Apparatus, systems and methods for the treatment of neurological conditions

Abstract

Various embodiments described herein provide an apparatus system, and method for detecting and treating various neurological events or conditions such as epilepsy and migraine headaches which are associated with cortical spreading depression (CSD). Also, many embodiments provide an apparatus, system and method for delivery of a drug such as a loop diuretic to prevent or reduce the duration of a seizure or other event associated with CSD. The drug may delivered intra-cranially in a dose selected to produce a localized effect in the brain to prevent or reduce the duration of the seizure or other event while minimizing adverse peripheral effects such as diuresis or electrolyte loss.

1 . A method for preventing or treating an epileptic seizure in a patient, the method comprising:
 detecting a seizure event in the patient's brain; and   delivering intra-cranially to the patient's brain, a dose of loop diuretic compound to prevent or reduce a duration of the epileptic seizure, wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound is titrated based on a volume of the patient's brain.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound is below a threshold to cause a significant increase in diuresis. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound is below a threshold to cause a significant decrease in an electrolyte level of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound causes no more than a 5% decrease in a plasma concentration of potassium or sodium levels of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the loop diuretic compound comprises furosemide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the furosemide in the loop diuretic compound is ten times less than that which causes a significant increase in diuresis. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound prevents or slows cortical spreading depression within the patient's brain. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound blocks or slows ion flux within the patient's brain. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound blocks or slows an ion pump co-transporter within glial cells of the patient's brain. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dose of loop diuretic compound is delivered into a ventricle in the patient's brain. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dose of loop diuretic compound is delivered in a solid form which dissolves in the patient's brain. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dose of loop diuretic compound is further titrated based on at least one of the patient's weight, age, type of epilepsy or frequency of epileptic seizures. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the seizure event includes using a plurality of electrodes having an orthogonal orientation with respect to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the dose of loop diuretic compound comprises delivering a first dose and a second dose of the loop diuretic compound. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second dose corresponds to a maintenance dose selected to prevent a re-occurrence of the seizure event. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound does not cause a significant physiological peripheral effect. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the significant physiologic peripheral effect comprises an increase of more than 5% in a rate of urine production of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the significant physiologic peripheral effect comprises a decrease of more than 5% in a plasma concentration of potassium or sodium levels of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the seizure event further includes generating a detection score. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the delivered dose of the loop diuretic compound is based, at least in part, on the detection score.