310 results about "Implantable Electrodes" patented technology

The present invention uses electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve to treat epilepsy with minimized or no effect on the heart. Treatment is carried out by an implantable signal generator, one or more implantable electrodes for electrically stimulating a predetermined stimulation site of the vagus nerve, and a sensor for sensing characteristics of the heart such as heart rate. The heart rate information from the sensor can be used to determine whether the vagus nerve stimulation is adversely affecting the heart. Once threshold parameters are met, the vagus nerve stimulation may be stopped or adjusted. In an alternative embodiment, the invention may include a modified pacemaker to maintain the heart in desired conditions during the vagus nerve stimulation. In yet another embodiment, the invention may be simply a modified pacemaker having circuitry that determines whether a vagus nerve is being stimulated. In the event that the vagus nerve is being stimulated, the modified pacemaker may control the heart to maintain it within desired conditions during the vagus nerve stimulation.

An implantable electrode paddle is adapted to receive an electrical signal from a medical device and generate an electrical field to stimulate selected body tissue. The paddle includes a housing including walls that define an interior space and a plurality of windows formed through at least a first one of the walls for transmitting the electrical field to the body tissue, an electrode array including a plurality of electrode groups, each electrode group including at least two electrodes individually secured in a respective window and spaced between about 0.1 mm and about 10 mm apart, and a plurality of wires, each of the wires being coupled to a respective electrode and routed within the interior space to receive the electrical signal. A lead assembly and an implantable medical device can include the paddle.

Cardiac monitoring and / or stimulation methods and systems that provide one or more of monitoring, diagnosing, defibrillation, and pacing. Cardiac signal separation is employed for automatic capture verification using cardiac activation sequence information. Devices and methods sense composite cardiac signals using implantable electrodes. A source separation is performed using the composite signals. One or more signal vectors are produced that are associated with all or a portion of one or more cardiac activation sequences based on the source separation. A cardiac response to the pacing pulses is classified using characteristics associated with cardiac signal vectors and the signals associated with the vectors. Further embodiments may involve classifying the cardiac response as capture or non-capture, fusion or intrinsic cardiac activity. The characteristics may include an angle or an angle change of the cardiac signal vectors, such as a predetermined range of angles of the one or more cardiac signal vectors.

An electrode array assembly with a frame that is foldable or bendable on which electrodes are disposed. The frame includes laterally spaced apart bridges. Tabs extend laterally outwardly from the bridges Electrodes are disposed on the tabs. Beams, also part of the frame, extend between the laterally adjacent bridges. The frame can be folded around the beams so as to cause the laterally spaced bridges to at least partially overlap. When the beams are so bent, the electrode carrying tabs extend beyond the bent beams.

Implantable fluid delivery systems and implantable electrodes are provided. The fluid delivery systems may include an implantable fluid source, a first catheter in fluid communication with the implantable fluid source, and an implantable micro-valve in fluid communication with the first catheter. The electrodes include a front end and back end for ease of implantation. One or more of the electrodes may be combined with a fluid delivery system to provide fluid to the body of a subject.

A method system for modulating the energy expenditure and / or the expressed brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain of an individual is performed by a system that includes a control device that generates a stimulation pattern from a predetermined set of stimulation parameters, and that converts the stimulation pattern into a stimulation signal. A stimulation signal delivery mechanism, configured for implantation into a selected part of the brain, receives the stimulation signal from the control device and delivers the signal to the selected part of the brain. The stimulation signal may be an electrical signal delivered by a brain-implantable electrode, or a chemical signal in the form of a drug dosage regimen delivered by an implantable micropump under the control of the control device. Modulation of the energy expenditure and / or BDNF is achieved by the stimulation of the hypothalamus, either directly or indirectly, by the stimulation signal.

A method for treating a patient with an obsession, a compulsion, an anxiety or a depression disorder, comprising applying chronic electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's anterior limb of the internal capsule under conditions effective to provide the patient with at least a partial relief from obsession and / or compulsion and / or anxiety and / or depression, by means of an electrical signal generator and at least an implantable electrode having a proximal end coupled to the said signal generator and a stimulation end capable of applying said chronic electrical stimulation, wherein the distance between the two outer contacts of the electrode corresponds to the depth of the internal capsule.A method is disclosed for treating a patient with an obsession, a compulsion, an anxiety or a depression disorder. The method comprises applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's anterior limb of the internal capsule or its surrounding structures including but not limited to the head of the caudate nucleus, putamen and nucleus accumbens. The electrical stimulation is applied by means of an electrical signal generator and at least an implantable electrode having a proximal end coupled to the signal generator and a stimulation end capable of applying electrical stimulation to the tissue.

Methods and devices for implanting pacing electrodes or other apparatus, or for delivering substances, to the heart of other tissues within the body. A guided tissue penetrating catheter is inserted into a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel) or into a body cavity or space (e.g., the pericardial space) and a penetrator is advanced from the catheter to a target location. In some embodiments, a substance or an apparatus (such as an electrode) may be delivered through a lumen in the penetrator. In other embodiments, a guidewire may be advanced through the penetrator, the penetrating catheter may then be removed and an apparatus (e.g., electrode) may then be advanced over that guidewire. Also disclosed are various implantable electrodes and electrode anchoring apparatus.

An implantable electrode assembly for gripping nerves or other bodily structures is disclosed. The assembly comprises first and second spines containing first and second leads with at least one electrode cross rail joining the spines and at least one electrode providing a route for electrical conduction between the first and second lead. Mating structures on the spines allow the spines to be joined for securely attaching the assembly around the nerve.

A method of making an implantable electrode array, adapted for insertion into a cochlea, includes the steps of: (a) forming electrode contact pieces made from a precious, biocompatible material into a desired shape; (b) attaching the electrode contact pieces to a foil sheet made from a non-toxic but chemically-active metal; (c) connecting a wiring system to the metal contact pieces; (d) molding a flexible polymer carrier around the electrode contact pieces and wiring system while such are held in place by the foil sheet; and (e) etching away the foil sheet, leaving the electrode contact pieces exposed at a surface of the molded polymer carrier. The exposed electrode contacts are made so as to have a shape, geometry, or makeup that aids in controlling the current flow and current density associated with the electrode contact as a function of position on the electrode contact.

Systems and methods for providing an electrical interface to a body are provided. In one embodiment, an implantable module is disclosed, comprising: an implantable electrode array, implantable within a body and capable of providing a plurality of communication channels for communicating electrical signals detected in a body; an amplifier circuit for processing electrical signals received from the electrode array; a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving telemetry data between the amplifier circuit and a wireless receiver located outside of the body; and a sealed enclosure that houses the amplifier circuit and the wireless transmitter and is biocompatible with surrounding tissue, the enclosure having a window that is transparent to a wireless medium used by the wireless transceiver. In another embodiment, a wireless transceiver and amplifier is detachably coupled to a transcutaneous attachment device, and the implantable electrode array is electrically coupled to the interface board via the transcutaneous attachment device.

A system is disclosed, for administering a therapeutic agent locally and to a depth within cardiac tissue. An elongate, flexible catheter contains a flexible electric conductor and supports at its distal end an implantable electrode incorporating a penetrating element, typically a fixation helix or a linear needle that penetrates cardiac tissue as the electrode is implanted. A therapeutic agent is delivered through the electrode, to the cardiac tissue surrounding the penetrating element. The electrode can act as a sensor, to monitor an electrical condition of the surrounding cardiac tissue, and to control delivery of the agent responsive to the sensed electrical condition. Several embodiments feature a distal reservoir adjacent the electrode for effecting transient deliveries of the therapeutic agent in minute quantities. Other embodiments are disclosed for providing sustained deliveries of the agents.