Contingent cardio-protection for epilepsy patients

A method of treating a medical condition in a patient using an implantable medical device, the implantable medical device including a first electrode coupled to a first cranial nerve structure and a second electrode coupled to a second cranial nerve structure, the method comprising:

• receiving via one or more processors of a medical device at least one of a kinetic signal indicative of a patient's kinetic activity and a cardiac signal indicative of a patient's cardiac activity;
• determining via the one or more processors of the medical device at least one of a kinetic feature from the kinetic signal and a cardiac feature from the cardiac signal;
• detecting via the one or more processors of the medical device an onset of a seizure based on the at least one of a change in the kinetic feature and a change in the cardiac feature;
• classifying an occurrence of the seizure, based at least in part on the kinetic feature or the cardiac feature;
• and
• based on at least one of:
• a detection of an impending seizure and the onset of the seizure;
• providing a first electrical signal to the first cranial nerve structure of the patient using a first polarity configuration, the first electrical signal is configured to induce action potentials in the first cranial nerve structure, wherein a charge accumulates as a result of the first electrical signal;
• switching from the first polarity configuration to a second polarity configuration upon termination of the first electrical signal;
• providing a second electrical signal to the second cranial nerve structure in the second polarity configuration, the second electrical signal is configured to induce action potentials in the second cranial nerve structure where at least a portion of the second electrical signal comprises the accumulated charge from the first electrical signal;
• wherein the classification includes determining that the occurrence of the seizure is:
• an epileptic seizure or a non-epileptic seizure;
• a partial seizure or a partial complex seizure;
• and a partial seizure or a generalized seizure.

A system using an implantable medical device, the implantable medical device including a first electrode coupled to a first cranial nerve structure and a second electrode coupled to a second cranial nerve structure, comprising:

• at least one first sensor configured to receive a signal relating to a dermal activity from a patient,
• at least one second sensor configured to receive at least one of a signal relating to a cardiac activity from the patient or a signal relating to a body movement from the patient,
• a feature determination unit configured to determine a dermal activity feature from the signal relating to the dermal activity, and at least one of a cardiac activity feature from the signal relating to the cardiac activity and a kinetic activity feature from the signal relating to the kinetic activity,
• a detection unit configured to receive the dermal activity feature, and at least one of the cardiac activity feature and the kinetic activity feature, from the feature determination unit and determine an onset of an seizure based upon the received activity features;
• an action unit configured to receive an indication of an occurrence of the seizure from the detection unit and perform an assessment of an awareness or responsiveness of the patient during the seizure and at least one of:
• logging the occurrence of the seizure;
• logging a time of the occurrence of the seizure;
• logging a date of the occurrence of the seizure;
• providing at least one of a warning, an alarm or an alert to the patient, a caregiver or a health care provider;
• providing a therapy to prevent, abort, reduce a severity, or reduce a duration of the seizure;
• assessing a severity of the seizure;
• determining an end of the seizure;
• determining a beginning of a post-ictal period;
• determining an end of the post-ictal period;
• and assessing a patient's post-ictal impairment or recovery from the seizure;
• a classification unit configured to determine that the occurrence of the seizure is:
• an epileptic seizure or a non-epileptic seizure;
• a partial seizure or a partial complex seizure;
• and a partial seizure or a generalized seizure;
• and
• a signal generator configured to:
• providing a first electrical signal to the first cranial nerve structure of the patient using a first polarity configuration, the first electrical signal is configured to induce action potentials in the first cranial nerve structure, wherein a charge accumulates as a result of the first electrical signal;
• switching from the first polarity configuration to a second polarity configuration upon termination of the first electrical signal;
• providing a second electrical signal to the second cranial nerve structure in the second polarity configuration, the second electrical signal is configured to induce action potentials in the second cranial nerve structure where at least a portion of the second electrical signal comprises the accumulated charge from the first electrical signal.