Abstract: A method, programmer for a neurostimulator, and neurostimulation kit are provided. The kit comprises a neurostimulator, and a plurality of elongated lead bodies configured for being coupled to the neurostimulator, each having a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies differs from each other. Electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes of the selected lead body and the tissue, an electrical fingerprint is measured at the proximal contacts of the selected lead body in response to the conveyed electrical energy, and the selected lead body is identified based on the measured electrical fingerprint. These steps can be performed by the programmer.

Abstract: A method, programmer for a neurostimulator, and neurostimulation kit are provided. The kit comprises a neurostimulator, and a plurality of elongated lead bodies configured for being coupled to the neurostimulator, each having a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies differs from each other. Electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes of the selected lead body and the tissue, an electrical fingerprint is measured at the proximal contacts of the selected lead body in response to the conveyed electrical energy, and the selected lead body is identified based on the measured electrical fingerprint. These steps can be performed by the programmer.

Abstract: An illustrative method may include 1) generating, by an implantable stimulator, stimulation sessions, wherein the implantable stimulator comprises a central electrode of a first polarity centrally located on a first surface of a housing of the implantable stimulator and an annular electrode of a second polarity and that is spaced apart from the central electrode; and 2) applying, by the implantable stimulator, the stimulation sessions by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode to a location within a patient.

Abstract: An illustrative method of treating cardiovascular disease in a patient may include 1) generating, by an implantable stimulator, stimulation sessions, wherein the implantable stimulator comprises a central electrode of a first polarity centrally located on a first surface of a housing of the implantable stimulator and an annular electrode of a second polarity and that is spaced apart from the central electrode; and 2) applying, by the implantable stimulator, the stimulation sessions by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode to a location, within the patient, that is associated with the cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: A method comprises generating, by an implantable stimulator, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying, by the implantable stimulator, the stimulation sessions to a patient. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes. The implantable stimulator is powered by a primary battery having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms.

Abstract: A method comprises generating, by an implantable stimulator, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying, by the implantable stimulator, the stimulation sessions to a patient. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiovascular disease in a patient includes generating, by an implantable stimulator configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying, by the implantable stimulator in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a location, within the patient, that is associated with the cardiovascular disease. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes.

Abstract: Tissue stimulation systems generally include a pulse generating device for generating electrical stimulation pulses, at least one implanted electrode for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses generated by the pulse generating device, and a programmer capable of communicating with the pulse generating device. Stimulation pulses may be defined by several parameters, such as pulse width and amplitude. In methods of stimulating the tissue with the stimulation system, a user may adjust one of the parameters such as pulse width. The programmer may automatically adjust the pulse amplitude in response to the change in pulse width in order to maintain a substantially constant effect of the stimulation pulses.

Abstract: A method of treating a mental disorder of a patient includes generating, by an implantable stimulator configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying, by the implantable stimulator in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a tissue location associated with the mental disorder. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes. The implantable stimulator is powered by a primary battery located within the implantable stimulator and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms.

Abstract: A method of treating hypertension includes an implantable stimulator generating stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying the stimulation sessions by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode to a location associated with the hypertension and within a patient.

Abstract: A current generation architecture for an implantable stimulator device such as an Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) is disclosed. Current source and sink circuitry are both divided into coarse and fine portions, which respectively can provide coarse and fine current resolutions to a specified electrode on the IPG. The coarse portion is distributed across all of the electrodes and so can source or sink current to any of the electrodes. The coarse portion is divided into a plurality of stages, each of which is capable via an associated switch bank of sourcing or sinking a coarse amount of current to or from any one of the electrodes on the device. The fine portion of the current generation circuit preferably includes source and sink circuitry dedicated to each of the electrode on the device, which can comprise digital-to-analog current converters (DACs).

Abstract: Tissue stimulation systems generally include a pulse generating device for generating electrical stimulation pulses, at least one implanted electrode for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses generated by the pulse generating device, and a programmer capable of communicating with the pulse generating device. Stimulation pulses may be defined by several parameters, such as pulse width and amplitude. In methods of stimulating the tissue with the stimulation system, a user may adjust one of the parameters such as pulse width. The programmer may automatically adjust the pulse amplitude in response to the change in pulse width in order to maintain a substantially constant effect of the stimulation pulses.

Abstract: A method, programmer for a neurostimulator, and neurostimulation kit are provided. The kit comprises a neurostimulator, and a plurality of elongated lead bodies configured for being coupled to the neurostimulator, each having a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies differs from each other. Electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes of the selected lead body and the tissue, an electrical fingerprint is measured at the proximal contacts of the selected lead body in response to the conveyed electrical energy, and the selected lead body is identified based on the measured electrical fingerprint. These steps can be performed by the programmer.

Abstract: A method of treating osteoarthritis includes an implantable stimulator generating stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying the stimulation sessions by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode to a location within a patient that includes at least one of an acupoint labeled ST35, an acupoint labeled EX-LE-4, or a location on a line that intersects the acupoints labeled ST35 and EX-LE-4.

Abstract: A method of treating hypertension in a patient includes generating, by an implantable stimulator configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying, by the implantable stimulator in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a tissue location associated with the hypertension. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes. The implantable stimulator is powered by a primary battery located within the implantable stimulator and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms.

Abstract: A method, programmer for a neurostimulator, and neurostimulation kit are provided. The kit comprises a neurostimulator, and a plurality of elongated lead bodies configured for being coupled to the neurostimulator, each having a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies differs from each other. Electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes of the selected lead body and the tissue, an electrical fingerprint is measured at the proximal contacts of the selected lead body in response to the conveyed electrical energy, and the selected lead body is identified based on the measured electrical fingerprint. These steps can be performed by the programmer.

Abstract: A method of treating osteoarthritis in a knee includes generating, by an implantable stimulator configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of a patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and applying, by the implantable stimulator in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a location that includes at least one of an acupoint labeled ST35, an acupoint labeled EX-LE-4, and a location on a line that intersects the acupoints labeled ST35 and EX-LE-4. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes. The implantable stimulator is powered by a primary battery located within the implantable stimulator and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiovascular disease in a patient includes generating, by an implantable stimulator configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying, by the implantable stimulator in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a location, within the patient, that is associated with the cardiovascular disease. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiovascular disease in a patient includes generating, by an implantable stimulator configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05 and applying, by the implantable stimulator in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a tissue location associated with the cardiovascular disease. The duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4. Each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes. The implantable stimulator is powered by a primary battery located within the implantable stimulator and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms.

Abstract: Circuitry useable to protect and reliably charge a rechargeable battery, even from a zero-volt state, is disclosed, and is particularly useful when employed in an implantable medical device. The circuit includes two charging paths, a first path for trickle charging the battery, and a second path for charging the battery at relatively higher currents. A passive diode is used in the first trickle-charging path which allows trickle charging even when the battery voltage is too low for reliable gating, while a gateable switch (preferably a PMOS transistor) is used in the second higher-current charging path when the voltage is higher and the switch can therefore be gated more reliably. A second diode between the two paths ensures no leakage to the substrate through the gateable switch during trickle charging. The load couples to the battery through the switch, and preferably through a second switch specifically used for decoupling the load.