Method and system for detecting white matter neural injury and predicting neurological outcome particularly for preterm infants

• US 6,493,577 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Natus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Inventors: Williams, Christopher Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/509,186
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 600/544, 600/545
• US Class Current: 600/544
• 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 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period

Abstract

A method for detecting white matter neural injury and predicting neurological outcome for a patient, comprises acquiring EEG signal(s) from the surface of the head of the patient, and analyzing the frequency distribution or content of the signal(s) to produce output information indicative of cerebral white matter injury for the patient. Loss or reduction of activity in the upper portion or spectral edge of the EEG frequency domain particularly in the immature brain is predictive of neural dysfunction. A system for detecting white matter neural injury and predicting neurological outcome for a patient is also described.

Claims

1. A method for early prediction of neural damage or neurological outcome for an infant born prematurely, comprising:

acquiring EEG signal(s) from the surface of the head of the infant,

analysing the frequency distribution or content of the signal(s) to determine the frequency range in which a major portion of the EEG activity in the frequency domain occurs or a frequency below which a major portion of the EEG activity occurs, and

predicting neural damage or neurological outcome for the infant based on EEG activity or loss thereof in the upper part of the frequency range.

2. A method according to claim 1 including comparing the analysed data with stored comparative spectral edge and neurological outcome information for infants born prematurely.

3. A method according to claim 1 including acquiring the EEG signal(s) over a number of hours.

4. A method according to claim 1 including acquiring the EEG signal(s) over one or more days.

5. A method according to claim 1 including averaging the EEG signal(s) acquired over a number of hours or one or more days.

6. A method according to claim 1 including analysing the EEG signals in the frequency domain for loss of EEG activity above about 10 Hz.

7. A method according to claim 1 including analysing the EEG signals in the frequency domain for loss of EEG activity above about 8 Hz.

8. A method according to claim 1 including determining the frequency below which about 90% of the EEG activity in the frequency domain occurs.

9. A method according to claim 1 including determining the frequency below which about 95% of the EEG activity in the frequency domain occurs.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the EEG signals are acquired from electrodes placed on the infants head over the parasagittal region/fronto-parietal-occipital cortex.

11. A method according to claim 1 including applying to the infant therapy against the development of white matter injury after detecting any loss of EEG activity in the upper part of the frequency range.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural damage is telencephalic leukomalacia or periventricular leukomalacia.

13. A system for early prediction of neural injury or neurological outcome for an infant born prematurely, comprising:

means for acquiring EEG signal(s) from the surface of the head of the infant, and

computing means arranged to analyse the frequency distribution or content of the signal(s) to determine the frequency range in which a major portion of the EEG activity in the frequency domain occurs or a frequency below which a major portion of the EEG activity occurs, and to compare the analysed data with stored comparative EEG frequency and neural damage or neurological outcome information for infants born prematurely and produce output information predictive of neural damage or neurological outcome for the infant based on EEG activity or loss thereof in the upper part of the frequency range.

14. A system according to claim 13 arranged to analyse EEG signal(s) acquired over a number of hours.

15. A system according to claim 13 arranged to analyse EEG signal(s) acquired over one or more days.

16. A system according to claim 14 arranged to average the EEG signal(s) acquired over a number of hours or one or more days.

17. A system according to claim 13 arranged to analyse the EEG signals in the frequency domain for activity above 10 Hz.

18. A system according to claim 13 arranged to analyse the EEG signals in the frequency domain for activity above 8 Hz.

19. A system according to claim 13 to arranged to determine the frequency below which about 90% of the EEG activity in the frequency domain occurs.

20. A system according to claim 13 arranged to determine the frequency below which about 95% of the EEG activity in the frequency domain occurs.