Automatic activation of medical processes

• US 20050081847A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stahmann, Jeffrey E., Hartley, Jesse W., Lee, Kent, Ni, Quan
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.240
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• 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 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6869 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0042 in the expiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 : controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585

Abstract

Systems and methods involve automatic activation, de-activation or modification of therapies or other medical processes based on brain state. A medical system includes a sensor system having one or more sensors configured to sense signals related to the brain state of the patient. A brain state analyzer detects various brain states, including sleep stage and/or brain seizures. A controller uses the brain state detection information to control a medical system configured to perform at least one respiratory or cardiac process. Methods involve sensing signals related to brain state and determining the brain state of a patient based on the sensed signals. At least one respiratory or cardiac medical process is controlled based on the patient'"'"'s brain state.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sensor system having one or more sensors configured to sense brain activity;

a brain activity detector coupled to the sensor system and configured to determine a brain state based on signals received from the sensor system;

a medical system configured to perform at least one respiratory or cardiac process; and

a controller coupled to the brain activity detector and the medical system, the controller configured to activate, de-activate or adjust the at least one cardiac or respiratory process based on the brain state.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one EEG sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one EEG sensor and at least one EMG sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one respiratory sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the brain activity detector is configured to detect sleep stage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical system comprises an external respiratory therapy device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is disposed in the external respiratory therapy device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical system comprises an implantable cardiac rhythm management device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is disposed in the implantable cardiac rhythm management device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical system comprises a cardiac rhythm management device and an external respiratory therapy device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a communications interface configured for effecting communications with a network server system, and the controller comprises a controller of the network server system.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to controller.

13. A method, comprising:

sensing signals indicative of brain activity;

determining a brain state of a patient based on the sensed signals; and

controlling at least one of a respiratory or a cardiac medical process based on brain state.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein sensing the signals indicative of brain state comprises sensing respiration signals.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

sensing signals related to brain state comprises determining a sleep stage of the patient; and

controlling the at least one medical process comprises activating, de-activating or adjusting therapy based on the patient'"'"'s sleep stage.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

sensing signals related to brain state comprises sensing the signals indicative of seizure; and

controlling the at least one medical process comprises activating, de-activating or adjusting arrhythmia therapy based on the signals indicative of seizure.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein sensing signals comprises sensing at least one EEG signal and at least one EMG signal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the at least one medical process comprises activating, de-activating or adjusting a respiratory therapy.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the at least one medical process comprises activating, de-activating or adjusting a cardiac pacing therapy.

20. A medical system, comprising:

means for sensing signals related to brain activity;

means for determining a brain state of a patient based on the sensed signals; and

means for activating, de-activating or modifying at least one of a respiratory or cardiac medical process based on brain state.