Systems and Methods for Assessing the Effectiveness of a Therapy Including a Drug Regimen Using an Implantable Medical Device

A method for obtaining information using an implanted medical device for adjusting a drug therapy for a patient, the method comprising:

• processing and analyzing physiological data sensed from a patient with an implantable medical device having sensing module configured to receive and process the sensed physiological data, a detection module in operable communication with the sensing module and configured to analyze the sensed physiological data according to a programmed set of detection parameters to identify at least one characteristic in the sensed physiological data;
• storing in a memory of the implantable medical device characteristic information which detected event information comprises a condition corresponding to a time at which each of the at least one characteristic occurs;
• acquiring, with a control module of the implantable medical device that is selectably in operable communication with the detection module, the characteristic information;
• communicating the characteristic information to at least one component configured to remain external to the patient at all times;
• displaying to the user, using the at least one external component, at least one graphical representation relating to the characteristic information.

A method for adjusting the parameters according to which a therapy for a neurological disorder is delivered to a patient, the method comprising:

• delivering to one or more locations of interest in the patient's central nervous system with an implanted medical device according to at least one set of programmable therapy parameters, a form of therapy that, in combination with a drug therapy to which the patient is subjected independently and without use of the implantable medical device, is intended to modulate neuronal activity to achieve at least one goal of stimulation;
• monitoring with the implanted medical device physiological data acquired from one or more sensors physiological data from the patient;
• analyzing the monitored data with the implanted medical device according to at least one set of programmable detection parameters and determining with the implanted medical device whether at least one characteristic occurs;
• determining whether each of the at least one goal of stimulation is achieved;
• if each of the at least one goal of stimulation is not achieved, adjusting the at least one set of programmable therapy parameters until each of the at least one goal of stimulation is achieved or until a predetermined limit for a given programmable therapy parameter has been reached;
• wherein the form of therapy includes at least one of a drug therapy, an electrical stimulation therapy, and an optical stimulation therapy;
• wherein the at least one goal of stimulation includes one or more of a depolarization block state, an excitation state, an inhibition state, a long-term potentiation state, a long-term depression state and an increased local cerebral blood flow state;
• and
• wherein the monitored physiological data includes one or more of:
• electrographic activity sensed from neural tissue;
• neurochemical levels, neurotransmitter levels, and extracellular levels of oxygen.