Wireless system for epilepsy monitoring and measurement

• US 8,738,139 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc., Yale University
• Original Assignee: ITN Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Lanning, Bruce, Nolan, James A., Nuebel, Gregory J., Spencer, Dennis D., Zaveri, Hitten P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US13/429,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20120238855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 607/33, 607/45, 600/518, 600/544, 60/33, 60/45
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head

Abstract

A wireless system for brain monitoring/mapping of neurological-disorder patients includes a plurality of electrodes each configured for surface abutment of brain tissue and main circuitry for placement outside a body of a patient and configured to transmit power at radio frequencies and send and receive data using infrared energy. Remote circuitry is provided for subcutaneous implantation in a head of the patient. The remote circuitry is connected to the plurality of electrodes and includes a multiplexer sampling signals from the plurality of electrodes. The multiplexer outputs electrode signals to an amplifier and A/D converter for transmission to the main circuitry. The remote circuitry is configured to (a) receive transmitted power at radio frequencies from the main circuitry, (b) capture and digitize full-bandwidth EEG signals from each of the electrodes, and (c) send data to and receive data from the main circuitry using infrared energy.

Claims

1. A wireless system for brain monitoring/mapping of neurological-disorder patients, the system comprising:

a plurality of electrodes each configured for surface abutment of brain tissue;

main circuitry for placement outside a body of a patient and configured to transmit power at radio frequencies and send and receive data using infrared energy; and

remote circuitry for subcutaneous implantation in a head of the patient, the remote circuitry being connected to the plurality of electrodes and including a multiplexer sampling signals from the plurality of electrodes, the multiplexer outputting electrode signals to an amplifier and A/D converter for transmission to the main circuitry, wherein the remote circuitry is configured to (a) receive transmitted power at radio frequencies from the main circuitry, (b) capture and digitize full-bandwidth EEG signals from each of the electrodes, and (c) send data to and receive data from the main circuitry using infrared energy, including sending the digitized full-bandwidth EEG signals from each of the electrodes.

2. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 wherein the remote circuitry includes a second multiplexer.

3. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1, wherein the remote circuitry is configured to measure electrical impedance of each of the plurality of electrodes.

4. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 3 wherein the remote circuitry is configured to send the measurements of the electrical impedance to the main circuitry as digital signals.

5. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequencies are in a range of between 13.55 MHz and 13.57 MHz.

6. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 wherein the remote circuitry further includes a power storage capacitor, whereby the capacitor provides power when high current flow is required.

7. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 wherein the remote circuitry further includes a battery to augment the RF-supplied power.

8. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 7 wherein the battery is a solid-state lithium rechargeable battery.

9. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 8 wherein the remote circuitry further includes a power storage capacitor, whereby the capacitor provides power when high current flow is required.

10. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 further including a video camera and recording system to synchronously record the full-bandwidth EEG signals and video images of the patient.

11. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 wherein the remote circuitry is further configured to provide electrical energy to at least one of the plurality of electrodes to stimulate brain tissue.

12. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 11 wherein the remote circuitry is further configured to measure electrical impedance of each of the plurality of electrodes.

13. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 12 wherein the remote circuitry is further configured to send the measurements of the electrical impedance to the main circuitry as digital signals.

14. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 13 wherein the radio frequencies are in a range of between 13.55 MHz and 13.57 MHz.

15. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 wherein the multiplexer include an array of series L and shunt capacitors at each channel input.

16. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 wherein the multiplexer includes a low pass filter at each channel input.

17. The wireless neurological-disorder monitoring/mapping system of claim 1 wherein gain of the amplifier is about 25 dB.

18. A signal processing circuitry for brain monitoring/mapping of neurological-disorder patients, comprising:

a plurality of electrodes;

a multiplexer sampling signals from the plurality of electrodes, the multiplexer outputting electrode signals;

an amplifier receiving electrode signals output by the multiplexer; and

A/D converter receiving amplified signals from the amplifier for transmission to an EEG recording device.

19. The signal processing circuitry of claim 18 wherein the remote circuitry includes a second multiplexer.

20. The signal processing circuitry of claim 18 wherein the multiplexer include an array of series L and shunt capacitors at each channel input.

21. The signal processing circuitry of claim 18 wherein the multiplexer includes a low pass filter at each channel input.

22. The signal processing circuitry of claim 18 wherein gain of the amplifier is about 25 dB.