Abstract: A percutaneous electrical therapy system with electrode angle of entry control, wherein the system includes a control unit; an electrode electrically connectable to the control unit to deliver electrical therapy to a patient, the electrode having a sharp point at a distal end adapted to be inserted into a patient's tissue; and an electrode angle of insertion assembly controlling the electrode's angle of entry into the patient's tissue. The invention also includes the percutaneous electrode and electrode angle of insertion assembly described above apart from the control unit. The invention is also a method of performing percutaneous electrical therapy including the steps of: aligning an electrode assembly housing with a patient's tissue; inserting a sharp point of an electrode into the patient's tissue, the housing supporting the electrode during insertion to control the electrode's angle of insertion; and applying an electrical signal to the electrode from a control unit.

Abstract: The following disclosure describes several methods and apparatus for stimulating cells implanted in the regions of nervous system, such as the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves. Accordingly, the functionality of the cells can be improved, for example, by differentiating undifferentiated or partially undifferentiated cells into neurons or other cells having action potentials. The method can also include promoting directional growth and connectivity of fully differentiated neural cells implanted in a patient's nervous system through electrical enhancement, for example, electrical stimulation via an anode and cathode. Methods in accordance with the invention can be used to treat brain damage (e.g., stroke, trauma, etc.), brain disease (e.g., Alzheimer's, Pick's, Parkinson's, etc.), and/or brain disorders (e.g., epilepsy, depression, etc.). The methods in accordance with the invention can also be used to enhance neural-function of normal, healthy brains (e.g., learning, memory, etc.

Abstract: The invention is a percutaneous electrical therapy system providing electrode axial stability during electrode insertion. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a control unit; an electrode electrically connectable to the control unit to deliver electrical therapy to a patient, the electrode having a sharp point at a distal end adapted to be inserted into a patient's tissue; and an electrode insertion axial supporter adapted to provide axial support to the electrode during insertion of the electrode into the patient's tissue. The invention also includes an electrode and an electrode insertion axial supporter apart from the control unit.

Abstract: A percutaneous electrode introducer, such as for use with a percutaneous electrical therapy system. In a preferred embodiment, the percutaneous electrode introducer includes a housing adapted to be held in a user's hand, the housing having an aperture at a distal end; an electrode disposed in the housing, the electrode having a sharp point at a distal end; and an actuator adapted to be operable by a user to move the electrode through the aperture and completely out of the housing to place the sharp point of the electrode beneath a patient's skin.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling percutaneous electrical signals. In one embodiment, the method can include a computer-implemented method for displaying characteristics of an electrical therapy signal, which can include receiving a first value for a characteristic of an electrical therapy signal and directing transmission of a first electrical therapy signal with the first value. The method can further include directing a digital display device to display a first graph representing the first value, receiving a second value for the characteristic, directing transmission of a second electrical therapy signal with the second value, and directing the digital display device to display a second graph concurrent with a display of the first graph. The apparatus can simultaneously control signal levels directed to multiple channels, and can automatically set the signal levels to zero when a therapy session is ended or paused.

Abstract: A percutaneous electrical therapy system with electrode angle of entry control. In one embodiment, the system includes a control unit; an electrode assembly adapted to deliver electrical therapy to a patient, the electrode assembly including an electrode electrically connectable to the control unit, the electrode having a sharp point at a distal end adapted to be inserted into a patient's tissue; and an electrode depth control assembly adapted to control insertion of the electrode's point to a predetermined depth into the patient's tissue. The electrode depth control assembly can have a limit stop limiting length of travel of the electrode's point. The system can also include the percutaneous electrode and depth control assembly described above apart from the control unit.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a percutaneous electrode remover includes a housing adapted to be held in a user's hand, the housing having an aperture at a distal end; and an actuator operable by a user to move a precutaneously inserted electrode through the aperture and completely into the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for administering percutaneous electrical therapy to a recipient. The apparatus can include an electrical coupler having a coupling member configured to be removably positioned at least proximate to a percutaneous probe. The coupling member can be coupleable to a source of therapeutic electrical signals via a therapeutic signal transmission link to transmit the therapeutic electrical signals to the recipient. The apparatus can further include a status signal transmission link at least proximate to the therapeutic signal transmission link and coupleable to a status signal emitter. The status signal transmission link can be at least tamper-resistant and/or tamper-evident, and can be configured to transmit a status signal having a first characteristic value when the status signal transmission link is in a first condition and a second characteristic value when the status signal transmission link has been altered from a first condition to a second condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a percutaneous electrode to an electrical power source, and methods for operating such an apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a housing, an electrode movably coupled to the housing and having a sharpened end to pierce a skin surface, and an actuator releasably coupled to the electrode to move the electrode relative to the housing. The actuator is movable relative to the electrode between a first position and a second position. The actuator has a conductive member coupleable to a source of electrical power, and the conductive member has a first surface and a conductive feature with a second surface offset from the first surface. The conductive member is releasably engaged with the electrode when the actuator is moved to the second position and can provide mechanical feedback to the operator when the conductive member engages the electrode.

Abstract: A percutaneous electrical therapy system includes sharp point protection. In one embodiment, the system includes a control unit; an electrode assembly adapted to deliver electrical therapy to a patient, where the electrode assembly has an electrode electrically connectable to the control unit, the electrode having a sharp point at a distal end adapted to be inserted into the patient's tissue; and a sharp point protection assembly operable with the electrode assembly for reducing the risk of unintended exposure to the electrode's point. The system can also include an electrode assembly and sharp point protection assembly for a percutaneous electrical therapy system, as described above, apart from the control unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for piercing a skin surface, and methods for operating and manufacturing such an apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a support housing having an engaging surface to engage the skin surface. The support housing can include a first guide extending axially away from the engaging surface and a second guide extending transverse to the first guide. The apparatus can further include a probe coupled to a guide member with the guide member sequentially engaged with the first guide and the second guide to move in a first direction toward and away from the engaging surface without simultaneously moving in a second direction transverse to the first direction. Accordingly, a practitioner can reposition the probe from one location to the other (for example, by orbiting the probe relative to a central axis of the support body, or by translating the probe linearly relative to the support body) without moving the housing relative to the skin surface.

Abstract: The invention is a percutaneous electrode assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes a housing adapted to be mounted on a patient; an electrode disposed in the housing, the electrode having an sharp point at a distal end adapted to be inserted into a patient's tissue; an electrode actuator disposed in the housing and adapted to move the sharp point of the electrode out of the housing; and an electrode electrical connector adapted to electrically connect the electrode to a control unit to deliver electrical therapy to a patient. The invention is also a method of inserting a percutaneous electrode into a patient. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the following steps: placing a housing on a patient; and moving at least part of an electrode out of the housing and into the patient and connecting the electrode electrically with a control unit cable, the moving and connecting steps being performed with a single user motion.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a percutaneous electrical therapy system includes a control unit; an electrode electrically connected to the control unit to deliver electrical therapy to a patient, the electrode comprising a sharp point at a distal end adapted to be inserted into a patient's tissue at an electrode insertion point; and an electrode insertion pain reducer adapted to reduce pain experienced by the patient during insertion of the electrode into the patient's tissue. Both the electrode and electrode insertion pain reducer may be located apart from the control unit.

Abstract: A percutaneous electrical therapy system with electrode position maintenance. In one embodiment, the system includes a control unit; an electrode electrically connectable to the control unit, the electrode having a sharp point at a distal end adapted to be inserted into a patient's tissue; and an inserted electrode holding mechanism adapted to hold the electrode in place after insertion of the sharp point of the electrode into the patient's tissue. In another embodiment, a method of providing electrical therapy can include inserting an electrode into a patient; using an inserted electrode holding mechanism to hold the inserted electrode in place in the patient; and applying an electrical signal to the electrode from a control unit.