Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that monitors and detects obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The system includes an oropharynx protection appliance (12), which includes a passive tongue retention structure (13) having an end portion adapted to prevent a pharyngeal portion of a tongue of a subject from collapsing and at least one anchoring structure (15) that is connected to the passive tongue retention structure and adapted to secure the passive tongue retention structure within the subject's mouth in a removable fashion. The system also includes a sensing system (14) attached to a portion of the oropharynx apparatus. The sensing system includes a sensor (16) to measure a position of the pharyngeal portion of the tongue to detect an obstruction of the oropharynx; and a wireless transceiver (17) to transmit data related to the obstruction of the oropharynx to a remote diagnostic device (18).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an entity in response to activity in a peripheral nerve comprising a plurality of fascicles. A multicontact electrode assembly is configured to record activity from the peripheral nerve. A processing component includes a sensor mapping component configured to quantify activity associated with a proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, an evaluation component configured to determine an adjustment of the status of the controlled entity from the quantified activity of the proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, and a controller configured to provide a control signal, representing the adjustment of the status of the controlled entity, to the controlled entity.

Abstract: A closed loop control system automatically ensures that an output of a device is constant. The system can receive an input to set a fixed value for a variable (e.g., a current, a heart rate, a tissue perfusion, an ion level, etc.), and this variable can be delivered to a feedback component. The system can also include the device to deliver the variable to a load. The feedback component can be coupled to the delivery device to sample the output of the delivery device at different times. Based on the sampling, the feedback component can vary a property of the delivery device related to the delivery of the variable to the load to ensure that the variable remains constant at the fixed value. In some instances, the system can be implemented as a stimulator that delivers the constant current of a current source and has a low output impedance of a voltage source.

Abstract: A system for functional electrical stimulation can include a cuff and a stimulation device. The cuff can be attachable to a nerve or a muscle filament. The cuff can include an elastic collar configured to exert a force on the nerve or the muscle filament to reshape the nerve or the muscle filament to the internal configuration of an opening in the elastic collar. The stimulation device can be coupled to the cuff and configured to provide a stimulation waveform to the cuff.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure can include an intrafascicular neural electrode. The intrafascicular neural electrode can include a microwire body having a proximal end, a distal anchoring end, and a middle portion extending between the proximal end and the distal anchoring end. The distal anchoring end can substantially match the mechanical and biological properties of the target nerve. The microwire body can have a middle anchoring portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein at least a portion of the distal end and/or the middle anchoring portion substantially match(es) the mechanical and biological properties of the target nerve. The electrode can be made of graphene. The microwire body, except for the distal anchoring end, can be coated with an insulation material, preferably with a biocompatible agent adsorbed onto the insulation material.

Abstract: Methods of treating pain are disclosed, wherein a non-pulsed, low-frequency electrical current is applied to the nerve carrying the pain signals in order to suppress transmission of those signals. In desired embodiments, the current is applied in a direction transverse to the nerve axis. Such currents have been found not to induce motor-neuron recruitment, meaning these methods can treat pain without causing muscle spasm or other muscular responses. A cuff for applying such a current transverse to the nerve axis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an electrode for monitoring electrical activity in a nerve are provided along with a method of fabricating such an electrode. The electrode includes a cuff formed from a chronically-implantable material that, when implanted, extends at least partially around an external periphery of the nerve. A plurality of contacts are supported by the cuff to be arranged adjacent to different regions of the nerve distributed along a transverse direction of the nerve when the cuff is implanted. A multiplexer is coupled to the cuff to be implanted for receiving electrical signals introduced to the contacts by the nerve and multiplexing, in vivo, the electrical signals to be transmitted to an external receiver over a shared communication channel.

Abstract: A method and an electrode for monitoring electrical activity in a nerve are provided along with a method of fabricating such an electrode. The electrode includes a cuff formed from a chronically-implantable material that, when implanted, extends at least partially around an external periphery of the nerve. A plurality of contacts are supported by the cuff to be arranged adjacent to different regions of the nerve distributed along a transverse direction of the nerve when the cuff is implanted. A multiplexer is coupled to the cuff to be implanted for receiving electrical signals introduced to the contacts by the nerve and multiplexing, in vivo, the electrical signals to be transmitted to an external receiver over a shared communication channel.

Abstract: Methods of treating pain are disclosed, wherein a non-pulsed, low-frequency electrical current is applied to the nerve carrying the pain signals in order to suppress transmission of those signals. In desired embodiments, the current is applied in a direction transverse to the nerve axis. Such currents have been found not to induce motor-neuron recruitment, meaning these methods can treat pain without causing muscle spasm or other muscular responses. A cuff for applying such a current transverse to the nerve axis is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclose generally relates to a system that controls blood pressure based on feedback-based neural stimulation. The system can include an electrode implantable within a nerve (e.g., an intra-fascicular electrode). The system can also include a hermetically-sealed electronics module connected to the electrode to record data related to neural activity from the nerve. The data related to the neural activity is indicative of the blood pressure. The system can also include an external device to communicate with the hermetically-sealed electronics module to receive and analyze the data related to the neural activity.

Abstract: The present disclose generally relates to a multichannel low-noise amplifier. At each input to the multichannel low-noise amplifiers, a plurality of transistors can be connected in parallel. This parallel connection decreases the voltage noise beyond what is possible using a single input transistor at each input. As an additional benefit, the initial operating region of the input transistors is not changed. The multichannel low-noise amplifier can be incorporated on a single integrated circuit chip to amplify biological signals to facilitate selective recording of a property (e.g., amplifying neural signals to facilitate selective recording of neural activity).

Abstract: A system for functional electrical stimulation can include a cuff and a stimulation device. The cuff can be attachable to a nerve or a muscle filament. The cuff can include an elastic collar configured to exert a force on the nerve or the muscle filament to reshape the nerve or the muscle filament to the internal configuration of an opening in the elastic collar. The stimulation device can be coupled to the cuff and configured to provide a stimulation waveform to the cuff.

Abstract: A flat interface nerve electrode provides a plurality of electrical contacts embedded in a non-conductive cuff structure, which acts to gently and non-evasively redefine the geometry of a nerve through the application of a force acting on the nerve without causing damage to the nerve. The cuff is open at one side and has a connection to a lead at the other side. During implantation the open sides of the cuff are closed so as to capture the nerve in the cuff in a single motion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an entity in response to activity in a peripheral nerve comprising a plurality of fascicles. A multicontact electrode assembly is configured to record activity from the peripheral nerve. A processing component includes a sensor mapping component configured to quantify activity associated with a proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, an evaluation component configured to determine an adjustment of the status of the controlled entity from the quantified activity of the proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, and a controller configured to provide a control signal, representing the adjustment of the status of the controlled entity, to the controlled entity.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure can include a method for implanting a neural electrode in a fascicle including a target nerve. One step of the method can include inserting a microwire assembly into the fascicle. The microwire assembly can comprise a microwire body that is coiled around a needle introducer. Next, a portion of the microwire body can be uncoiled from around the needle introducer so that a distal end of the microwire body retains a spiral-shaped configuration. The needle introducer can then be withdrawn so that the spiral-shaped distal end of the microwire body remains implanted in the fascicle.

Abstract: A closed loop control system automatically ensures that an output of a device is constant. The system can receive an input to set a fixed value for a variable (e.g., a current, a heart rate, a tissue perfusion, an ion level, etc.), and this variable can be delivered to a feedback component. The system can also include the device to deliver the variable to a load. The feedback component can be coupled to the delivery device to sample the output of the delivery device at different times. Based on the sampling, the feedback component can vary a property of the delivery device related to the delivery of the variable to the load to ensure that the variable remains constant at the fixed value. In some instances, the system can be implemented as a stimulator that delivers the constant current of a current source and has a low output impedance of a voltage source.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an entity in response to activity in a peripheral nerve comprising a plurality of fascicles. A multicontact electrode assembly is configured to record activity from the peripheral nerve. A processing component includes a sensor mapping component configured to quantify activity associated with a proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, an evaluation component configured to determine an adjustment of the status of the controlled entity from the quantified activity of the proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, and a controller configured to provide a control signal, representing the adjustment of the status of the controlled entity, to the controlled entity.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system to facilitate at home neural monitoring. The system can include a wearable device and an external device. The wearable device can include an electrode configured to be placed behind a patient's ear to record an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal; an amplifier to amplify the EEG signal; a battery; and a wireless transmission system to transmit the amplified EEG signal. The external device can be configured to receive the amplified EEG signal and to perform analysis of the amplified EEG signal. In some instances, the external device can also provide neural stimulation (e.g., acoustic, visual, or electrical) to the wearable device in response to analysis of the amplified EEG signal.

Abstract: Methods of treating pain are disclosed, wherein a non-pulsed, low-frequency electrical current is applied to the nerve carrying the pain signals in order to suppress transmission of those signals. In desired embodiments, the current is applied in a direction transverse to the nerve axis. Such currents have been found not to induce motor-neuron recruitment, meaning these methods can treat pain without causing muscle spasm or other muscular responses. A cuff for applying such a current transverse to the nerve axis is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of treating pain are disclosed, wherein a non-pulsed, low-frequency electrical current is applied to the nerve carrying the pain signals in order to suppress transmission of those signals. In desired embodiments, the current is applied in a direction transverse to the nerve axis. Such currents have been found not to induce motor-neuron recruitment, meaning these methods can treat pain without causing muscle spasm or other muscular responses. A cuff for applying such a current transverse to the nerve axis is also disclosed.