Methods and systems to diagnose depression

Inventors

Liao, Wangcai

Assignees

Livanova USA Inc

Abstract

A system includes one or more memory devices having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including calculating a depression detection value based in part on a first depression-indicative value based on a first body parameter value, a second depression-indicative value based on a second body parameter value, and a weighting applied to at least one of the first depression-indicative value and the second depression-indicative value, comparing the depression detection value to a first threshold and a second threshold that is different from the first threshold to detect an onset of a depression episode, and initiating neurostimulation therapy by one or more electrodes responsive to detecting the onset of the depression episode.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a cranial-nerve stimulation system for depression that computes depression-indicative values from a first body parameter value and a second body parameter value using one or more sensors. The system calculates a depression detection value based in part on the first depression-indicative value, the second depression-indicative value, and a weighting applied to at least one of the depression-indicative values.

The system detects depression episode onset by comparing the depression detection value to a first threshold and a second threshold that is different from the first threshold. The description includes different thresholds for onset versus offset and logic for updating a depression state using onset and offset values with hysteresis, together with a weighted sum depression detection value and normalization.

After onset is detected, the system initiates neurostimulation therapy by one or more electrodes responsive to the detecting of the onset of the depression episode, with the therapy described as cranial nerve stimulation. The patent also describes closed-loop therapy based on detected onset, with options for open-loop therapy that is scheduled, and can adjust the weighting based on contradictory patient/clinical input indicating a different depression state.

Claims Coverage

Independent claim coverage includes three independent claim types (system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium) that share the same core inventive pattern: calculate a depression detection value from first and second depression-indicative values derived from first and second body parameter values using a weighting; compare the depression detection value to two different thresholds to detect onset; and initiate neurostimulation therapy via one or more electrodes responsive to onset detection.

Across the independent claims, the inventive concept is directed to weighted calculation of a depression detection value from two body-parameter-derived depression-indicative values, threshold-based onset detection using two different thresholds, and initiation of neurostimulation therapy via electrodes responsive to the detected onset.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications