493 results about "Action potential" patented technology

Methods of using unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs) for cavernous nerve stimulation and for certain disorders are provided. Stimulators capable of creating such UPAPs include, but are not limited to, miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators), possibly with programmably configurable electrodes. In one aspect, a method includes providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes, disposing the electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along a cavernous nerve; and applying the stimulation to the cavernous nerve, thereby treating erectile dysfunction while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation.

A method for treating spasticity of a subject is provided, including driving a current into a nerve of the subject that includes one or more sensory fibers, and configuring the current so as to inhibit propagation of action potentials in one or more of the sensory fibers, so as to treat the spasticity. In a preferred embodiment, the sensory fibers include one or more Ia sensory fibers, and configuring the current includes configuring the current so as to inhibit propagation of the action potentials in at least one of the Ia sensory fibers.

Methods of using unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs) for vagus nerve stimulation and for certain disorders are provided. Stimulators capable of creating such UPAPs include, but are not limited to, miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators), possibly with programmably configurable electrodes.

A dual electrode arrangement, is provided, wherein two, preferably unidirectional, electrode configurations flank a nerve junction from which a preselected nerve branch issues, proximally and distally to the junction, with respect to the brain. The arrangement is conducive to the following: generating efferent action-potential propagations, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch, inhibiting afferent action-potential propagations, from the preselected nerve branch, selectively generating action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch, and selectively inhibiting action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch. The dual electrode arrangement is further conducive to monitoring naturally-occurring, efferent action-potential propagations, heading towards the preselected nerve branch, and monitoring naturally-occurring, afferent action-potential propagations, from the preselected nerve branch. The unidirectional electrode configurations may be monopolar, bipolar, tripolar, or multipolar. Communication with extracorporeal stations, and closed loop operations are also provided.

A neurostimulator system (170) stimulates excitable muscle or neural tissue through multiple electrodes (E1, E2, . . . En) fast enough to induce stochastic neural firing, thereby acting to restore “spontaneous” neural activity. The type of stimulation provided by the neurostimulator involves the use of a high rate, e.g., greater than about 2000 Hz, pulsatile stimulation signal generated by a high rate pulse generator (172). The stream of pulses generated by the high rate pulse generator is amplitude modulated in an output driver circuit (176) with control information, provided by a modulation control element (178). Such amplitude-modulated pulsatile stimulation exploits the subtle electro physiological differences between cells comprising excitable tissue in order to desynchronize action potentials within the population of excitable tissue. Such desynchronization induces a wider distribution of population thresholds, as well as a wider electrical dynamic range, thereby better mimicking biological recruitment characteristics.

The present invention addresses the foregoing problems associated with the prior art by providing a novel method and apparatus for, non-invasively detecting large nerve action potentials (NAPs) while effectively minimizing or substantially eliminating stimulus artifacts, even where the stimulation site and the detection site are in close physical proximity to one another, e.g., within about 2 cm of one another.