Johns Hopkins University

Other

Ronald Peter Lesser

W Robert S Webber

Dale E Olsen

John A Cristion

John C Harris

W Robert Webber

Gholam K Motamedi

Robert S Webber

Yuko Mizuno-Matsumoto

A system and method for treating nausea and vomiting are provided, including one or more electrodes () applied on or under the skin, the electrodes being connected to an external current source (). The electrodes can be implanted under the skin and connect to internal stimulator electronics (), which can form a magnetic inductive link to the external current source (). Alternatively, the electrodes can be placed on the skin and directly linked by wires to the external current source. As a further alternative, the vagus nerve can be directly stimulated in the neck, or the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, or intestines can be directly stimulated by magnetic stimulation. The electrodes can stimulate the vagus nerve in the neck to reduce nausea and vomiting, or can be arranged near the chest or abdomen, so as to stimulate the esophagus, stomach, duodenum or intestines. Because the current source is provided outside the body, it is not necessary to implant batteries or another power supply in the body.

Method for treating nausea and vomiting by vagus nerve stimulation with selectable stimulation modes

A method is described which simplifies, automates and organizes the creation of notes and correspondence and also, by performing the calculations needed to determine the appropriate billing codes, provides documentation for billing purposes. It also assists the health care worker in determining the proper billing code. An embodiment of this to facilitate the creation of documents in the setting of patient care is described. The use of this for medical records is particularly of importance because of recent government (Heath Care and Finance Administration, or HCFA) regulations. The embodiment also allows one to enter information into a patient database at the same time that one is entering clinical information for the purposes of clinical care documentation. The database could be for clinical care, quality assurance, or research purposes. The embodiment describes how this can be achieved at the time that a service is delivered, for example when a health care worker sees a patient. Because the data is entered at the time of service, time is saved, and the information is more accurate. Although the embodiment describes a use in health care, this could be used in any industry. The invention allows one to enter information about patients using a combination of checklists, menus, and fill in the blank formats. The invention could use any handheld or desktop computer. Data entry also could be accomplished using scanner-enabled paper forms similar to those used by questionnaires or by tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, with the user filling in the appropriate circles or other spaces to indicate the answer.

Software device to facilitate creation of medical records, medical letters, and medical information for billing purposes

Analytical methods and devices for analyzing biological signals, for example, electrical signals from the brain to determine whether an abnormal condition caused by a medical condition exists. In one embodiment, the medical disorder may be epilepsy. The analytical methods include wavelet analysis and neighbor cross-correlation count, which is a frequency specific measure of the degree of correlation of a single channel of data with respect to its neighbors. The devices according to the invention are programmed to include the analytical methods and to administer treatment regimens such as electrical stimulation, heating, cooling and medication as needed.

Signal analysis, heat flow management, and stimulation techniques to treat medical disorders

A device and a method of use for treating a medical disorder by surgically implanting into a patient at least one sensor element capable of detecting and conveying cell signals: attaching a management unit such that a micro controller of the management unit is connected to at least one sensor element; and connecting the management unit via a lead bundle to at least one treatment device. The treatment device may be an electrical stimulation device, a magnetic stimulation device, a heat transfer device, or a medication delivery device. Responsive to signals from the one or more sensor elements, mathematical algorithms of the management unit use wavelet crosscorrelation analysis to prompt delivery of at least one treatment modality, such heat transfer, current pulses, magnetic stimulation or medication. The medical disorder may arise from the brain, central nervous system or organs and tissues outside of the central nervous system.

Techniques using heat flow management, stimulation, and signal analysis to treat medical disorders

A method of treating a brain disorder by heat transfer from brain tissue comprising the steps of surgically cutting a heat transfer aperture into a patient's skull, thereby exposing a predetermined portion of patient's brain; surgically implanting into said heat transfer aperture a heat pump having one or more electrical sensor elements and one or more temperature sensor elements; surgically implanting a heat transfer management unit in a body cavity of said patient such that a micro controller of the heat transfer management unit is connected to one or more activity sensor elements and one or more temperature sensor elements contacting brain tissue and connecting the heat transfer management unit to said heat pump via a lead bundle. Optionally, the heat transfer unit may be located external to the patient's body. Responsive to signals from one or more activity or temperature sensor elements, mathematical algorithms of the heat transfer management unit determine abnormal brain activity, causing the heat pump to remove heat from the brain tissue into a heat sink, thereby cooling the predetermined portion of the patient's brain. This technique utilizes acute hypothermia by means of a Peltier cooler or similar device to cool the brain temperature to reduce or prevent seizure initiation and/or propagation. The method may be used in association with brain stimulation and/or drug application to acutely avoid the occurrence of a seizure episode.

Technique for using heat flow management to treat brain disorders

A patient monitoring system and a method of operating same, including automatically detecting a seizure in the patient, by detecting an electrical discharge in the patient's brain; converting the detected electrical discharge into a digital signal; inputting the digital signal into a microprocessor; detecting a seizure by dividing the digital signals into time segments, preprocessing each time segment including standardizing the signal, reducing the signal in each time segment to a feature, the feature providing information about whether a seizure is occurring using the feature from each time segment; and indicating that a seizure is occurring.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Ronald Peter Lesser