Patent classifications
A61N1/0529
ELECTRODE PLACEMENT AND TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF
Certain aspects of the invention provide a system and a method for treating an epileptic condition or a tumor of the brain. In one embodiment, the method of treating the epileptic condition includes acquiring inter- and post-ictal imaging profiles and from the brain of the patient and determining an ictal propagation pathway based on the profiles. A volume of cortical activation is determined for each of a plurality of virtual electrode placement positions based on the ictal propagation pathway and the virtual electrode placement position. An electrode is implanted at a position selected from the plurality of virtual electrode placement positions, based on the volume of cortical activation at the implantation position. An electrical pulse is delivered from the electrode, where the electrical pulse is of a magnitude and duration effective to at least reduce the epileptic seizure.
LOW PROFILE HEAD-LOCATED NEUROSTIMULATOR
A method for subcutaneously treating pain in a patient includes first providing a neurostimulator with an IPG body and at least a primary, a secondary, and a tertiary integral lead with electrodes disposed thereon. A primary incision is opened to expose the subcutaneous region below the dermis in a selected portion of the body. A pocket is then opened for the IPG through the primary incision and the integral leads are inserted through the primary incision and routed subcutaneously to desired nerve regions along desired paths. The IPG is disposed in the pocket through the primary incision. The primary incision is then closed and the IPG and the electrodes activated to provide localized stimulation to the desired nerve regions and at least three of the nerves associated therewith to achieve a desired pain reduction response from the patient.
ELECTRODE POSITION DETECTION
Devices, systems, and techniques are disclosed for determining spatial relationships between electrodes implanted within a patient. In one example, a medical device delivers, via a first electrode, an electrical stimulus and senses, for each other electrode, a respective electrical signal indicative of the electrical stimulus. The medical device determines, for each other electrode, a respective value for each respective electrical signal. The medical device determines, based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal and values of tissue conductivity of tissues of the patient interposed between the first electrode and the other electrodes, spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
SENSOR-BASED PAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for managing pain of a subject. A system includes a first sensor circuit to sense a first signal indicative of a functional state of the subject, a second sensor circuit to sense a second signal different from the first signal, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit may determine an operating mode of the second sensor circuit according to the sensed first signal, trigger the second senor circuit to sense the second signal under the determined operating mode, and generate a pain score using at least the second signal sensed under the determined operating mode. The pain score may be output to a patient or used for closed-loop control of a pain therapy.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NEUROENHANCEMENT TO ENHANCE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
A method of transplanting a desired emotional state from a donor to a recipient, comprising determining an emotional state of the donor, recording neural correlates of the emotional state of the donor who is in the desired emotional state; analyzing neural correlates of the emotional state of the donor to decode at least one of a temporal and a spatial pattern corresponding to the desirable emotional state; converting said at least one of a temporal and a spatial pattern corresponding to the desirable emotional state into a neurostimulation pattern; storing the neurostimulation pattern in the nonvolatile memory; retrieving the neurostimulation pattern from the nonvolatile memory; stimulating the recipient's brain with at least one stimulus modulated with the neurostimulation pattern to induce the desired emotional state in the recipient.
Hearing assistance device comprising an implantable part
A hearing assistance device includes an implantable part for electrically stimulating an auditory nerve of a user. The electrical stimulation of the cochlear nerve by a cochlear implant hearing assistance device is improved by providing an implanted part that comprises a) a current source generator; and b) an electrode array configured to be located inside one of the cochlear scala or adjacent to the auditory nerve. The hearing assistance device is configured to produce a time-varying waveform delivered by the current source generator, the time-varying waveform comprising a positively sloping positive pulse.
LEADS FOR ELECTROSTIMULATION OF PERIPHERAL NERVES AND OTHER TARGETS
An electrical stimulation lead includes at least one lead body having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal length. The lead further includes a paddle body extending from the distal end portion of the at least one lead body, electrodes disposed along the paddle body, terminals disposed along the proximal end portion of the at least one lead body, and conductors electrically coupling the terminals to the electrodes. The lead further includes an anchoring device threadably disposed in at least a portion of the paddle body. The anchoring device has a head element and a tissue-engagement element fixed to the head element such that actuation of the head element urges the tissue-engagement element away from or toward the paddle body.
SURGICAL ROBOT PLATFORM
A medical robot system, including a robot coupled to an end effector element with the robot configured for controlled movement and positioning. The robot system includes a robot base having a display, a robot arm coupled to the robot base, wherein movement of the robot arm is electronically controlled by the robot base. The end-effector is coupled to the robot arm, containing one or more end-effector tracking markers. The system also includes a plurality of dynamic reference bases (DRB) attached to multiple patient fixture instruments, wherein the plurality of dynamic reference bases include one or more tracking markers indicating a position of the patient fixture instrument in a navigational space. The system also includes a first camera system and a second camera system, the first and second camera systems being able to detect a plurality of tracking markers.
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A STIMULATION SIGNAL AND A SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A STIMULATION SIGNAL
A method for controlling a stimulation signal for brain stimulation comprises: transmitting a trigger signal for triggering a stimulation generator to output a high frequency synchronization signal exhibiting periodical modifications; receiving a measurement signal representing brain activity comprising neural oscillations and a response to the high frequency synchronization signal; determining adjustment of a phase of the stimulation signal based on a phase difference between the neural oscillations and the modifications of the high frequency synchronization signal; and transmitting a phase information signal for providing information of an adjusted phase of the stimulation signal to be used by the stimulation generator.
Systems and methods for making and using improved contact arrays for electrical stimulation systems
An electrical stimulation lead or lead extension includes a body having an outer surface, a proximal end, a proximal portion, at least one distal portion, an outer surface, a perimeter, and a longitudinal length, the body defining an alignment slit extending distally from the proximal end of the body and splitting the proximal portion of the body into two transversely space-apart sections; first contacts disposed along the distal portion of the body; segmented second contacts disposed along the proximal portion of the body, where each segmented second contact extends around less than the entire perimeter of the body and is separated from all other segmented second contacts by portions of the body or the alignment slit; and conductors electrically coupling the first contacts to the second contacts.