Abstract: An electrode lead may comprise a flexible circuit that includes a planar dielectric substrate including an elongated lead substrate portion having opposing ends, an electrode carrying substrate portion disposed on one end of the lead substrate portion, and a connector substrate portion disposed on the other end of the lead substrate portion, wherein the lead substrate portion is pre-shaped into a three-dimensional structure. The flexible circuit may further include an electrically conductive trace extending from the connector substrate portion to the electrode carrying substrate portion, a first window formed in the connector substrate portion to expose the electrically conductive trace to form a connector pad, and a second window formed in the electrode carrying substrate portion to expose the electrically conductive trace to form an electrode pad. The electrode lead may further comprise a lead connector that incorporates the connector substrate portion.

Abstract: Pressure sensors having ring-tensioned membranes are disclosed. A tensioning ring is bonded to a membrane in a manner that results in the tensioning ring applying a tensile force to the membrane, flattening the membrane and reducing or eliminating defects that may have occurred during production. The membrane is bonded to the sensor housing at a point outside the tensioning ring, preventing the process of bonding the membrane to the housing from introducing defects into the tensioned portion of the membrane. A dielectric may be introduced into the gap between the membrane and the counter electrode in a capacitive pressure sensor, resulting in an improved dynamic range.

Abstract: An electrode lead may comprise a flexible circuit that includes a planar dielectric substrate including an elongated lead substrate portion having opposing ends, an electrode carrying substrate portion disposed on one end of the lead substrate portion, and a connector substrate portion disposed on the other end of the lead substrate portion, wherein the lead substrate portion is pre-shaped into a three-dimensional structure. The flexible circuit may further include an electrically conductive trace extending from the connector substrate portion to the electrode carrying substrate portion, a first window formed in the connector substrate portion to expose the electrically conductive trace to form a connector pad, and a second window formed in the electrode carrying substrate portion to expose the electrically conductive trace to form an electrode pad. The electrode lead may further comprise a lead connector that incorporates the connector substrate portion.

Abstract: An electrode lead includes an elongate lead body and a nerve cuff. The nerve cuff may include a cuff body, with a front layer and a rear layer, affixed to the distal end of the lead body and a plurality of electrically conductive members located between the front and rear layers. Each of the electrically conductive member defines a front side, a rear side and an outer perimeter and may include a plurality of holes that extend from the front side to the rear side and that are located around the outer perimeter. The cuff body front layer includes a plurality of windows that are respectively aligned with and located inwardly of the outer perimeters of the electrically conductive members, and a plurality of window frames that extend from the windows to the outer perimeters of the electrically conductive members. The cuff body also includes a plurality of anchors that respectively extend through the electrically conductive member holes and connect the window frames to the cuff body rear layer.

Abstract: The disclosure provides systems and methods for treating obstructive sleep apnea using an acoustic sensor configured to detect acoustic sounds generated by the heart and lungs. Sensory data from the acoustic sensor is used by an implanted stimulation system to determine when to deliver electrical stimulation to a nerve which innervates an upper airway muscle, such as the hypoglossal nerve, to treat sleep apnea.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises an elongated lead body, at least one lead connector terminal affixed to the proximal end of the lead body, and an electrically insulative cuff body affixed to the distal end of the lead body. The cuff body is configured for being circumferentially disposed around a nerve. The cuff body comprises cutouts, slits, a wrinkled portion, a thin stretchable portion, and/or a serpentine strap, which increases that increase the expandability of the cuff body when disposed around the nerve. The electrode lead further comprises at least one electrode contact affixed to the cuff body, and at least one electrical conductor extending through the lead body between the at least one lead connector terminal and the electrode contact(s). If the cuff body comprises cutouts or slits, the electrode lead can further comprise a thin stretchable film affixed to the cuff body over cutouts or slits.

Abstract: An electrode that includes an elongate lead body and a nerve cuff. The nerve cuff may include a biologically compatible, elastic, electrically insulative helical cuff body configured to be disposed around a nerve, and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts carried by the helical cuff body that are spaced from one another.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, various embodiments of neurostimulators and stimulation systems are disclosed that provide different shapes and patterns of stimulus pulses and trains of pulses with fixed and no fixed frequencies. The neurostimulator can be configured to provide high frequency stimulation and also be implantable in the head or neck regions in order to stimulate nerves and nerve ganglions in the head and neck regions and also stimulate the brain.

Abstract: Skin patch sensors for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters, with alignment, positioning and attachment using magnets. The repeated use of releasable adhesive layers to retain skin patch sensors on skin can cause skin irritation, which can be reduced by rotating a skin patch between attachment times around a magnetically coupled pivot point. Skin patch sensors can be configured with internal coils to inductively couple to external power transmitting and communications coils with solenoids in anti-Helmholtz configurations.

Abstract: A method of forming a nerve cuff by combining a plurality of electrically conductive members with respective rear surfaces and grit blasted front surfaces with a nerve cuff body, which includes a respective plurality of windows, in such a manner that exposed portions of the grit blasted front surfaces are within the windows.

Abstract: A medical device of a medical system is configured for communicating with an external programmer over a wireless communications link. The medical device comprises a wireless communications module configured for receiving a first unencrypted version of a random number and a first encrypted version of the random number from the external programmer over the wireless communications link. The medical device further comprises control circuitry configured for performing an authentication procedure on the external programmer based on the first unencrypted version of the random number and the first encrypted version of the random number, and preventing the external programmer from commanding the medical device to perform an action unless the authentication procedure is successful.

Abstract: A method of multi-factor authentication includes receiving, by a first electronic device, a partial digital certificate including partial certificate information omitting at least one authentication factor from complete certificate information, and a signature encrypting a first hash of the complete certificate information with a certificate authority private key. The method also includes obtaining the first hash by decrypting, by the first electronic device, the signature with a certificate authority public key corresponding to the certificate authority private key; generating, by the first electronic device, a second hash based on the partial certificate information in the partial digital certificate and the at least one authentication factor; and comparing, by the first electronic device, the second hash to the first hash.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises a lead body, connector contacts affixed to the proximal end of the lead body, and a cuff body affixed to the distal end of the lead body. The cuff body is pre-shaped to transition from an unfurled state to a furled state, wherein the cuff body, when in the furled state has an inner surface for contacting a nerve and an overlapping inner cuff region and an outer cuff region. The electrode lead further comprise electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the cuff body when in the furled state, such that at least one of the electrode contacts is located on the inner surface of the cuff body, and at least another of the electrode contacts is located between the overlapping inner and outer cuff regions. The electrode lead further comprises electrical conductors extending through the lead body respectively between the connector contacts and the electrode contacts.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises an elongated lead body, at least one lead connector terminal affixed to the proximal end of the lead body, and an electrically insulative cuff body affixed to the distal end of the lead body. The cuff body is configured for being circumferentially disposed around a nerve. The cuff body comprises cutouts, slits, a wrinkled portion, a thin stretchable portion, and/or a serpentine strap, which increases that increase the expandability of the cuff body when disposed around the nerve. The electrode lead further comprises at least one electrode contact affixed to the cuff body, and at least one electrical conductor extending through the lead body between the at least one lead connector terminal and the electrode contact(s). If the cuff body comprises cutouts or slits, the electrode lead can further comprise a thin stretchable film affixed to the cuff body over cutouts or slits.

Abstract: An electrode that includes an elongate lead body and a nerve cuff. The nerve cuff may include a biologically compatible, elastic, electrically insulative helical cuff body configured to be disposed around a nerve, and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts carried by the helical cuff body that are spaced from one another.

Abstract: An electrode lead may comprise a flexible circuit that includes a planar dielectric substrate including an elongated lead substrate portion having opposing ends, an electrode carrying substrate portion disposed on one end of the lead substrate portion, and a connector substrate portion disposed on the other end of the lead substrate portion, wherein the lead substrate portion is pre-shaped into a three-dimensional structure. The flexible circuit may further include an electrically conductive trace extending from the connector substrate portion to the electrode carrying substrate portion, a first window formed in the connector substrate portion to expose the electrically conductive trace to form a connector pad, and a second window formed in the electrode carrying substrate portion to expose the electrically conductive trace to form an electrode pad. The electrode lead may further comprise a lead connector that incorporates the connector substrate portion.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) charger apparatus may include an IMD charger including a housing defining a bottom surface, a primary coil located within the housing, and a fastener on the bottom surface of the housing, and a charger support, mounted on the IMD charger, including a bottom surface, and movable between a first state and a second state. The IMD charger and the charger support may be respectively configured such that the IMD charger fastener is above the charger support bottom surface when the charger support is in the first state and the IMD charger fastener is at or below the charger support bottom surface when the charger support is in the second state.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises an electrically insulative cuff body and at least three axially aligned electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the inner surface of the cuff body when in the furled state. The electrode contacts may be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, and an electrical pulse train may be delivered to the electrode contacts thereby stimulating the nerve to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The electrical pulse train may be one that pre-conditions peripherally located nerve fascicles to not be stimulated, while stimulating centrally located nerve fascicles. A feedback mechanism can be used to titrate electrode contacts and electrical pulse train to the patient. A sensor that is affixed to the case of a neurostimulator can be used to measure physiological artifacts of respiration, and a motion detector can be used to sense tapping of the neurostimulator to toggle the neurostimulator between an ON position and an OFF position.

Abstract: An electrode lead including an elongate lead body and a nerve cuff (or other nerve contact element) including an electrically insulative cuff body (or other contact body) affixed to the distal end of the lead body and at least one electrically conductive coil partially embedded in the cuff body (or other contact body) such that there are non-embedded portions, which together define a flexible coil contact that is associated with the front outer surface of the cuff body (or other contact body), and embedded portions.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises an electrically insulative cuff body and at least three axially aligned electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the inner surface of the cuff body when in the furled state. The electrode contacts may be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, and an electrical pulse train may be delivered to the electrode contacts thereby stimulating the nerve to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The electrical pulse train may be one that pre-conditions peripherally located nerve fascicles to not be stimulated, while stimulating centrally located nerve fascicles. A feedback mechanism can be used to titrate electrode contacts and electrical pulse train to the patient. A sensor that is affixed to the case of a neurostimulator can be used to measure physiological artifacts of respiration, and a motion detector can be used to sense tapping of the neurostimulator to toggle the neurostimulator between an ON position and an OFF position.