The present disclosure relates to methods, devices and systems used for the treatment of medical disorders via stimulation of the superficial elements of the trigeminal nerve. More specifically, cutaneous methods of stimulation of the superficial branches of the trigeminal nerve located extracranially in the face, namely the supraorbital, supratrochlear, infraorbital, auriculotemporal, zygomaticotemporal, zygomaticoorbital, zygomaticofacial, infraorbital, nasal and mentalis nerves (also referred to collectively as the superficial trigeminal nerve) are disclosed herein.

Devices and methods for manipulating devices such as micro-scale devices are provided. The devices can include a tether of various materials surrounded by a stiff body. The tether interfaces with microscale devices to draw them against the stiff body, holding the microscale devices in a locked position for insertion into or extraction out of tissue. The tensional hook and stiff body are configurable in a multitude of positions and geometries to provide increased engagement. Such configurations allow for a range of implantation and extraction surgical procedures for the device within research and clinical settings.

Disclosed is a method of enhancing exposure therapy including providing an exposure therapy to a patient and stimulating the patient's vagus nerve at the same time as the exposure therapy. Also disclosed is a post-traumatic stress disorder therapy method including providing an exposure event to a patient and stimulating the patient's vagus nerve during the exposure event. Also disclosed is a phobia disorder therapy method including providing an extinction event to a patient and stimulating the patient's vagus nerve during the exposure event. Also disclosed is an obsessive compulsive disorder therapy method including providing a therapy event to a patient and stimulating the patient's vagus nerve during the therapy event. Also disclosed is an addiction disorder therapy method including providing a therapy event to a patient and stimulating the patient's vagus nerve during the therapy event.

Devices and methods for manipulating devices such as micro-scale devices are provided. The devices can include a tether of various materials surrounded by a stiff body. The tether interfaces with microscale devices to draw them against the stiff body, holding the microscale devices in a locked position for insertion into or extraction out of tissue. The tensional hook and stiff body are configurable in a multitude of positions and geometries to provide increased engagement. Such configurations allow for a range of implantation and extraction surgical procedures for the device within research and clinical settings.

Systems including intra-calvarial implants and/or subdermal implants are capable of stimulating cortical regions and sensing and electrical signals is implanted within or on a calvarial bone of a skull. The implants have current steering capability to change the current density profiles applied to selected cortical regions underlying the implant. The systems may track changes in the position and/or spatial parameters of a neural network by recording cortical electrical signals and processing them to compute the values of one or more network activity biomarkers. The systems may spatially track changes detected in network anatomical position and deliver the stimulation of the cortex to the network detected position by using current steering methods.

A therapy method (for a patient having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) includes: providing an exposure event, to the patient, which is related to a traumatic event that contributed to the PTSD; and, during a therapy session which includes the exposure event, applying vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). A therapy method (for a patient having a given disorder, e.g., a phobia disorder or an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or an addiction disorder) includes: providing a therapy event (e.g., an extinction event for a phobia disorder), to the patient, which is related to one or more things that contributed to the given disorder; and during a therapy session which includes the therapy event, applying VNS.

The present invention provides, inter alia, methods, apparatus, and systems useful for ameliorating impulse control disorders known to be extremely disabling and common to many neurological and psychiatric conditions using closed-loop (responsive) neuro stimulation.

The present disclosure relates to methods, devices and systems used for the treatment of medical disorders via stimulation of the superficial elements of the trigeminal nerve. More specifically, minimally invasive systems, devices and methods of stimulation of the superficial branches of the trigeminal nerve located extracranially in the face, namely the supraorbital, supratrochlear, infraorbital, auriculotemporal, zygomaticotemporal, zygomaticoorbital, zygomaticofacial, nasal and mentalis nerves (also referred to collectively as the superficial trigeminal nerve) are disclosed herein.

Selective high-frequency spinal chord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side affects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal chord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side affects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.

Selective high-frequency spinal chord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side affects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal chord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side affects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.