Using physiological sensor data with an implantable medical device

• US 7,957,796 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LivaNova USA, Inc. (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Inventors: Maschino, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US11/261,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 607 1- 2, 607115-118
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for providing an electrical neurostimulation therapy to a neural structure of a patient'"'"'s body using an implantable medical device (IMD). A first electrical signal is provided using the implantable medical device. A first electrical signal is applied to the neural structure. An implanted sensor is provided. A physiological parameter is sensed using the implanted sensor. The physiological parameter is selected from the group consisting of a neurotransmitter parameter, a neurotransmitter breakdown product parameter, a neuropeptide parameter, and a glucocorticoid (GC) parameter. The first electrical signal is modified based upon the sensed physiological parameter to generate a second electrical signal. The second electrical signal is applied to the neural structure.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electrical neurostimulation therapy to a neural structure of a patient'"'"'s body using an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

providing a first electrical signal using said implantable medical device;

applying said first electrical signal to said neural structure, wherein the first electrical signal generates a response that comprises at least one of an afferent action potential or an afferent sub-threshold depolarization;

sensing a physiological parameter using an implanted sensor, wherein said physiological parameter includes at least one of a neurotransmitter parameter, a neurotransmitter breakdown product parameter, a neuropeptide parameter, or a glucocorticoid (GC) parameter;

modifying said first electrical signal based upon said sensed physiological parameter to generate a second electrical signal; and

applying said second electrical signal to said neural structure, wherein the second electrical signal generates a response that comprises at least one of the afferent action potential or the afferent sub-threshold depolarization.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said neurotransmitter parameter is selected from the group consisting of a norepinephrine concentration, a serotonin concentration and a dopamine concentration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing said physiological parameter comprises sensing at least one of a metabolite, a nucleotide parameter, a neuromodulator parameter, a neuromodulator breakdown product parameter, a peptide parameter, a ligand parameter, an amino acid parameter, a hormone parameter, an enzyme parameter, a parameter of a bloodborne substance, a medication parameter, and a drug level in a portion of a patient'"'"'s body.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said neurotransmitter parameter comprises at least one of a dopamine parameter, a serotonin parameter, an acetylcholine parameter, a catecholamine parameter, and a nicotinic parameter.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said peptide parameter comprises at least one of a substance P parameter, a neuropeptide Y parameter, a neurokines parameter, a cytokines parameter, a interleukins parameter, and a lymphokines parameter.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said enzyme parameter comprises at least one of an adrenoceptor protein kinase parameter, a choline acetyltransferase parameter, and an acetylcholinesterase parameter.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said hormone parameter comprises at least one of a glucocorticoid (GC) parameter, a serum cortisol parameter, a cortisol parameter, prostaglandin parameter, a cholecystokinin (CCK) parameter, a orexins parameter, a galinin parameter, a corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) parameter, and an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the said amino acid parameter comprises at least one of a glutamate parameter, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) parameter, and a glycine parameter.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said nucleotide parameter comprises at least one of a adenosine triphosphate (ATP) parameter and a guanosine triphosphate (GTP) parameter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying said first electrical signal based upon said sensed physiological parameter comprises modifying at least one of a current magnitude, a pulse width, a frequency, a polarity, an on-time, and an off-time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising

comparing said sensed physiological parameter with a predetermined threshold;

and

modifying said first electrical signal based upon said comparing step.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensing is performed in response to an event detected by the IMD or in response to an external prompt.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical neurostimulation therapy is a therapy for depression.