1. An active implantable medical device configured to receive and process electrographic signals sensed from a patient and to identify a neurological event of interest, the active implantable medical device comprising: at least one sensing channel providing signals representing data acquired from the patient and each at least one sensing channel configurable to comprise a signal input to at least one detection channel; each of the at least one detection channels configured to provide at least one output resulting from the application of at least one detection tool, the at least one output in the form of a discrete signal event that comprises at least one input to a state machine; a state machine configured to receive the at least one input and to have a plurality of possible states including an initial state and at least two noninitial possible states, at least one possible discrete signal event input that will cause a transition out of the initial state into one of the at least two noninitial possible states, such that each of the noninitial possible states is characterized by: at least one possible discrete signal event input, at least two possible transitions out of the noninitial possible state; if and when the at least one possible discrete signal event input occurs; and a value for a timeout variable for the possible state such that, whether the value for the timeout variable is exceeded will determine which of the at least two possible transitions out of the noninitial possible state occurs; wherein the state machine is further configured so that one of the at least two possible transitions out of one of the noninitial possible states corresponds to identifying a neurological event of interest.