# US 10,765,355 B2 · Monitoring bladder dysfunction using a probability function

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- Number: US 10,765,355 B2
- Document ID: US10765355B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/964,739
- Filed: 2018-04-27
- Published: 2019-10-31
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-27
- Assignees: Medtronic, Inc.
- Applicants: Medtronic, Inc.
- Inventors: Dwight E. Nelson; Thaddeus S. Brink; Lance Zirpel; Adam P. Steiner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765355B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/204: {Determining bladder volume}
- G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
- A61B 5/202: {Assessing bladder functions, e.g. incontinence assessment}
- A61B 5/205: {Determining bladder or urethral pressure}
- A61B 5/6874: {Bladder}
- A61B 5/7267: {involving training the classification device}
- A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control}
- A61N 1/36132: {using patient feedback}
- A61N 1/36139: {with automatic adjustment}
- A61N 1/36167: {Timing, e.g. stimulation onset}
- G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- A61B 5/391: of genito-urinary organs
- A61B 5/4836: {Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence)}
- A61N 1/0514: {Electrodes for the urinary tract}
- A61N 1/0551: {Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes}
- A61N 1/36062: {Spinal stimulation}
- A61N 1/36125: {Details of circuitry or electric components}
- A61N 1/37247: {User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means}
- G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
- G16H 50/30: for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

This disclosure describes methods, systems, and devices configured to determine a timing of a future bladder related event of a patient. For example, a system includes processing circuitry configured to identify a timing of a plurality of bladder related events of a patient, determine, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, a probability to experience a bladder related event function for the patient, the probability to experience a bladder related event function indicating a probability that the patient will experience a bladder related event at an elapsed time after a previous bladder related event, predict, based on the probability to experience a bladder related event function, a timing of a future bladder related event, and control delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future bladder related event.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
identifying a timing of a plurality of bladder related events of a patient, wherein the plurality of bladder related events comprises at least one of a voiding event or bladder related events that occurred prior to the voiding event;
determining, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, a probability to experience a bladder related event function for the patient, the probability to experience a bladder related event function indicating a probability that the patient will experience a subsequent bladder related event at an elapsed time after a previous bladder related event;
predicting, based on the probability to experience a bladder related event function, a timing of a future bladder related event, wherein the future bladder related event occurs after the voiding event; and
controlling delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future bladder related event.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the future bladder related event comprises a future void event, and wherein the probability to experience a bladder related event function comprises a probability to void function.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the probability to void function comprises an instantaneous probability to void function or a cumulative probability to void function.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising delivering the therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future void event.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein delivering the therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future void event comprises:
determining a first amount of time until the future void event;
delivering a first therapy defined by a first set of parameters to the patient based on the first amount of time until the future void event;
determining a second amount of time until the future void event; and
delivering a second therapy defined by a second set of parameters to the patient based on the second amount of time until the future void event, wherein the first amount of time is greater than the second amount of time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein delivering the therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future void event comprises:
determining a first amount of time until the future void event or related symptom;
determining a second amount of time until the future void event or related symptom, the first amount of time being greater than the second amount of time;
withholding the therapy during the first amount of time until the future void event and until the second amount of time until the future void event occurs; and
delivering the therapy to the patient during the second amount of time until the future void event.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of bladder related events comprises a first plurality of voiding events, the future void event comprises a first future void event, the therapy comprises a first therapy, and wherein the method further comprises:
after delivering the therapy to the patient, identifying a timing of a second plurality of bladder voiding events of the patient;
modifying, based on the timing of the second plurality of bladder voiding events, the probability to void function;
predicting, based on the modified probability to void function, a timing of a second future void event; and
delivering a second therapy to the patient based on the timing of the second future void event.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the probability to void function comprises a first probability to void function and the plurality of bladder related events comprises a first plurality of bladder voiding events, and wherein the method further comprises:
after delivery of the therapy to the patient, identifying a timing of a second plurality of bladder voiding events of the patient;
determining, based on the timing of the second plurality of bladder voiding events of the patient, a second probability to void function for the patient; and
determining, based on the second probability to void function, an efficacy of the therapy delivered to the patient.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein determining the efficacy of the therapy comprises at least one of:
comparing the first probability to void function to the second probability to void function; or
comparing the second probability to void function to a composite probability to void function based on a plurality of subjects.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting a urinary condition of the patient by comparing the probability to void function of the patient to a composite probability to void function based on a plurality of subjects.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein identifying the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient comprises at least one of:
receiving, via a network, user input entered by the patient via a user interface device;
receiving, via the network, pressure data from a first sensor configured to measure a pressure of the bladder of the patient;
receiving, via the network, volume data from a second sensor configured to measure a volume of the bladder of the patient; or
receiving, via the network, physical activity data from a third sensor configured to detect a physical activity of the patient.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the probability to void function of the patient comprises:
selecting a composite probability to void function based on a plurality of subjects and based on at least one of:
an age of the patient;
a gender of the patient; or
a body composition of the patient; and
modifying, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, the composite probability to void function based on the plurality of subjects to generate the probability to void function of the patient.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the probability to void function comprises determining the probability to void function based on at least one of:
a pressure of the bladder of the patient;
a volume of the bladder of the patient;
a physical activity of the patient;
a time of day;
an amount of fluid intake of the patient; or
an amount of caffeine consumed by the patient.

### Claim 14

A system comprising:
processing circuitry configured to:
identify a timing of a plurality of bladder related events of a patient, wherein the plurality of bladder related events comprises at least one of a voiding event or bladder related events that occurred prior to the voiding event;
determine, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, a probability to experience a bladder related event function for the patient, the probability to experience a bladder related event function indicating a probability that the patient will experience a subsequent bladder related event at an elapsed time after a previous bladder related event;
predict, based on the probability to experience a bladder related event function, a timing of a future bladder related event, wherein the future bladder related event occurs after the voiding event; and
control delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future bladder related event.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the future bladder related event comprises a future void event, and wherein the probability to experience a bladder related function comprises a probability to void function.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the probability to void function comprises an instantaneous probability to void function or a cumulative probability to void function.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, further comprising a stimulation delivery module configured to deliver the therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future void event.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein, to deliver the therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future void event, the processing circuitry is further configured to:
determine a first amount of time until the future void event;
deliver a first therapy defined by a first set of parameters to the patient based on the first amount of time until the future void event;
determine a second amount of time until the future void event; and
control the stimulation delivery module to deliver a second therapy defined by a second set of parameters to the patient based on the second amount of time until the future void event, wherein the first amount of time is greater than the second amount of time.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein, to deliver the therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future void event, the processing circuitry is further configured to:
determine a first amount of time until the future void event;
determine a second amount of time until the future void event, the first amount of time being greater than the second amount of time;
withhold the therapy during the first amount of time until the future void event and until the second amount of time until the future void event occurs; and
control the stimulation delivery module to deliver the therapy to the patient based on the second amount of time until the future void event.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of bladder related events comprises a first plurality of voiding events, the future void event comprises a first future void event, the therapy comprises a first therapy, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
after delivery of the therapy to the patient, identify a timing of a second plurality of bladder voiding events of the patient;
modify, based on the timing of the second plurality of bladder voiding events, the probability to void function;
predict, based on the modified probability to void function, a timing of a second future void event; and
control the stimulation delivery module to deliver a second therapy to the patient based on the timing of the second future void event.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the probability to void function comprises a first probability to void function and the plurality of bladder related events comprises a first plurality of bladder voiding events, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
after delivery of the therapy to the patient, identify a timing of a second plurality of bladder voiding events of the patient;
determine, based on the timing of the second plurality of bladder voiding events of the patient, a second probability to void function for the patient; and
determine, based on the second probability to void function, an efficacy of the therapy delivered to the patient.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein determining the efficacy of the therapy comprises at least one of:
comparing the first probability to void function to the second probability to void function; or
comparing the second probability to void function to a composite probability to void function based on a plurality of subjects.

### Claim 23 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to detect a urinary condition of the patient by comparing the probability to void function to a composite probability to void function based on a plurality of subjects.

### Claim 24 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to identify the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient by at least one of:
receiving, via a network, user input entered by the patient via a user interface device;
receiving, via the network, pressure data from a first sensor configured to measure a pressure of the bladder of the patient;
receiving, via the network, volume data from a second sensor configured to measure a volume of the bladder of the patient; or
receiving, via the network, physical activity data from a third sensor configured to detect a physical activity of the patient.

### Claim 25 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the probability to void function of the patient by:
selecting a composite probability to void function based on a plurality of subjects and based on at least one of:
an age of the patient;
a gender of the patient; or
a body composition of the patient; and
modifying, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, the composite probability to void function based on the plurality of subjects to generate the probability to void function of the patient.

### Claim 26 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the probability to void function of the patient based on at least one of:
a pressure of the bladder of the patient;
a volume of the bladder of the patient;
a physical activity of the patient;
a time of day;
an amount of fluid intake of the patient; or
an amount of caffeine consumed by the patient.

### Claim 27 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the plurality of bladder related events of the patient.

### Claim 28 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, further comprising an implantable medical device comprising the processing circuitry.

### Claim 29

A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, causes processing circuitry to:
identify a timing of a plurality of bladder related events of a patient, wherein the plurality of bladder related events comprises at least one of a voiding event or bladder related events that occurred prior to the voiding event;
determine, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, a probability to experience a bladder related event function for the patient, the probability to experience a bladder related event function indicating a probability that the patient will experience a subsequent bladder related event at an elapsed time after a previous bladder related event;
predict, based on the probability to experience a bladder related event function, a timing of a future bladder related event, wherein the future bladder related event occurs after the voiding event; and
control delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future bladder related event.