An implantable vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) system includes a sensor configured to measure ECG data for a patient, a stimulation subsystem configured to deliver VNS to the patient, and a control system configured to perform a heart rate variability analysis with the ECG data. In some aspects, performing the heart rate variability analysis includes measuring R-R intervals between successive R-waves for the ECG data measured during a stimulation period of VNS therapy and a baseline period of the VNS therapy, wherein the stimulation period comprises at least a portion of the ON period and the baseline period comprises at least a portion of the OFF period immediately preceding the ON period, and generating a plot of each R-R interval against an immediately successive R-R interval for each of the stimulation period and the baseline period configured to be displayed on a display.

Systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue generate stimulation trains with temporal patterns of stimulation, in which the interval between electrical pulses (the inter-pulse intervals) changes or varies over time. 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 a lower average frequency. The systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue may be used to increase the efficacy of treatment in patients with Parkinson's Disease.

A device may receive, from one or more electrodes, information identifying brain activity for a first time period. The device may predict, based on the information identifying the brain activity for the first time period, predicted brain activity for a second time period that is to occur after the first time period. The device may determine, based on the predicted brain activity for the second time period, a brain stimulus for the second time period, wherein the brain stimulus is associated with a frequency and a phase determined based on the predicted brain activity for the second time period. The device may cause the brain stimulus to be applied in accordance with the frequency and the phase during the second time period.

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. Connectivity between network nodes may be increased by synchronous stimulation at multiple network nodes depending upon the neurological disorder. Also, connectivity may be decreased by asynchronous or randomized stimulation at multiple network nodes depending upon the neurological disorder.

Electrical stimulation therapy is provided to a patient in order to induce a patient sensation. The patient sensation may be selected from a number of patient sensations. A set of therapy parameter values are associated with each of the number of patient sensations. A user interface allows a user to adjust one or more characteristics of the patient sensation.

Methods and devices are provided for activating brown adipose tissue (BAT). Generally, the methods and devices can activate BAT to increase thermogenesis, e.g., increase heat production in the patient, which over time can lead to weight loss. In one embodiment, a medical device is provided that activates BAT by electrically stimulating nerves that activate the BAT and/or electrically stimulating brown adipocytes directly, thereby increasing thermogenesis in the BAT and inducing weight loss through energy expenditure.

A method and external device for providing sub-perception stimulation to a patient via an implantable stimulator device is disclosed. Stimulation parameters for the patient are determined that provide sub-perception stimulation to address a symptom of the patient. A schedule is determined to provide scheduled boluses of stimulation, where each bolus comprises a duration during which stimulation is applied to the patient in accordance with the stimulation parameters, and where the scheduled boluses are separated by off times when no stimulation is provided to the patient. Preferably, the duration of each of the scheduled boluses is 3 minutes or longer, and the duration of each of the off times is 30 minutes or greater. Additional boluses can be provided on demand in addition to the scheduled boluses by selecting an option on the external device, although the provision of such additional boluses may be constrained by a lockout period.

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.

Methods and devices are provided for activating brown adipose tissue (BAT). Generally, the methods and devices can activate BAT to increase thermogenesis, e.g., increase heat production in the patient, which over time can lead to weight loss. In one embodiment, a medical device is provided that activates BAT by electrically stimulating nerves that activate the BAT and/or electrically stimulating brown adipocytes directly, thereby increasing thermogenesis in the BAT and inducing weight loss through energy expenditure.

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. Connectivity between network nodes may be increased by synchronous stimulation at multiple network nodes depending upon the neurological disorder. Also, connectivity may be decreased by asynchronous or randomized stimulation at multiple network nodes depending upon the neurological disorder.