System and method for controlling epileptic seizures with spatially separated detection and stimulation electrodes

• US 6,597,954 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Fischell, David R., Pless, Benjamin D., Fischell, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Tu Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/724,805
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 607/3, 607/5, 607/62, 607/45, 128/898, 128/899, 128/421, 600/306, 600/544, 600/545
• US Class Current: 607/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/372 Analysis of electroencephalograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

A system and method for controlling epilepsy and other neurological disorders by providing electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s brain in response to detected neurological conditions. An implantable device includes a stimulation subsystem coupled to a stimulation electrode to provide responsive electrical brain stimulation in response to an event detected via an on-board processor'"'"'s analysis of data received from a detection subsystem coupled to a detection electrode located in a different portion of the patient'"'"'s brain.

Claims

1. A system for selectively initiating electrical brain stimulation to a patient'"'"'s brain in response to a detected event, the system comprising:

a stimulation subsystem coupled to at least one stimulation electrode, wherein the stimulation subsystem is operative to selectively apply an electrical stimulation signal to the stimulation electrode;

a detection subsystem coupled to at least one detection electrode, wherein the detection subsystem is operative to receive and process a detected signal received by the detection electrode; and

a processor operative to identify a detected event in the detected signal and to cause the stimulation subsystem to initiate application of the electrical stimulation signal in response thereto;

wherein the detection electrode is situated in a first brain region and the stimulation electrode is situated in a different second brain region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a control module, and wherein the control module includes the stimulation subsystem, the detection subsystem, and the processor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the detection electrode is coupled to the control module by a first lead and the stimulation electrode is coupled to the control module by a second lead.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the detection electrode is coupled to the control module by a first lead and the stimulation electrode is coupled to the control module by the first lead.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first brain region comprises an epileptogenic lesion, an epileptogenic region, a spike focus, a focal functional deficit, an irritative zone, a structure of the limbic system, or a first location in the temporal lobe.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the second brain region comprises an epileptogenic lesion, an epileptogenic region, a spike focus, a focal functional deficit, an irritative zone, a structure of the limbic system, a second location in the temporal lobe, or a contralateral location corresponding to the first brain region.

7. A method for responsively treating a neurological disorder in a patient with electrical stimulation to the patient'"'"'s brain, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal representative of a neurological event with a detection electrode implanted in a first region of the patient'"'"'s brain;

transmitting the signal to a detection subsystem, wherein the detection subsystem is adapted to receive and process the signal received by the detection electrode;

identifying a neurological event representative of the neurological disorder with a processor coupled to the detection subsystem;

in response to the neurological event, causing a stimulation subsystem to apply an electrical stimulation signal to a stimulation electrode implanted in a second region of the patient'"'"'s brain.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first brain region comprises an epileptogenic lesion, an epileptogenic region, a spike focus, a focal functional deficit, an irritative zone, a structure of the limbic system, or a first location in the temporal lobe.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second brain region comprises an epileptogenic lesion, an epileptogenic region, a spike focus, a focal functional deficit, an irritative zone, a structure of the limbic system, a second location in the temporal lobe, or a contralateral location corresponding to the first brain region.

10. A method for responsively treating a neurological disorder in a patient with electrical stimulation to the patient'"'"'s brain, the method comprising the steps of:

implanting a detection electrode in a first region of the patient'"'"'s brain;

implanting a stimulation electrode in a different second region of the patient'"'"'s brain;

implanting a control module in the patient; and

causing the control module to initiate an electrical stimulation signal to the stimulation electrode in response to an event detected in a signal received by the detection electrode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first brain region comprises an epileptogenic lesion, an epileptogenic region, a spike focus, a focal functional deficit, an irritative zone, a structure of the limbic system, or a first location in the temporal lobe.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second brain region comprises an epileptogenic lesion, an epileptogenic region, a spike focus, a focal functional deficit, an irritative zone, a structure of the limbic system, a second location in the temporal lobe, or a contralateral location corresponding to the first brain region.