Diagnostic indicator and PSG interface for a closed loop neuromodulator

• US 20100049264A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dymedix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dymedix Corporation
• Inventors: Henke, Reinhold, Stasz, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/583,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049264A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4058 for evaluating the central nervous system A61B5/4806, A61B5/4821 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0033 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0011 in a subliminal way, i.e. below the threshold of sensation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 Respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 1/0007 of radio frequency interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/1252 Two integrator-loop-filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/126 using a single operational amplifier H03H11/1204 takes precedence; parallel-T filters H03H11/1295
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for providing diagnostic information from a closed loop neuromodulator, configured to provide sleep therapy for a patient, to a user or a polysomnograph (PSG). A first portion of the diagnostic information can be received at a diagnostic indicator register of the closed loop neuromodulator and an LED driver can be switched using the first portion of the diagnostic information. A second portion of the diagnostic information can be received at a PSG interface of the closed loop neuromodulator and provided to the PSG for display.

Claims

1. A closed loop neuromodulator interface for providing diagnostic information from a closed loop neuromodulator, configured to provide sleep therapy for a patient, to a user or a polysomnograph (PSG), the interface comprising:

a diagnostic indicator register coupled to a data bus of the closed loop neuromodulator, the diagnostic indicator register configured to receive a first portion of the diagnostic information and to switch an LED driver of a plurality of LED drivers in response to the first portion of the diagnostic information; and

a PSG interface configured to receive a second portion of the diagnostic information and to provide the second portion of the diagnostic information to the PSG.

2. The interface of claim 1, including a digital airflow buffer coupled to an inhalation LED driver of the plurality of LED drivers, the digital airflow buffer configured to receive a digital airflow signal indicative of a respiration state of the patient from a hardened sensor interface of the closed loop neuromodulator;

and

wherein the inhalation LED driver is configured to illuminate an inhalation LED when the digital airflow signal is indicative of an inhalation respiration state of the patient.

3. The interface of claim 2, wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to detect a sleep related disorder using the digital airflow signal and to provide a first stimulus to the patient in response to the detected sleep disorder event, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt the detected sleep disorder event;

and

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the patient in response to the detected sleep disorder event, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event.

4. The interface of claim 1, including a stimulus signal buffer coupled to the PSG interface, the stimulus signal buffer configured to receive a stimulus signal, indicative of the sleep therapy, from a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator and to provide the stimulus signal to the PSG interface.

5. The interface of claim 1, including a driver signal buffer coupled to the PSG interface, the driver signal buffer configured to receive a driver signal from a stimulus escalator of the closed loop neuromodulator and to provide the driver signal to the PSG interface.

6. The interface of claim 1, including an analog airflow signal buffer coupled to the PSG interface, the analog airflow signal interface configured to receive an analog airflow signal indicative of respiration effort of the patient from a hardened sensor interface of the closed loop neuromodulator and to provide the analog airflow signal to the PSG interface.

7. The interface of claim 1, including digital airflow signal buffer coupled to an exhalation LED driver of the plurality of LED drivers, the digital airflow signal buffer configured to receive a digital airflow signal indicative of a respiration state of the patient from a hardened sensor interface of the closed loop neuromodulator, wherein the exhalation LED driver is configured to illuminate an exhalation LED when the digital airflow signal is indicative of an exhalation respiration state of the patient.

8. The interface of claim 1, including an activity signal buffer coupled to a sleep disorder LED driver of the plurality of LED drivers, the activity signal buffer configured to receive an activity signal indicative of abnormal respiration activity from an activity detector of the closed loop neuromodulator, wherein the sleep disorder LED driver is configured to illuminate a sleep disorder LED when the activity signal is indicative of abnormal respiration activity.

9. The interface of claim 1, including an activity signal buffer coupled to an apnea LED driver of the plurality of LED drivers, the activity signal buffer configured to receive an activity signal indicative of abnormal respiration activity from an activity detector of the closed loop neuromodulator, wherein the apnea LED driver is configured to illuminate an apnea LED when the activity signal is indicative of apnea.

10. A system for providing diagnostic information from a closed loop neuromodulator, configured to provide sleep therapy for a patient, to a user or a polysomnograph (PSG), the system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect information indicative of respiration from a patient;

the closed loop neuromodulator configured to optimize sleep therapy for the patient, the closed loop neuromodulator including;

a closed loop neuromodulator interface for monitoring operation of a closed loop neuromodulator configured to provide sleep therapy to a patient, the interface including;

a diagnostic indicator register coupled to a data bus of the closed loop neuromodulator, the diagnostic indicator register configured to receive a first portion of the diagnostic information and to switch an LED driver of a plurality of LED drivers in response to the first portion of the diagnostic information;

a PSG interface configured to receive a second portion of the diagnostic information and to provide the second portion of the diagnostic information to the PSG for display to a user;

a stimulus signal buffer coupled to the PSG interface, the stimulus signal buffer configured to receive a stimulus signal, indicative of the sleep therapy, from a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator and to provide the stimulus signal to the PSG interface;

a driver signal buffer coupled to the PSG interface, the driver signal buffer configured to receive a driver signal from a stimulus escalator of the closed loop neuromodulator and to provide the driver signal to the PSG interface;

an analog airflow signal buffer coupled to the PSG interface, the analog airflow signal interface configured to receive an analog airflow signal indicative of respiration effort of the patient from a hardened sensor interface of the closed loop neuromodulator and to provide the analog airflow signal to the PSG interface;

a digital airflow signal buffer coupled to an inhalation LED driver of the plurality of LED drivers and a exhalation LED driver of the plurality of LED drivers, the digital airflow signal buffer configured to receive a digital airflow signal indicative of a respiration state of the patient from a hardened sensor interface of the closed loop neuromodulator;

an activity signal buffer coupled to a sleep disorder LED driver of the plurality of LED drivers, the activity signal buffer configured to receive an activity signal indicative of abnormal respiration activity from an activity detector of the closed loop neural modulator;

wherein the inhalation LED driver is configured to illuminate an inhalation LED when the digital airflow signal is indicative of an inhalation respiration state of the patient;

wherein the exhalation LED driver is configured to illuminate an exhalation LED when the digital airflow signal is indicative of an exhalation respiration state of the patient; and

wherein the sleep disorder LED driver is configured to illuminate a sleep disorder LED when the activity signal is indicative of abnormal respiration activity;

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to receive respiration information from the sensor, to detect a sleep disorder event using respiration information, and to provide a first stimulus to a transducer in response to the detected sleep disorder event, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt the detected sleep disorder event;

wherein the closed loop neuromodulator is configured to provide, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the transducer in response to the detected sleep disorder event, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event; and

wherein the transducer is configured to deliver the first and second stimuli to the patient.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a thermocouple, a thermistor, an air pressure transducer, an electrode, a respiratory effort belt, or a pyro/piezoelectric sensor.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the transducer includes at least one of an acoustic transducer, a tactile mechanical agitator, an ocular stimulator, an electrical stimulator, a thermal stimulator, or an ultrasonic stimulator configured to modulate an audible signal onto an ultrasonic sound carrier.

20. The method of claim 12, including receiving an activity signal indicative of abnormal respiration activity from an activity detector of the closed loop neural modulator, and illuminating a sleep disorder LED when the activity signal is indicative of abnormal respiration activity.

13. A method for providing diagnostic information from a closed loop neuromodulator, configured to provide sleep therapy for a patient, to a user or a polysomnograph (PSG), the method comprising:

receiving a first portion of the diagnostic information at a diagnostic indicator register of the closed loop neuromodulator;

switching an LED driver of a plurality of LED drivers using the first portion of the diagnostic information;

receiving a second portion of the diagnostic information at a PSG interface of the closed loop neuromodulator; and

providing the second portion of the diagnostic information to the PSG for display.

14. The method of claim 13, including receiving a stimulus signal indicative of the sleep therapy from a stimulus generator of the closed loop neuromodulator at a stimulus signal buffer;

and

providing the stimulus signal to the PSG using the PSG interface.

15. The method of claim 13, including receiving a driver signal from a stimulus escalator of the closed loop neuromodulator at a driver signal buffer;

and

providing the driver signal to the PSG interface using the PSG interface.

16. The method of claim 13, including receiving an analog airflow signal indicative of respiration effort of the patient from a hardened sensor interface of the closed loop neuromodulator;

and

providing the analog airflow signal to the PSG using the PSG interface.

17. The method of claim 13, including receiving a digital airflow signal indicative of a respiration state of the patient from a hardened sensor interface of the closed loop neuromodulator at a digital airflow signal buffer;

and

illuminating an inhalation LED when the digital airflow signal is indicative of an inhalation respiration state of the patient.

18. The method of claim 17, including:

detecting a sleep disorder event using the digital airflow signal; and

providing sleep therapy to the patient in response to the detected sleep disorder signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the providing sleep therapy includes:

providing a first stimulus to the patient in response to the detected sleep disorder event, the first stimulus configured to not interrupt the first sleep disorder event; and

providing, following the first stimulus, a second stimulus to the patient in response to the detected sleep disorder event, the second stimulus having more energy than the first stimulus and configured to interrupt the detected sleep disorder event.