Devices, methods and systems for transmitting signals through a device located in a blood vessel of an animal, for stimulating and/or sensing activity of media proximal to the device, wherein the media includes tissue and/or fluid.

The present invention provides methods, devices and systems for transcranial stimulation.

Systems and methods are disclosed for implanting a passive implantable stimulator device to targeted excitable tissue, such as nerves, for treating chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, sleep apnea, seizures, incontinence, pain associated with cancer, incontinence, problems of movement initiation and control, involuntary movements, vascular insufficiency, heart arrhythmias, obesity, diabetes, craniofacial pain, such as migraines or cluster headaches, and other disorders. In certain embodiments, a device may be used to send electrical energy to targeted nerve tissue by using remote radio frequency (RF) energy without cables or inductive coupling to power a passive implanted wireless stimulator device. The targeted nerves can include, but are not limited to, the spinal cord and surrounding areas, including the dorsal horn, dorsal root ganglion, the exiting nerve roots, nerve ganglions, the dorsal column fibers and the peripheral nerve bundles leaving the dorsal column and brain.

A method for optimization of the stimulation pattern of a set of implanted electrodes in excitable tissue of a patient is disclosed, wherein it comprises the steps of: (a) choosing a first group of a certain number of from said set of implanted electrodes, (b) stimulating the excitable tissue electrically by said first group of electrodes, (c) registering information provided by the patient, (d) assigning each electrode of said first group of electrodes a value related to said information, wherein these steps are repeated for one or more further groups of said certain number of electrodes chosen from said set of implanted electrodes, wherein each electrode may be included in one or several groups, wherein the total assigned value for each electrode is calculated, and wherein electrodes having a total assigned value exceeding a predetermined value or a predetermined number of the electrodes having the highest total assigned value are chosen to be included in said stimulation pattern, as well as a method for treatment or alleviation of a disease or condition by use of a set of electrodes whose stimulation pattern has been optimized with said method, and a system for optimization of the stimulation pattern.

This disclosure relates to implantable neuromodulation systems and methods, and in particular to systems and methods for sensing blood-based parameter changes triggered by neural stimulation and subsequently optimizing the stimulation parameters based on feedback from the sensed blood-based parameter changes. Embodiments are directed to a method that includes delivering neural stimulation to a nerve or artery/nerve plexus based on a first set of stimulation parameters, monitoring a response to the neural stimulation that includes monitoring responses of the nerve or artery/nerve plexus and blood-based parameters of the artery, modifying the first set of the stimulation parameters based on the blood-based parameters to create a second set of stimulation parameters, and delivering the neural stimulation based on the second set of the stimulation parameters.

A wearable, percutaneous device for suppressing appetite or hunger in a patient includes a microprocessor, electrical stimulator and at least one percutaneous electrode implanted and configured to deliver electrical stimulation through the patient's skin. The percutaneous device includes a pad and at least one needle, in which the electrode is disposed, for secure placement of the device within the skin of a patient. The percutaneous device is adapted to provide electrical stimulation as per stimulation protocols and to communicate wirelessly with a companion control device configured to monitor and record appetite patterns of the patient. The control device is also configured to monitor, record, and modify stimulation parameters of the stimulation protocols.

Techniques for delivering electrical stimulation therapy comprising a complex variation to at least one electrical stimulation parameter are described. In one example, processing circuitry of an implantable medical device (IMD) identifies a plurality of electrical stimulation parameters for at least one pulse train of electrical stimulation. The processing circuitry defines a complex variation to at least one electrical stimulation parameter of the plurality of electrical stimulation parameters. The processing circuitry modifies the at least one pulse train of electrical stimulation by introducing the complex variation to the electrical stimulation parameter function and controls a stimulation generator of the IMD to generate, as modified, the at least one pulse train of electrical stimulation.

Devices and methods for manipulating devices such as micro-scale devices are provided. The devices can include a tether of various materials surrounded by a stiff body. The tether interfaces with microscale devices to draw them against the stiff body, holding the microscale devices in a locked position for insertion into or extraction out of tissue. The tensional hook and stiff body are configurable in a multitude of positions and geometries to provide increased engagement. Such configurations allow for a range of implantation and extraction surgical procedures for the device within research and clinical settings.

A mismatch in curvature of an electrode lead section may create unexpected and/or unpredictable electrical resistance with underlying tissue. In addition, repeated movement of the relevant areas of the body may even worsen the mismatch. Implants for electrical stimulation require low electrical resistance conductors for stimulation electrodes, return electrodes and interconnections which conventionally use metal for wires and contacts. These conductors reduce the flexibility, and the problem becomes worse as the number of electrodes increases. An implantable stimulation device is provided with an elongated substrate, one or more interconnections, a flexible electrode with two portions, separated by one or more bending interruptions, wherein the first portion and second portion are in direct electrical connection through the one or more interconnections. The electrode portions on opposite sides of the bending points are electrically connected allowing the mechanical bending and the electrical connections to be optimized separately.

A surgical method of treating a patient is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the patient's skin and abdominal wall; dissecting an area of the patient's intestine; and dissecting a portion of the dissected intestinal area such that intestinal mesentery connected thereto is opened in such a way that supply of blood through the mesentery to the dissected intestinal area is maintained as much as possible on both sides of the dissected portion. The method further comprises the steps of dividing the patient's intestine in the dissected portion so as to create an upstream part of the intestine with a first intestinal opening and a downstream part of the intestine with a second intestinal opening with the mesentery still maintaining a tissue connection between the upstream and downstream intestine parts.