Patent US6016449A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6016449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for treatment of neurological disorders
Assignee: Neuropace Inc
•
Filing: 1997-10-27
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Granted: 2000-01-18
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Expires: 2017-10-27
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a multiple electrode, closed-loop, responsive system for the treatment of certain neurological diseases such as epilepsy, migraine headaches and Parkinson's disease. Brain electrodes would be placed in close proximity to the brain or deep within brain tissue. When a neurological event such as the onset of an epileptic seizure occurs, EEG signals from the electrodes are processed by signal conditioning means in a control module that can be placed beneath the patient's scalp, within the patient's chest, or situated externally on the patient. Neurological event detection means in the control module will then cause a response to be generated for stopping the neurological event. The response could be an electrical signal to brain electrodes or to electrodes located remotely in the patient's body. The response could also be the release of medication or the application of a sensory input such as sound, light or mechanical vibration or electrical stimulation of the skin. The response to the neurological event can originate from devices either internal or external to the patient. The system also has the capability for multi-channel recording of EEG related signals that occur both before and after the detection of a neurological event. Programmability of many different operating parameters of the system by means of external equipment provides adaptability for treating patients who manifest different symptoms and who respond differently to the response generated by the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Fischell
- 👤 David R. Fischell
- 👤 Adrian R. M. Upton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/369; A61B5/37; A61B5/40; A61B5/4076; A61B5/4094; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6813; A61B5/6814; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/3605; G; G16; G16H; G16H20/00; G16H20/40; A61N1/36014; A61N1/36025; A61N1/3606; A61N1/36082; A61N1/372; A61N1/37211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for the treatment of neurological disorders of a human patient, the system comprising: at least two electrodes adapted to be located within the cranium of the human patient; a control module adapted to be implanted beneath the patient's scalp for transmitting output electrical signals from the control module to the patient's brain responsive to input electrical signals received by the control module, the input electrical signals originating in the patient's brain; electrical conducting means for providing electrical connections between the electrodes and the control module; and external equipment means adapted to be located external to the human patient for providing two-way communication between the external equipment means and the control module for (1) receiving data transmission from the control module and (2) transmitting electrical signals to be received by the control module for defining the output electrical signals from the control module, whereby said output electrical signals provide a stimulation signal to terminate a neurological event.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for the treatment of neurological disorders of a human patient, the system comprising: at least two electrodes adapted to be located within the cranium of the human patient; a control module adapted to be implanted beneath the patient's scalp for transmitting output electrical signals from the control module to the patient's brain responsive to input electrical signals received by the control module, the input electrical signals originating in the patient's brain; electrical conducting means for providing electrical connections between the electrodes and the control module; and external equipment means adapted to be located external to the human patient for providing two-way communication between the external equipment means and the control module for (1) receiving data transmission from the control module and (2) transmitting electrical signals to be received by the control module for defining the output electrical signals from the control module, whereby said output electrical signals provide a stimulation signal to terminate a neurological event.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein there are exactly two electrodes. electrical conducting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein there are at least three electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the control module has an outer surface and at least part of that outer surface is electrically conducting and at least one of the other electrodes is an active electrode connected to the control module by the electrical conducting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein there are at least four electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical conducting means includes at least one insulated conducting wire, the wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each wire being joined to the control module and the distal end of each wire being joined to an electrode, the path of the wire from the control module to the electrode including passage between the patient's scalp and cranium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode is positionally located within the brain of said patient defining a deep electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the deep electrode is positionally located within a hippocampus region of said brain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes an event detection sub-system means for identifying an occurrence of a neurological event by processing of at least one EEG signal detected from at least one electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the event detection sub-system means includes a signal conditioning means for operating on the at least one EEG signal from the at least one electrode to produce an output signal having an optimized signal to noise ratio and an event detection means for detecting a neurological event, the event detection means having an input signal and an output signal, the input signal to the event detection means being the output signal of the signal conditioning means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the signal conditioning means includes at least one signal conditioning transformation for transforming the EEG signal from said electrode to said output signal for producing said optimized signal to noise ratio.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the signal conditioning transformations is signal squaring for increasing the signal amplitude and eliminating signals having a negative value thereby improving the signal to noise ratio.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the signal conditioning means includes at least two time delay circuits for inputting at least two EEG signals from the at least two electrodes and outputting a time synchronized signal to said event detection means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the at least two electrodes adapted to be located within the cranium of the human patient are placed at two different locations within the cranium, each of the locations being such that the propagation times of the EEG signals from the focus of a neurological event to each of the at least two electrodes is different, the signal conditioning means including at least two time delay circuits, adapted to provide an appropriate time delay for each EEG signal from each electrode in order to produce a set of time synchronized EEG signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the event detection sub-system means includes means for altering the time duration of the time delay for the at least two time delay circuits.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the event detection sub-system means includes means for selecting at least one EEG signal to be processed by the signal conditioning means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the control module includes control processor means for programming changes in at least one of said signal conditioning transformations, the central processor means being coupled to the event detection sub-system means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the event detection means includes at least one event detection transformation means having a plurality of event detection transforms for detecting said occurrence of the neurological event.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one of the event detection transformations is a comparison of the output of the signal conditioning means with an event detection threshold whereby the exceeding of the event detection threshold is the indication that a neurological event has been detected.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 19 including means for adjusting the level of the event detection threshold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the stimulation signal to terminate the neurological event is applied to at least one electrode located within the cranium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 21 wherein at least two signals are applied to at least two electrodes located within the cranium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 22 wherein the at least two signals applied to the at least two electrodes have substantially the same signal strength as a function of time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the at least two signals applied to the at least two electrodes have substantially different signal strength as a function of time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 21 wherein the electrical signal has a biphasic waveform.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes data recording means coupled to the at least two electrodes for recording the input electrical signals originating in the patient's brain.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the data recording means is adapted to record at least one EEG signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the data recording means is adapted to simultaneously record at least two EEG signals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the data recording means includes an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the two electrodes within the cranium of the human patient and a digital memory serially coupled to the analog to digital converter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 29 wherein the digital memory records data for a first time period defining a time period prior to the detection of a neurological event and a second time period defining a time period after the detection of the neurological event.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 30 wherein the first time period is between 0.1 and 30 minutes and the second time period is between 0.1 and 30 minutes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 29 wherein the digital memory stores the number of neurological events that have occurred.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the two-way communication for receiving data transmission and transmitting electrical signals reversibly from the control module to the external equipment is by electromagnetic waves.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes alarm means for signaling the patient that a neurological event has occurred.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 34 wherein the alarm means is a mechanical vibrator for producing mechanical vibrations for sensing by the patient.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes an electric power source for providing electric power to operate the system for the treatment of neurological disorders.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 36 wherein the electric power source is a primary battery.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes electronic circuitry connected to the at least two electrodes for processing signals from the at least two electrodes, the control module further including a power source coupled to the electronic circuitry for providing electrical power to the electronic circuitry, the control module being located within an enclosure beneath the patient's scalp, the power source being independently removable from the enclosure.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising implantable drug delivery means coupled to the control module for infusing medication into the patient's body responsive to a predetermined electrical signal from the control module.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 39 wherein the implantable drug delivery means includes a medication delivery catheter having a distal end located within the cerebrospinal fluid of the human patient.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the external equipment means includes a physician's workstation defining means for displaying EEG signals from the at least two electrodes and an external data interface coupled to the control module and also coupled to the physician's workstation for receiving the data transmitted from the control module and transmitting from the workstation via the external data interface the electrical signals to be received by the control module.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 41 wherein the external data interface and the physician's workstation are coupled by a multiplicity of electrically conducting wires.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 41 wherein the external data interface includes a cap to be worn by the patient, the cap having electrical means for receiving signals from the control module and transmitting signals to be received by the control module.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 43 wherein the cap includes emitting and receiving means for providing the two-way communication between the external equipment and the control module implanted beneath the patient's scalp.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 44 wherein the cap's emitting and receiving means provides electrical power to the control module implanted beneath the patient's scalp.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for the treatment of neurological disorders of a human patient, the system comprising: at least two electrodes adapted to be located within the cranium of the human patient; a control module adapted to be implanted under the patient's scalp for transmitting output electrical signals from the control module to the patient's brain responsive to input electrical signals received by the control module, the input electrical signals originating in the patient's brain; sensor and actuator means adapted to be implanted within the patient's body at a location remote from the control module, the sensor and actuator means having electronic circuitry, the electronic circuitry of the sensor and actuator means being adapted for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the control module responsive to signals originating in the patient's brain; electrical conducting means for providing electrical connections between the electrodes and the electronic circuitry of the control module; and external equipment means adapted to be located external to the human patient for providing two-way communication between the external equipment means and the control module for (1) receiving data transmission from the control module and (2) transmitting electrical signals to be received by the control module for defining the output electrical signals from the control module whereby said output electrical signals provide a stimulation signal to terminate a neurological event.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for the treatment of neurological disorders of a human patient, the system comprising: at least two electrodes adapted to be located within the cranium of the human patient; a control module adapted to be implanted under the patient's scalp for transmitting output electrical signals from the control module to the patient's brain responsive to input electrical signals received by the control module, the input electrical signals originating in the patient's brain; sensor and actuator means adapted to be implanted within the patient's body at a location remote from the control module, the sensor and actuator means having electronic circuitry, the electronic circuitry of the sensor and actuator means being adapted for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the control module responsive to signals originating in the patient's brain; electrical conducting means for providing electrical connections between the electrodes and the electronic circuitry of the control module; and external equipment means adapted to be located external to the human patient for providing two-way communication between the external equipment means and the control module for (1) receiving data transmission from the control module and (2) transmitting electrical signals to be received by the control module for defining the output electrical signals from the control module whereby said output electrical signals provide a stimulation signal to terminate a neurological event.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 46 wherein the receiving of data transmission and transmission of electrical signals to the control module is by electromagnetic waves sent through the patient's body.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 46 wherein the electromagnetic waves are in the radio frequency range.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 46 wherein the the sensor and actuator means includes electrical stimulation means for applying electrical stimulation to neural tissue, the electrical stimulation means including at least two electrodes which are electrically coupled to the sensor and actuator means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 49 wherein the control module is coupled to the sensor and actuator means for transmission of a first signal from the control module to the sensor and actuator means whereby the sensor and actuator means responsively transmits a second signal to at least two body located electrodes coupled to the sensor and actuator means for electrical stimulation of neural tissue.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 46 wherein the control module includes electrical stimulation means coupled to the at least two electrodes for providing electrical stimulation signals to be transmitted to brain tissue for terminating the neurological event.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 51 wherein the sensor and actuator means is coupled to the control module for transmission of a first electrical signal to the control module whereby the control module responsively transmits a second signal to the at least two electrodes coupled to the control module for electrical stimulation of brain tissue for terminating the neurological event.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 46 wherein the control module includes data recording means for recording EEG signals from the at least two electrodes located within the cranium of the human patient, said data recording means being coupled to the at least two electrodes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-17 | 2003-07-19 | 2004-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-17 | 2007-07-19 | 2008-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-07-19 | 2012-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |