Method and system for logging quantitative seizure information and assessing efficacy of therapy using cardiac signals

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing and logging changes in brain state of a subject for administering therapy to the subject based on the at least one cardiac signal wherein the system and method comprises the steps of receiving at least one cardiac signal of the subject into a processor, analyzing the cardiac signal to detect at least one cardiac signal change indicative of a brain state change, and logging at least one characteristic of the detected signal change or brain state change.

1 . A method of detecting and logging a non-induced seizure event, comprising:
 receiving a cardiac signal of a patient into a processor;   determining via the processor a first cardiac parameter based on the received cardiac signal;   detecting a non-induced seizure based on the first cardiac parameter;   determining via the processor at least one seizure characteristic, wherein the seizure characteristic is different from the first cardiac parameter; and   logging the at least one seizure characteristic in a memory.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cardiac parameter is a parameter indicative of at least one of: a change in heart rate; a change in heart rate variability; or a change in an acoustic property of at least one heart beat. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seizure characteristic comprises at least one of:
 a date and a time of an occurrence of the seizure;   a start time of the seizure;   an end time of the seizure;   a duration of the seizure;   an intensity of the seizure;   a severity of the seizure;   a degree of spread of the seizure in a brain of the patient; or   a fraction of time spent in the seizure over a moving time window.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 logging at least a time of an occurrence for at least two seizure events; and   determining, based on the logging of the at least two seizure events, a seizure frequency.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an electrocardiogram (“EKG”) signal;   receiving a phonocardiogram (“PKG”) signal when the EKG signal-to-noise ratio is below a predetermined number; and   wherein the determining the first cardiac parameter is based on the EKG signal and on the PKG signal when the EKG signal-to-noise ratio is below the predetermined number.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing an action in response to detecting the seizure, wherein the action is at least one of:
 providing a warning signal of the seizure; 
 providing a warning signal of a detected arrhythmia; 
 providing a therapy to treat the seizure utilizing a heart pacing procedure, stimulating a brain of the patient, stimulating a heart of the patient, or stimulating a vagus nerve; 
 displaying the at least one seizure characteristic; and 
 assessing an efficacy of a patient therapy. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 administering a therapy in response to detecting the epileptic seizure based on the cardiac signal change;   receiving a second cardiac signal of the patient into the processor, after detecting the epileptic seizure and administering the therapy;   determining a second cardiac signal change based on the received second cardiac signal;   assessing at least one of an efficacy of the therapy and an occurrence of a side effect based on the cardiac signal change and the second cardiac signal change; and   logging information corresponding to at least one of the efficacy of the therapy and the occurrence of the side effect into the memory.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising communicating at least one of the logged information corresponding to the efficacy of the therapy and the occurrence of the side effect to the external device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein administering the therapy comprises applying an electrical signal to a vagus nerve of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second cardiac signal is at least one of an electrocardiogram signal and a phonocardiogram signal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising modifying at least one of the therapy and at least one stimulation parameter based on at least one of a determination that the therapy is not efficacious and a side effect determination. 
     
     
         12 . A method of detecting and logging an epileptic seizure event via a medical system comprising:
 receiving a cardiac signal of a patient into a processor of the medical system;   detecting via the processor of the medical system a cardiac signal change associated with an epileptic seizure;   determining via the processor of the medical system an epileptic seizure characteristic where the epileptic seizure characteristic is at least one of an intensity, a duration, a severity, an extent of spread, a date, and a time of an occurrence of the epileptic seizure;   logging the epileptic seizure characteristic in a memory;   transferring to an external device the logged epileptic seizure characteristic;   administering a therapy in response to detecting the epileptic seizure based on the cardiac signal change;   receiving a second cardiac signal of the patient into the processor, after detecting the epileptic seizure and administering the therapy;   determining a second cardiac signal change based on the received second cardiac signal; and   assessing at least one of an efficacy of the therapy and an occurrence of a side effect based on the cardiac signal change and the second cardiac signal change.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising logging information corresponding to at least one of the efficacy of the therapy and the occurrence of the side effect into the memory. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising classifying the epileptic event as one of a partial seizure and a generalized seizure based on the cardiac signal change.