Patent classifications
A61N1/36182
Method and apparatus for tagging stimulation field models with associated stimulation effect types
An example of a system for programming neurostimulation according to a stimulation configuration may include stimulation configuration circuitry, volume definition circuitry, stimulation effect circuitry, and recording circuitry. The stimulation configuration circuitry may be configured to determine the stimulation configuration. The volume definition circuitry may be configured to determine stimulation field model(s) (SFM(s)) each representing a volume of tissue activated by the neurostimulation. The stimulation effect circuitry may be configured to determine a stimulation effect type for each tagging point specified for the SFM(s) and to tag the SFM(s) at each tagging point with the stimulation effect type determined for that tagging point. The stimulation effect type for each tagging point is a type of stimulation resulting from the neurostimulation as measured at that tagging point. The recording circuitry may be configured to generate SFM data representing the determined SFM(s) with the stimulation effect type tagged at each tagging point.
IMPLANTABLE LEAD
An implantable wireless lead includes an enclosure, the enclosure housing: one or more electrodes configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to a neural tissue; a first antenna configured to: receive, from a second antenna and through electrical radiative coupling, an input signal containing electrical energy, the second antenna being physically separate from the implantable neural stimulator lead; one or more circuits electrically connected to the first antenna, the circuits configured to: create the one or more electrical pulses suitable for stimulation of the neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal; and supply the one or more electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes, wherein the enclosure is shaped and arranged for delivery into a subject's body through an introducer or a needle.
Apparatus and methods for assisted breathing by transvascular nerve stimulation
A catheter may include electrodes for transvascular nerve stimulation. The electrodes may be positioned within lumens of the catheter and aligned with apertures in the outer wall of the catheter. The electrodes may produce focused electrical fields for stimulation of one or more nerves. In one embodiment, the catheter may include a set of proximal electrodes and a set of distal electrodes, and the proximal electrodes may stimulate a patient's left phrenic nerve and the distal electrodes may stimulate a patient's right phrenic nerve.
Segmented ring electrode
One aspect is a process for producing a segmented electrode, including providing a pipe made of metal having an outer side and an inner side, wherein the inner side of the pipe forms a hollow space. A support structure is arranged in the hollow space, so that the support structure mechanically stabilizes the pipe. Intermediate spaces are formed in the pipe, which define a plurality of segments in the pipe. An electrically insulating material is introduced into the intermediate spaces and thus forming electrically insulating areas, wherein a boundary layer is in each case defined between the segments and the areas. The pipe is cut so that several segmented ring-shaped electrodes are formed therefrom. The support structure is removed from the pipe.
Precise Targeting in a Spinal Cord Stimulation System
Systems and methods are disclosed to permit a patient to use his external controller to move the location of stimulation in an implantable stimulator system. The external controller can be programmed with a steering algorithm, which prompts the patient to enter certain data regarding their symptoms (e.g., pain), such as pain scores and stimulation coverage. Such data is preferably entered for a plurality of different regions of the patient's body. The algorithm can compute for each body regions a targeting precision value (TP), and from these values determine a steering vector D that suggests a direction and/or a magnitude that stimulation can be moved in the electrode array to more precisely target the patient's pain. The patient may then move the location of the stimulation in accordance with the steering vector using their external controller. The algorithm can be repeated if necessary to again move the stimulation.
Methods and systems for discrete measurement of electrical characteristics
An electrical stimulation system includes at least one electrical stimulation lead, each of the at least one electrical stimulation lead including a plurality of stimulation electrodes; and a processor coupled to the lead and configured to perform actions, including: directing delivery of at least one electrical pulse through at least one of the stimulation electrodes of the at least one electrical stimulation lead to tissue of a patient; and directing discrete or intermittent measurement of an electrical characteristic of the tissue using at least one of the stimulation electrodes of the at least one electrical stimulation lead during, and after, delivery of the at least one electrical pulse to the tissue of the patient.
Stimulation configuration variation to control evoked temporal patterns
Methods and systems for programming stimulation parameters for an implantable medical device for neuromodulation, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS) are disclosed. The stimulation parameters define user-configured waveforms having at least a first phase having a first polarity and a second phase having a second polarity, wherein the first and second phases are separated by an interphase interval (IPI). By delivering user-configured waveforms with different IPIs, stimulation geometry, and other waveform settings, therapeutic asynchronous activation of dorsal column fibers can be obtained.
Method and system for optimisation of DBS programming
A method and system are described for, based upon a plurality of previously-acquired directional LFP signals measured in a plurality of different directions at a directional sensor lead located in a predetermined region of a patient's brain, determining optimised patient-specific programming parameters for programming a directional stimulation lead with parameters for stimulating the said region. The method comprises a first step of determining, over at least one predetermined frequency range, a power-frequency variation curve of each of the directional LFP signals, a second step of identifying frequency peaks in the power-frequency variation curves, a third step of detecting one of the identified frequency peaks at which a maximum difference in signal power between the directional LFP signals occurs, and a fourth step of calculating a plurality of directional stimulation weighting factors on the basis of the relative signal powers of the directional LFP signals at the detected frequency peak.
Selective Stimulation of Peripheral Nerves
Methods and systems for providing peripheral nerve stimulation are disclosed. Stimulation is delivered to a trunk of the nerve using electrodes configured at different circumferential locations about the nerve. Action potentials evoked by the stimulation within branches of the nerve are measured to map neural element within the trunk to the branches. The mapping can inform the selection of stimulation parameters that provide a therapeutic benefit and/or avoid unwanted side effects.
Techniques to Allow Patient Control of the Location in an Electrode Array at Which Sub-Perception Stimulation is Provided to Spinal Neural Tissue of a Patient
A patient external controller is provided for controlling sub-perception stimulation provided by a patients implantable stimulator device having an electrode array. Control circuitry in the controller renders a graphical user interface (GUI), including a location at which the sub-perception stimulation is provided within the electrode array, and a pre-defined region in which the location can be moved. The pre-defined region may be constrained to less than the entire electrode array. The control circuitry receives one or more first inputs to move the location of the sub-perception stimulation within the region and to program the stimulator to move the sub-perception stimulation to the moved location in the electrode array. The control circuitry can enable adjustment of an amplitude of the sub-perception stimulation to a value that is less than or equal to a perception threshold. Once moved, the sub-perception stimulation an be stored as a second stimulation program.