US6061593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
EEG d-c voltage shift as a means for detecting the onset of a neurological event
Assignee: Neuropace Inc
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Filing: 1998-04-24
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Granted: 2000-05-09
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Expires: 2018-04-24
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a multiple electrode, closed-loop system for the treatment of certain neurological disorders such as epilepsy, migraine headaches and Parkinson's disease. Specifically, the present invention combines a multi-electrode array with sophisticated signal processing techniques to achieve reliable detection of the onset of a neurological event (such as an epileptic seizure or migraine headache) typically originating from a focus of limited spatial extent within the brain. It is highly desirable to detect an epileptic seizure at least 5 seconds before the onset of clinical symptoms. Since there is often a d-c shift in the EEG voltage more than 5 seconds before the seizure, disclosed herein is a means for utilizing the d-c shift of the EEG for early detection of the seizure.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Fischell
- 👤 David R. Fischell
- 👤 Adrian R. M. Upton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:19
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: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
A system for the detection of neurological disorders of a human patient, the system comprising: at least two brain electrodes adapted to be located at a location selected from the group consisting of a portion of a patient's scalp and a portion of the patient's brain, the electrodes being adapted for the reception of EEG signals; a control module implanted within the human patient's body for transmitting output electrical signals from the control module to the patient's brain, responsive to input electrical signals originating in the patient's brain, the control module including electronic circuitry for processing the EEG signals; electrical conducting means for providing electrical connections between the electrodes and the electronic circuitry of the control module, said electronic circuitry of the control module, the electrical conducting means and the at least two electrodes being electrically coupled to provide a means for detecting a neurological event by the processing of at least one EEG signal received from at least one electrode, the processing including the detection of a d-c shift in the received EEG signal, the d-c shift having all of its frequency components below 0.5 Hz; and external equipment means adapted to be located external to the human patient, for providing communication between the external equipment means and the control module for receiving data transmission from the control module and detecting said neurological disorder responsive to said d-c shift in said EEG signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
234 words
A system for the detection of neurological disorders of a human patient, the system comprising: at least two brain electrodes adapted to be located at a location selected from the group consisting of a portion of a patient's scalp and a portion of the patient's brain, the electrodes being adapted for the reception of EEG signals; a control module implanted within the human patient's body for transmitting output electrical signals from the control module to the patient's brain, responsive to input electrical signals originating in the patient's brain, the control module including electronic circuitry for processing the EEG signals; electrical conducting means for providing electrical connections between the electrodes and the electronic circuitry of the control module, said electronic circuitry of the control module, the electrical conducting means and the at least two electrodes being electrically coupled to provide a means for detecting a neurological event by the processing of at least one EEG signal received from at least one electrode, the processing including the detection of a d-c shift in the received EEG signal, the d-c shift having all of its frequency components below 0.5 Hz; and external equipment means adapted to be located external to the human patient, for providing communication between the external equipment means and the control module for receiving data transmission from the control module and detecting said neurological disorder responsive to said d-c shift in said EEG signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein there are exactly two electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control module includes an outer surface having at least a portion of the outer surface being electrically conducting defining one of the electrodes, and at least one of the other electrodes being an active electrode connected to the control module by the electrical conducting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein there are at least three electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the control module includes an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface being electrically conducting and at least one of the electrodes defining an active electrode connected to the control module by the electrical conducting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein there are at least four electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the control module includes an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface being electrically conducting and constituting one of the electrodes, and at least one of the other electrodes defining an active electrode connected to the control module by the electrical conducting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode is positionally located within the brain of the human patient defining a deep electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the deep electrode is positionally located within the hippocampus region of the brain.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the deep electrode is positionally located within the thalamus region of the brain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode defines a brain surface electrode, the brain surface electrode being positionally located under the dura mater of the patient's brain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode is positionally located on an outer surface of the patient's scalp defining a scalp electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one electrode is positionally located under the dura mater of the patient's brain defining a brain surface electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least two electrodes are positionally located under the dura mater of the patient's brain defining brain surface electrodes and at least one other electrode is positionally located within the brain of the human patient defining a deep electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the brain surface electrodes are positioned within 2 centimeters of the center of an epileptic focus of an epileptic patient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control module is positionally located within the patient's chest.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the control module is positionally located under the patient's scalp.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the d-c shift detection processing is selectively programmable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the programmability includes the selection of at least one EEG signal to be processed by the electronic circuitry from the brain electrodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-09 | 2003-11-08 | 2004-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-09 | 2007-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-09 | 2011-11-08 | 2012-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |