Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110112590 | DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION FOR SLEEP AND MOVEMENT DISORDERS - Delivery of electrical stimulation to the substantia nigra and the subthalamic nucleus of a brain of a patient are independently controlled in order to treat sleep and movement disorders. Electrical stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus may be effective in treating symptoms associated with a movement disorder, and electrical stimulation of the substantia nigra may be effective in treating symptoms associated with a sleep disorder. During a sleep state of the patient, a sleep stage of the patient may be determined, and an electrical stimulation device may be controlled based on the determined sleep stage. Electrical stimulation of the substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus may be delivered at substantially the same time or at different times. | 05-12-2011 |
20110196446 | ELECTRICAL BRAIN STIMULATION IN GAMMA BAND - This disclosure describes techniques for delivering electrical stimulation to the brain of a patient at a frequency greater than a selected frequency. The techniques may reestablish gamma frequency band activity within the brain of a patient, and thus improve the patient's movements and cognitive states. In one example, the disclosure is directed to a method that includes selecting a frequency within a gamma frequency band and delivering electrical stimulation at a frequency greater than the selected frequency. | 08-11-2011 |
20110230936 | ELECTRICAL STIMULATION BASED ON PHASE RESPONSE MAPPING - This disclosure describes techniques for delivering electrical stimulation at one or more phases relative to an ongoing oscillating signal in a patient, and then mapping the response to the oscillating signal. The techniques may reduce or eliminate the oscillating signal. In one example, the disclosure is directed to a method that includes delivering a set of first electrical stimulation at a plurality of phases relative to an oscillating signal, measuring a response in the oscillating signal to the set of first electrical stimulation after delivering electrical stimulation at each respective phase of the plurality of phases, determining a phase at which to deliver second electrical stimulation based on the measured responses, and delivering the second electrical stimulation to the patient at the determined phase to produce a therapeutic effect. | 09-22-2011 |
20110319962 | MEDICAL METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING A NEURAL BRAIN NETWORK - Bioelectrical signals may be sensed within the brain by two or more electrodes to determine characteristics of a function of the brain. The signals obtained by the electrodes may be plotted over time to determine whether the brain function exhibits a normal or an abnormal pattern. If the brain function exhibits an abnormal pattern, an implantable medical device may dynamically determine based on the abnormal pattern and a previously-obtained plot associated with normal brain function, an appropriate electrical stimulation therapy. Application of the appropriate electrical stimulation therapy causes the brain function to shift from the abnormal pattern to the normal pattern. | 12-29-2011 |
20120071947 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVENT-TRIGGERED REINFORCEMENT OF A FAVORABLE BRAIN STATE - Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for potentiating a favorable brain state that is associated with relief in symptoms of a brain condition. Techniques include monitoring one or more brain signals and detecting an episode of a favorable brain state based on the one or more brain signals, the favorable brain state associated with a decrease in one or more symptoms of a brain condition of the patient. Then, in response to the detection of the favorable brain state episode, electrical stimulation that potentiates the favorable brain state is delivered to the brain of the patient, the electrical stimulation delivered within a window of time opened for detection of each favorable brain state episode. | 03-22-2012 |
20120101547 | ELECTRICAL STIMULATION BASED ON PHASE RESPONSE MAPPING - This disclosure describes techniques for delivering electrical stimulation at one or more phases relative to an ongoing oscillating signal in a patient, and then mapping the response to the oscillating signal. The techniques may reduce or eliminate the oscillating signal. In one example, the disclosure is directed to a method that includes delivering a set of first electrical stimulation at a plurality of phases relative to an oscillating signal, measuring a response in the oscillating signal to the set of first electrical stimulation after delivering electrical stimulation at each respective phase of the plurality of phases, determining a phase at which to deliver second electrical stimulation based on the measured responses, and delivering the second electrical stimulation to the patient at the determined phase to produce a therapeutic effect. | 04-26-2012 |
20120116475 | AROUSAL STATE MODULATION WITH ELECTRICAL STIMULATION - In some examples, an arousal network of a brain of a patient can be activated to modify the arousal state of the patient, which may be useful in treating a cognitive disorder of the patient. In some examples, a bioelectrical brain signal indicative of electrical activity in a first portion of the brain is monitored to determine whether the patient is in a first arousal state, and, in response to determining the patient is in the first arousal state, electrical stimulation is delivered to a second portion of the brain to activate an arousal neural network in the first portion of the brain to induce a second arousal state to treat the cognitive disorder, where the second arousal state is different than the first arousal state. | 05-10-2012 |
20120197337 | BILATERAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION THERAPY FOR BLADDER DYSFUNCTION - A medical device is configured to deliver a first stimulation therapy to a patient, and, upon detecting a trigger event, deliver a second stimulation therapy to the patient. In some examples, the first stimulation therapy includes bilateral stimulation in which stimulation is delivered at different times to two lateral sides of the patient and the second stimulation therapy includes substantially simultaneous bilateral stimulation therapy to two lateral sides of the patient. In some examples, the second stimulation therapy may elicit a stronger inhibitory physiological response related to incontinence (e.g., inhibition of bladder contractions) than the first stimulation therapy. The trigger event may include, for example, any one or more of detection of a physiological condition indicative of an increased possibility of an involuntary voiding event or an imminent involuntary voiding event, input from the patient, a predetermined time of day, or expiration of a timer. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197338 | STIMULATION THERAPY INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUS BILATERAL STIMULATION - In some examples, a medical device delivers a first electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, and, upon detecting a trigger event, delivers a second electrical stimulation therapy to the patient. In some examples, the first stimulation therapy includes unilateral stimulation or stimulation delivered to both lateral sides of the patient at different times at a stimulation intensity lower than, equal to, or greater than a threshold intensity level for the patient, or bilateral stimulation delivered substantially simultaneously to both lateral sides of the patient, where one lateral side of the patient receives stimulation at an intensity level that is lower than the threshold intensity level and the other lateral side receives stimulation at an intensity level that is greater than or equal to the threshold intensity level. The second stimulation therapy may include substantially simultaneous bilateral stimulation therapy at an intensity level that at or above the threshold intensity level. | 08-02-2012 |
20120271148 | BRAIN CONDITION MONITORING BASED ON CO-ACTIVATION OF NEURAL NETWORKS - A brain condition can be tracked based on identification of co-activation of two antagonistic networks of a patient's brain. Various embodiments concerns methods and devices for sensing one or more signals indicative of brain activity, detecting one or more episodes of default mode network activation based on the one or more signals, detecting one or more episodes of salience network activation based on the one or more signals, and identifying one or more episodes of temporal co-activation of the default mode network and the salience network based on the detected one or more episodes of default mode network activation and the one or more episodes of salience network activation. The brain condition can be tracked and treated based on the identification of the one or more episodes of co-activation. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271189 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING NEURAL ACTIVATION - Various embodiments concern sensing a LFP signal from one or more electrodes, measuring the amplitude of the signals over a period of time, and calculating a plurality of variance values from the amplitude, wherein each of the variance values correspond to the variance of the amplitude for a different interval of time of the period of time with respect to the other variance values. Such embodiments may further include assessing the relative level of neural activation of an area of the brain based on the variance values, wherein the area of the brain is assessed to have a relatively higher level of neural activation when the variance is relatively higher and the area of the brain is assessed to have a relatively lower level of neural activation when the variance is relatively lower. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271374 | ELECTRICAL THERAPY FOR FACILITATING INTER-AREA BRAIN SYNCHRONIZATION - Methods and apparatuses are described for monitoring synchronization of two or more brain areas and delivering an electrical therapy to the brain to facilitate synchronization of the two or more brain areas. The electrical therapy can be titrated to improve synchronization between the two or more areas of the brain based on the one or more signals, the synchronization between the two or more areas of the brain occurring in response to the patient being exposed to external sensory stimulus, wherein the electrical therapy does not independently cause activation of either of the two or more areas of the brain. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271375 | ELECTRICAL BRAIN THERAPY PARAMETER DETERMINATION BASED ON A BIOELECTRICAL RESONANCE RESPONSE - Various methods and apparatuses are disclosed that concern delivering electrical stimulation to a brain at a plurality of different stimulation frequencies, sensing one or more bioelectrical signals, and identifying a bioelectrical resonance response of the brain to the electrical stimulation. The bioelectrical resonance response may be identified based on a parameter of oscillation of the one or more bioelectrical signals and indicative of resonance of an area of the brain to one stimulation frequency of the plurality of stimulation frequencies. A stimulation frequency parameter for a therapy may be set based on the identified bioelectrical resonance response, wherein the stimulation frequency parameter is set at or near the one stimulation frequency. | 10-25-2012 |
20120277618 | SEIZURE PROBABILITY METRICS - In some examples, systems, devices, and techniques for determining a particular sleep stage of a patient, determining a seizure state of the patient during the particular sleep stage, and generating a seizure probability metric for the particular sleep stage based on the sleep stage and seizure state are described. In some cases, a patient may be more susceptible to seizure events during particular sleep stages. One or more seizure probability metrics indicative of a patient's susceptibility to seizure events during a particular sleep stage may be useful in creating a patient-specific treatment regimen. | 11-01-2012 |
20120277820 | ENTRAINMENT OF BIOELECTRICAL BRAIN SIGNALS - The disclosure relates to the delivery of electrical stimulation therapy to the brain of a patient, e.g., to treat or otherwise manage a patient disorder. In one example, the disclosure relates to a method comprising generating electrical stimulation via a medical device; delivering the electrical stimulation at a first frequency to a brain of a patient when the bioelectrical brain signals of the patient oscillate at a second frequency, where the second frequency corresponds to pathological brain signals of the patient, where the electrical stimulation is selected to entrain the bioeiectrical brain signals of the patient; and adjusting the delivered electrical stimulation from the first frequency to a third frequency, where adjusting the delivered electrical stimulation changes the bioelectrical brain signal oscillations to a fourth frequency different from the second frequency. The fourth frequency may correspond to an oscillation frequency of non-pathological brain signals of the patient. | 11-01-2012 |
20130072998 | STIMULATION THERAPY FOR BLADDER DYSFUNCTION - A medical system may include a control module and a therapy delivery module configured to generate and deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient. The control module may be configured to control the therapy delivery module to deliver electrical stimulation at a first stimulation intensity for a first time period, to deliver electrical stimulation at a second stimulation intensity for a second time period immediately following the first time period, and to deliver electrical stimulation at the first stimulation intensity for a third time period immediately following the second time period. The second stimulation intensity may be less than the first stimulation intensity. The electrical stimulation may elicit a first inhibitory physiological response during the first time period and a second inhibitory physiological response during the second time period. The second inhibitory physiological response may be greater than the first inhibitory physiological response. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079840 | SELECTIVE TERMINATION OF STIMULATION TO DELIVER POST-STIMULATION THERAPEUTIC EFFECT - In some examples, electrical stimulation is delivered to a patient such that selective termination of the stimulation causes a therapeutic effect in the patient after termination of the electrical stimulation to the patient. The electrical stimulation may be insufficient to produce a desired therapeutic effect in the patient during stimulation, but sufficient to induce a post-stimulation desired therapeutic effect following termination of the stimulation. In some examples, the electrical stimulation may be sub-threshold electrical stimulation. In some examples, the desired therapeutic effect may alleviate bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, or other disorders. The stimulation may be selectively terminated in response to one or more therapy trigger events to induce the post-stimulation therapeutic effect. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079841 | ADAPTIVE STIMULATION FOR TREATING URGENCY OR INCONTINENCE - In one example, a system includes a therapy module and a processor. The processor detects a voiding event of a patient and controls the therapy module to deliver electrical stimulation to the patient at a first intensity level for a period of time in response to the detection of the voiding event. Immediately following the period of time, the processor controls the therapy module to increase intensity of the electrical stimulation from the first intensity level to a second intensity level before a subsequent voiding event of the patient by at least controlling the therapy module to deliver stimulation to the patient at a plurality of intermediate intensity levels between the first and second intensity levels prior to delivering stimulation to the patient at the second intensity level following the detection of the voiding event. | 03-28-2013 |
20130245714 | Method and Apparatus for Event-Triggered Reinforcement of a Favorable Brain State - Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for potentiating a favorable brain state that is associated with relief in symptoms of a brain condition. Techniques include monitoring one or more brain signals and detecting an episode of a favorable brain state based on the one or more brain signals, the favorable brain state associated with a decrease in one or more symptoms of a brain condition of the patient. Then, in response to the detection of the favorable brain state episode, electrical stimulation that potentiates the favorable brain state is delivered to the brain of the patient, the electrical stimulation delivered within a window of time opened for detection of each favorable brain state episode. | 09-19-2013 |
20130268019 | ELECTRICAL STIMULATION PROGRAMMING - In one example, the disclosure relates to a method comprising receiving at least one electrical stimulation parameter value defining electrical stimulation for delivery via one or more electrodes to a tissue site, and determining, via one or more processors, a volume of sub-activation threshold impact for tissue from the delivery of the electrical stimulation to the tissue site. | 10-10-2013 |
20140081347 | ASSESSING COGNITIVE DISORDERS BASED ON NON-MOTOR EPILEPTIFORM BIOELECTRICAL BRAIN ACTIVITY - Various embodiments concern assessing a degenerative cognitive disorder of a patient based on a plurality of episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. The non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity can be detected from one or more bioelectrical brain signals. A worsening cognitive disorder may be indicated by an increase in one or more of intensity, duration, and frequency of occurrence of the episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. A therapy can be delivered to reduce one or more of intensity, duration, and frequency of occurrence of the episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. The delivery of the therapy can be controlled based on the plurality of episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. | 03-20-2014 |
20140277250 | Low Frequency Electrical Stimulation Therapy for Pelvic Floor Disorders - In some examples, relatively low frequency (e.g., less than about 50 Hertz) electrical stimulation therapy is delivered to a target tissue site proximate to one or more of the T9, T10, T11, T12, L1, L2, or L3 (“T9-L3”) spinal nerves of a patient to manage a pelvic floor disorder, such as urinary retention, fecal retention, or both. The relatively low frequency electrical stimulation therapy is configured to excite the one or more of the T9-L3 spinal nerves, which may generate an activating response from the patient related to voiding and help promote voiding by the patient. For example, the low frequency electrical stimulation may be configured to help improve the patient's pelvic sensations, which may help the patient better control urination. | 09-18-2014 |
20140358024 | PATIENT STATE DETERMINATION BASED ON ONE OR MORE SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A BIOELECTRICAL BRAIN SIGNAL - In some examples, a processor determines a patient state based on activity of a bioelectrical brain signal of a patient in one or more frequency sub-bands of a frequency band of interest. For example, a processor may determine a patient state based on the power level of a bioelectrical brain signal of the patient in one or more frequency sub-bands of a frequency band, or based on a spectral pattern of a bioelectrical brain signal in a frequency band, such as a shift in a power distribution between sub-bands, a change in the peak frequency within one or more sub-bands, a pattern of the power distribution over one or more frequency sub-bands, or a width or a variability of one or more sub-bands exhibiting a relatively high or low level of activity | 12-04-2014 |
20140371544 | MOTION-BASED BEHAVIOR IDENTIFICATION FOR CONTROLLING THERAPY - Devices, systems, and techniques for analyzing video information to objectively identify patient behavior are disclosed. A system may analyze obtained video information of patient motion during a period of time to track one or more anatomical regions through a plurality of frames of the video information and calculate one or more movement parameters of the one or more anatomical regions. The system may also compare the one or more movement parameters to respective criteria for each of a plurality of predetermined patient behaviors and identify the patient behaviors that occurred during the period of time. In some examples, a device may control therapy delivery according to the identified patient behaviors and/or sensed parameters previously calibrated based on the identified patient behaviors. | 12-18-2014 |
20140371599 | MOTION ANALYSIS FOR BEHAVIOR IDENTIFICATION - Devices, systems, and techniques for analyzing video information to objectively identify patient behavior are disclosed. A system may analyze obtained video information of patient motion during a period of time to track one or more anatomical regions through a plurality of frames of the video information and calculate one or more movement parameters of the one or more anatomical regions. The system may also compare the one or more movement parameters to respective criteria for each of a plurality of predetermined patient behaviors and identify the patient behaviors that occurred during the period of time. In some examples, a device may control therapy delivery according to the identified patient behaviors and/or sensed parameters previously calibrated based on the identified patient behaviors. | 12-18-2014 |
20140378941 | CORTICAL POTENTIAL MONITORING - Techniques, devices, and systems may include screening effective therapies using cortical evoked potentials. In one example, a system may be configured to receive a first sensed cortical evoked potential of a patient that occurred in response to an induced sensation at an anatomical region different from a brain region of the patient and receive a second sensed cortical evoked potential that occurred in response to electrical stimulation delivered to one or more nerves associated with the anatomical region. The electrical stimulation may be at least partially defined by a set of therapy parameter values. The system may also compare a first value of a characteristic of the first sensed cortical evoked potential to a second value of the characteristic of the second sensed cortical evoked potential and determine, based on the comparison, efficacy of a therapy configured to treat a condition associated with the anatomical region. | 12-25-2014 |