The present disclosure describes devices and methods for detecting motoneuron excitability in a subject in need. The method includes stimulating a cutaneous distribution of a patient’s vagus nerve within a patient’s ear with a nerve stimulating signal; detecting F-wave occurrence with an evoked electromyography paradigm; and adjusting one or more parameters of the nerve stimulating signal to change the F-wave occurrence.

In an illustrative embodiment, methods and systems for attenuating effect(s) associated with reduction or cessation of substance use by an individual include providing a neurostimulation delivery system including a neurostimulation device having a first portion including a first electrode configured to electrically stimulate auricular branch(es) of the vagus nerve, and a second portion including a second electrode configured to electrically stimulate branch(es) of the auriculotemporal nerve, and a pulse generator including circuitry configured to deliver therapeutic stimulation pulses to the first and second electrodes. Methods and systems include positioning the neurostimulation device for administration of the neurostimulation treatment, whereby the first electrode is disposed on, over or adjacent to auricular branch(es) of the vagus nerve, and the second electrode is disposed on, over or adjacent to branch(es) of the auriculotemporal nerve, and administering the neurostimulation treatment.

Presented herein are techniques that make use of objective measurements obtained in response to acoustic stimulation signals. More specifically, at least one measure of outer hair cell function and at least one measure of auditory nerve function are obtained from a tonotopic region of an inner ear of a recipient of a hearing prosthesis. The at least one measure of auditory nerve function and the least one measure of outer hair cell function are then analyzed relative to one another.

Disclosed are apparatuses and methods for reducing or limiting blood loss and reducing bleed time in a subject by combined vagus and trigeminal stimulation. The apparatuses and methods may activate (e.g., electrically) one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve and may concurrently (at overlapping or near-overlapping time) independently activate the vagus nerve. This activation may be invasive or non-invasive.

Auricular nerve stimulation techniques for addressing patient disorders, and associated systems and methods. A representative system includes a signal generator having instructions to generate an electrical therapy signal, at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal having a frequency at or above the patient's auditory frequency limit, an amplitude in an amplitude range from about 0.1 mA to about 10 mA, and a pulse width in a pulse width range from 5 microseconds to 30 microseconds. The system further includes at least one earpiece having a contoured outer surface shaped to fit against the skin of the patient's external ear, external ear canal, or both, the at least one earpiece carrying at least two transcutaneous electrodes positioned to be in electrical communication with the auricular innervation of the patient, e.g., the auricular vagal nerve.

The present invention provides a personalized, three-dimensional printed, human auricle-specific multiple auricular points' bio-signal acquisition, health status monitoring, and bio-stimulation device, including an artificial ear model made of at least one bio-compatible, flexible polymer, a plurality of sensing and stimulating electrodes with at least one sensing end and a signal acquisition/processing end penetrating through a body of the ear mold conformably with a human auricle so that a surface of the ear mold where sensing end of the electrodes is disposed creates an electrode-human skin interface for bio-signal detection and bio-stimulation responsive thereto. Methods of fabricating the device based on 3-D printing, 3D scanning and modelling techniques and using thereof for bio-signal acquisition, analysis, health status monitoring and bio-stimulation are also provided.

In an illustrative embodiment, systems and methods for treating stress and/or for improving alertness in a subject using neurostimulation therapy include placing first electrode(s) on, over, or adjacent to an auricular branch of the vagus nerve, placing second electrode(s) on, over or adjacent to an auriculotemporal nerve, and delivering therapeutic stimulation pulses via the first electrode(s) and the second electrode(s) by delivering a first series of stimulation pulses to the first electrode(s), the first series configured to increase activity in neural medullary structure(s), and delivering a second series of stimulation pulses to the second electrode(s), the second series configured to increase activity in neural structures within the Trigeminocervical Complex.

A magnet arrangement for an implantable medical device is described. An implant magnet has a modified disc shape and is capable of responding to an external magnetic field by rotating about a primary center rotation axis. The implant magnet shape has at least one cross-sectional view in which the cylindrical diameter corresponds to a horizontal coordinate axis, the center symmetry axis corresponds to a vertical coordinate axis, the height between the end surfaces is greatest at the center symmetry axis, and the height between the end surfaces progressively decreases from the center symmetry axis along the cylindrical diameter towards the outer circumference to define a secondary deflection angle with respect to the horizontal coordinate axis so that the implant magnet is capable of responding to the external magnetic field by deflecting within the secondary deflection angle about a secondary deflection axis defined by a cylinder diameter normal to the cross-sectional view.

A method, including the action of operating a sense prosthesis, such as a retinal implant, according to a first operating regime while the recipient has a first fatigue level, and operating the sense prosthesis according to a second operating regime while the recipient has a second fatigue level that is greater than the first fatigue level.

An apparatus, comprising, a cochlear implant electrode array, and an implantable drug reservoir, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the drug reservoir is in fluid communication with the electrode array, and the drug reservoir is at least substantially located in a middle ear space when the cochlear implant electrode array is fully implanted in a recipient.