Methods and systems for managing epilepsy and other neurological disorders

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for managing epilepsy. In one embodiment, a method of the present invention characterize a patient's propensity for a future epileptic seizure and communicates to the patient and/or a health care provider a therapy recommendation. The therapy recommendation is typically a function of the patient's propensity for the future epileptic seizure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of monitoring a patient, the method comprising:
 performing a first measuring step, the first measuring step comprising using a processor to determine a first neural state measurement;   outputting a first therapy recommendation, wherein the first therapy recommendation is selected from a plurality of therapy recommendations based on the first neural state measurement determined in the first measuring step;   performing a second measuring step after said first measuring step, the second measuring step comprising using the processor to determine a second neural state measurement; and   outputting to the patient and/or a health care provider a second therapy recommendation, wherein the second therapy recommendation is different from the first therapy recommendation and is selected from the plurality of therapy recommendations based on the second neural state measurement determined in the second measuring step.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first measuring step further comprises comparing the first neural state measurement with a threshold and wherein the second measuring step further comprises comparing the second neural state measurement with the threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a heart rate signal of the patient is used to determine at least one of the first neural state measurement and the second neural state measurement.