Described herein is an implantable device having a sensor configured to detect an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, strain, or a pressure; and an ultrasonic transducer with a length of about 5 mm or less in the longest dimension, configured to receive current modulated based on the analyte amount, the pH, the temperature, or the pressure detected by the sensor, and emit an ultrasonic backscatter based on the received current. The implantable device can be implanted in a subject, such as an animal or a plant. Also described herein are systems including one or more implantable devices and an interrogator comprising one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to transmit ultrasonic waves to the one or more implantable devices or receive ultrasonic backscatter from the one or more implantable devices. Also described are methods of detecting an amount of an analyte, a pH, a temperature, a strain, or a pressure.

User interface for external power source, recharger, for an implantable medical device. At least some of patient controls and display icons of an energy transfer unit are common with at least some of the patient controls and the display icons of a patient control unit. An energy transfer unit is operable by the patient with less than three operative controls to control energy transfer from the external energy transfer unit to the implantable medical device. An external antenna having a primary coil can inductively transfer energy to a secondary coil of the implantable medical device when the external antenna is externally placed in proximity of the secondary coil. An energy transfer unit has an external telemetry coil allowing the energy transfer unit to communicate with the implantable medical device through the internal telemetry coil in order to at least partially control the therapeutic output of the implantable medical device.

A device for electrically stimulating one or more anatomical target sites in a patient and for use in the treatment of a plurality of biological conditions of the patient. The device has a pulse generator providing electrical stimulation to the anatomical target sites; a power source for powering the pulse generator; stimulator electrodes connected to the pulse generator for stimulating the anatomical target sites; one or more optional sensing electrodes for monitoring physiological parameters with reference to the anatomical target sites; and a microprocessor programmed to vary a plurality of therapy protocol parameters governing the electrical stimulation to thereby modify operational life parameters of the power source.

An implanted stimulator can deliver a patient-detectable electrical stimulation to remind or prompt a patient to interact with an implanted therapeutic device (e.g., neurostimulator) when a prompting event occurs. For example, the apparatuses and methods described herein may be configured to apply a prompting patient-detectable electrical vagus nerve stimulation to remind a patient that it is time to administer a therapeutic dose. When the therapeutic device is operated in an automatic fashion, the apparatus can also deliver a patient-detectable warning stimulation prior to the therapeutic stimulation to let the patient know that a therapeutic stimulation will be delivered soon thereafter.

In one aspect, an ingestible, electrical device, comprises one or more electrodes comprising a biocompatible conducting material and a biocompatible insulating material; a generator connected to the one or more electrodes; and an outer casing enclosing the one or more electrodes and the generator, the outer casing configured to dissolve in an aqueous environment of the organism; wherein the one or more electrodes have a first form factor when enclosed in the outer casing and a second form factor following a dissolution of the outer casing, the first form factor is a form factor that is collapsed an increased amount relative to an amount that the second form factor is collapsed, and the second form factor is a form factor that is collapsed a decreased amount relative to an amount that the first form factor is collapsed.

An implantable wireless lead includes an enclosure, the enclosure housing: one or more electrodes configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to a neural tissue; a first antenna configured to: receive, from a second antenna and through electrical radiative coupling, an input signal containing electrical energy, the second antenna being physically separate from the implantable neural stimulator lead; one or more circuits electrically connected to the first antenna, the circuits configured to: create the one or more electrical pulses suitable for stimulation of the neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal; and supply the one or more electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes, wherein the enclosure is shaped and arranged for delivery into a subject's body through an introducer or a needle.

A method of treating cardiovascular disease in a patient includes generating, by an implantable stimulator configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying, by the implantable stimulator in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a location, within the patient, that is associated with the cardiovascular disease. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes.

An antenna assembly for use with a medical implant includes an antenna that defines at least one turn and an electromagnetic shield.

This disclosure relates to a device for applying a neural stimulus. A battery supplies electrical energy at a battery voltage and an electrode applies the electrical energy to neural tissue. A circuit measures the nervous response of the tissue and a voltage converter receives the electrical energy from the battery and controls a voltage applied to the electrode based on the measured nervous response of the tissue. This direct voltage control is energy efficient because losses across a typical current mirror are avoided. Further, the control based on the measured nervous response leads to automatic compensation of impedance variation due to in-growth or change in posture. As a result, the stimulation results in a desired neural response.

Chronic pain management can be achieved by electrically anesthetizing a peripheral nerve with on-demand electrical nerve block (OD-ENB). OD-ENB can be provided by an implantable capsule. Externally, at least a portion of the capsule can be constructed of a conductive membrane and the rest of the capsule comprises a biocompatible material. A blocking electrode contact, a return electrode contact, and a powering/communication component can be within the capsule. The blocking electrode contact can deliver a direct current (DC) through a portion of the conductive membrane to block conduction in the neural tissue to provide the OD-ENB. The return electrode contact can receive a return current from the neural tissue through another portion of the conductive membrane. The powering/communication component can communicate with one or more external components located external to the patient's body to receive a power signal. Notably the capsule has no internal battery.