Patent classifications
A61N1/0556
VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION TO TREAT NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS
Systems, devices, and methods for using vagus nerve stimulation to treat demyelination disorders and/or disorder of the blood brain barrier are described. The vagus nerve stimulation therapy described herein is configured to reduce or prevent demyelination and/or promote remyelination to treat various disorders related to demyelination, such as multiple sclerosis. A low duty cycle stimulation protocol with a relatively short on-time and a relatively long off-time can be used.
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.
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.
Systems for improving neurostimulation compliance using a patient interface module
Nerve stimulation systems and methods are disclosed for providing improved compliance of a patient to a pelvic disorder treatment regimen. A patient interface module is connected to a control module for providing compliance information related to compliance criteria for a set of scheduled events. Patient compliance is assessed and notification or treatment events can be scheduled, rescheduled or otherwise adjusted based upon patient compliance or non-compliance according to compliance rules and parameters of a treatment compliance module. Both compliance and non-compliance may lead to adjustment of the treatment regimen, scheduled treatment events, and notifications to the patient or user operating the nerve stimulation system.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF PAIN FOLLOWING AMPUTATION AND SURGICAL TISSUE REMOVAL
Paind felt in a given region of the body can be treated by stimulating a peripheral nerve at a therapeutically effective distance from the region where pain is felt to generate a comfortable sensation (i.e., paresthesia) overlapping the regions of pain. Systems and methods to reduce pain in a painful region following surgical amputation of an extremity or limb may include stimulating a peripheral nerve innervating the painful region with an electrode inserted into tissue and spaced from the peripheral nerve. This method may be used to help alleviate postoperative pain in patients following amputation of an extremity or limb.
Implantable assembly
An implantable assembly is described for acquisition of neuronal electrical signals at a selected location which propagate along at least one nerve fiber contained in a nerve fiber bundle, as well as for selective electrical stimulation of the at least one nerve fiber, having: an implantable electrode assembly (E) which is disposed on a biocompatible support substrate which can be positioned around the nerve fiber bundle in a cuff. The cuff has a cylindrical support substrate surface (i) which in the implanted condition is orientated facing the nerve fiber bundle, on which a first electrode assembly for locationally selective acquisition of the neuronal electrical signals and selective electrical stimulation of the at least one nerve fiber, and on which a second electrode assembly is disposed to record an ECG signal, and an analysis and control unit (A/S) which can be electrically conductively connected or is connected to the implantable electrode assembly (E), in which the locationally selective acquired neuronal electrical signals as well as the ECG signal can be analyzed in a time-resolved manner such that a neuronal time signal correlated with a physiological parameter, such as blood pressure, can be derived.
NEURAL STIMULATION DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATMENT OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATION
A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.
WIRELESS NEUROSTIMULATORS
An implant is implanted into a tissue of a subject. The implant includes a circuitry unit that houses circuitry, and one or more outwardly-facing electrodes that are electrically coupled to the circuitry. The circuitry unit is shaped to define a height that is smaller than (i) a longest length, and (ii) a longest width of the circuitry unit. The implant is oriented with respect to the tissue, such that: (a) the height of the circuitry unit is disposed along a superficial-to-deep axis with respect to skin of the subject, (b) the implant is positioned to stimulate a nerve underlying the implant, and (c) the implant is positioned in a manner that inhibits electrical conduction from the outwardly-facing electrodes into skin of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.
Attenuation arrangement for implantable medical device
An implantable medical device includes at least one conductive element and an associated attenuation arrangement to attenuate MRI energy.
Optical Pressure Treatment through Electrical Stimulation
An arrangement for reducing intraocular pressure includes a pulse signal source, a probe coupling, and at least one electrode. The probe coupling is configured to be supported on a portion of a living eye. The electrodes are supported on the probe coupling. The electrodes are operably coupled to receive a pulse signal from the pulse signal source.