Apparatus and methods for treating back pain are provided, in which an implantable stimulator is configured to communicate with an external control system, the implantable stimulator providing a neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy designed to cause muscle contraction to rehabilitate the muscle, restore neural drive and restore spinal stability; the implantable stimulator further including one or more of a number of additional therapeutic modalities, including a module that provides analgesic stimulation; a module that monitors muscle performance and adjusts the muscle stimulation regime; and/or a module that provides longer term pain relief by selectively and repeatedly ablating nerve fibers. In an alternative embodiment, a standalone implantable RF ablation system is described.

Apparatus and methods for treating back pain are provided, in which an implantable stimulator is configured to communicate with an external control system, the implantable stimulator providing a neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy designed to cause muscle contraction to rehabilitate the muscle, restore neural drive and restore spinal stability; the implantable stimulator further including one or more of a number of additional therapeutic modalities, including a module that provides analgesic stimulation; a module that monitors muscle performance and adjusts the muscle stimulation regime; and/or a module that provides longer term pain relief by selectively and repeatedly ablating nerve fibers. In an alternative embodiment, a standalone implantable RF ablation system is described.

Differential charge-balancing can be used in high-frequency neural stimulation. For example, a neural stimulation apparatus can have first and second electrodes configured to be coupled proximate to a nerve fiber to implement a neural stimulation procedure. A neural stimulation circuit can be electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes. The neural stimulation circuit can apply stimulation currents to the nerve fiber through the first and second electrodes during a first stimulation phase of the neural stimulation procedure. The neural stimulation circuit can also apply a modified stimulation current to the nerve fiber through the first electrode during a second stimulation phase of the neural stimulation procedure. The modified stimulation current can be generated based on a difference between (i) a voltage at the first electrode, and (ii) a reference voltage derived from voltages on the first and second electrodes.

Differential charge-balancing can be used in high-frequency neural stimulation. For example, a neural stimulation apparatus can have first and second electrodes configured to be coupled proximate to a nerve fiber to implement a neural stimulation procedure. A neural stimulation circuit can be electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes. The neural stimulation circuit can apply stimulation currents to the nerve fiber through the first and second electrodes during a first stimulation phase of the neural stimulation procedure. The neural stimulation circuit can also apply a modified stimulation current to the nerve fiber through the first electrode during a second stimulation phase of the neural stimulation procedure. The modified stimulation current can be generated based on a difference between (i) a voltage at the first electrode, and (ii) a reference voltage derived from voltages on the first and second electrodes.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide paddle leads for dorsal root ganglia (DRG) stimulation and methods of implanting the same. In one implementation, the paddle lead has a small profile facilitating deployment into a target space in the neuroforamen dorsal to the DRG and below the vertebral lamina. A paddle body of the paddle lead may include a living hinge and/or a contoured profile to further facilitate implantation in the target space. For suture assisted deployment as well as to resist migration of the paddle lead once deployed, the paddle lead may include a suture loop configuration. The paddle lead further includes an electrode array having electrode contacts arranged in a two dimensional configuration pattern to create an electrical field optimized for stimulation of the DRG.

A method of soft tissue treatment of a patient comprises placing an applicator onto a surface of a soft tissue, with the applicator including an RF electrode and a dielectric material having a vacuum cup and a dielectric material under the RF electrode, with the dielectric material under the electrode having an absolute value of difference between polarization factor below center of the RF electrode and below edges of the RF electrode in a range from to 0.10005 mm to 19 800 mm, and heating the soft tissue via the RF electrode, and applying vacuum into a cavity under the applicator with changing pressure value inside the cavity under the applicator compared to pressure in the room during the treatment in range from 0.01 kPa to 100 kPa.

A method of soft tissue treatment of a patient comprises placing an applicator onto a surface of a soft tissue, with the applicator including an RF electrode and a dielectric material having a vacuum cup and a dielectric material under the RF electrode, with the dielectric material under the electrode having an absolute value of difference between polarization factor below center of the RF electrode and below edges of the RF electrode in a range from to 0.10005 mm to 19 800 mm, and heating the soft tissue via the RF electrode, and applying vacuum into a cavity under the applicator with changing pressure value inside the cavity under the applicator compared to pressure in the room during the treatment in range from 0.01 kPa to 100 kPa.

Systems and methods for a soft tissue treatment of a patient are provided herein. The device for a soft tissue treatment may include an applicator having at least one electrode, a fastening mechanism to fix the applicator to a body part of the patient, and a control unit having a microprocessor to control the at least one electrode. The at least one electrode may provide radiofrequency energy and pulsed electric current. The radiofrequency energy may cause a heating of a soft tissue. The electric current may cause contraction of a muscle within the body part. The body part may be a face.

The present disclosure is directed to a portable system and method for modulating targeted neural and non-neural tissue of a nervous system to block nerve conduction for the treatment of pain. A high-efficiency portable electrical stimulation system is provided that allows a user to carry the system and move around freely while continuously receiving therapy. The electronic control system is configured to deliver high-frequency electrical stimulation at a therapeutic level, for an intended duration (e.g., up to 24 hours or more) at a manageable and/or comfortable weight for a person, to the target nerve.

A cage assembly can have at least one enclosure. Each enclosure can have a floor defining a floor area having a major dimension and a cover having a bottom surface. A spacing between the bottom surface of the cover and the floor can define a cage height. At least one sidewall can extend between the floor and the cover. A ratio of the cage height to the major dimension of the floor area of each enclosure of the at least one enclosure can be at least 0.70.