Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing or affecting neural stimulation efficiency and/or efficacy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and/or method may apply electromagnetic stimulation to a patient's nervous system over a first time domain according to a first set of stimulation parameters, and over a second time domain according to a second set of stimulation parameters. The first and second time domains may be sequential, simultaneous, or nested. Stimulation parameters may vary in accordance with one or more types of duty cycle, amplitude, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, spatiotemporal, and/or polarity variations. Stimulation may be applied at subthreshold, threshold, and/or suprathreshold levels in one or more periodic, aperiodic (e.g., chaotic), and/or pseudo-random manners. In some embodiments stimulation may comprise a burst pattern having an interburst frequency corresponding to an intrinsic brainwave frequency, and regular and/or varying intraburst stimulation parameters.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a clinician programmer device for controlling a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system is adapted to assist a clinician to conduct an electrode screening review for the DBS system including screening of segmented electrodes. The clinician programmer stores software code for conducting a screening review in memory. The software code may comprise: code for providing one or more interface screens for guiding the user of the device through testing of electrode configurations of the implantable stimulation lead, wherein the code for providing applies at least one testing progression for guiding the user of the device through a defined testing order.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a neurostimulation stimulation lead comprises: providing a plurality of ring components and hypotubes in a mold; placing an annular frame with multiple lumens over distal ends of the plurality of hypotubes to position a portion of each hypotube within a respective lumen of the annular frame; molding the plurality of ring components and the hypotubes to form a stimulation tip component for the stimulation lead, wherein the molding fills interstitial spaces between the plurality of ring components and hypotubes with insulative material; and forming segmented electrodes from the ring components after performing the molding.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for operating a system for management of implantable medical devices (IMDs), comprises: conducting communications sessions with a plurality of clinician programmer devices, wherein some of the communication sessions occur while the plurality of clinician programmer devices are engaged in respective programming sessions with IMDs; conducting communications sessions with a plurality of patient controller devices, wherein the communication sessions with the patient controller devices include communication of data pertaining to offline programming of IMDs; reconciling programming session data received from the plurality of clinician programmer devices with programming session data received from patient controller devices to identify instances of unauthorized IMD programming; and distributing revocation data to patient controller devices to be downloaded to corresponding IMDs, wherein the revocation data identifies cryptographic keys that are no longer trusted.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system (NS) includes an array of electrodes positioned within a patient with an active cathode electrode located proximate to target neural tissue. A control circuit is controls delivery of therapy during a therapy delivery interval, with the therapy being delivered between an anode electrode and the active electrode. A current regulator circuit (CRC) is connected to the cathode electrode and controls current flow through the cathode electrodes. The control circuit manages the CRC to control a discharge current flow over the discharge operation to discharge developed residual voltage between the anode electrode and the active electrode in a manner that follows an actively emulated passive discharge (AEPD) profile. During the discharge operation, the CRC is connected to the inactive electrode, and receives, as a first input, an EMI feedback signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lead insertion tool for inserting a lead connector end of an implantable lead into a lead receptacle of a header of an implantable pulse generator, the implantable lead including a lead body extending distally from the lead connector end. The tool includes a lead pathway and an engagement mechanism. The lead pathway extends through the tool and is configured to receive the implantable lead. The engagement mechanism includes an engaged state and a self-biasing non-engaged state. When the engagement mechanism is self-biased into the non-engaged state, the implantable lead is free to displace along the lead pathway. When the engagement mechanism is forced into the engaged state, the lead cannot displace along the lead pathway.

Abstract: The present application relates to a new stimulation design which can be utilized to treat neurological conditions. The stimulation system produces a combination of burst and tonic stimulation which alters the neuronal activity of the predetermined site, thereby treating the neurological condition or disorder.

Abstract: A multi-lead stimulation lead connector for facilitating electrical and mechanical connectivity between one or more stimulation leads and a pulse generator, e.g., an EPG used in a test stimulation system. One or more cam lock assemblies are disposed in a housing, each cam lock assembly comprising a cam knob and a cam shaft and having a longitudinal channel defined therein for accepting a proximal end of a respective stimulation lead, the proximal end having a plurality of terminal contact electrodes. By actuating a rotational movement of the cam knob, the cam lock assembly is unlocked in a first direction for guiding the proximal end and locked in a second direction for securely holding the proximal end and effectuating electrical connectivity with a plurality of conductors encapsulated in a cable for interfacing with the EPG.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein generally relate to adjusting a neurostimulation (NS) therapy based on drug pharmacokinetics of a patient. The systems and methods deliver an NS therapy to a portion of electrodes of a lead positioned proximate to neural tissue of interest, which is associated with a target region. The NS therapy is defined by stimulation parameters. The systems and methods determine a trigger event indicative of a drug being administered to a patient. The drug is configured to affect at least one of the neural tissue of interest or the target region. The systems and methods adjust one or more of the stimulation parameters based on the PS profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying a paddle neurostimulation lead configured to provide DRG stimulation within a patient. A DRG therapy system includes a delivery tool includes a delivery tube including a first linear segment, a second linear segment, and an arcuate segment coupled between the first and second linear segments, the first and second linear segments having an angle therebetween and the second linear segment defining an elongated opening. The delivery tool further includes a stylet positioned within an interior of the delivery tube, and a handle coupled to the delivery tube and including a stylet actuation mechanism configured to selectively advance and retract the stylet between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein the stylet extends across the elongated opening in the deployed position to engage an engagement member of the paddle neurostimulation lead.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for deploying a paddle neurostimulation lead within a patient. A delivery tool includes a delivery tube including a first linear segment, a second linear segment, and an arcuate segment coupled between the first and second linear segments, the second linear segment defining an elongated opening. The delivery tool further includes a stylet positioned within an interior of the delivery tube, and a handle coupled to the delivery tube and including a stylet actuation mechanism, the stylet actuation mechanism configured to selectively advance and retract the stylet between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein the stylet extends across the elongated opening in the deployed position to engage an engagement member of the paddle neurostimulation lead.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to deliver interleaved stimulation to nerve tissue of interest. The system and method comprises an array of stimulation electrodes. The array is configured to be implanted proximate to nerve tissue of interest. An implantable medical device (IMD) is coupled to the array. The IMD includes memory storing a composite resultant pulse (CRP) sequence comprising first and second component sequences of first and second resultant pulse trains, respectively. One or more pulses from at least one of the first or second component sequences are temporally shifted relative to a corresponding target component sequence. The IMD further comprises a pulse generating circuit and switching circuit coupled to an output of the pulse generating circuit and the array. The switching circuit is configured to connect the pulse generating circuit to different combinations of the electrodes.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system is disclosed herein. The neurostimulation system includes an implantable pulse generator and an implantable therapy lead configured to be electrically coupled to the implantable pulse generator. The implantable therapy lead includes a flexible paddle electrode array with flexible electrodes. Each flexible electrode has a segmented configuration having first and second electrode segments and a flexible bridge or living hinge joining together the first and second electrode segments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a neurostimulation lead comprises: a lead body comprising a plurality of conductor wires; and a molded stimulation tip end comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes, hypotubes, and an annular frame structure: wherein (i) each segmented electrode of the plurality of segmented electrodes has an inner surface, an outer surface, and step-down region embedded within polymer material of the molded stimulation tip end, (ii) each respective hypotube is directly welded to the inner surface of a corresponding segmented electrode of the plurality of segmented electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a neurological disorder comprising determining a first set of neural stimulation parameters capable of treating a first subset of symptoms, determining a second set of neural stimulation parameters capable of treating a second subset of symptoms, and applying a neural stimulation therapy based upon the first set of neural stimulation parameters and the second set of neural stimulation parameters to the patient. The first set of neural stimulation parameters can include electrical stimulation at a first frequency, and the second set of neural stimulation parameters can include electrical stimulation at a second frequency. In other embodiments, a treatment method comprises applying a first neural stimulation therapy to the patient in a continuous or generally continuous manner during a first time interval, and applying a second neural stimulation therapy to the patient in a noncontinuous or interrupted manner following the first time interval.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a paddle lead is implanted within a patient such that the electrodes are positioned within the cervical or thoracic spinal levels. An electrode combination on a first row of electrodes can be determined that is effective for a first pain location with minimal effects on other regions of the body. The first pain location can be addressed by stimulating a first dorsal column fiber due to the relatively fine electrical field resolution achievable by the multiple columns. Then, another electrode combination on a second row of electrodes can be determined for a second pain location with minimal effects on other regions. The second pain location could be addressed by stimulating a second dorsal column fiber. After the determination of the appropriate electrodes for stimulation, the patient's IPG can be programmed to deliver pulses using the first and second rows according to the determined electrode combinations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a neurostimulation lead for stimulating neural tissue of a patient, comprises: a lead body of insulative material; a plurality of electrodes; a plurality of terminals; a plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of electrodes are electrically coupled to the plurality of terminals through the plurality of conductors; wherein the plurality of conductors are disposed in a helical manner in a repeating pattern of groups of conductors separated by gaps along a substantial length of the lead body, each gap being larger than an inter-conductor pitch within the groups of conductors; wherein the insulative material is a compliant material permitting elongation of the lead at low stretching forces and the insulative material of the lead body is fused through a substantial volume of the lead body and along a substantial length of the lead body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing or affecting neural stimulation efficiency and/or efficacy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and/or method may apply electromagnetic stimulation to a patient's nervous system over a first time domain according to a first set of stimulation parameters, and over a second time domain according to a second set of stimulation parameters. The first and second time domains may be sequential, simultaneous, or nested. Stimulation parameters may vary in accordance with one or more types of duty cycle, amplitude, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, spatiotemporal, and/or polarity variations. Stimulation may be applied at subthreshold, threshold, and/or suprathreshold levels in one or more periodic, aperiodic (e.g., chaotic), and/or pseudo-random manners. In some embodiments stimulation may comprise a burst pattern having an interburst frequency corresponding to an intrinsic brainwave frequency, and regular and/or varying intraburst stimulation parameters.

Abstract: The present application relates to a new stimulation design which can be utilized to treat neurological conditions. The stimulation system produces a burst mode stimulation which alters the neuronal activity of the predetermined site, thereby treating the neurological condition or disorder. The burst stimulus comprises a plurality of groups of spike pulses having a maximum inter-spike interval of 100 milliseconds. The burst stimulus is separated by a substantially quiescent period of time between the plurality of groups of spike pulses. This inter-group interval may comprise a minimum of 5 seconds.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system is disclosed herein. The neurostimulation system includes an implantable pulse generator and an implantable therapy lead configured to be electrically coupled to the implantable pulse generator. The implantable therapy lead includes a flexible paddle electrode array with flexible electrodes. Each flexible electrode has a segmented configuration having first and second electrode segments and a flexible bridge or living hinge joining together the first and second electrode segments.