Abstract: A kit-of-parts for initiating an action by an active implantable medical device (AIMD) (1) implanted in a body of a patient triggered by an external triggering unit (11) located outside the body of the patient is provided. The kit-of-parts including, (A) the external triggering unit (11) including an external emitter (12) which includes one or more sources of light (12L) configured for emitting an optical starting signal (10), and (B) the AIMD (1) including an encapsulation unit (1e) defining an inner volume containing an action trigger configured for initiating an action by the AIMD (1), upon reception of the optical starting signal (10) from the external triggering unit (11). The action trigger is an optical action trigger (2) includes one or more photodetectors (2pv) facing a transparent wall portion (1t) and configured for transforming the optical starting signal (10) into an electrical signal to initiate the action by the AIMD.

Abstract: A kit-of-parts for visualizing by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique including a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique, regions of a central nervous system of a patient having an implanted active implantable medical device (AIMD) is provided. The kit-of-parts is provided and includes: the AIMD, which can be used exposed to the electromagnetic conditions for MR-images acquisition, an external processing unit for controlling the AIMD, an optical communication lead for establishing a two-way optical communication between the AIMD and an external communication unit which is controlled by the external processing unit. A patient having an implanted AIMD can be treated in a conventional MR-device for imaging, e.g., a brain region. The other elements of the kit-of-parts allow controlling the functions of the AIMD and following any effects of a stimulation on the brain region thus imaged.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device (AIMD), for electrical stimulation of a tissue includes a light source, lodged in an encapsulation unit, for delivering optical energy pulses of optical power (Popt). A stimulation optical fibre for transferring optical energy from the light source of the encapsulation unit to the tissue coupling unit is also provided. The tissue coupling unit is configured for being coupled to a tissue to be electrically stimulated by electrodes (65) belonging to an electrical circuit. The PV-unit includes Us units arranged in series, each unit having Pp photovoltaic cells (PV-cells) arranged in parallel. Us and Pp, ?N, and Us×Pp=N=constant. The electrical circuit includes switches configured for varying the values of Us and alternatively or concomitantly, the light source is an addressable optical emitters array.

Abstract: An active implantable stimulating device (10) includes: (a) a tissue coupling unit (40) for being implanted directly onto a vagus nerve (Vn) of a patient, (b) an EEG-unit (70) for measuring an electroencephalogram of the patient, (c) an encapsulation unit (50) configured for being subcutaneously implanted, (d) an energy transfer lead (30) for transferring pulses of electrical and/or optical energy, (e) a signal transfer lead (60) for transferring signals between the EEG unit and the encapsulation unit. EEG electrodes (70a-70d) monitor the electric activity of the brain of a patient. The EEG signal is conveyed to the electronic circuit (53) in the form of EEG conditioned data. The electronic circuit analyses the EEG conditioned data to yield analysis results. The electronic circuit takes a decision to trigger energy pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve (VN).

Abstract: An active implantable medical device (AIMD), for electrical stimulation of a tissue includes a light source, lodged in an encapsulation unit, for delivering optical energy pulses of optical power (Popt). A stimulation optical fibre for transferring optical energy from the light source of the encapsulation unit to the tissue coupling unit is also provided. The tissue coupling unit is configured for being coupled to a tissue to be electrically stimulated by electrodes (65) belonging to an electrical circuit. The PV-unit includes Us units arranged in series, each unit having Pp photovoltaic cells (PV-cells) arranged in parallel. Us and Pp, ?, and Us×Pp=N=constant. The electrical circuit includes switches configured for varying the values of Us and alternatively or concomitantly, the light source is an addressable optical emitters array.

Abstract: A kit-of-parts for initiating an action by an active implantable medical device (AIMD) (1) implanted in a body of a patient triggered by an external triggering unit (11) located outside the body of the patient is provided. The kit-of-parts including, (A) the external triggering unit (11) including an external emitter (12) which includes one or more sources of light (12L) configured for emitting an optical starting signal (10), and (B) the AIMD (1) including an encapsulation unit (1e) defining an inner volume containing an action trigger configured for initiating an action by the AIMD (1), upon reception of the optical starting signal (10) from the external triggering unit (11). The action trigger is an optical action trigger (2) includes one or more photodetectors (2pv) facing a transparent wall portion (1t) and configured for transforming the optical starting signal (10) into an electrical signal to initiate the action by the AIMD.

Abstract: A kit-of-parts for visualizing by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique including a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique, regions of a central nervous system of a patient having an implanted active implantable medical device (AIMD) is provided. The kit-of-parts is provided and includes: the AIMD, which can be used exposed to the electromagnetic conditions for MR-images acquisition, an external processing unit for controlling the AIMD, an optical communication lead for establishing a two-way optical communication between the AIMD and an external communication unit which is controlled by the external processing unit. A patient having an implanted AIMD can be treated in a conventional MR-device for imaging, e.g., a brain region. The other elements of the kit-of-parts allow controlling the functions of the AIMD and following any effects of a stimulation on the brain region thus imaged.

Abstract: An active implantable stimulating device (10) includes: (a) a tissue coupling unit (40) for being implanted directly onto a vagus nerve (Vn) of a patient, (b) an EEG-unit (70) for measuring an electroencephalogram of the patient, (c) an encapsulation unit (50) configured for being subcutaneously implanted, (d) an energy transfer lead (30) for transferring pulses of electrical and/or optical energy, (e) a signal transfer lead (60) for transferring signals between the EEG unit and the encapsulation unit. EEG electrodes (70a-70d) monitor the electric activity of the brain of a patient. The EEG signal is conveyed to the electronic circuit (53) in the form of EEG conditioned data. The electronic circuit analyses the EEG conditioned data to yield analysis results. The electronic circuit takes a decision to trigger energy pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve (VN).

Abstract: An active implantable medical device includes an encapsulation (1) defining an inner space sealingly separated from an outer environment by walls transparent to a given wavelength range. The walls have a first main wall (1a) and a second main wall (1b) facing one another and separated from one another by an inner height (Hi) of the inner space. An encapsulation includes a housing formed by a first component (2) and a second component (3) both made of a single material and hermetically joined to one another along a single interface (23) to define the inner space hermetically sealed by the walls from the outer environment. An inner space contains an electronic, and facing a wall of the encapsulation. wherein joining of the first component and second components (2, 3) is carried out by welding without addition of a third material, the inner space has a volume (Vi) of at least 2 cm3.

Abstract: An implantable cuff electrode and/or optrode adapted to encircle a substantially cylindrical body tissue, and selected among self sizing cuff and a split cylinder cuff, is provided and includes a support sheet rolled about a longitudinal axis to form a cuff electrode/optrode, with an inner handling flap provided that includes a coupled end belonging to a coupled portion which is fixed to a portion of the outer surface of the support sheet which is adjacent to the inner edge, and a free end, opposite the coupled end belonging to a free portion adjacent to the coupled portion and separated therefrom by a transition line, said free portion being loose from the outer surface of the support sheet.

Abstract: A polymer optical fibre (POF) (30) for transmitting light of wavelength, ?i, between two separate elements of an active implantable medical device (AIMD), includes a core (31) which is cylindrical and made of a cyclic olefin polymer (COP) or copolymer (COC), having a core refractive index at the wavelength, ?i, n_core, A cladding (32) which has a cladding refractive index at the wavelength, ?i, n_clad<n_core, and which is made of a cladding copolymer including monomers of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride. The cladding being itself enclosed in a coating (33) which is made of a coating polymer formed of one of the monomers of the cladding copolymer. The POF has a numerical aperture, NA, at the wavelength, ?i, of at least 0.5.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device includes an encapsulation (1) defining an inner space sealingly separated from an outer environment by walls transparent to a given wavelength range. The walls have a first main wall (1a) and a second main wall (1b) facing one another and separated from one another by an inner height (Hi) of the inner space. An encapsulation includes a housing formed by a first component (2) and a second component (3) both made of a single material and hermetically joined to one another along a single interface (23) to define the inner space hermetically sealed by the walls from the outer environment. An inner space contains an electronic, and facing a wall of the encapsulation. wherein joining of the first component and second components (2, 3) is carried out by welding without addition of a third material, the inner space has a volume (Vi) of at least 2 cm3.

Abstract: An optical fibres connector for an optoelectronic active implantable medical device (AIMD) for implantation in a living body is provided. The optical fibres connector includes a male component (M) coupled to a first set of optical fibres, a female component (F) coupled to a second set of optical fibres or optical elements, and a coupling component (C) for reversibly locking the male and female components in a coupled position. The optical fibres or optical elements are in perfect alignment. The coupling component includes a fixed element (40f) and a rotatable element (40r) all optical fibres (41f) and optical elements of the connector remaining static upon rotation of the rotatable element, reversibly locking the male and female components in the coupled position is achieved by rotating the rotatable element with respect to the fixed element.

Abstract: An implantable cuff electrode and/or optrode (40) adapted to encircle a substantially cylindrical tissue (70), is provided that includes a support sheet (43) rolled about a longitudinal axis, forming a cuff of inner diameter, Dc, and extending over a length, L a central portion, extending over a length, lc, of at least 50% of the length, L, and having a mean central thickness, tc, and wherein the central portion is flanked on either side by, a first edge portion (43e) of mean edge thickness, te1, and a second edge portion (43e) of mean edge thickness, te2, at least a first electrode contact or a first optrode exposed at an inner surface of the cuff, and remote from an outer surface forming the exterior of the cuff, Characterized in that, the mean edge thicknesses, te1, te2, of the first and second edge portions are each lower than tc.

Abstract: A kit of parts and method for the control of a delivery of an electric or electromagnetic pulse to a vagus nerve by an implanted stimulating device is provided. The kit of parts includes an implantable stimulating device (10) that includes a cuff electrode/optrode for being coupled to a vagus nerve (Vn) of a patient to be treated, and an encapsulation unit (50) suitable for being subcutaneously implanted at a location separated from the vagus nerve coupling unit (60), and enclosing an energy pulse generator (51s), for delivering electrical or optical energy pulses, and coupled to the cuff electrode/optrode by one or more electrical conductors (41e) and/or optical fibres (41f), an external controller device (100) of the kit includes laryngeal electrodes (161) suitable for being coupled to a laryngeal region (Lx) of a patient for measuring a laryngeal electrical activity at the laryngeal region, the laryngeal electrodes being coupled to an external control unit (150).

Abstract: An optoelectronic electrode element includes an electrode module (40) having at least a first and second electrodes (41, 42) each having an electrode surface (41s, 42s). An an optoelectronic module (20) is provided and having a photovoltaic cell (21a) suitable for transforming optical energy into electrical energy. A feeding fibre optic (31a) is also provided. A coupling module (10) is provided and having a circuit receiving portion (12) for inserting, positioning, and rigidly fixing the optoelectronic module (20) to the coupling module (10); and a feeding fibre cavity (11a) for inserting and coupling the feeding fibre optic to bring it in optimal optical communication with the photovoltaic cell. The coupling module (10) is coupled directly to a fixing area of the electrode module (40), such that the photovoltaic cell be in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes (41, 42).

Abstract: An implantable medical device is detailed that includes a housing enclosing an electronic circuit and source of power, and an optical unit sealingly coupled to the housing, the optical unit including a monolithic block made of a transparent ceramic material and comprising: a thin window defined by an inner surface and an outer surface, an outer mating structure for coupling a fiber optic to the monolithic block, and an inner mating structure for permanently coupling a light unit, and a light unit rigidly mounted in the inner mating structure of the monolithic block. The light unit includes a light element including one or more of an inner light source, and/or a photodetector, the light element and a fiber optic engaged in the outer mating structure are in alignment with a corresponding reference point located on the thin window.

Abstract: An implantable cuff electrode and/or optrode (40) adapted to encircle a substantially cylindrical tissue (70), is provided that includes a support sheet (43) rolled about a longitudinal axis, forming a cuff of inner diameter, Dc, and extending over a length, L a central portion, extending over a length, lc, of at least 50% of the length, L, and having a mean central thickness, tc, and wherein the central portion is flanked on either side by, a first edge portion (43e) of mean edge thickness, te1, and a second edge portion (43e) of mean edge thickness, te2, at least a first electrode contact or a first optrode exposed at an inner surface of the cuff, and remote from an outer surface forming the exterior of the cuff, Characterized in that, the mean edge thicknesses, te1, te2, of the first and second edge portions are each lower than the mean central thickness, tc,

Abstract: An optoelectronic electrode element includes an electrode module (40) having at least a first and second electrodes (41, 42) each having an electrode surface (41s, 42s). An an optoelectronic module (20) is provided and having a photovoltaic cell (21a) suitable for transforming optical energy into electrical energy. A feeding fibre optic (31a) is also provided. A coupling module (10) is provided and having a circuit receiving portion (12) for inserting, positioning, and rigidly fixing the optoelectronic module (20) to the coupling module (10); and a feeding fibre cavity (11a) for inserting and coupling the feeding fibre optic to bring it in optimal optical communication with the photovoltaic cell. The coupling module (10) is coupled directly to a fixing area of the electrode module (40), such that the photovoltaic cell be in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes (41, 42).

Abstract: A kit of parts and a system for centering an external element with respect to an implantable medical device is provided that includes: •An implantable medical device (20) for being implanted under the skin of a patient and having an internal housing with a light source (22) positioned such as to emit a light beam coaxial to a secondary axis (Z2), •An external element (10) having —a number, N>2, of photodetectors (12a-12d) forming a polygon of N edges, normal to a primary axis (Z1), and —an indicator (4) indicating how the external element is to be displaced over the the skin to position the external element with the primary axis (Z1), being coaxial with the secondary axis (Z2), as a function of the energy received by each of the N photodetectors. A corresponding method for aligning the external element and the implantable medical device are provided.