A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure by increasing secretion of endogenous naturetic hormones ANP and BNP such as by stimulation of the heart atria. Heart pacing is done at an atrial contraction rate that is increased and can be higher than the ventricular contraction rate. Pacing may include mechanical distension of the right atrial appendage. An implantable device is used to periodically cyclically stretch the walls of the appendage with an implanted balloon.

Systems and methods for performing non-obtrusive, automatic adjustment of an auditory prosthesis are disclosed. A control expression can be detected during a conversation. Upon detection of the control expression, an audio setting adjustment can be selected and applied to the auditory prosthesis. Multiple adjustments can be made in response to identifying multiple control expressions during a conversation.

An illustrative scalar translocation detection system directs a loudspeaker to apply acoustic stimulation to a cochlear implant patient while an electrode lead is inserted into a cochlea of the cochlear implant patient. The system detects a first evoked response to the acoustic stimulation while an electrode is positioned at a first location in the cochlea and detects a second evoked response to the acoustic stimulation while the electrode is positioned at a second location in the cochlea. Then, based on at least one of an amplitude change or a phase change between the first and second evoked responses, the system determines that a scalar translocation of the electrode lead from one scala of the cochlea to another scala of the cochlea has occurred. Based on this determination, the system also notifies a user that the scalar translocation has occurred. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

In some embodiments, a clinician programmer device for controlling a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system is adapted to assist a clinician to conduct an electrode screening review for the DBS system including screening of segmented electrodes. The clinician programmer stores software code for conducting a screening review in memory. The software code may comprise: code for providing one or more interface screens for guiding the user of the device through testing of electrode configurations of the implantable stimulation lead, wherein the code for providing applies at least one testing progression for guiding the user of the device through a defined testing order.

This disclosure relates to a device for applying a neural stimulus. A battery supplies electrical energy at a battery voltage and an electrode applies the electrical energy to neural tissue. A circuit measures the nervous response of the tissue and a voltage converter receives the electrical energy from the battery and controls a voltage applied to the electrode based on the measured nervous response of the tissue. This direct voltage control is energy efficient because losses across a typical current mirror are avoided. Further, the control based on the measured nervous response leads to automatic compensation of impedance variation due to in-growth or change in posture. As a result, the stimulation results in a desired neural response.

An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a memory configured to store a set of therapy parameters for subsensory electrical stimulation of a patient; and therapy delivery circuitry configured to deliver the subsensory electrical stimulation to at least one of a sacral nerve or tibial nerve based on the stored set of therapy parameters to provide immediate therapeutic effect caused by the ongoing delivery of the subsensory electrical stimulation to address incontinence, wherein a stimulation intensity of the subsensory electrical stimulation is less than 80% of a stimulation intensity at a sensory threshold, and wherein the patient does not perceive delivery of the subsensory electrical stimulation and perceives delivery of stimulation at the sensory threshold.

Systems and methods for stimulating the sensory cortex of an individual by obtaining a neuronal stimulation signal adapted to provide a movement cue for the individual and transmitting the neuronal stimulation signal to an electric contact of a neuronal stimulation electrode that is already implanted into the brain of the individual for a purpose different from providing the movement cue. Proprioceptive information is communicated to the individual by obtaining information about the body posture of the individual and applying a neuronal stimulation signal to an afferent axon targeting a sensory neuron in the cortex of the individual. The neuronal stimulation signal is determined based on the obtained body posture information and corresponds to the proprioceptive information. A first neuronal stimulation signal providing the movement cue and a second neuronal stimulation signal providing the proprioceptive information may be applied together to the cortex of the individual.

A garment is wearable on an anatomical region and includes electrodes contacting the anatomical region when the garment is worn on the anatomical region. An electronic controller is configured to detect electromyography (EMG) signals as a function of anatomical location and time using the electrodes, and identify tremors as a function of anatomical location and time based on the EMG signals.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for treating a condition of a subject. An implant defining a longitudinal axis is implanted between a nerve and skin of the subject. The implant includes an insulating member disposed, along the longitudinal axis, on at least a skin-facing side of the implant. Exactly two electrodes are disposed, along the longitudinal axis, at respective portions of a nerve-facing side of the implant. While the electrodes are driven to apply a treatment that stimulates the nerve, the insulating member is used to inhibit direct stimulation of sensory nerve fibers of the skin that are adjacent to the skin-facing side of the implant. Other embodiments are also described.

A method of providing a sleep apnea nerve stimulation therapy to a subject may include detecting a respiratory waveform of the subject with a sensor. The sensor may be configured for coupling to the subject. The respiratory waveform may include a plurality of respiratory cycles each corresponding to at least one of a breath and an attempted breath of the subject. The method may also include identifying a breathing pattern within the respiratory waveform over a period of time. The breathing pattern may include a repeating pattern of a plurality of respiratory cycles followed by at least one respiratory cycle corresponding to a disordered breathing event. The method may also include generating a series of stimulation pulses with an implantable nerve stimulator configured for coupling to a hypoglossal nerve of the subject. The series of stimulation pulses may be coordinated with the breathing pattern.