Implantable seizure monitor

• US 7,787,945 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Greene, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser; Robert L
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'ANGELO, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/371,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 600/544, 600/300, 607/48, 607/96
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy

Abstract

An implantable seizure monitor can include at least one sensing electrode and an electronics module configured to detect, record and/or log neurological events. For example, the electronics module can be configured to detect brainwaves indicative of seizures, such as, for example, epileptic seizures, and to create a log indicating when such seizures occur. The implantable seizure monitor can include a cushioning member made of a soft material and configured to be implantable between the epidermis and cranium of a patient.

Claims

1. An implantable device for detecting neurological events, the device comprising:

a sensor configured to detect brainwaves and to generate a signal indicative of the detected brainwaves,

an amplifier configured to amplify the signal generated by the sensor, and having a gain adjustable to predetermine an amplitude of the sensor-generated signal that will place the amplifier in saturation, and

an event detector configured to determine if a neurological event has occurred based on occurrences of saturation of the amplifier.

2. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the event detector is configured to determine if the neurological event has occurred based on the frequency at which the amplifier saturates.

3. The implantable device according to claim 1, wherein the event detector is configured to determine if the neurological event has occurred based on the number of times the amplifier saturates in a predetermined number of time windows.