An electrical stimulation lead includes a cuff having a cuff body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a circumference; longitudinally elongated electrodes disposed on the interior surface of the cuff body and helically arranged with each of the longitudinally elongated electrodes longitudinally offset relative to any adjacent longitudinally elongated electrodes; and a longitudinal slit extending through the cuff body and further extending along an entire length of the cuff body, the longitudinal slit operable to receive a portion of a target nerve from a region outside of the cuff to within the cuff body. The lead also includes a lead body coupled to the cuff and conductors extending through the lead body and the cuff with the conductors electrically coupled to the longitudinally elongated electrodes.

A system for restoring muscle function to the lumbar spine to treat low back pain is provided. The system may include one or more electrode leads coupled to an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and a tunneler system for subcutaneously implanting a proximal portion of the lead(s). The system may also include a handheld activator configured to transfer a stimulation command to the IPG, and an external programmer configured to transfer programming data to the IPG. The stimulation command directs the programmable controller to stimulate the tissue in accordance with the programming data. The system may include a software-based programming system run on a computer such that the treating physician may program and adjust stimulation parameters.

The present disclosure provides a stimulation lead for providing stimulation signals to nerve tissue and improved methods for constructing and manufacturing such a stimulation lead. The stimulation lead and/or methods includes a lead with a cable disposed within. At each end of the lead body a portion of the cable is exposed, and a metal ferrule is securely attached to the exposed cable portion. An electrode/contact is then securely attached to the metal ferrule such that the electrode covers the metal ferrule, a portion of the lead body, and a transition point where the exposed cable exits the lead body. A tine component may be swaged around a portion of the term end, configured to provide a retaining force against an force acting upon the stimulation lead, while allowing insertion of the stim end of the stimulation lead during implantation, and extraction of the stim end during explantation.

In a method for producing an implantable electrode device, an electrically insulating support and at least one electrically conductive electrode element are provided in order to attach the at least one electrode element to the support. To attach the at least one electrode element to the support, the at least one electrode element and/or the support are heated and the at least one electrode element is pressed against the support.

The present invention provides a single surgical method, procedure and/or system that creates open visual and physical access to an identified spinal treatment site that comprises both targeted vertebral and spinal levels to be treated, wherein the spinal levels comprise at least one dorsal root ganglion. A spinal treatment procedure is performed generally in combination with implantation of a neuromodulation system that may comprise placement of electrical lead(s) on the at least one dorsal root ganglion, wherein each lead is in operative connection with a pulse generator that may also be implanted during the surgical method. Electrical stimulation may be generated with the pulse generator through the electrical leads to the at least one dorsal root ganglion during and/or after the closure of the identified spinal treatment site.

A system for restoring muscle function to the lumbar spine to treat low back pain is provided. The system may include electrodes coupled to an implantable pulse generator (IPG), a handheld activator configured to transfer a stimulation command to the IPG, and an external programmer configured to transfer programming data to the IPG. The stimulation command directs the programmable controller to stimulate the tissue in accordance with the programming data. The system may include a software-based programming system run on a computer such that the treating physician may program and adjust stimulation parameters.

Systems and methods which provide retractable anchor configurations for medical device leads are described. A retractable anchor may implement a retractable distention composed of a resilient material. The retractable distention may be distended when in a neutral state and may be contracted when in a biased state. A biasing bulkhead may be configured to receive a bias force sufficient to retract the retractable distention. A stylet may be inserted into an axial lumen of a medical device lead having retractable tip anchor structure and may engage the biasing bulkhead to apply a bias force. A stylet knob may be configured to interface with the stylet and provide bias force to be transferred to the biasing bulkhead of the retractable tip anchor structure. Locking the stylet knob on the medical device lead may maintain the bias force applied to the biasing bulkhead until the stylet knob is unlocked.

In one embodiment, a method of implanting a stimulation lead to stimulate a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of a patient, comprises: placing a distal portion of the stimulation lead within an implant tool; accessing the epidural space of the patient with the distal end of the implant tool; contacting a surface of a pedicle of the patient with a distal tip of the Implant tool above a foramen leading to a target DRG; after contacting the surface of the pedicle with the distal tip, advancing the stimulation lead from a side port of the implant tool, wherein the side port is located proximal to the distal tip of the implant tool; advancing the stimulation lead through the foramen to position one or more electrodes of the stimulation lead adjacent to the target DRG; and providing electrical stimulation to the target DRG to stimulate the target DRG using one or more electrodes of the stimulation lead.

A lead anchor for a neuromodulation lead has an anchor body that receives a portion of the lead. A mesh is arranged so as to at least partially surround the portion of the lead when the portion of the lead is received in the anchor body.

Systems and methods which provide for and enable sensing responsive signals with respect to the application of paresthesia-free stimulation are described. Sensing signal initiators may be utilized comprising one or more non-therapeutic and/or non-tonic pulses in the form of pinging-pulses configured for invoking responsive signals suitable for measurement and/or analysis in association with the application of neural stimuli. A sensing signal initiator technique may provide an interleaved implementation to introduce one or more pinging-pulses between burst groups of a burst stimulation regimen. Additionally or alternatively, a sensing signal initiator technique may provide a postfixed implementation to introduce one or more pinging-pulses by modifying a therapeutic stimulation burst so that the last phase of the passive discharge is replaced with pinging-pulse providing an active discharge.