Chronic pain management can be achieved by electrically anesthetizing a peripheral nerve with on-demand electrical nerve block (OD-ENB). OD-ENB can be provided by an implantable capsule. Externally, at least a portion of the capsule can be constructed of a conductive membrane and the rest of the capsule comprises a biocompatible material. A blocking electrode contact, a return electrode contact, and a powering/communication component can be within the capsule. The blocking electrode contact can deliver a direct current (DC) through a portion of the conductive membrane to block conduction in the neural tissue to provide the OD-ENB. The return electrode contact can receive a return current from the neural tissue through another portion of the conductive membrane. The powering/communication component can communicate with one or more external components located external to the patient's body to receive a power signal. Notably the capsule has no internal battery.

Chronic pain management can be achieved by electrically anesthetizing a peripheral nerve with on-demand electrical nerve block (OD-ENB). OD-ENB can be provided by an implantable capsule. Externally, at least a portion of the capsule can be constructed of a conductive membrane and the rest of the capsule comprises a biocompatible material. A blocking electrode contact, a return electrode contact, and a powering/communication component can be within the capsule. The blocking electrode contact can deliver a direct current (DC) through a portion of the conductive membrane to block conduction in the neural tissue to provide the OD-ENB. The return electrode contact can receive a return current from the neural tissue through another portion of the conductive membrane. The powering/communication component can communicate with one or more external components located external to the patient's body to receive a power signal. Notably the capsule has no internal battery.

A cosmetic method for treating a skin of a person is presented, the method comprises inserting one or more needles to one or more depths into the skin of the person such that at least a tip of at least one needle of the one or more needles is deployed within a muscle layer of the person's skin; applying a negative DC voltage to the one or more needles, while a skin of the person is in contact with a positive electrode to form one or more closed circuits of DC current through the person's body; and providing the DC current for a pre-selected amount of time to damage and/or ablate muscles and/or muscle nerve cells in the muscle layer; thereby providing a skin treatment comprising reducing and/or smoothing wrinkles from the person's skin.

A cosmetic method for treating a skin of a person is presented, the method comprises inserting one or more needles to one or more depths into the skin of the person such that at least a tip of at least one needle of the one or more needles is deployed within a muscle layer of the person's skin; applying a negative DC voltage to the one or more needles, while a skin of the person is in contact with a positive electrode to form one or more closed circuits of DC current through the person's body; and providing the DC current for a pre-selected amount of time to damage and/or ablate muscles and/or muscle nerve cells in the muscle layer; thereby providing a skin treatment comprising reducing and/or smoothing wrinkles from the person's skin.

An apparatus for use with a needle electrode assembly used to disrupt biofilm from an implanted metallic object, such as a replacement orthopedic appliance, includes a body that retains the needle electrode assembly including a projecting needle portion projecting from a lower end of the body. A needle adjustment mechanism enables the length of the projecting needle portion to be adjusted, the needle adjustment mechanism including a spring element within the apparatus body and attached to the needle electrode assembly. The spring element has a substantially nonvariable spring constant such that constant pressure is applied to the needle electrode irrespective of the length of the needle electrode to be brought into contact with the skin of a subject and implanted metallic object, once released by the needle adjustment mechanism. The apparatus includes a plurality of supports that enable the apparatus to be attached to the skin of a subject during treatment wherein a retraction mechanism enables the needle to be withdrawn into the apparatus and a locking mechanism enables safe encapsulation and retention of the needle within the apparatus after treatment.

An apparatus for use with a needle electrode assembly used to disrupt biofilm from an implanted metallic object, such as a replacement orthopedic appliance, includes a body that retains the needle electrode assembly including a projecting needle portion projecting from a lower end of the body. A needle adjustment mechanism enables the length of the projecting needle portion to be adjusted, the needle adjustment mechanism including a spring element within the apparatus body and attached to the needle electrode assembly. The spring element has a substantially nonvariable spring constant such that constant pressure is applied to the needle electrode irrespective of the length of the needle electrode to be brought into contact with the skin of a subject and implanted metallic object, once released by the needle adjustment mechanism. The apparatus includes a plurality of supports that enable the apparatus to be attached to the skin of a subject during treatment wherein a retraction mechanism enables the needle to be withdrawn into the apparatus and a locking mechanism enables safe encapsulation and retention of the needle within the apparatus after treatment.

This invention relates to devices and methods for the electrochemical removal of unwanted deposits in humans and animals, or for prevention of bone loss following implantation of metal and other surgical materials in the body. A selected voltage is applied using direct current and an electrode to discourage growth or remove deposits, including bone spurs, and may be applied using microneedles in skin contact with a human or animal.

This invention relates to devices and methods for the electrochemical removal of unwanted deposits in humans and animals, or for prevention of bone loss following implantation of metal and other surgical materials in the body. A selected voltage is applied using direct current and an electrode to discourage growth or remove deposits, including bone spurs, and may be applied using microneedles in skin contact with a human or animal.

A method and device for modulating the autonomic nervous system adjacent a pericardial space to treat cardiac arrhythmia includes a treatment source arranged to supply a treatment medium, a catheter having an end sized for insertion into the pericardial space, a medium delivery assembly having a distal end arranged to be positioned by the catheter into the pericardium, with the distal end of the delivery assembly comprising a delivery tip arranged to extend away from the distal end of the catheter into the pericardial space. A connector operatively couples the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly to the treatment source, and the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly including a plurality of delivery points for delivering the treatment medium at a plurality of treatment areas within the pericardial space. The device performs modulation or ablation of the autonomic nervous system at selected treatment areas within the pericardium.

A method and device for modulating the autonomic nervous system adjacent a pericardial space to treat cardiac arrhythmia includes a treatment source arranged to supply a treatment medium, a catheter having an end sized for insertion into the pericardial space, a medium delivery assembly having a distal end arranged to be positioned by the catheter into the pericardium, with the distal end of the delivery assembly comprising a delivery tip arranged to extend away from the distal end of the catheter into the pericardial space. A connector operatively couples the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly to the treatment source, and the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly including a plurality of delivery points for delivering the treatment medium at a plurality of treatment areas within the pericardial space. The device performs modulation or ablation of the autonomic nervous system at selected treatment areas within the pericardium.