Apparatus and method for closed-loop intracranical stimulation for optimal control of neurological disease

• US 6,366,813 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc, DiLorenzo Biomedical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Dilorenzo
• Inventors: DiLorenzo, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/340,326
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/72, 607/73, 607/74, 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/45
• 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 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• 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

Abstract

A neurological control system for modulating activity of any component or structure comprising the entirety or portion of the nervous system, or any structure interfaced thereto, generally referred to herein as a “nervous system component.” The neurological control system generates neural modulation signals delivered to a nervous system component through one or more intracranial (IC) stimulating electrodes in accordance with treatment parameters. Such treatment parameters may be derived from a neural response to previously delivered neural modulation signals sensed by one or more sensors, each configured to sense a particular characteristic indicative of a neurological or psychiatric condition. Neural modulation signals include any control signal which enhances or inhibits cell activity. Significantly the neurological control system considers neural response, in the form of the sensory feedback, as an indication of neurological disease state and/or responsiveness to therapy, in the determination of treatment parameters.

Claims

1. A system for neural modulation in the treatment of disease, comprising:

(A) a signal conditioning circuit;

(B) a sensor array in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit;

(C) a signal processor in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit, wherein said signal processor performs disease state estimation;

(D) a control circuit in electronic communication with said signal processor;

(E) an output stage circuit in electronic communication with said control circuit; and

(F) a stimulating electrode array, in electronic communication with said output stage circuit.

2. A system for neural modulation in the treatment of disease, comprising:

(A) a signal conditioning circuit;

(B) a sensor array in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit;

(C) a signal processor in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit, wherein said signal processor further comprises an observer circuit containing a model of the system being controlled;

(D) a control circuit in electronic communication with said signal processor;

(E) an output stage circuit in electronic communication with said control circuit; and

(F) a stimulating electrode array, in electronic communication with said output stage circuit, adapted for delivering a neural modulation signal.

3. A system for neural modulation in the treatment of disease, comprising:

(A) a signal conditioning circuit;

(B) a sensor array in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit;

(C) a signal processor in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit, wherein said signal processor further comprises an observer circuit containing a model of the system being controlled;

(D) a control circuit in electronic communication with said signal processor;

(E) an output stage circuit in electronic communication with said control circuit; and

(F) a stimulating electrode array, in electronic communication with said output stage circuit, adapted for delivering a neural modulation signal.

4. A system for neural modulation in the treatment of disease, comprising:

(A) a signal conditioning circuit;

(B) a sensor array in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit;

(C) a signal processor in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit, wherein said signal processor further comprises a neural spike counter;

(D) a control circuit in electronic communication with said signal processor;

(E) an output stage circuit in electronic communication with said control circuit; and

(F) a stimulating electrode array, in electronic communication with said output stage circuit, adapted for delivering a neural modulation signal.

5. A system for neural modulation in the treatment of disease, comprising:

(A) a signal conditioning circuit;

(B) a sensor array in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit;

(C) a signal processor in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit, wherein said signal processor further comprises a processor for processing of AC and neural spike signals;

(D) a control circuit in electronic communication with said signal processor;

(E) an output stage circuit in electronic communication with said control circuit; and

(F) a stimulating electrode array, in electronic communication with said output stage circuit, adapted for delivering a neural modulation signal.

6. A system for neural modulation in the treatment of disease, comprising:

(A) a signal conditioning circuit;

(B) a sensor array in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit;

(C) a signal processor in electronic communication with said signal conditioning circuit, wherein said signal processor further comprises an frequency counter;

(D) a control circuit in electronic communication with said signal processor;

(E) an output stage circuit in electronic communication with said control circuit; and

(F) a stimulating electrode array, in electronic communication with said output stage circuit, adapted for delivering a neural modulation signal.