Techniques using heat flow management, stimulation, and signal analysis to treat medical disorders

Abstract

A device and method of use for treating a medical disorder by surgically implanting into a patient at least one sensor element capable of detecting and conveying cell signals; attaching a management unit such that a micro controller of the management unit is connected to at least one sensor element; and connecting the management unit via a lead bundle to at least one treatment device. The treatment device may be an electrical stimulation device, a magnetic stimulation device, a heat transfer device, or a medication delivery device. Responsive to signals from the one or more sensor elements, mathematical algorithms of the management unit use wavelet crosscorrelation analysis to prompt delivery of at least one treatment modality, such heat transfer, current pulses, magnetic stimulation or medication. The medical disorder may arise from the brain, central nervous system or organs and tissues outside of the central nervous system.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . A method of treating epilepsy, comprising: 
 monitoring at least one sensor that detects electrical activity in the brain;    performing a wavelet cross-correlation analysis on data obtained from said monitoring to determine whether an epileptic seizure is likely to occur or to determine whether one or more treatments selected from the group consisting of electrical stimulation, heating, cooling, and medicament is likely to prevent or abort epileptic seizure activity; and    if the wavelet cross-correlation analysis indicates that one or more of said treatments is likely to prevent or abort epileptic seizure activity, administering the treatments.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more treatments comprise pulses of electrical stimulation.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the pulses of electrical stimulation are administered so as to maintain charge balance.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the medicament is a member selected from the group consisting of drugs, electrolytes, and fluids.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the drugs are selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids, hormones, hydantoins, deoxybarbiturates, benzodiazepines, glutamate receptor agonists, glutamate receptor antagonists, γ-aminobutyric acid receptor agonists, γ-aminobutyric acid receptor antagonists, dopamine receptor agonists, dopamine receptor antagonists, drugs affecting NMDA receptors, drugs affecting AMPA receptors, drugs affecting metabotropic receptors, and anesthetics.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more treatments comprise electrical stimulation in combination with cooling.  
   
   
       41 . A method of analyzing brain activity, comprising: 
 monitoring at least one sensor that detects electrical activity in the brain;    performing a wavelet cross-correlation analysis on data obtained from said monitoring; and    based on the wavelet cross-correlation analysis, predicting when abnormal electrical activity will occur.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the abnormal electrical activity represents epileptic seizure activity.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising, based on the wavelet cross-correlation analysis, determining where the abnormal electrical activity originates in the brain.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising, based on the wavelet cross-correlation analysis, determining the direction of propagation of the abnormal electrical activity.  
   
   
       45 . A method of treating a medical disorder, comprising: 
 monitoring at least one sensor that senses physiological activity in one or more organs or organ systems;    performing a wavelet cross-correlation analysis on data obtained from said monitoring to determine whether an abnormal state caused by the medical disorder exists, said wavelet cross-correlation analysis comprising: 
 performing a wavelet transform on data obtained from said monitoring to generate wavelet-transformed data, and  
 performing a cross-correlation analysis on said wavelet-transforrned data; and  
   if the abnormal state exists, administering one or more treatments selected from the group consisting of electrical stimulation, heating, cooling, and medicament to the one or more affected organs.