Communication error alerting in an epilepsy monitoring system

• US 9,622,675 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Original Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Inventors: Leyde, Kent W., Harris, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANNU, JOSHUA DARYL DEANON
• Application Number:
  US13/070,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20110213222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• 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: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring neurological signals in a patient are provided. The system includes: an implantable sensor adapted to collect neurological signals; an implantable assembly configured to sample the neurological signals collected by the sensor; and a rechargeable communication device external to the patient'"'"'s body, said communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the implantable assembly and to transmit a communication error alert to a caregiver advisory device in the event of a communication error between the implantable assembly and the communication device.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring neurological signals in a patient, the system comprising:

an implantable sensor adapted to collect neurological signals;

an implantable assembly configured to sample the neurological signals collected by the sensor, wherein said implantable assembly comprises;

a physical memory configured to store or buffer said neurological signals;

a first telemetry circuit;

a processing subassembly configured to process neurological signals prior to transmission to a rechargeable communication device external to the patient'"'"'s body; and

the rechargeable communication device external to the patient'"'"'s body comprising;

a display configured to indicate a neurological state of the patient;

a second telemetry circuit;

a processor configured to control outputs on the display and manage the second telemetry circuit, at least one of the outputs providing an indication of a change in a brain state of the patient; and

wherein said rechargeable communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the implantable assembly and to transmit a communication error alert to a caregiver advisory device in an event of a communication error between the implantable assembly and the rechargeable communication device, wherein the caregiver advisory device allows at least one of monitoring the patient or facilitating treatment.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the caregiver advisory device, wherein the rechargeable communication device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the caregiver advisory device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the caregiver advisory device is configured to indicate if there is a communication error between the rechargeable communication device and the implantable assembly.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the caregiver advisory device is configured to provide a visible alert if there is a communication error between the rechargeable communication device and the implantable assembly.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the caregiver advisory device is configured to provide an audible alert if there is a communication error between the rechargeable communication device and the implantable assembly.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication error comprises a failure of the rechargeable communication device to receive an expected data signal from the implantable assembly.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication error comprises a failure of the rechargeable communication device to receive a data signal from the implantable assembly for a predetermined amount of time.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication error comprises a failure of the rechargeable communication device to receive a data signal from the implantable assembly at an expected time or within an expected period of time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication error comprises a missing packet of data in a numbered sequence of packets transmitted from the implantable assembly to the rechargeable communication device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable communication device is configured to automatically deactivate the communication error alert after a predetermined period of time.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable sensor is adapted to collect neurological signals from inside the patient'"'"'s skull.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable sensor is adapted to collect neurological signals from a location between the patient'"'"'s skull and at least a layer of the patient'"'"'s scalp.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable communication device is configured to receive the neurological signals from the implantable assembly.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable communication device is configured to communicate with the caregiver advisory device via a wireless cellular network.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable communication device is configured to communicate with the caregiver advisory device via a phone call.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable assembly is configured to transmit the neurological signals to the rechargeable communication device substantially immediately after sampling.

17. A method of monitoring neurological signals in a patient, comprising:

collecting neurological signals using a sensor implanted in the patient;

sampling the neurological signals using an implantable assembly;

storing or buffering said neurological signals in memory of the implanted assembly;

processing said neurological signals prior to transmission to an external rechargeable communication device using a processor subassembly;

displaying a neurological state of the patient using the rechargeable communication device;

controlling outputs on the rechargeable communication device, at least one of the outputs providing an indication of a change in a brain state of the patient and managing a telemetry circuit using a processor on said rechargeable communication device;

indicating a change in brain state of the patient based on the neurological signals via an output on said rechargeable communication device;

wirelessly transmitting a communication error alert from the rechargeable communication device external to the patient'"'"'s body to a caregiver advisory device in the event of a communication error between the implantable assembly and the rechargeable communication device wherein the caregiver advisory device allows for at least one of monitoring the patient or facilitating treatment.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising wirelessly communicating from the rechargeable communication device to the caregiver advisory device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating an indication from the caregiver advisory device if there is a communication error between the rechargeable communication device and the implantable assembly.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a visible alert from the caregiver advisory device if there is a communication error between the rechargeable communication device and the implantable assembly.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a visible alert from the caregiver advisory device if there is a communication error between the rechargeable communication device and the implantable assembly.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication error comprises a failure of the rechargeable communication device to receive an expected data signal from the implantable assembly.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication error comprises a failure of the rechargeable communication device to receive a data signal from the implantable assembly for a predetermined amount of time.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication error comprises a failure of the rechargeable communication device to receive a data signal from the implantable assembly at an expected time or within an expected period of time.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein said communication error comprises a missing packet of data in a numbered sequence of packets transmitted from the implantable assembly to the rechargeable communication device.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising automatically deactivating the communication error alert after a predetermined period of time.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein said collecting neurological signals comprises collecting neurological signals from inside the patient'"'"'s skull.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein said collecting neurological signals comprises collecting neurological signals from a location between the patient'"'"'s skull and at least a layer of the patient'"'"'s scalp.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving at the rechargeable communication device the neurological signals from the implantable assembly.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitting the communication error alert comprises transmitting the communication error alert from the rechargeable communication device to the caregiver advisory device via a wireless cellular network.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitting the communication error alert comprises transmitting the communication error alert from the rechargeable communication device to the caregiver advisory device via a phone call.

32. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting the neurological signals from the implantable assembly to the rechargeable communication device substantially immediately after sampling.