An implantable neural stimulator method for modulating excitable tissue in a patient including: implanting a neural stimulator within the body of the patient such that one or more electrodes of the neural stimulator are positioned at a target site adjacent to or near excitable tissue; generating an input signal with a controller module located outside of, and spaced away from, the patient's body; transmitting the input signal to the neural stimulator through electrical radiative coupling; converting the input signal to electrical pulses within the neural stimulator; and applying the electrical pulses to the excitable tissue sufficient to modulate said excitable tissue.

A system includes electronic circuitry that receives a self-clocking differential signal comprising a data signal encoded with a clock signal at a dock frequency. The electronic circuitry is configured to recover, from the self-docking differential signal, the data signal and the dock signal. Then, based on the recovered dock signal, the electronic circuitry is configured to wirelessly transmit, to an implantable stimulator implanted within a recipient, a forward telemetry signal representing data recovered from the data signal. Corresponding systems, methods, devices, and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) are also disclosed.

A neuromodulation therapy is delivered via at least one electrode implanted subcutaneously and superficially to a fascia layer superficial to a nerve of a patient. In one example, an implantable medical device is deployed along a superficial surface of a deep fascia tissue layer superficial to a nerve of a patient. Electrical stimulation energy is delivered to the nerve through the deep fascia tissue layer via implantable medical device electrodes.

A neuromodulation therapy is delivered via at least one electrode implanted subcutaneously and superficially to a fascia layer superficial to a nerve of a patient. In one example, an implantable medical device is deployed along a superficial surface of a deep fascia tissue layer superficial to a nerve of a patient. Electrical stimulation energy is delivered to the nerve through the deep fascia tissue layer via implantable medical device electrodes.

Methods and systems can facilitate identifying effective electrodes and other stimulation parameters, as well as determining whether to use cathodic and anodic stimulation. Alternately, the methods and systems may identify effective electrodes and other stimulation parameters based on preferential stimulation of different types of neural elements. These methods and systems can further facilitate programming an electrical stimulation system for stimulating patient tissue.

The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for physiological modulation, including neural, gastrointestinal, renal, respiratory, and other modulation, for the purposes of treating several disorders, including obesity, depression, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and other disorders. This includes implanted, percutaneous, hybrid implanted and nonimplanted, nonimplanted, noninvasive neural and neuromuscular modulators, used to deliver autonomic vector modulation to deliver optimal therapy via coordinated multi-nodal modulation at least one of the afferent and efferent neurons of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and other nervous system pathways.

A charger including a class E power driver, a frequency-shift keying (FSK) module, and a processor. The processor can receive data relating to the operation of the class E power driver and can control the class E power driver based on the received data relating to the operation of the class E power driver. The processor can additionally control the FSK module to modulate the natural frequency of the class E power transformer to thereby allow the simultaneous recharging of an implantable device and the transmission of data to the implantable device. The processor can additionally compensate for propagation delays by adjusting switching times.

A system, including: an implantable neural stimulator including electrodes, at least one antenna and an electrode interface; a radio-frequency (RF) pulse generator module comprising an antenna module configured to send an input signal to the antenna in the implantable neural stimulator through electrical radiative coupling, the input signal containing electrical energy and polarity assignment information that designates polarity assignments of the electrodes in the implantable neural stimulator; and wherein the implantable neural stimulator is configured to: control the electrode interface such that the electrodes have the polarity assignments designated by the polarity assignment information, create one or more electrical pulses suitable for modulation of neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal, and supply the electrical pulses to the electrodes through the electrode interface such that the electrodes apply the electrical pulses to the neural tissue with the polarity assignments designated by the polarity assignment information.

Systems, methods and devices, for stimulating one or more esophageal muscle contractions are provided. The system, methods, and devices may be designed to evoke motion and/or restore function in one or more organs that are located distal to the lower esophageal sphincter. A controller and a generator may be used to transmit signals to one or more electrodes in a tube placed in a patient's GI tract. In some aspect, the generator is configures to generate a series of pulses for one or more periods of time. In some aspects, a preliminary pulse is transmitted to narrow and esophageal portion such that an esophageal wall is in contact with at least one electrode thus lowering the nominal stimulation threshold.

A headpiece included within a cochlear implant system includes a housing, an interface assembly disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to a sound processor, and electronic circuitry disposed within the housing. The interface assembly receives, from the sound processor, direct current (DC) power and a self-clocking differential signal comprising a data signal encoded with a clock signal at a clock frequency. The electronic circuitry is configured to recover the data signal and the clock signal from the self-clocking differential signal, to generate synthesized clock signals at first and second carrier frequencies based on the recovered clock signal, to wirelessly transmit alternating current (AC) power at the first carrier frequency based on the DC power, and to wirelessly transmit a data-modulated AC signal at the second carrier frequency based on the recovered data signal. The AC power and data are transcutaneously transmitted to a cochlear implant implanted within a patient.