference voltage established and set by the operator in accordance to previously determined electrical thresholds of the brain of the patient in which the electrodes are to be implanted, this reference voltage being compared by and in said amplifier circuit and where necessary a vector addition is made by this amplifier circuit to add voltage to the inverted received voltage;

(e) a circuit means in the electronic circuit for receiving and monitoring the signal from the comparison and addition circuit means and when this signal exceeds a set level amplifies this signal a determined amount;

(f) a circuit means providing both passive and active electronic network means for receiving the monitored and amplified signal indicative of excess energy outputs from the second electrode and within predetermined maximum limits provides a countermotive force which is sent through a conductor to the third electrode which force quells this storm in the brain, and (g) a power means connected to the electrical circuit to supply a constantly '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'on'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' power necessary to energize the electrical circuit to normal operating levels.

2. Apparatus for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy as in claim 1 in which the power means is a battery whose energy level is monitored by a self test circuit means and there is additionally circuit means connected to said power means providing a limit control and an alarm which is actuated when the voltage drops below that set by the limit control.

3. Apparatus for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy as in claim 2 in which there is provided an oscillator which generates a high frequency signal connected to the circuit means for receiving and monitoring the signal from the comparison and addition circuit, this high frequency signal being used as a carrier for a feedback signal when such a signal is sent to the third electrode.

4. Apparatus for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy as in claim 3 in which the electronic circuit includes a filter connected between said comparison and analog addition means and said circuit means for receiving and monitoring the signal from the comparison and analog addition means which receives the signal output from electronic circuit means providing the comparison and analog addition function and filters the electronic flow to prevent this flow from interfering with other electrical brain functions such as heart beat and respiration, said filtered signal being conducted and fed to the circuit means for receiving and monitoring the signal from the comparison and addition circuit means.

5. Apparatus for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy as in claim 4 in which the electrodes are adapted to be permanently implanted and the electronics and battery therefore are encased so as to provide a small size unit which may be easily carried on and by the body of the one being monitored.

6. A method for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy to prevent epileptic seizures which includes the steps of:

(a) implanting three electrodes in the brain of the mammal being monitored, the first electrode being placed in a zero activity point of the brain and from this electrode feeding its electrical output to a constantly energized and connected electronic circuit, the second electrode being placed in a typical point of detection area of the brain and a third electrode being placed in a typical point of control of the same brain;

(b) connecting the electronic circuit to the second electrode by a conductor and inverting electronically the output of the brain from this second electrode and feeding the resulting inverted signal to an electronic means in said circuit to provide a comparison and addition means to incoming signals;

(c) connecting a conductor to the first electrode which carries the electrical energy level of the zero activity in the brain, this electrical energy being fed to the comparison circuit for analysis of the energy in relation to a normal energy level;

(d) setting by the one in charge of the apparatus a reference voltage control level, this reference voltage being fed to the electronic means providing the comparison, said means performing vector addition when necessary;

(e) feeding the output signal current of the addition means to a level set amplifier portion of the electronic circuit, which, when necessary, amplifies this current signal;

(f) sending the signal from the level set amplifier to a safety limit circuit portion of the electronic circuit, this portion providing passive and active electronic networks which receive this signal and in the cases of excessive energy outputs from the second electrode and the comparison circuit feeds a countermotive force to the third electrode to quell an anticipated storm in the brain, and (g) providing a power means which enables the electronic circuit portion of the apparatus to be constantly energized.

7. The method for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy as in claim 6 in which the step of providing the power means is a battery whose energy level is monitored by a self-test circuit having a low voltage limit control and an alarm.

8. The method for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy as in claim 7 which includes the further step of connecting an oscillator which generates a high frequency signal so as to feed said oscillating signal to the level set amplifier portion of the electronic circuit with this high frequency signal providing a carrier for the feedback signal to the third electrode.

9. The method for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy as in claim 8 which includes the step of providing a filter which receives the signal output from the electronic means providing the comparison and analog addition and filters the electronic current therefrom to prevent this current signal from interfering with other electrical brain functions such as the heart beat and respiration and feeding said filtered signal to the level set amplifier portion of the electronic circuit.

10. The method for monitoring and counteracting excess brain electrical energy as in claim 9 which includes permanently implanting the electrodes and further includes encasing the electronics and battery to provide a small unit which may be easily carried on the body of the one monitored.