Abstract: A medical device system that includes a brain stimulating element, cardiac monitoring element and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a brain stimulation signal from the brain stimulating element and a cardiac signal from the cardiac monitoring element. The processor is further configured to determine at least one reference point for a stimulation event time period by evaluation of the brain stimulation signal. The processor further identifies a first portion of the cardiac signal based on the at least one reference point of the stimulation event time period.

Abstract: A medical device system and method for monitoring cardiac signal activity in patients with nervous system disorders. In some embodiments, a brain signal and a cardiac signal are received by a processor, brain events are identified in the brain signal, and the brain events are used to identify portions of the cardiac signal. In some embodiments, Event portions of the cardiac signal are identified corresponding to brain event time periods, and Inter-event portions are identified corresponding to time periods between brain events. An Inter-event heart-rate variability (HRV) calculation is performed using Inter-event portions of the cardiac signal, and an output of the medical device system is modified based upon the calculated Inter-event HRV according to certain embodiments of the invention. An Event HRV may also be calculated according to certain embodiments, and an output modified based on comparisons of the Event HRV to the Inter-event HRV, for example.