Patent classifications
A61N1/0556
Implants using ultrasonic communication for neural sensing and stimulation
Described herein is an implantable medical device that includes a body having one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to receive ultrasonic waves and convert energy from the ultrasonic waves into an electrical energy, two or more electrodes in electrical communication with the ultrasonic transducer, and a clip attached to the body that is configured to at least partially surround a nerve and/or a filamentous tissue and position the two or more electrodes in electrical communication with the nerve. In certain examples, the implantable medical device includes two ultrasonic transducers with orthogonal polarization axes. Also described herein are methods for treating incontinence in a subject by converting energy from ultrasonic waves into an electrical energy that powers a full implanted medical device, and electrically stimulating a tibial nerve, a pudendal nerve, or a sacral nerve, or a branch thereof, using the fully implanted medical device.
Systems and methods for stimulating and/or monitoring loci in the brain to treat inflammation and to enhance vagus nerve stimulation
Described herein are methods and systems for using EEG recordings to improve vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy. In particular, described herein are methods and systems for using EEG recordings to detect P300 and/or activation of the nucleus basalis and/or the locus coeruleus to determine the efficacy of VNS. The EEG recordings can be used to provide feedback control to help optimize stimulation parameters and to screen for patients that respond well to VNS therapy.
Stimulation lead and method including a multi-dimensional electrode array
Stimulation lead includes an elongated lead body having distal and proximal ends and wire conductors extending therebetween. The stimulation lead also includes a lead paddle having a multi-dimensional array of electrodes positioned along a contact side of the lead paddle. The electrodes are electrically coupled to the wire conductors. The lead paddle includes a paddle body and a conductor organizer disposed within the paddle body. The conductor organizer has multiple channels extending along the lead paddle. The channels receive the wire conductors and retain the wire conductors in a designated arrangement with respect to the lead paddle. The conductor organizer has openings to the channels. The wire conductors extend through the openings and are terminated to the respective electrodes.
Motor devices for motor nerve root stimulation
A motor device for stimulating muscle, including at least one electrode for generating electric current operatively attached to an electrode array and exposed on an inner surface of an array body, and a programming mechanism of a computer that executes an algorithm stored on non-transitory computer readable medium and includes an information storage mechanism and a user-operated interface in electrical connection with said at least one electrode for programming operation of said at least one electrode, said motor device being implanted in an individual and applying electric current to nerves at an area above an area of neurological damage.
Methods of making and bioelectronic applications of metalized graphene fibers
The present disclosure provides methods of making and applying metallized graphene fibers in bioelectronics applications. For example, platinized graphene fibers may be used as an implantable conductive suture for neural and neuro-muscular interfaces in chronic applications. In some embodiments, an implantable electrode includes a multi-layer graphene-fiber core, an insulative coating surrounding the multi-layer graphene-fiber core, and a metal layer disposed between the multi-layer graphene-fiber core and the insulative coating.
STIMULATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA
An electrode lead comprises an electrically insulative cuff body and at least three axially aligned electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the inner surface of the cuff body when in the furled state. The electrode contacts may be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, and an electrical pulse train may be delivered to the electrode contacts thereby stimulating the nerve to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The electrical pulse train may be one that pre-conditions peripherally located nerve fascicles to not be stimulated, while stimulating centrally located nerve fascicles. A feedback mechanism can be used to titrate electrode contacts and electrical pulse train to the patient. A sensor that is affixed to the case of a neurostimulator can be used to measure physiological artifacts of respiration, and a motion detector can be used to sense tapping of the neurostimulator to toggle the neurostimulator between an ON position and an OFF position.
CONTINGENT CARDIO-PROTECTION FOR EPILEPSY PATIENTS
Disclosed are methods and systems for treating epilepsy by stimulating a main trunk of a vagus nerve, or a left vagus nerve, when the patient has had no seizure or a seizure that is not characterized by cardiac changes such as an increase in heart rate, and stimulating a cardiac branch of a vagus nerve, or a right vagus nerve, when the patient has had a seizure characterized by cardiac changes such as a heart rate increase.
AN IMPLANTABLE NEUROMODULATION SYSTEM UTILISING CLOSED LOOP CONTROL
The present invention provides an implantable neuromodulation system for delivering an electrical signal to a nerve to stimulate, inhibit or block conduction of action potentials in the nerve. The system comprises a neural interface device comprising first and second electrodes; a signal generator and a first closed-loop controller configured to generate a control signal based a property of the signal based on a measured voltage across the first and second electrodes, and cause the signal generator to adjust the electrical signal to modify the property of the signal.
ELECTRODE APPARATUS
An electrode apparatus for nerve denervation or modulation in body includes a main body including a shaft; an electrode unit formed to be drawn out from one end of the shaft and configured to denervate or modulate at least some of nerves on a tube in the body; and an electrode guide deformed into a wound state to bring the electrode unit into contact with the tube in the body. The electrode guide includes a body portion which is spaced apart from the electrode unit to enclose the circumference of the tube in the wound state; and a coupling portion which is connected to the end of the body portion and to which an end of the electrode unit is fixed.
ELECTRODE LEADS HAVING NERVE CONTACT ELEMENTS WITH COIL CONTACTS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
An electrode lead including an elongate lead body and a nerve cuff (or other nerve contact element) including an electrically insulative cuff body (or other contact body) affixed to the distal end of the lead body and at least one electrically conductive coil partially embedded in the cuff body (or other contact body) such that there are non-embedded portions, which together define a flexible coil contact that is associated with the front outer surface of the cuff body (or other contact body), and embedded portions.