In one aspect, an apparatus for stimulating and/or monitoring a nerve is described herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a top substrate layer, a bottom substrate layer in facing opposition to the top substrate layer, and a channel disposed between the top substrate layer and the bottom substrate layer. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed on one or more interior surfaces of the channel. Additionally, the channel is defined by the top substrate layer, the bottom substrate layer, and a retaining wall extending at least partially between the top substrate layer and the bottom substrate layer. The retaining wall retains the nerve within the channel.

An implantable nerve stimulator is implanted in a patient near a nerve target. The implantable nerve stimulator has a plurality of electrodes through which stimulation is provided to the nerve target. The relative location of the nerve target and the electrodes may be determined by applying stimulation to the nerves via each of the electrodes, determining an effect of the stimulation for each of the electrodes, and mapping a location of the nerve relative to the electrodes based on the effect of the stimulation for each of the electrodes.

A closed-loop implantable neurostimulator system for mitigating chronic pain, the closed-loop implantable neurostimulator system including a neuromodulation device comprising one or more electrodes configured to measure a physiological signal of a subject and deliver an electrical stimulation signal to a target area in the subject and a controller, in communication with the one or more electrodes, comprising a processor and a computer-readable memory storing a trained healthy computer model, the controller configured to analyze the physiological signal that is measured using the trained healthy computer model to identify a corrective electrical stimulation signal that, when delivered by the one or more electrodes to the target area, reduces pathological neuronal events in the target area while preserving acute pain response.

A lead body is operable to be implanted proximate a target nerve tissue of a patient. A sensing electrode is configured to sense biopotentials over a first partial circumference of the lead body. A stimulation electrode is configured to deliver stimulation energy over a second partial circumference of the lead body. A signal generator is electrically coupled to the stimulation electrode and a sensing circuit is coupled to the sensing electrode. A processor is operable to apply a stimulation signal to the stimulation electrode via the signal generator and, via the sensing circuit, sense an evoked response to the stimulation signal that propagates along a neural pathway.

An implantable device for body tissue, including an electrical subsystem that flexes within and interfaces with body tissue and a carrier that operates in the following two modes: provides structural support for the electrical subsystem during implantation of the device in body tissue and allows flexing of the electrical subsystem after implantation of the device in body tissue. The implantable device is preferably designed to be implanted into the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, muscle, or any other suitable anatomical location. The implantable device, however, may be alternatively used in any suitable environment and for any suitable reason.

Methods and arrangements are described for developing a virtual channel matrix for mapping analysis channels to stimulation channels for a cochlear implant patient by selecting a stimulation channel and measuring the amplitude growth function for the selected stimulation channel in response to commands to the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation pulses for the stimulation channel, where each stimulation pulse comprises a negative and a positive phase separated in time by a first inter-phase-gap; and measuring the amplitude growth function for the selected stimulation channel in response to commands to the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation pulses for the stimulation channel, where each stimulation pulse comprises a negative and positive phase separated in time by a second inter-phase-gap and whereby the first and second inter-phase-gaps are different. Thereafter Determining the slopes of the measured amplitude growth functions for the stimulation channel measured with the first and second inter-phase-gaps, and calculating an indicator based at least in part on the difference of the slopes of the amplitude growth functions indicative of the local neural survival for that stimulation channel. Thereafter Repeating this process for each stimulation channel where an indicator shall be derived and selecting for the virtual channel matrix the stimulation channels with best local neural survival by optimizing a function based at least in part on the calculated indicators of the stimulation channels.

In a medical or surgical equipment for receiving signals or for outputting signals from or to organic signal transmitters or receivers (4), such as in particular nerves, wherein on or in at least one carrier strip (1) at least one signal transmitter (2) for signals from or signals to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4) is provided, which can be brought into contact with the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4), the carrier strip (1) is intended to change its shape when there is a change in a medium surrounding it or in a medium present in it or by a medium that can be introduced into it, in such a way that it adapts to the organic signal transmitter or receiver (4).

(FIG. 2)

A gastric electric stimulation (GES) system is disclosed which includes a processing system, and at least one of a left vagus nerve sensor (L/R Sensors) and a right vagus nerve sensor coupled to the processing system, the processing system is configured to receive a model which statistically correlates sensed compound nerve action potential (CNAP) parameters measured from at least one of left and right vagus nerves of subjects within a population to feedback surveys of the subjects corresponding to a plurality of gastric symptoms and symptom parameters, receive one or more gastric symptoms of a subject outside of the population (Subject.sub.out), determine CNAP parameters that correspond to the gastric symptoms with least severity (CNAP.sub.min), measure CNAP activity of the Subject.sub.out from the L/R sensors while modifying GES parameters for the Subject.sub.out, select the GES parameters that corresponds to the CNAP.sub.min (GES.sub.out), and output the GES.sub.out.

There is provided a nerve activity monitoring method that includes receiving an input signal indicative of activity in a nerve of a subject; receiving physiological data indicative of physiological activity in the subject; establishing a relationship between the physiological data and the input signal; identifying a plurality of periodic portions in the input signal based on the relationship between the physiological data and the input signal; and outputting the periodic portions identified.

A system and method for extracting a cardiac signal from a spinal signal include measuring a spinal signal at one or more electrodes that are connected to a neurostimulator and implanted within a patient's spinal canal and processing the spinal signal to extract the cardiac signal, which includes features that are representative of the patient's cardiac activity. Processing the spinal signal to extract the cardiac signal can include filtering the spinal signal, or use of model reduction schemes such as independent component analysis. The extracted cardiac signal can include a number of features that correspond to an electrocardiogram and can be used to determine the patient's heart rate and/or to detect a cardiac anomaly. Cardiac features that are determined from the cardiac signal can additionally be used to adjust parameters of the stimulation that is provided by the neurostimulator.