324 results about "Neural stimulation" patented technology

A neural stimulation system automatically corrects or adjusts the stimulus magnitude (stimulation energy) in order to maintain a comfortable and effective stimulation therapy. Because the changes in impedance associated with the electrode-tissue interface can indicate obstruction of current flow and positional lead displacement, lead impedance can indicate the quantity of electrical stimulation energy that should be delivered to the target neural tissue to provide corrective adjustment. Hence, a change in impedance or morphology of an impedance curve may be used in a feedback loop to indicate that the stimulation energy needs to be adjusted and the system can effectively auto correct the magnitude of stimulation energy to maintain a desired therapeutic effect.

A method for the treatment of obesity or other disorders by electrical activation or inhibition of nerves is disclosed. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by stimulating a nerve using an electrode. Dynamic stimulation through ramped cycling of electrical stimulation, stimulation frequency alteration, and / or duty cycle variance can produce therapeutic benefits.

A method and apparatus for treatment of an eating disorder includes electrically, mechanically and / or pharmaceutically / chemically stimulating a of the vagus nerve of the lower esophagus, cardia, esophageal / cardia junction, cardia / fundus junction or upper stomach so as to induce afferent action potentials on the vagus nerve. The device may be noninvasively adjusted after implantation to provide increased or decreased restriction on the patient's gastrointestinal tract. Each stimulus may be administered as a series of programmed pulses of defined amplitude, duration and period, to evoke a responsive signal to the brain by the target nerve, effective for producing a temporary feeling of satiety in the person. An implantable stimulus generator may be operatively coupled to a nerve electrode, pressure device or chemical outlet to apply a defined signal to a selected nerve branch. The implantable stimulus generator is programmable to allow clinician programming of defined signal parameters effective to treat the eating disorder of the patient. Methods are also provided to identify electrodes nearest to a branch of the vagus nerve to apply an electrical stimulation signal with improved efficiency.

The present invention relates to a neural stimulation delivery device to deliver electrical and / or chemical stimulation to target sites in the central and peripheral nervous system. The device generally includes a tubular body defining a plurality of ports along the longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of delivery structures insertable in the body, and a control mechanism in communication with the plurality of delivery structures to independently move each of the plurality of delivery structures through a respective one of the plurality of ports with respect to each other of the plurality of delivery structures. The ability of each delivery structure to be independently moveable through a respective port allows each delivery structure to be selectively advanced or retracted independent of the movement of another delivery structure.

A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.

A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.

Medical devices and methods are provided for electrical stimulation of neural tissue and controlled drug delivery to a patient. The device includes an implantable drug delivery module which comprises a plurality of reservoirs, a release system comprising at least one drug contained in each of the reservoirs, and control means for selectively releasing a pharmaceutically effective amount of drug from each reservoir; a neural electrical stimulator which comprises a signal generator connected to at least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of the patient; and at least one microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the neural electrical stimulator. The microcontroller may control the signal generator and the control means of the drug delivery module. The device may further include a sensor operable to deliver a signal to the microcontroller, for example to indicate when to deliver electrical stimulation, drug, or both.

An electrode array for neural stimulation is disclosed which has particular applications for use in a retinal prosthesis. The electrode array can be formed as a hermetically-sealed two-part ceramic package which includes an electronic circuit such as a demultiplexer circuit encapsulated therein. A relatively large number (up to 1000 or more) of individually-addressable electrodes are provided on a curved surface of a ceramic base portion the electrode array, while a much smaller number of electrical connections are provided on a ceramic lid of the electrode array. The base and lid can be attached using a metal-to-metal seal formed by laser brazing. Electrical connections to the electrode array can be provided by a flexible ribbon cable which can also be used to secure the electrode array in place.

Systems and methods are described for treating metabolic syndrome and / or Type 2 diabetes, and / or one or more of their attendant conditions, by neural stimulation. In one embodiment, an implantable pulse generator is electrically coupled to a peripheral nerve, such as the splanchnic nerve. Neural stimulation configured to either block transmission or stimulate transmission of the peripheral nerve may be used to treat metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.

An implantable neural stimulation system, such as an auditory Fully Implantable System (FIS), includes: (1) an implanted device capable of providing desired tissue or nerve stimulation; and (2) a remote control unit that provides a mechanism for readily controlling the implant device, i.e., for selectively adjusting certain stimulation parameters associated with the tissue stimulation of the implanted device. The remote control unit uses a first signal path to send signals to the implant device, and a second signal path to receive signals from the implant device. The combination of these two signal paths provides a full-duplex channel between the remote control unit and the implant device through which air appropriate control and status signals may be sent and received. In one embodiment, the first signal path comprises an audio signal path through which audio control signals, e.g., a tone sequence or a 32-bit word FSK modulated between 300 and 1200 Hz, are sent; and the second signal path comprises a RF signal path through which a BPSK, QPSK or FM modulated RF signal is received. The full-duplex channel allows operation of the remote control unit, i.e., allows signals to be successfully sent to and received from the implant device, from as far away as 45-60 cm from the implant device.

Techniques for varying stimulus parameters used in neural stimulation to improve therapy efficacy, minimize energy consumption, minimize undesired side effects, and minimize loss of therapeutic effectiveness due to physiologic tolerance to stimulation. Neural stimulation is provided having a stimulation amplitude, a stimulation frequency, a stimulation pulse duration, an electrode-firing pattern, and a set of electrode-firing-polarity conditions. At least one of the stimulation parameters is pseudo-randomly varied. A second stimulation parameter is changed based upon having pseudo-randomly varied the first stimulation parameter and based upon a predetermined relationship specifying how changes in the first parameter affect desirable values for the second parameter.

An electrode device is configured to be coupled to a parasympathetic site of a subject. A control unit is configured to drive the electrode device to apply a current in bursts of one or more pulses, during “on” periods that alternate with low stimulation periods, wherein at least one of the low stimulation periods immediately following the at least one of the “on” periods has a low stimulation duration equal to at least 50% of the “on” duration; set the current applied on average during the low stimulation periods to be less than 20% of the current applied on average during the “on” periods; and ramp a number of pulses per burst during a commencement of the at least one of the “on” periods and / or a conclusion of the at least one of the “on” periods.

An implantable lead having at least one electrode contact at or near its distal end prevents undesirable movement of the electrode contact from its initial implant location. One embodiment relates to a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) lead. A balloon may be positioned on the electrode lead array. The balloon is filled with air, liquid or a compliant material. When inflated, the balloon stabilizes the lead with respect to the spinal cord and holds the lead in place. The pressure of the balloon is monitored or otherwise controlled during the filling process in order to determine at what point the filling process should be discontinued. An elastic aspect of the balloon serves as a contained relief valve to limit the pressure the balloon may place on the surrounding tissues when the epidural space is constrained.

Apparatus for treating a condition of a subject is provided. An electrode device is adapted to be coupled to longitudinal nervous tissue of the subject, and a control unit is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nervous tissue a current which is capable of inducing action potentials that propagate in the nervous tissue in a first direction, so as to treat the condition. The control unit is further adapted to suppress action potentials from propagating in the nervous tissue in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Methods and systems for improving nerve stimulation are disclosed and are termed enhanced transcutaneous electrical stimulation (eTENS). One embodiment can be used for enhancing the excitation properties of neural tissue. In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided to enable the selective modulation of specific (targeted) neural substrate, while minimizing the activation of adjacent (non-targeted) nervous tissue, or differentially providing different modulation signals to tissue targeted by different implants. In one embodiment, the system consists of an implant that is used to modify the extracellular potential (i.e. activating function) generated by an independent electrical stimulus generator. Certain aspects of this technology can be applied to any part of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Particular embodiments of this technology provide for therapy related to urological disorders.

Described herein are devices, systems and methods for determining if a nerve is nearby a device or portion of a device. The neural stimulation tools described herein are configured to be flexible and low-profile, so that they can be used within body regions that may be tortuous or difficult to reach, such as within a compressed or partially occluded neural foramen. In most cases, these tools described herein are ribbon-shaped and adapted to be manipulated bimanually, for example, by applying force to the ends of the devices from separate locations outside of the patient's body. Thus, in some of the exemplary neural localization devices described herein, the distal end region of the device are configured to couple to the proximal end of a guidewire. One or more surfaces of the devices may include an electrode or multi-polar network of electrodes configured to stimulate only nerves within a predetermined distance of a particular face of the device.

Stuttering-treatment techniques using neural stimulation and / or drug delivery. One or more electrodes and / or a catheter are implanted adjacent to sites in the brain. A signal generator and the electrode deliver stimulation to a first site. A pump and the catheter deliver one or more therapeutic drugs to a second site. The first and second sites could be: the supplementary motor area, the centromedian circuit, the dorsomedial nuclei, the lateral prefrontal circuit, or other paramedian thalamic and midbrain nuclei. The stuttering treatment could be performed via periodic transcranial magnetic stimulation. A sensor, located near the patient's vocal folds, can be used for generating a signal responsive to activity of the patient's speech-producing muscles. A controller adjusts one or more stimulation parameters in response to the signal from the sensor.

This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods that detect hypotension based on a measurement of thoracic impedance. It also provides an alert, a logging, or a therapy to treat the hypotension. Examples of anti-hypotension therapies include, among other things, pacing therapy, neural stimulation therapy, drug infusion therapy, or gene therapy.

A system and method to treat neural communication impairment is provided. The neural communication impairment is present in a neural pathway, which can be a cortico-neuromuscular pathway, an intra-brain neural pathway, or in a sensory-cortico pathway. A synchronized external stimulation is applied to a first point in proximity to a first neural component at one end of the neural pathway and to a second point in proximity to a second neural component at the other end of the neural pathway. Two induced neural handshake signals contemporaneously arrive at a neural communication impairment point in the neural pathway, triggering and stimulating a rehabilitation process by which the neural connection is permanently improved. The synchronized applied electrical signals applied to the first and second points may have an opposite polarity in dipolar neural stimulation, or may have identical polarity and waveform in in-phase neural stimulation.

Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, or cortical stimulation many purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow. Common flexible circuit fabrication techniques generally require that a flexible circuit electrode array be made flat. Since neural tissue is almost never flat, a flat array will necessarily apply uneven pressure. Further, the edges of a flexible circuit polymer array may be sharp and cut the delicate neural tissue. By applying the right amount of heat to a completed array, a curve can be induced. With a thermoplastic polymer it may be further advantageous to repeatedly heat the flexible circuit in multiple molds, each with a decreasing radius. Further, it is advantageous to add material along the edges. It is further advantageous to provide a fold or twist in the flexible circuit array. Additional material may be added inside and outside the fold to promote a good seal with tissue.

Neural stimulation devices are described that detect the neural activity from the spinal cord in a semi-invasive manner, where the device comprises at least one antenna array comprising an antenna. The antenna of the array is in electrical communication with the spinal cord of the patient. A device comprising more than one antenna array can be used to detect the neural signal strength, as well as the velocity and directionality of the signal.

An improved electrode for neural stimulation, including deep brain stimulation, cortical stimulation, muscle stimulation and other similar applications. The improvement of our invention over prior art consisting of the possibility of a larger number of electrode pads from where to originate the electrical stimulation, thereby offering the possibility of fine control of the location of the stimulating signal. Our invention discloses a system of address wires which controls switches and demultiplexers to select one of a plurality of wires and one of a plurality of electrode pads from where the electric stimulation starts, and latches that maintain some selected choices after the address buses go on to select other wires and other electrode tips. Our invention also discloses time delay lines which are used to keep the stimulating pulses for a pre-assigned time, after which the stimulating pulses stop until further instruction to start again.

A method is described to allow for better selection of electrodes for neural stimulation, for example in a cochlear implant. A series of stimuli, at different stimulation levels, are provided at each electrode to be tested, and the neural response to each stimulus is measured, using an implanted electrode. A value is then calculated relating stimulus level to response, to allow the relative responsiveness of electrodes to be determined. This can then be used as the basis for a stimulation map used to select which electrodes are stimulated and at what level.

The objective of the current invention is to restore color vision, in whole or in part, by electrically stimulating undamaged retinal cells, which remain in patients with, lost or degraded visual function. The invention is a retinal color prosthesis. Functionally, There are three main parts to this invention. One is external to the eye. The second part is internal to the eye. The third part is means for communication between those two parts. The external part has subsystems. These include an external imaging means, an eye-tracker, a head-motion tracker, a data processor, a patient's controller, a physician's local controller, a physician's remote controller, and a telemetry means. The imaging means may include a CCD or CMOS video camera. It gathers an image of what the eyes would be seeing if they were functional.Color information is acquired by the imaging means. The color data is processed in the video data processing unit. The color information is encoded by time sequences of pulses separated by varying amounts of time, and also with the pulse duration being varied in time. The basis for the color encoding is the individual color code reference. Direct color stimulation is another operational basis for providing color perception. The electrodes stimulate the target cells so as to create a color image for the patient, corresponding to the original image as seen by the video camera, or other imaging means.The physician's test unit can be used to set up or evaluate and test the implant during or soon after implantation at the patient's bedside.

A flexible circuit electrode array with more than one layer of metal traces comprising: a polymer base layer; more than one layer of metal traces, separated by polymer layers, deposited on said polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue; and a polymer top layer deposited on said polymer base layer and said metal traces. Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, or cortical stimulation many purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow.

In electrically stimulating neural tissue it is important to prevent over stimulation and unbalanced stimulation which would cause damage to the neural tissue, the electrode, or both. It is critical that neural tissue in not subjected to any direct current or alternating current above a safe threshold. Further, it is important to identify defective electrodes as continued use may result in neural and further electrode damage. The present invention presents system and stimulator control mechanisms to prevent damage to neural tissue.

A neural stimulation therapy system for atherosclerotic plaques is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to a medical device for applying neural stimulation therapy for atherosclerotic plaques. The device includes a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through at least one electrode to an autonomic neural target. The device also includes a controller to control the neural stimulator to provide a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques. The device is external to a human body in an embodiment, and includes an implantable medical device (IMD) in various embodiments. According to an embodiment, the device includes a neural stimulation lead connected to the neural stimulator. The neural stimulator delivers electrical signals with waveform parameters based on sensed arterial blockage levels, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Devices, systems and methods that comprise or utilize implantable electrode arrays for neural stimulation and / or sensing. In some embodiments, the electrode array is implanted or inserted into the auditory nerve and is used to deliver electrical impulses to / receive data from the auditory nerve in the treatment of hearing disorders.