Systems and methods for providing a trial neurostimulation to a patient for assesssing suitability of a permanently implanted neurostimulation are provided herein. In one aspect, a trial neurostimulation system includes an EPG affixation device that secures the EPG to the patient when connected to a lead extending through a percutaneous incission to a target tissue location, while allowing for ready removal of the EPG for charging or bathing. In another aspect, the system includes an EPG provided with a multi-purpose connector rectacle through which the EPG can deliver neurostimulation therapy to an implanted lead or the EPG can be charged. In yet another aspect, the EPG can include a multi-purpose connector receptacle that is alternatingly connectable with a plurality of differing connector to faciltiate differing types of therapies with one or more neurostimulation devices, ground patches or various other devices, such as charging or testing devices.

A diagnostic system is disclosed that is configured to direct an acoustic stimulation generator to apply acoustic stimulation having a stimulus frequency to a recipient of a cochlear implant during an insertion procedure in which an electrode lead communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant is inserted into a cochlea of the recipient, direct the cochlear implant to use an electrode disposed on the electrode lead to record an evoked response signal during the insertion procedure, the evoked response signal representing amplitudes of a plurality of evoked responses that occur within the recipient in response to the acoustic stimulation applied to the recipient, and incrementally step, as the electrode lead is inserted into the values starting with an initial value and ending with a final value lower than the initial value.

The present disclosure provides a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) trial system. The SCS trial system includes at least one rigid needle lead including a biocompatible conductor extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and insulation surrounding at least a portion of the biocompatible conductor, wherein the at least one rigid needle lead is configured to pierce the skin of a patient and be percutaneously implanted in the patient such that the distal end is proximate to at least one of a dorsal column, a dorsal root, dorsal root ganglia, and a peripheral nerve of the patient. The system further includes an external pulse generator (EPG) coupled to the at least one rigid needle lead and configured to apply electrical stimulation to the patient via the at least one rigid needle lead.

A method, programmer for a neurostimulator, and neurostimulation kit are provided. The kit comprises a neurostimulator, and a plurality of elongated lead bodies configured for being coupled to the neurostimulator, each having a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies differs from each other. Electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes of the selected lead body and the tissue, an electrical fingerprint is measured at the proximal contacts of the selected lead body in response to the conveyed electrical energy, and the selected lead body is identified based on the measured electrical fingerprint. These steps can be performed by the programmer.

Some computer-assisted methods include: presenting configuration options to a user of the implanted stimulator device, the configuration options comprising stimulation parameters for the implanted stimulator; receiving a user specification of the configuration options in response to the presented configuration options; receiving user feedback when the user specified configuration options are implemented at the implanted stimulator device, the user feedback comprising a quantitative index of pain resulting from implementing the user specified configuration options on the implanted stimulator device; building a user profile for the user based on the user specified configuration options and the user feedback, the user profile including the user specified configuration options as well as the corresponding quantitative index of pain; and selecting at least one configuration option based on the user profile when the configuration options are subsequently presented to the user for a later treatment.

Methods for systematically testing a plurality of therapy programs in a spinal cord modulation system, and associated systems are disclosed. A representative method comprises loading a plurality of therapy programs into a signal generator, wherein individual therapy programs include parameters specifying electrode configuration, signal amplitude, and/or signal frequency. The programs are automatically activated for an automatically instructed period of time. The method includes automatically changing from one therapy program to another after the instructed period of time. The patient is queried for patient input corresponding to the therapy programs. The patient input is received via a remote. The patient input is correlated with a corresponding time of day and recorded in the signal generator. Thereafter, the patient input is retrieved from the signal generator.

An exemplary sound processor included in a cochlear implant system associated with a patient 1) receives, from a fitting system while the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the fitting system, a command that sets a control parameter associated with the cochlear implant system to an initial value and data representative of a target value associated with the control parameter, 2) detects a decoupling of the sound processor from the fitting system, the decoupling resulting in the sound processor being in a non-fitting state, and 3) gradually adjusts, while the sound processor is in the non-fitting state, the control parameter from the initial value towards the target value in accordance with an adaption time course associated with the control parameter. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

System and methods are disclosed to automatically set or update physiological thresholds such as perception threshold (pth) and discomfort thresholds (dth) in an implantable stimulator system. The system monitors neural responses such as ECAPs resulting from stimulation provided to the patient. Extracted neural thresholds (ENTs) are determined, which can comprise a smallest stimulation amplitude at which a neural response can be reliably detected. A correlation between ENTs and physiological thresholds such as pth and dth is used to allow the physiological thresholds to be estimated and updated using the measured ENT values.

A system adapted for neurostimulation of a patient, using a trial stimulator unit for generating stimulation pulses to targeted tissue in a patient through at least one neurostimulation lead. The trial stimulator unit has at least one receiving connection port adapted to receive at least one lead adapter. The lead adapter has a receiving portion, a sliding portion and a connection port. The receiving portion receives a proximal end of a stimulation lead. The sliding portion couples to the receiving portion. The connection port is adapted to connect to at least one receiving connection port. A case for enclosing the trial stimulator unit and the at least one lead adapter is provided.

A method of providing therapy to a patient using a plurality of electrodes is provided. The electrodes are located adjacent a target neural tissue region having a first nerve fiber of a relatively small diameter and a second nerve fiber of a relatively large diameter. The method comprises sourcing electrical current from a local anode into the target neural tissue region. The method further comprises therapeutically sinking a first portion of the electrical current from the target neural tissue region into a local cathode. The method further comprises sinking a second portion of the electrical current into a cathode remote from the target neural tissue region. The ratio of the sourced electrical current over the first sunk electrical current portion has a value that allows the first nerve fiber to be recruited by the electrical current while preventing the second nerve fiber from being recruited by the electrical current.