System and method for neurostimulation

Abstract

A brain stimulation method and system are provided, wherein neuronal signals of a patient are continuously sensed by at least one sensor device and based on the sensed signals, stimulation signals are applied to the patient by at least one stimulation device, wherein the sensed signals are transmitted to a body-external, portable processing device wherein the sensed signals are evaluated, and based on the evaluated signals stimulation control signals are generated and transmitted to the stimulation device where based on the stimulation control signals the stimulation signals are generated.

1 . A brain stimulation system, comprising:
 at least one implantable sensor device which is adapted for being placed into a brain cavity of a patient, and for sensing neuronal signals of the patient, at least one neuronal stimulation device which is adapted for being placed into the brain cavity, and for applying stimulation signals to the patient, an implant control unit which is connectable with the at least one neuronal sensor device and the at least one neuronal stimulation device, and which is adapted for receiving the sensed neuronal signals from the at least one sensor device, and for generating the stimulation signals and applying the stimulation signals to the at least one stimulation device on the basis of control signals, and which comprises means for continuously sending and receiving signals via a data link, in particular via a wireless data link,   a body-external, portable processing device which is adapted for being worn by the patient and for being coupled with the implant control unit via the data link, in particular via the wireless data link, the portable processing unit being further adapted for receiving signals from the implant control unit, for storing the received signals, and for generating the control signals based on the signals received from the implant control unit, and for sending the generated control signals via the data link, in particular via the wireless data link, to the implant control unit.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: at least one sensor device for sensing body-external signals, the sensor device being adapted for being coupled with the body-external, portable processing device and for transmitting the sensed signals to the body-external, portable processing device 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body-external, portable processing device comprises means for storing the signals received during a predetermined time span, and is further adapted to generate the stimulation control signals on the basis of the plurality of stored signals. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body-external, portable processing device is further adapted for creating time stamp information and for associating the time stamp information with the signals received from the implant control unit, and for storing the associated time stamp information) in association with the received signals, the time stamp information being representative of the point in time of associating the time stamp information with the received signal. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body-external, portable processing device is adapted for continuously receiving and evaluating the sensor signals, and continuously generating and continuously feeding back the control signals to the stimulation device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body-external, portable processing device further comprises means for connecting to a local communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implant control unit is implantable into the patient's body. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implant control unit is adapted for generating the stimulation signals on the basis of predefined parameters, the predefined parameters being determined and delivered by the body-external, portable processing device along with the control signals. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body-external, portable processing device is further adapted to generate the stimulation control signals as a predetermined function of the signals sensed by the at least on sensor device, whereby the function is adapted over time, preferably by changing weighting factors of the signals sensed by the at least on sensor device and/or by modifying the functional relationship of the signal sensed by the at least on sensor device. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising program code for performing, when loaded into a computer system, a brain stimulation method, wherein neuronal signals of a patient are continuously sensed by at least one sensor device and based on the sensed signals, stimulation signals are applied to the patient by at least one stimulation device,
 wherein the sensed signals are transmitted to a body-external, portable processing device wherein the sensed signals are evaluated, and based on the evaluated signals, stimulation control signals are generated and transmitted to the stimulation device where based on the stimulation control signals the stimulation signals are generated.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the stimulation control signals are generated on the basis of a plurality of signals sensed during a predetermined time span, the plurality of signals being stored in the body-external, portable processing device, and, preferably in real-time, the following steps are performed:
 the sensed signals are continuously transmitted to the body-external, portable processing device, wherein the sensed signals are continuously evaluated, and based on the evaluated signals, the stimulation control signals are continuously generated and continuously fed back to the stimulation device.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the stimulation signal is a single impulsion of maximal strength, and the sensed signals are recorded. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the sensed signals are associated with time stamp information, the time stamp information being representative of the point in time when the signals are sensed. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein adaptation of the brain to the stimulation signals is determined by the body-external, portable processing device based on the signals received from the least one sensor device, and upon determination of the adaptation, the stimulation control signals are modified. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the stimulation control signals are generated by the body-external, portable processing device as a predetermined function of the signals sensed by the at least on sensor device, whereby the function is adapted over time, preferably by changing weighting factors of the signals sensed by the at least on sensor device and/or by modifying the functional relationship of the signal sensed by the at least on sensor device.