Methods, systems and apparatuses for detecting increased risk of sudden death
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Publication Number
US-11596314-B2
Publication Date
2023-03-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for detecting seizure events are disclosed, including a system for identification of an increased risk of a severe neurological event. The system may include an electroencephalogram (“EEG”) monitoring unit configured to collect EEG data from the patient during at least a postictal phase or one or more seizures and a processing unit configured to receive the EEG data from the EEG monitoring unit. The processing unit is configured to detect postictal EEG suppression from the EEG data and to identify the increased risk of the severe neurological event based on the detected postictal EEG suppression. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to techniques and systems for identification of an increased risk of a severe neurological event by using electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring during a postictal phase of each of one or more seizures. A processing unit receives EEG data from one or more EEG sensors adapted to sense neurological activity of a patient, and detects at least one postictal EEG suppression period when the EEG data crosses an EEG threshold for at least a predetermined time period. The increased risk is then identified based on the detected at least one postictal suppression period.
The invention further combines the EEG suppression detection with postictal physiological measurements. The processing unit receives at least one of respiratory data during at least the postictal phase from one or more respiration sensors, or electrocardiogram (EKG) data during at least the postictal phase from one or more EKG sensors, and detects that at least one of a respiration of the patient has fallen below a first threshold or an EKG measurement of the patient has fallen below a second threshold. The increased risk is identified based on both the EEG suppression period and the threshold-based respiratory/EKG drop.
In response to identifying the increased risk, the processing unit provides at least one of an alert indicating the increased risk or a stimulation to the patient to assist in preventing the severe neurological event. The document ties the detection framework to increased risk of severe neurological events, including sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP), and discusses postictal timing relationships among seizure phases and postictal physiological states in relation to EEG suppression and postictal apnea/hypoxia/bradycardia.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00011, and clm-00020. Across these independent claims, the inventive features consistently include receiving EEG during at least a postictal phase, detecting at least one postictal EEG suppression period when EEG crosses an EEG threshold for at least a predetermined time period, detecting postictal respiratory threshold fall and/or EKG threshold fall, identifying increased risk, and providing an alert and/or stimulation responsive to that identification.
Postictal EEG threshold crossing suppression period detection
The processing unit detects, from the EEG data, at least one postictal EEG suppression period, wherein a postictal EEG suppression period is detected when the EEG data crosses an EEG threshold for at least a predetermined time period.
Postictal respiration/EKG threshold fall detection
The processing unit detects, from the at least one of the respiratory data or the EKG data, that at least one of a respiration of the patient has fallen below a first threshold or an EKG measurement of the patient has fallen below a second threshold.
Increased risk identification using combined EEG suppression and threshold fall
The processing unit identifies the increased risk of the severe neurological event based on the detected at least one postictal suppression period and the at least one of the respiration falling below the first threshold or the EKG measurement falling below the second threshold.
Responsive alert or patient stimulation
The processing unit provides, responsive to identifying the increased risk of the severe neurological event, at least one of an alert indicating the increased risk of the severe neurological event of the patient or a stimulation to the patient to assist in preventing the severe neurological event.
Monitoring system with dedicated EEG monitoring and processing
The system includes an EEG monitoring unit configured to receive EEG data generated by one or more EEG sensors during at least a postictal phase of each of one or more seizures, at least one of a respiration monitoring unit or an EKG monitoring unit for receiving corresponding postictal physiological data, and a processing unit configured to receive the EEG data and at least one of the respiratory data or the EKG data, detect the postictal EEG suppression period, detect the respiratory/EKG threshold fall, identify increased risk, and provide at least one of an alert or a stimulation.
Overall, the independent claims provide coverage for a system and corresponding method that identifies increased risk by detecting postictal EEG suppression periods via EEG threshold crossing for a predetermined time period, correlating that suppression detection with postictal respiration falling below a first threshold and/or EKG measurement falling below a second threshold, and responding to that identification with an alert and/or patient stimulation to assist in preventing the severe neurological event.
Stated Advantages
Enables identification of an increased risk of a severe neurological event using postictal EEG suppression together with postictal respiratory and/or EKG threshold information.
Provides at least one of an alert indicating the increased risk or a stimulation to the patient to assist in preventing the severe neurological event.
Documented Applications
Identification of increased risk for sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) using postictal EEG suppression detection combined with postictal respiration and/or EKG threshold falls.
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