Some embodiments include a dipolar antenna system to electrically power an implantable miniature device and/or to stimulate bioelectrically excitable tissue. Other related systems and methods are also disclosed.

This disclosure relates to a communication amplification device for an implantable capsule, in particular for an autonomous cardiac stimulation capsule. The amplification device comprises a first holding element and a second element configured to hold the implantable capsule. The first holding element is configured to receive the distal end of the capsule and the second holding element is configured to receive the proximal end of the capsule. The first holding element comprises a communication amplification antenna configured to couple to a distal electrode of the capsule.

An apparatus for simulating an insertion of an elongated instrument into a subject, comprising: a frame extending between two end walls along a first axis and two lateral walls along a second axis, one of the two end walls being provided with an insertion aperture and one of the two lateral walls being provided an insertion hole, the insertion aperture defining a first passageway and the insertion hole defining a second passageway, the first and second passageways intersecting each other at an intersection point; and a sensing unit contained within the frame and configured for measuring at least one of a displacement of the elongated member and a rotation of the elongated member, the sensing unit being positioned adjacent to the intersection point for performing the measurement of the at least one of the displacement and the rotation at the intersection point.

An electrode assembly for the positioning of an electrode of an implantable medical lead includes a housing and an electrode subassembly. The housing includes a proximal end for connecting to the lead and a distal end. The housing defines a housing lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The housing lumen includes internal screw threads extending along at least a portion of the housing lumen. The electrode subassembly is disposed at least partially within the housing lumen. The electrode subassembly includes a needle electrode and a coupler. The needle electrode is disposed coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the housing lumen. The coupler is disposed at a proximal end of the needle electrode. The coupler includes external screw threads engaged with the internal screw threads of the housing lumen such that rotation of the coupler moves the needle electrode along the longitudinal axis of the housing lumen.

Systems, devices and methods are disclosed that allow recharging a power source located in an implanted medical device implanted in a patient, the recharging device comprising first and second pairs of electrical coils configured to generate first and second uniform magnetic fields in overlapping first and second cylindrical regions located between the respective pairs of electrical coils.

A system for delivery of a leadless pacemaker. The system includes a catheter with an elongate flexible tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the tubular body includes a delivery cup with an external surface having an inflatable compliant balloon; and a pacing capsule of the leadless pacemaker releasably retained in the delivery cup. The pacing capsule includes an arrangement of tines configured to deploy and pierce a target tissue at a desired pacing capsule implant site in a coronary sinus of a patient. The balloon, when at least partially inflated, is configured to urge the delivery cup against the target tissue during deployment of the pacing capsule.

An implantable medical device is configured determine a numerical value of a variable that is monitored by the implantable medical device and convert the numerical value to a data sequence of modulated electrical stimulation rate intervals. The implantable medical device delivers electrical stimulation pulses according to the data sequence of modulated stimulation rate intervals to cause a modulated rate of activation of excitable tissue of a patient corresponding to the modulated stimulation rate intervals. The modulated rate of activation is detectable by a rate monitor for demodulation to the numerical value of the monitored variable data value. In some examples, the implantable medical device is a pacemaker delivering cardiac pacing pulses according to modulated pacing rate intervals to cause a modulated heart rate of the patient detectable by a heart rate monitor for demodulation to the numerical value of the monitored variable.

An apparatus includes an implant that includes circuitry and an elongate housing having a first half and a second half. A paresthesia-inducing electrode is disposed on the first half, and a blocking electrode is disposed on the second half. The circuitry has a first mode in which the circuitry simultaneously drives the paresthesia-inducing electrode to apply a paresthesia-inducing current having a frequency of 2-400 Hz, and the blocking electrode to apply a blocking current having a frequency of 1-20 kHz, and a second mode in which the circuitry drives the blocking electrode to apply the blocking current, but does not drive the paresthesia-inducing electrode to apply the paresthesia-inducing current. The implant is injectable into a subject along a longitudinal axis of the implant. Other embodiments are also described.

An active implantable medical device (AIMD) is described. The AIMD has a rechargeable electrical energy power source connected to a PCB assembly for powering the medical device. The AIMD can sense biological signals from a patient, or it can have at least two electrodes that provide stimulation therapy to the patient. An inductive charging coil housed inside an elongate device enclosure is connected to the power source. The inductive charging coil has winds of an electrically conductive wire or tape that wrap around the PCB. The winds of the inductive charging coil have an upper wind portion residing above the PCB and a lower wind portion below the PCB. Opposed curved ends of the inductive charging coil winds are continuous with the upper and lower wind portions. This structure provides the inductive charging coil with a length aligned along a longitudinal axis of the PCB. In that manner, the inductive charging coil occupies a space otherwise not used in an elongate cylindrical enclosure for an AIMD.

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.