This invention relates to devices, methods and substances for use in the treatment of hypertension and/or elevated blood pressure in a subject.

Stimulation of neural activity in a splenic arterial nerve at a position where the splenic artery is not in direct contact with the pancreas, can modulate pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules levels, thereby reducing inflammation and providing ways of treating disorders, such as disorders associated with inflammation. The invention provides improved ways of reducing inflammation with minimized off-target effects, in particular surgical trauma.

A stimulation system and method for treating to a human subject having spasmodic dysphonia includes a sensing electrode configured to detect voice activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and to generate a first signal, and a processor configured to receive the first signal from the sensing electrode and to generate at least one stimulation parameter based on the first signal. The system further includes a mechanical actuator configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and to activate a glottic closure reflex of the subject in response to the stimulation parameter and a stimulating electrode configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and stimulate the recurrent laryngeal nerve or the vagus nerve of the subject based on the stimulation parameter.

A method for treating a patient requiring conditioning of one or more muscle groups comprises applying electrical stimulation to a ventral epidural space of the patient, thereby activating the muscles. The method includes conveying the stimulation energy to one or more motor efferents associated with the muscles through respective one or more electrodes implanted within the ventral epidural space, and thus activating the muscles.

A method for treating a human subject having unilateral vocal cord paralysis includes sensing electrical activity of a dysfunctional muscle of the subject, generating at least one stimulation parameter, using a processor, based on the sensed electrical activity, and stimulating the dysfunctional muscle, using a stimulating electrode, based on the at least one stimulation parameter. A stimulation system is also provided.

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.

An exemplary electroacupuncture device includes a central electrode of a first polarity centrally located on a surface of a housing of the electroacupuncture device and an annular electrode of a second polarity that is spaced apart from the central electrode. The electroacupuncture device is implanted beneath a skin surface of a patient at an acupoint corresponding to a tibial nerve and performs methods for treating overactive bladder in the patient. One exemplary method performed by the electroacupuncture device includes generating stimulation sessions each including a series of stimulation pulses and having a duty cycle less than 0.05, wherein the duty cycle is a ratio of a duration of each stimulation session to a rate at which each stimulation session occurs. The exemplary method also includes applying the stimulation sessions to the tibial nerve by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode in accordance with the duty cycle.

A method of treating osteoarthritis includes an implantable stimulator generating stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying the stimulation sessions by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode to a location within a patient that includes at least one of an acupoint labeled ST35, an acupoint labeled EX-LE-4, or a location on a line that intersects the acupoints labeled ST35 and EX-LE-4.

Embodiments of the disclosure include systems and method for spinal cord stimulation. A spinal cord stimulator may comprise a pulse generator comprising electronic circuitry configured to generate output current; at least one lead in communication with the generator and configured to extend into the epidural space of a patient's spinal column; at least one electrode contact located proximate to a distal end of the at least one lead and configured to provide electric stimulation to a portion of a patient's spinal cord; and at least one sensor located along the at least one lead configured to determine a distance between the at least one lead and a surface of the patient's spinal cord, wherein the generator receives the determined distance, and wherein the generator is configured to adjust the stimulation provided by the at least one electrode contact based on the determined distance.

Systems and methods for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include at least one electrically stimulating electrode coupled to a pulse generator. Individuals with GERD are treated by implanting a stimulation device within and/or proximate the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, gastric fundus, or other nearby gastrointestinal structures and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and/or fundus, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. Electrical stimulation provided by the disclosed systems results in an increase in the length of the high pressure zone of the LES and/or modulation of the receptive relaxation response of the fundus to decrease gastric pressure, creating a longer barrier to the reflux of gastric contents or increasing functional lower esophageal pressure respectively, thereby treating GERD.