Patents Assigned to Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8838231
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Dobak, III
  • Patent number: 8838243
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of programming an IPG comprises providing one or several GUI screens on the programmer device, the GUI screens comprising a master amplitude GUI control for controlling amplitudes for stimsets of a stimulation program and one or several balancing GUI controls for controlling amplitudes of each stimset of the stimulation program; communicating one or several commands from the programmer device to the IPG to change the amplitude of all stimsets of the stimulation program in response to manipulation of the master amplitude GUI control, wherein the amplitude of each stimulation set is automatically calculated by a level selected through the master amplitude GUI control and one or several calibration parameters for the respective stimulation set; and automatically recalculating the one or several calibration parameters for a respective stimulation set in response to manipulation of one of the balancing GUI controls and storing the recalculated calibration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Hickman, Erik D. Engstrom, Matthew J. Brock, John H. Erickson
  • Patent number: 8838255
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an assembly for conducting pulses from an implantable pulse generator, comprises: at least one percutaneous lead comprising terminals and at least two groups of electrodes, each group of electrodes possessing an intra-group electrode spacing; a frame member comprising first and second arms, the frame member comprising an inner lumen for removably housing the at least one percutaneous lead, each arm of the first and second arms comprising a plurality of apertures that are spaced according to the intra-group electrode spacing to allow conduction of electrical pulses from the electrodes of the at least one percutaneous lead to tissue of the patient when the lead is positioned within the frame member; and a spring member that is connected to the frame member for maintaining the first and second arms of the frame member at a predetermined distance in the absence of an external force on the spring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Swanson, Christopher S. L. Crawford
  • Patent number: 8831746
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a medical lead comprises a lead body for conducting electrical pulses and a paddle. The paddle includes an intermediate metal layer, at least an insulative polymer backing layer, and an insulative polymer covering layer. The intermediate metal layer comprises a plurality of features defined by gaps in the metal material in the metal layer such that each feature is electrically isolated from each other feature, wherein each feature includes a respective connector element that is electrically coupled to at least one conductor within the lead body, wherein a portion of the insulative polymer covering layer is exposed above each feature to define a respective electrode for the corresponding feature. Also, the paddle possesses shape memory to cause the paddle to assume a substantially planar orientation when the shape memory is in a relaxed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Swanson
  • Patent number: 8831744
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a stimulation lead for applying electrical pulses to tissue of a patient, the stimulation lead comprises: a plurality of electrodes on a first end of the lead body; a plurality of terminals on a second end of the lead body; a lead body comprising a flex film component disposed within insulative material, wherein (i) the flex film component comprises a plurality of electrical traces, (ii) the plurality of electrical traces electrically couple the plurality of electrodes with the plurality of terminals, and (iii) the flex film component comprises a plurality of bends along a substantial length of the lead body; wherein the stimulation lead is adapted to elastically elongate under application of stretching forces to the lead body without disconnection of the electrical connections between the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of terminals through the electrical traces of the flex film component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John Swanson
  • Patent number: 8816242
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an implantable pulse generator for generating electrical pulses for application to tissue of a patient, the method comprises: providing one or more housing components adapted to house at least pulse generating and switching circuitry of the implantable pulse generator; providing a feedthrough assembly adapted to be coupled with the one or more housing components, the feedthrough assembly comprising an array of feedthrough pins for providing respective electrical connections from a hermetically sealed enclosure formed within the one or more housing components to a location exterior to the enclosure; providing a plurality of welding components with each welding component comprising a first portion adapted to engage a respective feedthrough pin and a second portion for engaging a conductor wire; performing one or more weld operations for each welding component to connect each welding component with a respective feedthrough pin and a respective conductor wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken McGiboney
  • Publication number: 20140222113
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc., d/b/a St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation Division
    Inventors: Bradford Evan Gliner, Allen Wyler, Brad Fowler, W. Douglas Sheffield, Richard Kuntz, Kent Leyde, Leif R. Sloan
  • Patent number: 8793869
    Abstract: Fabricating an implantable stimulation lead by advancing work material to be wrapped with wire conductors, then, operating a plurality of payout carriers to let out the wire conductors, rotating the plurality of payout carriers to wrap the wire conductors about the work material, providing an amount of twist to each wire conductor as the wire conductors are let out, forming a lead body using the wrapped conductors, and fabricating a plurality terminals on the lead body, wherein the plurality of terminals are electrically connected to the conductive wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Dye, John W Swanson, Jerome J Boogaard, Dave Locke
  • Publication number: 20140200639
    Abstract: Self-expanding lead including a lead body having a distal body end, a proximal body end, and a central axis extending therebetween. The lead body includes first and second outer arms and an inner arm disposed between the first and second outer arms. The first and second outer arms and the inner arm extend lengthwise between the proximal body end and the distal body end. The lead also includes an array of electrodes that are configured to apply a neurostimulation therapy within an epidural space of a patient. At least some of the electrodes are positioned along the first and second outer arms. Each of the first and second outer arms includes a resilient member that is biased to flex the corresponding first and second outer arms from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition in a lateral direction away from the inner arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan De La Rama
  • Patent number: 8774940
    Abstract: An implantable stimulation system including an epidural lead for spinal cord stimulation that includes a paddle having an array of electrodes coupled to conductors within the paddle body. The paddle is elongated in shaped with the distal end of the paddle having a tabbed or extended portion with the lead exiting the extended portion of the paddle an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Claudio Feler
  • Patent number: 8774927
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk DeRidder
  • Publication number: 20140180194
    Abstract: A method for treating a patient with a neurological or psychiatric disorder, comprising applying stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's subcaudate white matter of the subcaudate area under conditions effective to provide the patient with at least a partial relief from the neurological or psychiatric disorder. The stimulation may be electrical and/or pharmacological.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Andres M. Lozano
  • Patent number: 8761902
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an anchor for anchoring a medical lead within the body of a patient, comprises: a first housing portion; a second housing portion, wherein the first and second housing portions define an inner passageway through the anchor and the inner passageway comprises first and second tapered portions at first and second ends of the inner passageway; and a gripping insert disposed within the inner passageway; wherein the first and second housing portions are adapted to be set in a first configuration and a second configuration by user manipulation; wherein in the first configuration, the inner passageway through the first and second housing portions permits the gripping insert to be retained in a first state; wherein in the second configuration, the gripping insert is compressed into a second state; wherein in the second configuration, the gripping insert is further compressed into a third state when the gripping insert is forced against one of the first and second tapered portions by movement of a me
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee Kulle
  • Patent number: 8755898
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for the controlling of the stimulation pulses being delivered via electrodes to a patient during the programming of a pulse generator using a controller device and selecting of a minimum amplitude that corresponds to the minimum amplitude for which the patient can detect stimulation; selecting an electrode combination defined in the controller device; setting the stimulation amplitude; making a determination of the amplitude for the stimulation pulses is greater than the perception amplitude, and if so, changing the amplitude of the stimulation pulses to be less than or equal to the perception amplitude; and if not or subsequent to the changing of the amplitude, changing the selected one of a plurality of electrode combinations to a different combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Crystal Goddard, Jason Pounds, Tom Younker, Karen Overton, Jonathan Avedikian
  • Publication number: 20140163654
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method, of fabricating a stimulation lead for stimulating tissue of a patient, comprises: providing a lead body, the lead body comprising a plurality of conductors embedded within insulating material; providing a plurality of terminals; electrically coupling the plurality of terminals with the plurality of conductors; providing a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising a plurality of substantially continuous longitudinal trenches on a surface of the electrodes, the electrodes comprising areas of reflow material forming microstructures substantially continuously along walls of the longitudinal trenches; and electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes with the plurality of conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc., d/b/a St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation Division
    Inventor: John Swanson
  • Patent number: 8732944
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating stimulation leads, the method comprises: providing a spool of polymer film; providing a plurality of payout carriers of wires; drawing the polymer film from the spool and the wires from the plurality of payout carriers over a rotating drum, wherein the drum comprises a plurality of grooves over an outer circumferential surface of the drum for directing the wires from the plurality of payout carriers, wherein a distance of each groove from an edge of the drum is varied about the circumference of the drum; bonding the wires to the polymer film while performing the drawing to form an intermediate assembly comprising the polymer film as a carrier with the bonded wires in a repeating pattern along a length of the intermediate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Homar Cisneros
  • Patent number: 8732945
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an implantable pulse generator, comprises: providing a lead body including a plurality of conductors; providing a feedthrough component comprising feedthrough pins; electrically coupling pulse generating circuitry through switching circuitry with the feedthrough pins; hermetically enclosing the pulse generating circuitry and switching circuitry within a housing; providing a ferrule tube connector about each feedthrough pin wherein (i) each ferrule tube connector comprises an inner diameter that is sized to make contact about a circumference of respective feedthrough pin, and (ii) each ferrule tube connector comprises at least one slot in an upper portion of the respective ferrule tube connector; placing a respective conductor of the plurality of conductors in the slot of each of the ferrule tube connectors; and performing welding operations to connect the plurality of conductors of the lead body with the ferrule tube connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken McGiboney, Eric Gutierez
  • Patent number: 8738140
    Abstract: A system and/or method treating for a neurological disorder by brain region stimulation. The system and/or method comprises a probe and a device to provide stimulation. The probe has a stimulation portion implanted in communication with a predetermined brain region site. The stimulation portion of the probe may be implanted in contact with a predetermined brain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk De Ridder
  • Patent number: 8726499
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an implantable pulse generator, comprises: providing a lead body including a plurality of conductors; providing a feedthrough component comprising a plurality of feedthrough pins; hermetically enclosing pulse generating circuitry and switching circuitry within a housing, the feedthrough component being welded to the housing; laser machining each of the plurality of feedthrough pins to comprise a slot along a surface of the respective feedthrough pin; placing a respective conductor from the lead body in the respective slot of each of the plurality of feedthrough pins; and performing welding operations to connect the plurality of conductors of the lead body with the plurality of feedthrough pins of the feedthrough component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken McGiboney, Galen L. Smith, Michael Gaines, Jerome Boogaard
  • Patent number: 8731678
    Abstract: A system and/or method for treating auditory dysfunction by somatosensory system stimulation. The system and/or method comprises a probe and a device to stimulate the probe. The probe has a stimulation portion implanted in communication with a predetermined peripheral nerve site. The stimulation portion of the probe may be implanted in contact with a peripheral nerve dorsal root ganglia, cranial nerve or dermatome area, for example C2 dermatome area or a trigeminal dermatome area. The stimulation portion may be a laminotomy, paddle, surgical, or multiple electrode lead. The device to stimulate the probe may be implanted subcutaneously or transcutaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation-Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk DeRidder