Abstract: Thrombolytic and/or anticoagulation therapy of the present invention includes implantation of the discharge portion(s) of a catheter and, optionally, one or more electrodes on a lead, adjacent tissue(s) to be stimulated. Stimulation pulses, i.e., drug infusion pulses and optional electrical pulses, are supplied by a stimulator implanted remotely, and through the catheter or lead, which is tunneled subcutaneously between the stimulator and stimulation site. Stimulation sites include the coronary arteries, coronary veins, cerebral arteries, other blood vessels, chambers of the heart, mesenteric vessels, deep vessels of the leg, and other locations. Disclosed treatments include drugs used for chronic treatment and/or prevention of thromboembolic disease, for acute treatment of thromboembolic disease, for acute treatment of thrombosis, and combinations of these.

Abstract: A spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system includes multiple electrodes, multiple, independently programmable, stimulation channels within an implantable pulse generator (IPG) which channels can provide concurrent, but unique stimulation fields, permitting virtual electrodes to be realized. The SCS system includes a replenishable power source (e.g., rechargeable battery), that may be recharged using transcutaneous power transmissions between antenna coil pairs. An external charger unit, having its own rechargeable battery can be used to charge the IPG replenishable power source. A real-time clock can provide an auto-run schedule for daily stimulation. An included bi-directional telemetry link in the system informs the patient or clinician the status of the system, including the state of charge of the IPG battery. Other processing circuitry in the IPG allows electrode impedance measurements to be made. Further circuitry in the external battery charger can provide alignment detection for the coil pairs.

Abstract: A method for selecting Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) stimulation parameter sets guides a clinician towards an effective set of stimulation parameters. The clinician first evaluates the effectiveness of a small number of trial stimulation parameters sets from a Measurement Table comprising for example, four stimulation parameter sets. Based on the patient's assessment, the trial stimulation parameter sets are ranked. Then the clinician selects a starting or benchmark row in a Steering Table corresponding to the highest ranked trial stimulation parameter set. The clinician moves either up or down form the starting row, testing consecutive parameter sets. The clinician continues as long as the patient indicates that the stimulation results are improving. When a local optimum is found, the clinician returns to the benchmark row, and tests in the opposite direction for another local optimum. If an acceptable set of stimulation parameters is found, the selection process is complete.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without damage to the battery. The implantable medical device includes battery charging and protection circuitry that controls the charging of the battery so as to assure its reliable and safe operation. A multi-rate charge algorithm is employed that minimizes charging time while ensuring the battery cell is safely charged. Slow charging occurs at lower battery voltages (e.g., battery voltage below about 2.5 V), and fast charging occurs when the battery voltage has reached a safe level (e.g., above about 2.5 V). When potentially less-than-safe very low voltages are encountered (e.g., less than 2.

Abstract: Methods of stimulating a vagus nerve include providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes, configuring the electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along a vagus nerve, and applying the stimulation to the vagus nerve to effectively select afferent fibers, thereby treating at least one of epilepsy and depression while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation. At least one of the electrodes comprises a leadsless electrode.

Abstract: A system for allowing bilateral cochlear implant systems to be networked together. An adapter module that forms part of the system allows two standalone BTE units to be synchronized both temporally and tonotopically in order to maximize a patients listening experience. The system further allows a peer-to-peer network and protocol that includes two BTE units during normal operation, or two BTE units plus a host controller (PC, PDA, etc. . . . ) during fitting. The bilateral cochlear network includes four main components: (a) a communications interposer adapted to be inserted between the BTE battery and the BTE housing or modified BTE devices; (b) a communication channel over which communication takes place between the connected devices, including the protocol governing access to such channel; (c) the synchronization mechanisms used to achieve synchronization between the connected devices; and (d) a bilateral fitting paradigm.

Abstract: An exemplary method of fitting a coeblear implant system to a patient includes establishing an implant fitting line having a slope and a position. The implant fitting line represents a relationship between a number of stimulation sites within a cochlea of the patient and a number of corresponding audio frequencies. That is, the implant fitting line defines which locations along the length of the cochlea, when stimulated, are perceived by the patient as specific tones or frequencies. The method further includes presenting a first audio signal having a number of audio frequencies to the patient and applying a stimulus current to one or more stimulation sites corresponding to the number of audio frequencies of the first audio signal. The method further includes adjusting the slope of the fitting line based on a response of the patient to the stimulus current.

Abstract: The accuracy of neural response recordings in neural stimulators, e.g., cochlear implants, is often degraded by a recording artifact. An idealized electrical-equivalent model of a neural stimulator is created to study, measure and compensate for artifact evoked compound action potential (eCAP). Using this model, the artifact is shown to occur even when the electrical components that make-up the neural stimulator are ideal. The model contains parasitic capacitances between the electrode wires. The model demonstrates that these small parasitic capacitances provide a current path during stimulation which can deposit charge on the electrode-tissue interfaces of the recording electrodes. The dissipation of this residual charge and the charge stored across the stimulating electrode is seen as the recording artifact. The proposed solution for eliminating the artifact problem is realized by utilizing a capacitive electrode material, e.g.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A new method of recording and processing neural responses (“NR”) is provided, wherein the method does not assume a linear system response and does not assume a linear response at the interface between electrodes and tissue. The method of the present invention cancels out non-linearities and/or system hysteresis. Other artifacts such as system cross-talk between stimulation and recording circuits are also canceled out. The method provided uses at least two stimulating electrodes simultaneously in one recording step.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A stimulation system is disclosed that may include a stimulator unit coupled to electrode contacts on a cuff. In one embodiment, the cuff may be placed at least partially around a nerve. The stimulation system may include at least two electrode contacts disposed on the cuff such that a distance between the at least two electrode contacts various along a length of the electrode contacts. In another embodiment, a plurality of electrode contacts are disposed on the cuff such that distances between at least one electrode contact within the plurality of electrode contacts and each electrode contact immediately adjacent to the at least one electrode contact are different. The stimulator unit may also be implantable.

Abstract: A method for reducing the effects of decreased resolution in a cochlear implant worn by an individual includes 1) determining the value of the individual's resolution region, 2) analyzing a plurality of dominant components within a sound signal, 3) removing a component that has lesser associated energy of two or more components that are within the resolution region of one another, thereby producing a sound signal with a reduced pattern of components, and 4) transmitting the reduced pattern signal to an array of electrodes associated with the cochlear implant.

Abstract: A method of recording neural responses reduces the inaccuracy of the recordings caused by nerve adaptation to repeated exposure of stimuli. In one embodiment, a maximum set of X number of successive stimuli are delivered through an electrode and the resulting neural response recorded and, afterwards, the next stimulation must occur through another electrode. This stimulation sequence prevents the same set of nerves from being stimulated too often, which can result in stimulus adaptation and cause measurement inaccuracy. In one embodiment of the invention, a smart software can be employed to provide visual plots of “growth curves”, including real-time calculated datapoints and their confidence intervals, and automatically terminate the recording session upon reaching a pre-set trigger. Alternatively, a human operator can terminate a recording session, based on visual feedback of growth curves, including their real-time calculated datapoints and confidence intervals.

Abstract: A hearing aid module is shaped for insertion into a tunnel made through the soft tissue that connects the retro-auricular space with the ear canal. The hearing aid module contains a speaker or auditory transducer, a battery or other power source powering the module, signal processing circuitry, a microphone, and a hollow tube which contains a steroid or drug. Telemetry circuitry within the module allows the signal processing circuitry to be programmed with a desired frequency response or signal processing strategy using an external programming unit. A remote control unit permits the user to make simple adjustments, such as volume and/or tone (frequency) control.

Abstract: An implantable microstimulator can include a housing with a surface containing a metal region. The housing defines an exterior and an interior. At least one conductive electrode is disposed on the exterior of the housing over the metal region of the housing. Adhesive is disposed between the metal region of the housing and the conductive electrodes. An electronic subassembly is disposed in the interior of the housing and coupled to the conductive electrodes through the housing.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system for treating patients affected both by hearing loss and by balance disorders related to vestibular hypofunction and/or malfunction, which includes sensors of sound and head movement, processing circuitry, a power source, and an implantable electrical stimulator capable of stimulating areas of the cochlea and areas of the vestibular system.

Abstract: A system and method for rapidly switching stimulation parameters of a Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) system increases the number of stimulation parameter sets that may be tested during a fitting procedure, or alternatively, reduces the time required for the fitting procedure. The switching method comprises selecting a new stimulation parameter set, and setting the initial stimulation levels to levels at or just below an estimated perception threshold of the patient. The estimated perception level is based on previous stimulation results. The stimulation level is then increased to determine a minimum stimulation level for effective stimulation, and/or an optimal stimulation level, and/or a maximum stimulation level, based on patient perception.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without damage to the battery. The implantable medical device includes battery charging and protection circuitry that controls the charging of the battery so as to assure its reliable and safe operation.