Cochlear implant systems can include a signal processor, an implantable battery and/or communication module, and a plurality of conductors coupling the implantable battery and/or communication module and the signal processor. The implantable battery and/or communication module can communicate data and deliver electrical power to the signal processor via the plurality of conductors. The implantable battery and/or communication module can be configured to perform characterization process to determine one or more characteristics of one or more such conductors. Characterization processes can include determining an impedance between two conductors as a function of frequency, determining whether a conductor is intact, and determining an impedance of a given conductor. Some characterization processes include grounding one or more conductors.

Electrodes providing excellent recording and physical stability. Electrodes are disclosed that may include a plurality of small teeth that possess a novel design shape and orientation. The shallow and relatively long teeth run parallel to the rim of the electrode that presses against the patient’s skin. When the electrode is twisted onto skin, the tiny teeth penetrate the stratum corneum and move nearly horizontally under the stratum corneum, thus anchoring the electrode securely to the skin. The electrodes cause minimal discomfort to the patient since the small teeth do not extend to the pain fibers which are located in deeper layers of the skin. The electrodes may be fabricated in a variety of geometries including cylindrical, disk, and blunt bullet or top shapes. In some instances, the electrodes may be connected to detachable leads having magnetic properties.

An exemplary electrode lead includes a flexible body formed of a flexible insulating material and that comprises a fantail region that connects to a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a recipient and that extends to a ground electrode located toward a proximal end of the electrode lead, an electrode contact disposed on a side of the flexible body, a coiled electrode wire provided within the flexible body so as to extend along a length of the flexible body and electrically connect the electrode contact to a signal source, and a coiled reinforcing element provided within the flexible body so as to extend together with the coiled electrode wire along the length of the flexible body. The coiled reinforcing element may only be provided within a proximal portion of the electrode lead. Corresponding methods of manufacturing an electrode lead are also described.

An apparatus, system and method are provided for a wireless electrical stimulation. The apparatus generally includes at least two electrical stimulation units. Each electrical stimulation unit includes electrodes connected to the unit. The apparatus also includes a receiver configured for receiving the one or more control signals from a remote controller for remotely, wirelessly controlling each of the electrical stimulation units to selectively apply a time-varying electric potential to the electrodes to provide an electrical stimulation to tissue in electrical contact with the electrodes. The apparatus generally applies to a foot of a human body.

Tumors inside a person's head (e.g., brain tumors) can be treated using tumor treating fields (TTFields) by positioning capacitively coupled electrodes on opposite sides of the tumor, and applying an AC voltage between the electrodes. Unlike the conventional approach (in which all of the electrodes are positioned on the person's scalp) at least one of the electrodes is implemented using an implanted apparatus. The implanted apparatus includes a rigid substrate shaped and dimensioned to replace a section of the person's skull. At least one electrically conductive plate is affixed to the inner side of the rigid substrate, and a dielectric layer is disposed on the inner side of the conductive plate or plates. An electrically conductive lead is used to apply an AC voltage to the conductive plate or plates.

A device and method consisting of conductive, non-conductive, and support materials. These materials when dispensed or extruded onto a multitude of temporary structures will create an implantable conductive and non-conductive structure suitable for neurological electrical stimulation and neurological electrical recording. This structure may also be suitable for delivering fluid and/or contain optical structures suitable for physiological sensing.

A lead body for implantation includes at least one segmented electrode with a first electrode segment and a second electrode segment radially positioned about a lumen and electrically isolated from each other. A sectioned hypotube includes a distal end and a proximal end and a first conducting section and a second conducting section each extending between the distal and proximal ends. The first conducting section of the sectioned hypotube is coupled to the first electrode segment adjacent the distal end and the second conducting section of the sectioned hypotube is coupled to the second electrode segment adjacent the distal end.

A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways at a metal connector. The shield may be terminated by various joints including butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection to a single metal connector. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by passing between an overlapping pair of inner and outer metal connectors. The metal connectors may include features such as teeth or threads that penetrate the insulation layers of the lead. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by exiting a jacket of a lead adjacent to a metal connector and lapping onto the metal connector.

A patient monitoring system within an Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) device includes a patient monitoring channel including a first electrode and a second electrode, with each electrode coupled to a respective lead. The monitoring system also includes an Alternating Current source structured to inject a test current to the first electrode lead or the second electrode lead and a differential amplifier structured to measure differences between signals received from the first electrode lead and the second electrode lead. Related methods include evaluating a quality of an electrode contact with a skin surface by injecting a lead of the electrode and one input of a differential amplifier with a known electrical current, comparing a difference between an electrical signal received from the lead of the injected electrode as well as from a lead of a passive signal electrode, and evaluating the compared difference.

An electrode system includes an electrode, a connector, and a cable with an in-line radio-frequency filter module comprising resistors and inductors without any deliberately added capacitance. The resistors are arranged in an alternating series of resistors and inductors, preferably with resistors at both outer ends, and connected electrically in series. The in-line module is located at a specific location along the wire, chosen through computer modeling and real-world testing for minimum transfer of received RF energy to a patient's skin, such as between 100 cm and 150 cm from the electrode end of a 240 centimeter cable. The total resistance of the resistors plus cable, connectors and solder is 1000 ohms or less; while the total inductance is roughly 1560 nanohenries. The inductors do not include ferrite or other magnetic material and are, together with the resistors, stock components thereby simplifying manufacture and reducing cost.