Patent classifications
A61N1/0526
METHOD OF OPERATIING AN ELECTRICAL STIMULATION DEVICE WITH TWO OR MORE STIMULATION ENERGY SUPPLIES, AND A STIMULATING DEVICE
Conventional devices deliver a degree of electrical charge into biological tissues; —to satisfy regulatory and safety concerns, measures are taken to maintain a zero-charge residual at the stimulation site.
Disclosed herein is a method of controlling electrical energy provided by a stimulation device to one or stimulation electrodes comprised in the device, the device including: a first stimulation electrode; a pulse energy controller for transferring electrical energy as one or more electrical stimulation pulses to the first stimulation electrode; the pulse energy controller further including two or more stimulation energy supplies for each supplying electrical energy substantially concurrently to the first stimulation electrode as a first pulse; and each supplying electrical energy separately to the first stimulation electrode as a second pulse.
A simpler, more accurate and less-expensive control of stimulation may be provided by considering each energy supply as an energy building block, which may be selected as required.
Implant holder and suture guide
A delivery system is disclosed having an implant retainer configured to releasably hold an implant unit and maintain the implant unit in a fixation location relative to target tissue in a subject's body during an implantation procedure. A first suture guide portion may be disposed on a first side of the implant retainer and configured to guide a suture needle during the implantation procedure. A second suture guide portion may be disposed on a second side of the implant retainer, opposite the first side, and configured to guide the suture needle after the suture needle exits the first suture guide portion.
Surgical tools and methods for delivering a neurostimulator into the pterygopalatine fossa
One aspect of the present disclosure includes a delivery tool configured to deliver a neurostimulator into a pterygopalatine fossa of a subject. The neurostimulator can include a body connected to an integral stimulation lead having one or more stimulating electrodes. The delivery tool can comprise a handle, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, a hub portion, and a double barrel sheath. The hub portion can be located between the shaft and a spine member that extends axially away from the hub portion. The hub portion can be sized and dimensioned to releasably mate with the neurostimulator. The double barrel sheath can be connected to the spine member. A central lumen can extend through at least a portion of the shaft and the hub portion. The central lumen can be adapted to receive a lead ejector for selective deployment of the stimulation lead from the double barrel sheath.
ARCED IMPLANT UNIT FOR MODULATION OF NERVES
An implant unit configured for implantation into a body of a subject is provided. The implant unit may include a flexible carrier unit including a central portion and two elongated arms extending from the central portion, an antenna, located on the central portion, configured to receive a signal, at least one pair of electrodes arranged on a first elongated arm of the two elongated arms. The at least one pair of electrodes may be adapted to modulate a first nerve. The elongated arms of the flexible carrier may be configured to form an open ended curvature around a muscle with the nerve to be stimulated within an arc of the curvature.
Vestibular stimulation device
A vestibular stimulation array is disclosed having one or more separate electrode arrays each operatively adapted for implantation in a semicircular canal of the vestibular system, wherein each separate electrode array is dimensioned and constructed so that residual vestibular function is preserved. In particular, the electrode arrays are dimensioned such that the membranous labyrinth is not substantially compressed. Furthermore, the electrode array has a stop portion to limit insertion of the electrode array into the semi-circular canal and is still enough to avoid damage to the anatomical structures.
System for variably configurable, adaptable electrode arrays and effectuating software
Electrical non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) delivers weak electrical currents to the brain via electrodes that are affixed to the scalp. NIBS can excite or inhibit the brain in areas that are impacted by that electrical current during and for a short time following stimulation. Electrical NIBS can be used to change brain structure in terms of increasing white matter integrity as measured by diffusion tensor imaging. Together the electrical NIBS can induce changes in brain structure and function. The present methods and devices are adaptable to and configurable for facilitating the enhancement of brain performance, and the treatment of neurological diseases and tissues. The present methods and devices are advantageously designed to utilize modern electrodes deployed with, inter alia, various spatial arrangements, polarities, and current strengths to target brain areas or networks to thereby enhance performance or deliver therapeutic interventions.
REHABILITATION ASSISTANT SYSTEM FOR PATIENTS WITH DEPRESSION
A rehabilitation assistant system for a patient with depression is provided, comprising a support unit, an audio stimulation unit, an acupoint stimulation unit, an electronic stimulation unit, a display and optical frequency-flashed stimulation and an exercise unit. The audio stimulation unit comprises two speakers configured for broadcasting a binaural beats with frequency following response which has an audio frequency difference to two ears of the user. The acupoint stimulation unit comprises acupoint agents, and at least a part of the acupoint agents are arranged on the support unit. The electronic stimulation unit comprises two electrical stimulation agents arranged on the support unit, and the display and optical frequency-flashed stimulation is arranged on the support unit and is switchable between a display mode and an optical frequency-flashed stimulation mode so that multiple stimulations are performed simultaneously in a single treatment course.
Method for implanting a stimulator with a foil-like electrode portion
In general, implantation of neurostimulation systems or device includes subcutaneous or percutaneous placement of at least the electrodes. Preferred are minimally invasive implantation procedures, systems and devices that can reliably operate for extended periods, and systems and devices providing a high degree of comfort for the subject. The implantation specialist may need to address adequate placement of the electrodes with respect to the nerve tissue to be stimulated, and to choose between one or more convenient locations for the elements of the system or device. Methods are provided comprising forming a first 1250 and second 1260 incision on opposite sides of a target location, and introducing a first introducer sheath 3050a under the skin with a maximum internal transverse cross-section less than the further maximum transverse cross-section 710 of an implantable stimulator. Such a method is advantageous if the maximum transverse cross-section 710 of the further portion is at least 1.2 times greater than the maximum transverse cross-section 730 of the first portion—the dimensions of the implantation tools may be reduced. A further method is provided wherein the first portion 630 with at least two electrodes 200, 400 is introduced in the skin layers between the nerve tissue 2003 to be stimulated and above or in the aponeurosis layer 2009. By being implanted deeper and/or more accurately, comfort and/or reliability for the subject may be improved. In addition, the chance that the stimulator is implanted under the nerve tissue is greatly increased.
UNIVERSAL LOW-PROFILE INTERCRANIAL ASSEMBLY
A universal low-profile intercranial assembly includes a mounting plate and a low profile intercranial device composed of a static cranial implant and an interdigitating functional neurosurgical implant. The low profile intercranial device is shaped and dimensioned for mounted to the mounting plate.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAGGING STIMULATION FIELD MODELS WITH ASSOCIATED STIMULATION EFFECT TYPES
An example of a system for programming neurostimulation according to a stimulation configuration may include stimulation configuration circuitry, volume definition circuitry, stimulation effect circuitry, and recording circuitry. The stimulation configuration circuitry may be configured to determine the stimulation configuration. The volume definition circuitry may be configured to determine stimulation field model(s) (SFM(s)) each representing a volume of tissue activated by the neurostimulation. The stimulation effect circuitry may be configured to determine a stimulation effect type for each tagging point specified for the SFM(s) and to tag the SFM(s) at each tagging point with the stimulation effect type determined for that tagging point. The stimulation effect type for each tagging point is a type of stimulation resulting from the neurostimulation as measured at that tagging point. The recording circuitry may be configured to generate SFM data representing the determined SFM(s) with the stimulation effect type tagged at each tagging point.