Method for monitoring or treating nervous system disorders

• US 8,744,562 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Giftakis, Jonathon E., Graves, Nina M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kahelin, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THO Q
• Application Number:
  US12/965,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20110105913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 600/483, 600/544, 600/545, 600/508, 600/529, 600/484
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• 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: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3614 based on impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3629 in combination with non-electric therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36521 the parameter being derived from measurement of an electrical impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36585 controlled by two or more physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 : User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 : characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 : Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39622 : Pacing therapy

Abstract

A medical device system that includes a brain monitoring element, cardiac monitoring element and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a brain signal from the brain monitoring element and a cardiac signal from the cardiac monitoring element. The processor is further configured to compare the brain signal to the cardiac signal. A method of comparing a brain signal to a cardiac signal is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for comparing a brain signal to a cardiac signal for use in detecting neurological events, the method comprising:

receiving a brain signal with a medical device system comprising processing circuitry for a period of time;

receiving a cardiac signal with the medical device system for a period of time;

obtaining information with the processing circuitry identifying one or more neurological events in the brain signal;

obtaining information with the processing circuitry identifying one or more cardiac events in the cardiac signal; and

comparing the brain signal and the cardiac signal with the processing circuitry to determine a temporal relationship between the one or more neurological events and the one or more cardiac events for determining whether neurological event detection is improved by using the cardiac signal, the comparing comprising

categorizing with the processing circuitry each of the identified neurological events as cardiac matched when there is a cardiac event within a specified time period of the neurological event; and

computing with the processing circuitry a rate of concordance between the neurological events and the cardiac events based on the number of cardiac matched events and the number of neurological events.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the rate of concordance comprises determining with the processing circuitry the number of cardiac matched events divided by the number of neurological events.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining information identifying the one or more neurological events in the brain signal comprises applying with the processing circuitry a neurological event detection algorithm to the brain signal and wherein obtaining information identifying the one or more cardiac events in the cardiac signal comprises applying with the processing circuitry a cardiac event detection algorithm to the cardiac signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising for each neurological event categorized as cardiac matched, determining with the processing circuitry the temporal order of the neurological event and the cardiac event that is within a specified time period of the neurological event.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising categorizing with the processing circuitry each of the cardiac events as cardiac unmatched when there is no neurological event within a specified time period of the cardiac event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether the neurological event detection is improved comprises considering the rate of concordance, the temporal order of the cardiac matched events, and the number of cardiac unmatched events.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising activating with the processing circuitry a cardiac event detection algorithm for use in neurological event detection based on a determination that the neurological event detection is improved by using the cardiac signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the neurological event to be detected by the cardiac event detection algorithm is a seizure.

9. A method for comparing a brain signal to a cardiac signal for use in detecting neurological events, the method comprising:

receiving a brain signal with a medical device system comprising processing circuitry for a period of time;

receiving a cardiac signal with the medical device system for a period of time;

obtaining information with the processing circuitry identifying one or more neurological events in the brain signal;

obtaining information with the processing circuitry identifying one or more cardiac events in the cardiac signal; and

comparing the brain signal and the cardiac signal with the processing circuitry to determine a temporal relationship between the one or more neurological events and the one or more cardiac events for determining whether neurological event detection is improved by using the cardiac signal,

wherein the comparing the brain signal and the cardiac signal further comprises;

obtaining information categorizing each cardiac event as one or more of a first type cardiac event and a second type cardiac event

categorizing with the processing circuitry the neurological event as first type cardiac matched when there is a first type cardiac event within a specified time period of the neurological event;

categorizing with the processing circuitry the neurological event as second type cardiac matched when there is a second type cardiac event within a specified time period of the neurological event;

computing with the processing circuitry a first rate of concordance between the neurological events and the first type cardiac events based on the number of first type cardiac matched events and the number of neurological events; and

computing with the processing circuitry a second rate of concordance between the neurological events and the second type cardiac events based on the number of second type cardiac matched events and the number of neurological events.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first type cardiac event and the second type cardiac event are selected from the group consisting of bradycardia, asystole, tachyrhythmia, ST segment elevation.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising enabling with the processing circuitry the use of detection of a first type cardiac event for detection of a neurological event based on the first rate of concordance.