Patents Assigned to Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8938298
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an implantable pulse generator for electrically stimulating a patient comprises: a metallic housing enclosing pulse generating circuitry; a header mechanically coupled to the metallic housing, the header adapted to seal terminals of one or more stimulation leads within the header and to provide electrical connections for the terminals; the header comprising an inner compliant component for holding a plurality of electrical connectors, the plurality of electrical connectors electrically coupled to the pulse generating circuitry through feedthrough conductors, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are held in place in recesses within the compliant inner component, the header further comprising an outer shield component adapted to resist punctures, the outer shield component fitting over at least a portion of the inner compliant component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Galen L. Smith, Timothy J. Cox
  • Patent number: 8929991
    Abstract: Methods for establishing parameters for neural stimulation, including via performance of working memory tasks, and associated kits, are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes engaging a patient in a function controlled at least in part by a target neural population, and applying electromagnetic signals to the target neural population. A target parameter in accordance with which the electromagnetic signals are applied is adjusted, based at least in part on a characteristic of the patient's performance of the function. Electromagnetic signals are applied to the patient with the adjusted target parameter, and the patient's response to the electromagnetic signals, including the characteristic of the patient's performance, is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Fowler, Leif R. Sloan, Joleen Borgerding
  • Patent number: 8926676
    Abstract: Systems and methods for applying signals, including contralesional electromagnetic signals, to neural populations, are disclosed. A particular method can be directed to treating a patient having a subject neural population in a first (e.g., ipsilesional) hemisphere of the brain, with the subject neural population having, or previously having, a functionality capable of being improved. The method can include directing an application of electromagnetic signals at least proximate to a target neural population at a second (e.g., contralesional) hemisphere of the brain to at least constrain a functionality of the target neural population, which has transcallosal communication with the first hemisphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Bradford E. Gliner, David Himes, Leif R. Sloan
  • Patent number: 8925191
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of fabrication of a stimulation lead comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes for stimulation of tissue of a patient, the method comprises: providing an elongated, substantially cylindrical substrate, the substrate comprising a plurality of recesses defined in an outer surface of the substrate; coating the substrate with conductive material; patterning conductive material on the substrate to form a plurality of electrode surfaces for at least the plurality of segmented electrodes and a plurality of traces connected to the plurality of electrode surfaces, wherein each electrode surface and its corresponding trace are defined in the recesses on the outer surface of the substrate and are electrically isolated from other electrode surfaces and traces; providing insulative material over at least the plurality of traces; and electrically coupling the plurality of traces to conductive wires of a lead body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Swanson, Kevin Turner, Jerome Boogaard
  • Patent number: 8918177
    Abstract: A method and system are provided to assist in programming of a neurostimulator based on a collection of pre-existing therapy profiles. The method and system access a collection of pre-existing therapy profiles derived from prior actual patients or patient models. The pre-existing therapy profiles include stimulation programs mapped to pre-existing patient profiles. The pre-existing patient profiles have at least one of i) prior lead attribute, ii) prior pain maps, and iii) prior stimulation maps for prior patients or models of patients. The method and system further compare the new patient profile with at least a portion of the collection of pre-existing patient profiles to generate profile matching scores indicating an amount of similarity between the pre-existing patient and the new therapy profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Gauthier
  • Patent number: 8903503
    Abstract: Embodiments herein include an external system and method to detect an implanted lead coupled to an implanted neurostimulation device (INSD). The system and method comprise a handheld probe having electrodes configured to be positioned external to a surface of a patient and proximate to a region of the patient having the implanted lead for an implanted INSD. The electrodes are configured to measure a stimulation output from the implanted lead of the INSD. The system and method include a controller coupled to the electrodes to receive measured signals from the electrodes. The measured signals represent the stimulation output of the INSD. The controller processes the measured signals to obtain lead information. The system includes a user interface to present the lead information to a user. The lead information is indicative of at least one of an operation of the lead and a position of the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Campbell, William L. Winstrom
  • Publication number: 20140350650
    Abstract: A neurostimulator lead including an elongated lead body having stimulating and proximal end portions and a center axis extending therebetween. The lead body includes an inner tubing that extends along the center axis. The inner tubing includes wire conductors that extend between the stimulating and proximal end portions. The lead also includes multiple electrode-inductor assemblies that are positioned along the stimulating end portion and spaced apart from one another along the center axis. Each of the electrode-inductor assemblies includes an inductor coil that is electrically coupled to one of the wire conductors and an electrode that is located proximate to the inductor coil. The electrode and the inductor coil are electrically joined, and the inductor coil is configured to prevent a flow of induced current that occurs when the lead is exposed to external magnetic fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Raines
  • Patent number: 8897870
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk De Ridder
  • Patent number: 8892206
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system for electrically stimulating a target location in the brain of a patient, comprises: pulse generating circuitry for generating electrical pulses; at least one electrical lead for conducting electrical pulses generated by the pulse generating circuitry to the target location using one or several stimulation electrodes, wherein the at least one electrical lead further comprises one or several electrochemical sensors for sensing an extracellular level of one or several neurotransmitters and/or precursors; and a controller for controlling the pulse generating circuitry using closed-loop feedback based upon the extracellular level of the one or several neurotransmitters, wherein the controller for controlling the pulse generating circuitry processes the extracellular level of the one or several neurotransmitters using a measured impedance between one or several of the electrochemical sensors and a reference electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Swanson
  • Patent number: 8849392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a region of the brain by measuring neuronal firing and/or local field potentials by recording discharges from at least one implanted electrode and analyzing the recording of the discharges within the beta frequency band range to determine an area of beta oscillatory activity. Once the region of the brain is identified, this region may be stimulated to disrupt the beta oscillatory activity thereby treating a movement disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Andres M Lozano
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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