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 at a relatively low current when the battery voltage is below a threshold, and a second path for charging the battery at relatively higher currents that the battery voltage is above a certain threshold. 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.

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 exemplary electroacupuncture device includes a central electrode of a first polarity centrally located on a surface of a housing of the electroacupuncture device and an annular electrode of a second polarity that is spaced apart from the central electrode. The electroacupuncture device is implanted beneath a skin surface of a patient at an acupoint corresponding to a tibial nerve and performs methods for treating overactive bladder in the patient. One exemplary method performed by the electroacupuncture device includes generating stimulation sessions each including a series of stimulation pulses and having a duty cycle less than 0.05, wherein the duty cycle is a ratio of a duration of each stimulation session to a rate at which each stimulation session occurs. The exemplary method also includes applying the stimulation sessions to the tibial nerve by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode in accordance with the duty cycle.

Abstract: A method and neurostimulation system for treating a patient are provided. A plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms are respectively delivered within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient. Sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally are predicted. Stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms are temporally shifted in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.

Abstract: An implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) treats Parkinson's disease or Essential Tremor through application of stimulation pulses applied to at least one of the acupoints on the chorea line. The IEAD includes an hermetically-sealed implantable electroacupuncture (EA) device and a conduit extending therefrom. At least one electrode is located on the outside of the housing. At least one electrode is located at an opening formed through the conduit. The housing contains a primary power source and pulse generation circuitry. A sensor wirelessly senses externally-generated operating commands, such as ON, OFF and AMPLITUDE. The pulse generation circuitry generates stimulation pulses. The stimulation pulses are applied to the specified acupoint or nerve through the electrodes in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen.

Abstract: A method of providing therapy to a patient using a plurality of electrodes is provided. The electrodes are located adjacent a target neural tissue region having a first nerve fiber of a relatively small diameter and a second nerve fiber of a relatively large diameter. The method comprises sourcing electrical current from a local anode into the target neural tissue region. The method further comprises therapeutically sinking a first portion of the electrical current from the target neural tissue region into a local cathode. The method further comprises sinking a second portion of the electrical current into a cathode remote from the target neural tissue region. The ratio of the sourced electrical current over the first sunk electrical current portion has a value that allows the first nerve fiber to be recruited by the electrical current while preventing the second nerve fiber from being recruited by the electrical current.

Abstract: A method and system of providing therapy to a patient using electrodes implanted adjacent tissue. The method comprises regulating a first voltage at an anode of the electrodes relative to the tissue, regulating a second voltage at a cathode of the electrodes relative to the tissue, and conveying electrical stimulation energy between the anode at the first voltage and the cathode at the second voltage, thereby stimulating the neural tissue. The system comprises a grounding electrode configured for being placed in contact with the tissue, electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to the electrodes, a first regulator configured for being electrically coupled between an anode of the electrodes and the grounding electrode, a second regulator configured for being electrically coupled between an anode of the electrodes and the grounding electrode, and control circuitry configured for controlling the regulators to convey electrical stimulation energy between the anode and cathode.

Abstract: A neurostimulation paddle lead, method of neurostimulation, and neurostimulation system are provided. The neurostimulation paddle lead carries a plurality of electrodes comprising at least four columns of electrodes having a spacing between two inner electrode columns less than a spacing between the inner electrode columns and adjacent outer electrode columns. The inner electrode columns may also be longitudinally offset from the outer electrode columns. The methods and neurostimulation systems steer current between the electrodes to modify a medial-lateral electrical field created adjacent spinal cord tissue.

Abstract: An exemplary method treating a cardiovascular disease in a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a median nerve of the patient by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to the median nerve.

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 at a relatively low current when the battery voltage is below a threshold, and a second path for charging the battery at relatively higher currents that the battery voltage is above a certain threshold. 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.

Abstract: An exemplary method of treating obesity or dyslipidemia of a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to at least one of a saphenous nerve and a peroneal nerve of the patient by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to at least one of the saphenous nerve and the peroneal nerve.

Abstract: An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold.

Abstract: A method and system of providing therapy to a patient using electrodes implanted adjacent tissue. The method comprises regulating a first voltage at an anode of the electrodes relative to the tissue, regulating a second voltage at a cathode of the electrodes relative to the tissue, and conveying electrical stimulation energy between the anode at the first voltage and the cathode at the second voltage, thereby stimulating the neural tissue. The system comprises a grounding electrode configured for being placed in contact with the tissue, electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to the electrodes, a first regulator configured for being electrically coupled between an anode of the electrodes and the grounding electrode, a second regulator configured for being electrically coupled between an anode of the electrodes and the grounding electrode, and control circuitry configured for controlling the regulators to convey electrical stimulation energy between the anode and cathode.

Abstract: An exemplary method treating a cardiovascular disease in a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to a median nerve of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein 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, and the electroacupuncture device comprises a central electrode of a first polarity and an annular electrode of a second polarity and that is spaced apart from the central electrode; and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device, the stimulation sessions to the median nerve by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode in accordance with the duty cycle.

Abstract: A neurostimulation paddle lead, method of neurostimulation, and neurostimulation system are provided. The neurostimulation paddle lead carries a plurality of electrodes comprising at least four columns of electrodes having a spacing between two inner electrode columns less than a spacing between the inner electrode columns and adjacent outer electrode columns. The inner electrode columns may also be longitudinally offset from the outer electrode columns. The methods and neurostimulation systems steer current between the electrodes to modify a medial-lateral electrical field created adjacent spinal cord tissue.

Abstract: An exemplary subcutaneous medical device implanted within a patient uses a coil-less magnetic field sensor included within the subcutaneous medical device to detect a toggling sequence between a presence and an absence of an externally-generated static magnetic field. The toggling sequence is representative of a digital data stream according to a digital wireless communication protocol. The subcutaneous medical device identifies, based on the detected toggling sequence and in accordance with the digital wireless communication protocol, a multi-bit command encoded within the digital data stream represented by the toggling sequence. The subcutaneous medical device further performs, in response to the identifying of the multi-bit command, an action associated with the multi-bit command. Corresponding methods and a corresponding external controller are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary method of treating obesity or dyslipidemia of a patient using a small implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) includes 1) implanting the IEAD below the skin surface of the patient at or near a target tissue location selected from the group of target tissue locations comprising acupoints ST36, SP4, ST37, ST40, SP6, SP9, K16, LR8 and their underlying nerves, the saphenous nerve and the peroneal nerve, and 2) enabling the IEAD to provide EA stimulation pulses in accordance with a stimulation regimen that provides a stimulation session having a duration of T3 minutes at a rate of once every T4 minutes, where the ratio of T3/T4 is no greater than 0.05, and wherein T3 is at least 10 minutes and no greater than 60 minutes.

Abstract: An exemplary method of treating obesity or dyslipidemia of a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to at least one of a saphenous nerve and a peroneal nerve of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to at least one of the saphenous nerve and the peroneal nerve by way of a central electrode and an annular electrode located on a housing of the electroacupuncture device.

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 system and method for locating an implantable tissue stimulation lead within a patient. A measurement indicative of a coupling efficiency between the tissue stimulation lead and tissue at a location is taken. The location of the tissue stimulation lead relative to the tissue is tracked. Coupling efficiency information based on the measurement from the monitoring device is generated, tracking information based on the tissue stimulation lead location is generated, and the coupling efficiency information and tracking information is concurrently conveyed to the user.