System for Deep Brain Stimulation Employing a Sensor for Monitoring Patient Movement and Providing Closed Loop Control

摘要

A closed loop system is disclosed for monitoring patient movements, such as tremors, and for automatically controlling an implantable stimulator device on the basis of the detected movements. The system includes a motion sensor such as a wearable item that contains an accelerometer to monitor a patient's movements, such as a ring locatable proximate to a patient's hand tremor. The motion sensor periodically transmits a feedback signal to the implantable stimulator device instructing it to change the stimulation parameters, such as current amplitude, in an attempt to reduce the tremor. The motion sensor can additionally communicate with other system components such as an external controller. In a preferred embodiment, the motion sensor and the implantable stimulator device communicate using short range electromagnetic radio waves.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
an implantable medical device configured to provide therapy to a patient experiencing patient tremor; and at least one motion sensor, wherein the at least one motion sensor is configured to determine an amplitude and a frequency of patient movements and to transmit one or more feedback signals to the implantable medical device based on the amplitude and the frequency of the patient movements, wherein the implantable medical device is further configured to receive the one or more feedback signals and to adjust the therapy being provided to the patient based on the one or more feedback signals.