Methods of providing therapy to a patient are provided. In one method, the patient has a neuron to which a sub-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied. The method comprises applying electrical noise energy to the neuron, wherein resonance between the biological electrical stimulus and the electrical noise energy is created, such that an action potential is propagated along the axon of the neuron. In another method, the patient has a neuron to which a supra-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied. This method comprises applying supra-threshold electrical noise energy to the neuron, thereby preventing an action potential from being propagated along the axon of the neuron. Still another method comprises applying an electrical stimulus to a neuron, and applying supra-threshold electrical noise energy to the neuron, thereby preventing or reversing any neurological accommodation of the neuron that may occur in response to the electrical stimulus.

Systems and methods are provided for delivering vagus nerve stimulation and carotid baroreceptor stimulation to patients for treating chronic heart failure and hypertension. The vagus nerve stimulation and carotid baroreceptor stimulation therapies may be provided using a single implantable pulse generator, which can coordinate delivery of the therapies.

Cutaneous and subcutaneous TNS embodiments are disclosed for addressing autonomic nervous system imbalances. A cutaneous electrode assembly is applied to a patient's forehead, and a current is pulsed through the electrode assembly to stimulate the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves on the patient to increase activity for the patient's parasympathetic nervous system. Pulsing the current increases the power spectral density for the patient's heart rate variability in a 0.1 to 0.15 Hz frequency band.

This invention provides methods for mapping and ablating renal nerves to treat disease caused by systemic renal nerve hyperactivity, e.g. hypertension, heart failure, renal failure and diabetes. Also provided are catheters for performing the mapping and ablating functions.

A method and system for treating cardiac arrhythmias which includes inserting one or more electrodes into a patient's neck, and connecting the electrodes to the vagus nerve in the patient's neck. A cardiac monitoring device detects a cardiac arrhythmia. A controller connected to an electrical power source provides electrical power to the electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve when a cardiac arrhythmia is detected.

A method of treating heart failure in a patient is disclosed that includes implanting a stimulation device into the identified patient to electrically stimulate the spinal cord, and activating the device to deliver electrical stimulation to the spinal cord.

Electrical stimulation of neural activity in the neural innervation of the spleen that is associated with neurovascular bundles provides a useful way to treat acute medical conditions, such as trauma, hemorrhaging and shock.

Systems and methods for informing and evaluating neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a guidewire having a proximal portion, a distal portion configured to be positioned at a target site in a blood vessel of a human patient, and a sensing element positioned along the distal portion. The sensing element can be a pressure sensing element, a flow sensing element, an impedance sensing element, and/or a temperature sensing element. The system can further include a controller configured to obtain one or more measurements related to a physiological parameter of the patient via the sensing element. Based on the measurements, the controller can determine the physiological parameter and compare the parameter to a predetermined threshold. Based on the comparison, the controller and/or the operator can assess the likelihood of the patient benefiting from neuromodulation therapy.

A medical device includes a VNS pulse burst generator for stimulation of the vagus nerve, and a controller for analyzing the cardiac rhythm. It further includes a sequencer that uses an estimator to calculate during a given cycle an estimate of the temporal position of the R wave of the next cycle. The controller is configured to define the moment of application of the VNS pulse burst as an instant corresponding to the estimate minus a predetermined advance delay. VNS therapy is thus delivered in a non-vulnerable period, near the end of the period of natural ventricular escape.

Apparatus for facilitating ablation of nerve tissue of a subject is provided, comprising (1) an ablation unit, configured to be percutaneously advanced to a site adjacent to a first portion of the nerve tissue; (2) at least one electrode unit, coupled to the ablation unit, and configured to be percutaneously advanced to a site adjacent to a second portion of the nerve tissue, and to initiate unidirectional action potentials in the nerve tissue, such that the unidirectional action potentials propagate toward the first portion of the nerve tissue; and (3) a control unit, configured: (a) to drive the ablation unit to ablate, at least in part, the first portion of the nerve tissue of the subject, and (b) to drive the at least one electrode unit to initiate the unidirectional action potentials by applying an excitatory current to the second portion of the nerve tissue.