Implantable neurostimulator having a data communication link

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for treating a neurological disorder in a patient, the system comprising: 
 a control module adapted to be implanted in the patient, wherein the control module includes a data communication subsystem; and    external equipment comprising an external data interface and a physician's workstation connected to communicate through the external data interface;    wherein the data communication subsystem and the external data interface cooperatively enable a bi-directional communication data link between the control module and the external apparatus; and    wherein the physician's workstation is adapted to exchange data with the control module.    
     
     
         2 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 1 , wherein the physician's workstation is adapted to retrieve EEG data from the control module.  
     
     
         3 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 2 , wherein the physician's workstation is further adapted to display data representative of the EEG data.  
     
     
         4 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is adapted to detect and store neurological events, and wherein the physician's workstation is further adapted to retrieve a history of detected neurological events from the control module.  
     
     
         5 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 4 , wherein the physician's workstation is further adapted to display data representative of the history of detected neurological events.  
     
     
         6 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 1 , wherein the physician's workstation is further adapted to transmit a programmable parameter to the control module.  
     
     
         7 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 1 , wherein the physician's workstation is further adapted to transmit a software update to the control module.  
     
     
         8 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 1 , wherein the data communication subsystem includes a first antenna comprising a first coil of wire and the external data interface includes a second antenna comprising a second coil of wire.  
     
     
         9 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 8 , wherein the bi-directional communication data link comprises a wireless data link.  
     
     
         10 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 8 , wherein the bi-directional communication data link comprises an RF data link.  
     
     
         11 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 8 , wherein the bi-directional communication data link comprises an inductive data link.  
     
     
         12 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 1 , wherein the physician's workstation is connected to the external data interface by a serial data link.  
     
     
         13 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 1 , wherein the external data interface includes a first modem, the physician's workstation includes a second modem, and the physician's workstation is connected to the external data interface by a trans-telephonic data link.  
     
     
         14 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 13 , physician's workstation is located at a position remote from the external data interface and the control module.  
     
     
         15 . A system for treating a neurological disorder in a patient, the system comprising: 
 a control module adapted to be implanted in the patient, wherein the control module includes a data communication subsystem; and    external equipment comprising an external data interface and a patient's initiating device connected to communicate through the external data interface;    wherein the data communication subsystem and the external data interface cooperatively enable a data link from the external apparatus to the control module; and    wherein the patient's initiating device is adapted to receive a command from the patient and transmit a command signal representative of the command to the control module.    
     
     
         16 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 15 , wherein the control module is programmed to perform an action in response to the command signal.  
     
     
         17 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 16 , wherein the command indicates that the patient has perceived a neurological event, and wherein the action comprises initiating a therapeutic response to the neurological event perceived by the patient.  
     
     
         18 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 17 , wherein the action comprises delivering an electrical stimulation signal to a brain of the patient.  
     
     
         19 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 15 , wherein the action comprises storing EEG data in a buffer of the control module for later retrieval.  
     
     
         20 . The system for treating a neurological disorder of  claim 15 , wherein the action comprises deactivating the control module.