Aspects of this disclosure describe methods and systems for phrenic nerve stimulation using a stimulation lead placed in a blood vessel. The stimulation lead includes at least one deformable segment that has at least two configurations. For example, the deformable segment may have an elongate configuration and a non-elongate configuration. In the elongate configuration, the deformable segment may be substantially straight, thereby allowing placement of the stimulation lead using a catheter. In the non-elongate configuration, the deformable segment may be a circle or spiral. The deformable segment may transition from the elongate configuration to the non-elongate configuration after the stimulation lead is positioned in the vein. The stimulation lead may be fixated to the vein at a fixation element. Additionally, the stimulation lead may include electrodes distributed along the deformable segment and at least one elongate segment.

Methods and apparatuses for setting a therapeutic dose of a neuromodulator implanted into a patient are described. The therapeutic dose typically includes a therapeutic dose duration including a ramp-up time to reach a peak modulation voltage and a sustained peak modulation time during which the voltage is sustained at the peak modulation voltage. The methods and apparatuses described herein may use a testing ramp to identify a peak modulation voltage that is patient-specific and provides a maximized therapeutic effect while remaining comfortably tolerable by the patient during the application of energy by the neuromodulator.

Techniques to help improve efficiency or effectiveness of treating a disorder such as RLS or PLMD, such as by issuing neural electrostimulations to a particular patient, while varying one or more amplitude parameters (e.g., at least one of electrostimulation current amplitude, electrostimulation voltage amplitude, or electrostimulation pulsewidth duration). A corresponding patient-subjective or patient-objective response can be observed. A characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship can be generated, for example, based on the determined respective at least one of RLS or PLMD response indication threshold amplitude parameters and the plurality of corresponding neural electrostimulation durations. Once this characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship has been generated, it can then be used to control issuing subsequent neural electrostimulations to the particular patient according to (1) at least one goal and (2) a variable operating point based upon the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship.

A device and method for treating a variety of conditions, disorders or diseases with diaphragm/phrenic nerve stimulation is provided.

Described herein are implantable medical devices (IMDs), and methods for use therewith, that enable monitoring of impedance associated with a pathway (e.g., including a lead) used to selectively deliver stimulation pulses to patient tissue. A method involves measuring or storing a first voltage indicative of the energy stored on a reservoir capacitor (Cres) just prior to a stimulation pulse being delivered via the pathway, as well as measuring or storing a second voltage indicative of the energy stored on the Cres just after the stimulation pulse is delivered via the pathway. The method also includes monitoring the impedance associated with the pathway based on a difference between the first and second voltages, which may involve determining a count value indicative of how long it takes to discharge the first voltage to drop to the second voltage, wherein the count value is a surrogate of the impedance associated with the pathway.

A method of providing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) to a user is provided. The method includes the steps of: (1) collecting, by one or more sensors monitoring a user, one or more sets of physiological data; (2) determining, by a controller, an occurrence of a physiological event based on the one or more sets of physiological data; (3) stimulating, by a first earpiece worn by a user, a vagus nerve of the user with a VNS signal generated based on the controller determining the occurrence of the physiological event, wherein the VNS signal has an amplitude. The physiological condition may be an anxiety attack. The physiological condition may be a migraine headache.

The present invention relates to methods for tuning treatment parameters in movement disorder therapy systems. The present invention further relates to a system for screening patients to determine if they are viable candidates for certain therapy modalities. The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette Syndrome, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data acquired by a movement disorder diagnostic device to allow a clinician, technician or physician to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be provided to the subject via his or her therapy device.

A closed loop control system automatically ensures that an output of a device is constant. The system can receive an input to set a fixed value for a variable (e.g., a current, a heart rate, a tissue perfusion, an ion level, etc.), and this variable can be delivered to a feedback component. The system can also include the device to deliver the variable to a load. The feedback component can be coupled to the delivery device to sample the output of the delivery device at different times. Based on the sampling, the feedback component can vary a property of the delivery device related to the delivery of the variable to the load to ensure that the variable remains constant at the fixed value. In some instances, the system can be implemented as a stimulator that delivers the constant current of a current source and has a low output impedance of a voltage source.

A method of blocking signal transmission through a nerve, with reduced onset activity includes applying an HFAC to an axon of a nerve to block the transmission of signals through the axon. The method may also include applying a direct current (DC) to the axon, increasing the amplitude of the DC over time to a predetermined amplitude, applying the HFAC, and then decreasing the DC. The method may also include temporarily reducing the amplitude of the HFAC to permit the transmission of signals through the axon and subsequently increasing the amplitude to block transmission without triggering an onset response. The method may also include temporarily applying an unbalanced charge to the nerve and then balancing the charge over time.

Described herein are systems and methods for the treatment of pain using electrical nerve conduction block (ENCB). Contrary to other methods of pain treatment, the ENCB can establish a direct block of neural activity, thereby eliminating the pain. Additionally, the ENCB can be administered without causing electrochemical damage. An example method can include: placing at least one electrode contact in electrical communication with a region of a subject's spinal cord; applying an electrical nerve conduction block (ENCB) to a nerve in the region through the at least one electrode contact; and blocking neural activity with the ENCB to reduce the pain or other unwanted sensation in the subject.