Methods are provided to treat a neurological disorder in a patient by adjusting connectivity between network nodes in a brain of patient using electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation including a carrier wave component is employed to adjust connectivity using infraslow frequencies of less than 1 Hz.

In accordance with the present invention, various embodiments of neurostimulators and stimulation systems are disclosed that provide different shapes and patterns of stimulus pulses and trains of pulses with fixed and no fixed frequencies. The neurostimulator can be configured to provide high frequency stimulation and also be implantable in the head or neck regions in order to stimulate nerves and nerve ganglions in the head and neck regions and also stimulate the brain.

Systems and methods for treating a patient's pain using ramped therapeutic signals for modulating inhibitory interneurons, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method for treating a patient includes positioning an implantable signal delivery device proximate to a target location at or near the patient's spinal cord, and delivering an electrical therapy signal to the target location via the implantable signal delivery device, wherein the electrical therapy signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1 kHz to about 100 kHz, and wherein the frequency is increased or decreased from a first value to a second value during delivery.

The present invention relates to a neuromodulation apparatus and methods of using the neuromodulation apparatus for treating bladder dysfunction.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for controlling levels of perceived intensity of a sensory stimulus. The method includes configuring a stimulation signal with an activation charge rate (ACR) based on a predefined level of intensity by a subject during an action. The ACR is based on a strength of pulses in the stimulation signal parameter and a frequency of pulses in the stimulation signal parameter. The stimulation signal can be applied to neural tissue of a subject during the action. Based on the stimulation signal, the subject can be induced to perceive the predefined level of intensity during the action.

Systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue and generation stimulation trains with temporal patterns of stimulation, in which the interval between electrical pulses (the inter-pulse intervals) changes or varies over time. The features of the stimulation trains may be selected and arranged algorithmically to by clinical trial. These stimulation trains are generated to target a specific neurological disorder, by arranging sets of features which reduce symptoms of that neurological disorder into a pattern which is effective at reducing those symptoms while maintaining or reducing power consumption versus regular stimulation signals. Compared to conventional continuous, high rate pulse trains having regular (i.e., constant) inter-pulse intervals, the non-regular (i.e., not constant) pulse patterns or trains that embody features of the invention provide increased efficacy and/or a lower than average frequency.

Devices, systems, and techniques for controlling electrical stimulation therapy are described. In one example, a system may include processing circuitry configured to control a medical device to deliver a first electrical stimulation according to a first value of a first stimulation parameter of the plurality of stimulation parameters and a first value of a second parameter of the plurality of stimulation parameters, receive an input representative of an efficacy of the first electrical stimulation delivered to the patient according to the first value of the first stimulation parameter and the first value of the second parameter, select, based on the input and the relationship between the plurality of stimulation parameters, a second value of at least one of the first stimulation parameter or the second stimulation parameter, and control the medical device to deliver a second electrical stimulation according to the second value.

Apparatus and methods for managing pain uses a single composite modulation/stimulation signal with variable characteristics to achieve the same results as separate varying electromagnetic signals. The composite signal is utilized for modulating the expression of genes involved in diverse pathways including inflammatory/immune system mediators, ion channels and neurotransmitters, in both the Spinal Cord (SC) and Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) where such expression modulation is caused by spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation using the disclosed apparatus and techniques.

Apparatus and methods for managing pain uses separate varying electromagnetic fields, with a variety of temporal and amplitude characteristics, which are applied to a particular neural structure to modulate glial and neuronal interactions as a mechanism for relieving chronic pain. In another embodiment, a single composite modulation/stimulation signal which has rhythmically varying characteristics is used to achieve the same results as separate varying electromagnetic fields. Also, disclosed is an apparatus and method for modulating the expression of genes involved in diverse pathways including inflammatory/immune system mediators, ion channels and neurotransmitters, in both the Spinal Cord (SC) and Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) where such expression modulation is caused by spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation using the disclosed apparatus and techniques. In one embodiment of multimodal modulation therapy, the prime signal may be monophasic, or biphasic, in which the polarity of the first phase of the biphasic prime signal may be either cathodic or anodic while the tonic signal may be either monophasic, or biphasic, with the polarity of the first phase of the biphasic tonic signal being either cathodic or anodic.

A method and system are provided to deliver nested stimulation to brain tissue of interest. The method and system set first parameters that define a carrier waveform. The method and system set second parameters that define a high frequency waveform, wherein at least one of the carrier waveform and high frequency waveform are defined to correspond to physiologic neural oscillations associated with the brain tissue of interest. The method and system operates a pulse generator to generate a nested stimulation waveform that combines the carrier waveform and high frequency waveform. The nested stimulation waveform has a plurality of pulse bursts. The method and system deliver the nested stimulation waveform through one or more electrodes to the brain tissue of interest.