Abstract: A method of providing therapy to a patient. The method comprises conveying pulsed electrical current at a defined pulse width and a defined pulse rate into spinal cord tissue. The defined pulse width is equal to or less than 200 ?s, and the defined pulse rate is less than 1500 Hz, such that neural elements in the dorsal horn are modulated and/or the patient does not perceive paresthesia during the conveyance of the pulsed electrical current into the spinal cord tissue.

Abstract: Circuitry for generating a compliance voltage (V+) for the current sources and/or sinks in an implantable stimulator device in disclosed. The circuitry assesses whether V+ is optimal for a given pulse, and if not, adjusts V+ for the next pulse. The circuitry uses amplifiers to measure the voltage drop across active PDACs (current sources) and NDAC (current sinks) at an appropriate time during the pulse. The measured voltages are assessed to determine whether they are high or low relative to optimal values. If low, a V+ regulator is controlled to increase V+ for the next pulse; if not, the V+ regulator is controlled to decrease V+ for the next pulse. Through this approach, gradual changes that may be occurring in the implant environment can be accounted for, with V+ adjusted on a pulse-by-pulse basis to keep the voltage drops at or near optimal levels for efficient DAC operation.

Abstract: A port for receiving a lead is defined at a first end of a connector housing of a connector assembly for an implantable electrical medical device. A lumen extends from the port along a longitudinal axis of the connector housing. At least one of a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing couples to a terminal of the lead when the lead is received by the connector housing. The connector contacts include spring contact probes spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing with at least a portion of each of the spring contact probes extending along a first transverse axis into the lumen of the connector housing. The plurality of spring contact probes physically contact the terminals of the lead solely along the first transverse axis when the lead is received by the connector housing.

Abstract: A lead assembly includes an implantable lead. Electrodes are disposed along a distal end of the lead in an electrode array. Terminals are disposed along a proximal end of the lead in a proximal-most terminal array and a medial terminal array. A terminal extension electrically couples to the medial terminal array. A port is defined in a connector at a first end of the terminal extension. The port has a first end and an opposing second end and forms a continuous passageway therebetween. The port receives the medial terminal array. A contact array includes connector contacts that are disposed within the port and that couple electrically with a terminal array disposed along a second end of the terminal extension. The contact array couples electrically with terminals of the medial terminal array of the lead when the medial terminal array is received by the port.

Abstract: A paddle lead assembly for providing electrical stimulation of patient tissue includes a paddle body having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of electrodes are disposed along the paddle body. Each of the plurality of electrodes has a five-sided shape. At least one lead body is coupled to the paddle body. A plurality of terminals are disposed on the at least one lead body. The paddle lead assembly further includes a plurality of conductive wires. Each conductive wire couples one of the plurality of terminals to at least one of the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: An electrical stimulation lead includes a cog-shaped conductor guide disposed either at the proximal end or the distal end of the lead. The cog-shaped conductor guide includes a central core and multiple protrusions extending outwards from the core. Conductor tracks are defined within the cog-shaped conductor guide between adjacent protrusions. Electrodes are provided along the distal end of the lead, terminals are provided along the proximal end of the lead, and conductors couple the electrodes to the terminals. An elongated lead body extends from the electrodes to the terminals of the lead. Each of the conductors has an end portion positioned within one of the conductor tracks of the cog-shaped conductor guide.

Abstract: A stimulation lead extends from a proximal end to a distal end and includes a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead; and an elongated body separating the plurality of electrodes from the plurality of terminals. The elongated body includes an outer tube of insulative material, and a cog-shaped conductor guide disposed within the outer tube. The conductor guide includes a central core and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the central core. The plurality of protrusions and the outer tube define a plurality of pocket regions. The stimulation further includes a plurality of conductors disposed within the plurality of pocket regions, each conductor coupling at least one of the plurality of electrodes to at least one of the plurality of terminals.

Abstract: An implantable control module for an electrical stimulation system includes an electronic subassembly disposed in a casing. A sealed feedthrough housing is disposed along a portion of the casing. An electrically-conductive portion of the feedthrough housing is electrically coupled to an electrically-conductive portion of the casing. Feedthrough pins extend through the feedthrough housing and couple to the electronic subassembly via conductive pathways disposed in the casing. At least a portion of the conductive pathways extend along a non-conductive substrate. An RF-diverting assembly is disposed in the casing. The RF-diverting assembly includes a feedthrough ground electrically coupled to the electrically-conductive portion of the feedthrough housing. The RF-diverting assembly also includes a plurality of capacitive elements each coupling a different one of the plurality of conductive pathways to the feedthrough ground.

Abstract: An implantable medical device comprises an antenna configured for wirelessly receiving energy of a first frequency from an external device, electronic circuitry configured for performing a function in response to the receipt of the received energy, and a biocompatible housing containing the electronic circuitry and antenna. The housing includes a substrate structure and a two-dimensional array of elements disposed on the substrate structure. The array of elements and substrate structure are arranged in a manner that creates a frequency selective surface capable of reflecting at least a portion of energy of a second frequency incident on the housing, while passing at least a portion of energy of the first frequency incident on the housing to the antenna.

Abstract: Monitoring circuitry for an implantable stimulator device is disclosed. A switching matrix allows current from a current source to be distributed to any of a plurality of electrodes. A voltage drop across the active switches in the switch matrix is monitored and is compared to an expected voltage based upon the amplitude of the current and the known on resistance of the switch. If the monitored and expected voltages differ significantly, then a failure condition can be inferred, and an appropriate action can be taken, such shutting down stimulation. Using the already-existing switches in the switching matrix in this fashion is beneficial because it allows the current through the electrodes to be monitored without providing additional structures in the therapeutic current path, which would increase complexity and add unwanted resistance.

Abstract: A device for use with a stimulation system comprises a user interface for receiving input from a user, displaying graphical parameter objects respectively corresponding to stimulation parameter sets, and displaying graphical program objects corresponding to stimulation programs. The device further comprises a controller/processor for selecting a graphical parameter object, dragging the graphical parameter object, dropping the graphical parameter object into a graphical program object, and storing the stimulation parameter set corresponding to the graphical parameter object in association with the stimulation program corresponding to the graphical program object. The user interface may further display graphical program objects corresponding to stimulation programs, and a graphical schedule object.

Abstract: An implantable lead for an electrical stimulation system includes a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal length, and a circumference; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body in an electrode array; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body; a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals; and at least one capsule including an x-ray fluorescent material and disposed along the distal end of the lead body relative to the electrode array to indicate, when viewed fluoroscopically, an orientation of the electrode array. The plurality of electrodes includes a plurality of segmented electrodes. Each of the plurality of segmented electrodes extends partially around the circumference of the lead body.

Abstract: A system and method using a plurality of electrodes. An immediate virtual multipole is defined, an immediate electrode configuration emulating the immediate virtual multipole is defined, electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration, a new virtual multipole is defined by changing a parameter of the immediate virtual multipole by a step size, a new electrode configuration that emulates the new virtual multipole is defined, a difference value as a function of the immediate virtual multipole and the new virtual multipole is computed, the different value is compared to a limit value, electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the new electrode configuration if the difference value does not exceed the limit value, and the absolute value of the step size is decreased to create a new step size if the difference value does exceed the limit value.

Abstract: A system and method using a plurality of electrodes. An immediate electrode configuration is defined, electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration, a final electrode configuration is defined, a series of intermediate electrode configurations is defined using a heuristic set of rules based on the immediate electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration, electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the series of intermediate electrode configurations, and electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the subsequent electrode configuration.

Abstract: An implantable stimulation lead includes a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body, and a plurality of conductors disposed in the lead body and including a first conductor and a second conductor. Each conductor electrically couples at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. The first conductor has a RF impedance that is at least 25% greater in magnitude than the second conductor.

Abstract: A lead for brain stimulation includes a lead body having a distal end. At least one cable extends within the lead body, each cable comprising at least one conductor. The lead further includes a plurality of electrodes coupled to the at least one cable. Each of the plurality of electrodes defines a cutout portion that receives and attaches to a one of the at least one cable.

Abstract: A neurostimulation comprises a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to an array of electrodes, at least three configurable sources respectively coupled to at least three of the electrical terminals, and control circuitry configured for programming each of the at least three configurable sources to be either a current source or a voltage source. A method of providing neurostimulation therapy to a patient using an array of electrodes implanted adjacent neural tissue of the patient, comprises conveying electrical stimulation energy between a first one the electrodes and a second one of the electrodes, thereby creating an electrical field potential within the neural tissue, regulating a first current flowing through the first electrode, and regulating a first voltage at a third different one of the electrodes, thereby modifying a shape of the electrical field potential within the neural tissue.

Abstract: A method and external control device for performing a medical procedure on a patient in which at least one stimulation lead is implanted. An electrical signal is conveyed from the stimulation lead into tissue of the patient. An electrical parameter indicative of tissue impedance is measured in response to the conveyance of the electrical signal. One of a plurality of different anatomical regions in which the stimulation lead is implanted is selected and/or a depth in which the stimulation is implanted is determined based on the measured electrical parameter. A stimulation parameter is defined based on the selected one anatomical region and/or implantation depth. Electrical stimulation energy from the stimulation lead is conveyed into the one determined anatomical region in accordance with the defined stimulation parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for securing a medical implant within a patient. The method comprises disposing an anchor element around the implant, the anchor element including a pair of tabs each including an eyelet, and a flexible intermediate portion between the tabs, wherein disposing the anchor element around the implant includes positioning the implant within the intermediate portion and folding the anchor element such that the tabs contact one another and the eyelets aligned. The anchor element is positioned at a desired implantation position with the tabs positioned proximate soft tissue of the patient. The method further comprises inserting a distal tip of a fixation element delivery tool through the eyelets and into the soft tissue, the fixation element including at least one tissue anchor and an adjustable suture arrangement coupled to the tissue anchor. The at least one tissue anchor is deployed from the delivery tool and into the soft tissue of the patient.

Abstract: Methods and systems of facilitating stimulation of a stimulation site within a patient include implanting a distal portion of a stimulating member such that the distal portion of the stimulating member is in communication with a stimulation site located within a patient, securing the distal portion of the stimulating member at a first securing site with a first securing device, forming at least two curves of opposite concavity with a proximal portion of the stimulating member, securing the stimulating member at a second securing site with a second securing device, and coupling a proximal end of the stimulating member to a stimulator. In some examples, the at least two curves of opposite concavity are located in between the first and second securing devices.