Abstract: An electrode assembly is described, which allows close and robust contact with a biological structure such as a nerve while simultaneously preventing compressive injury to the biological structure. The electrode assembly includes a compliant cuff body and at least one reinforcing element in an aspect. The reinforced compliant cuff body may expand and contract to accommodate swelling of underlying biological structures, to accommodate movements of the biological structures associated with body movements, and to closely fit biological structures with irregular or non-uniform cross-sectional profiles. The electrode assembly further includes at least one electrode for sending and/or receiving electric impulse data to/from the biological structure such as a nerve.

Abstract: A method and device for treating sleep apnea and sleep hypopnea by monitoring respiratory-related activity from the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, interpreting these internal signals to detect and classify apnea events, and stimulating nerves or muscles to elicit appropriate corrective responses to adverse respiratory events.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for treating apnea by controlled delivery of a swallow stimulus to a subject in which apnea is detected. In the systems and method, burst electrical or mechanical stimulation to one or more swallow-related nerves and/or muscles can be timed for delivery between the expiratory phase of the respiration cycle, following detection of an apneic event in the subject.

Abstract: An implantable pulse generator for providing at least one of a voltage and a current stimulation to a tissue of a subject through trough at least two electrodes adapted to be in electrical contact with the tissue of the subject, the implantable pulse generator comprising a stimulation circuit coupled to the at least two electrodes, the stimulation circuit including at least one dual-mode voltage and current source, wherein the stimulation circuit can operate alternatively in a voltage stimulation mode and in a current stimulation mode. The implantable pulse generator also comprises a processing unit coupled to the stimulation circuit, the processing unit being so configured as to control the mode of operation of the stimulation circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring, preventing and/or treating upper airway disorders such as apnea, dysphagia, reflux and/or snoring are described. The methods and systems monitor the upper airway disorders by processing one or more neural signals obtained from one or more upper airway afferents. Upper airway disorders are prevented and/or treated by delivering one or more stimulations to one or more reflex-related afferents, efferents, muscles, and sensory receptors to manipulate the threshold and/or trigger an upper airway reflex including, but not limited to a swallow reflex and/or a negative-pressure reflex.

Abstract: An electrode assembly is described, which allows close and robust contact with a biological structure such as a nerve while simultaneously preventing compressive injury to the biological structure. The electrode assembly includes a compliant cuff body and at least one reinforcing element in an aspect. The reinforced compliant cuff body may expand and contract to accommodate swelling of underlying biological structures, to accommodate movements of the biological structures associated with body movements, and to closely fit biological structures with irregular or non-uniform cross-sectional profiles. The electrode assembly further includes at least one electrode for sending and/or receiving electric impulse data to/from the biological structure such as a nerve.

Abstract: A nerve cuff comprising a wall band member having an inner surface defining a lumen when the wall band member is in a closed configuration for receiving a nerve therethrough. At least one longitudinal and contiguous conductor extends within the lumen. The conductor is insulated and has at least one exposed portion thereby providing an electrode. When mounting the nerve cuff to a nerve, each electrode is in electrical communication with the nerve. A multi-channel nerve cuff further comprises a plurality of longitudinal ridges formed on the inner surface with each adjacent pair of ridges defining a longitudinal chamber. Each chamber comprises a respective conductor extending therein. When mounting the multi-channel nerve cuff to the nerve, the ridges abut the nerve providing for each chamber to isolate respective longitudinal portions of the nerve. A method and an apparatus for manufacturing such nerve cuffs are also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable connector assembly comprising a first portion having a longitudinal body which includes a transversal protrusion having therein at least one conductive socket, a generally longitudinal wire entry, at least one wire connected to the at least one conductive socket, the at least one wire entering the longitudinal body through the generally longitudinal wire entry, a second portion having a longitudinal body which includes a recess complementary to the transversal protrusion of the first portion, generally longitudinal wire entry, at least one conductive pin positioned within the recess, at least one wire connected to the at least one conductive pin, the at least one wire connected to the conducting pin entering the longitudinal body through the longitudinal wire entry and a sealing assembly.

Abstract: A nerve cuff comprising a wall band member having an inner surface defining a lumen when the wall band member is in a closed configuration for receiving a nerve therethrough. At least one longitudinal and contiguous conductor extends within the lumen. The conductor is insulated and has at least one exposed portion thereby providing an electrode. When mounting the nerve cuff to a nerve, each electrode is in electrical communication with the nerve. A multi-channel nerve cuff further comprises a plurality of longitudinal ridges formed on the inner surface with each adjacent pair of ridges defining a longitudinal chamber. Each chamber comprises a respective conductor extending therein. When mounting the multi-channel nerve cuff to the nerve, the ridges abut the nerve providing for each chamber to isolate respective longitudinal portions of the nerve. A method and an apparatus for manufacturing such nerve cuffs are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nerve cuff comprising a wall band member having an inner surface defining a lumen when the wall band member is in a closed configuration for receiving a nerve therethrough. At least one longitudinal and contiguous conductor extends within the lumen. The conductor is insulated and has at least one exposed portion thereby providing an electrode. When mounting the nerve cuff to a nerve, each electrode is in electrical communication with the nerve. A multi-channel nerve cuff further comprises a plurality of longitudinal ridges formed on the inner surface with each adjacent pair of ridges defining a longitudinal chamber. Each chamber comprises a respective conductor extending therein. When mounting the multi-channel nerve cuff to the nerve, the ridges abut the nerve providing for each chamber to isolate respective longitudinal portions of the nerve. A method and an apparatus for manufacturing such nerve cuffs are also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable microvolt-level signal amplifying circuit may be used for resolving electrical signals generated by nerves in the presence of larger amplitude signals generated by muscles, the heart, or external noise sources. The circuit has a low-noise, high Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) preamplifier, followed by a cascade of stages, which provide filtering and further amplification of the neural signal. The band-pass amplifying circuit can also present high Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR). The output is offset-compensated by a DC restoration stage. Nerve protection circuitry minimizes or blocks DC current flow through the input terminals in the event of semiconductor failure in the preamplifier. The circuit may be incorporated onto a common monolithic circuit with follow-up circuitry for controlling Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) devices.

Abstract: A fully implantable nerve stimulation system includes an event-triggered, closed-loop control unit that detects physiological events from nerve signals and delivers stimulation pulses to a nerve to produce a desired physiological response. The stimulation system includes a low-noise, low-power nerve signal amplifier, accelerometers that detect position and a battery powered processor that selectively powers components in the system to detect physiological events and deliver stimulation pulses with a minimum of battery power.

Abstract: An implantable electrical connector includes a male portion and a female receptacle. The male portion includes a number of wires that terminate in a pattern of conductive areas. The male portion is inserted into a female receptacle and guides in the female receptacle limit the insertion of the male portion to a single direction. A locking mechanism such as a setscrew on the female receptacle forces conductive areas of the exposed conductors onto connecting pins within the female receptacle. The setscrew itself is electrically isolated from the conductive areas. Each pin in the female receptacle is surrounded by a rigid seal that engages a compressible insulating member under compression of the locking mechanism to prevent an electrical connection forming between adjacent pins in the connector.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and methods for relieving phantomlimb pain in amputees, and for providing an amputee with sensory feedback from a prosthetic limb. The system employs implantable multichannel, multi-chambered interface structures, namely, nerve cuffs. The implanted nerve cuffs have electrodes which transmit electrical signals generated by a signal generator to nerves, recruiting certain neurons to send sensory signals to the cerebral cortex, suggesting sensory sensations to the amputee. Such signals can arise directly from the signal generator, approximating the train of signals seen by the cortex in a normally innervated limb, or can originate from sensors in a prosthetic limb.

Abstract: A precision voltage rectifier comprises a source voltage input and a voltage reference. The rectifier comprises switching elements that, according to the sign of the source signal, change the connections to the inputs of a differential difference amplifier that is connected as a voltage inverter. Embodiments of the invention are fully-integrated and CMOS compatible with high-input impedance such that the invention can be operated in low-power situations. A preferred application involves the integration of several similar circuits in a high-density, low-power implantable medical device. Particular embodiments of the invention can be used to rectify nerve signals collected by electrodes for use in a system for manipulating a prosthetic device.

Abstract: An implantable microvolt-level signal amplifying circuit may be used for resolving electrical signals generated by nerves in the presence of larger amplitude signals generated by muscles, the heart, or external noise sources. The circuit has a low-noise, high Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) preamplifier, followed by a cascade of stages, which provide filtering and further amplification of the neural signal. The band-pass amplifying circuit can also present high Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR). The output is offset-compensated by a DC restoration stage. Nerve protection circuitry minimizes or blocks DC current flow through the input terminals in the event of semiconductor failure in the preamplifier. The circuit may be incorporated onto a common monolithic circuit with follow-up circuitry for controlling Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) devices.

Abstract: A precision voltage rectifier comprises a source voltage input and a voltage reference. The rectifier comprises switching elements that, according to the sign of the source signal, change the connections to the inputs of a differential difference amplifier that is connected as a voltage inverter. Embodiments of the invention are fully-integrated and CMOS compatible with high-input impedance such that the invention can be operated in low-power situations. A preferred application involves the integration of several similar circuits in a high-density, low-power implantable medical device. Particular embodiments of the invention can be used to rectify nerve signals collected by electrodes for use in a system for manipulating a prosthetic device.