Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus (a flexible pulsation sensor (FPS) device) that provides wireless monitoring capability. The FPS device includes a FPS configured to wrap around a measurement target of a conduit, such as a synthetic vascular graft or a vessel of a patient. The FPS device also includes a flexible circuit board fitting including circuit elements. The circuit elements can include a pressure sensor that collects data related to displacement of the FPS related to a pressure of and/or within the measurement target; and a wireless transmitter that transmits the data related to the pressure of and/or within the measurement target wirelessly to an external device.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can modulate the intensity of a neural stimulation signal over time. A pulse generator can be configured to generate a stimulation signal for application to neural tissue of an individual and modulate a parameter related to intensity of a pattern of pulses of the stimulation signal over time. An electrode can be coupled to the pulse generator and configured to apply the stimulation signal to the neural tissue. A population of axons in the neural tissue can be recruited with each pulse of the stimulation signal.

Abstract: An inline implantable connector device can provide an increased volume density to medical device systems in a limited volume. The inline implantable connector device can have a claim-shell design with a first half and a second half, each having a conductive path in a same design. The second half is turned and flipped by 180 degrees to mate with the first half so that the conductive paths interconnect to form electrical and mechanical interconnections that are fundamentally transverse to the direction of the incoming or outgoing lead wires. A first screw hole on a top side of the connector device can accept a screw therethrough; and a second screw hole on a bottom side of the connector device can accept another screw therethrough.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can modulate the intensity of a neural stimulation signal over time. A pulse generator can be configured to generate a stimulation signal for application to neural tissue of an individual and modulate a parameter related to intensity of a pattern of pulses of the stimulation signal over time. An electrode can be coupled to the pulse generator and configured to apply the stimulation signal to the neural tissue. A population of axons in the neural tissue can be recruited with each pulse of the stimulation signal.

Abstract: A user-specific model of muscular activity can be used to control an external device based on muscular activity within a limb of a user. The user-specific model of muscular activity can include single movements and corresponding one or more primary muscle patterns. New single movements can be added to the user-specific model of muscular activity can be by a system that includes a processor by receiving user-specific EMG signals (including one or more EMG patterns that indicate a single movement); decomposing the user-specific EMG signals into the one or more EMG patterns in EMG feature space that indicate the single movement; and updating the user-specific model of muscular activity to include the single movement and corresponding one or more primary muscle patterns based on the one or more EMG patterns in EMG feature space.

Abstract: Systems and methods for human-machine integration to facilitate Human Fusions by providing reliable endpoint-to-endpoint connection and communication between humans and devices are described. A controller that includes a processor can receive physiological data related to movement from a user; translate the physiological data related to movement to a transmissible signal to be sent across a network; and send, by the controller, the transmissible signal across the network to at least one device connected to the network. The at least one device can translate at least a portion of the transmissible signal to a form usable by a component of the at least one device to perform an action based on the physiological data related to movement. In some instances, the device can provide feedback to the controller for transmission to the user.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can modulate the intensity of a neural stimulation signal over time. A pulse generator can be configured to generate a stimulation signal for application to neural tissue of an individual and modulate a parameter related to intensity of a pattern of pulses of the stimulation signal over time. An electrode can be coupled to the pulse generator and configured to apply the stimulation signal to the neural tissue. A population of axons in the neural tissue can be recruited with each pulse of the stimulation signal.

Abstract: A user-specific model of muscular activity can be used to control an external device based on muscular activity within a limb of a user. The user-specific model of muscular activity can include single movements and corresponding one or more primary muscle patterns. New single movements can be added to the user-specific model of muscular activity can be by a system that includes a processor by receiving user-specific EMG signals (including one or more EMG patterns that indicate a single movement); decomposing the user-specific EMG signals into the one or more EMG patterns in EMG feature space that indicate the single movement; and updating the user-specific model of muscular activity to include the single movement and corresponding one or more primary muscle patterns based on the one or more EMG patterns in EMG feature space.

Abstract: A hybrid method is provided for modulating upper airway function in a subject. The method includes applying first and second therapy signals to the subject to modulate at least one extrinsic laryngeal muscle and at least one intrinsic laryngeal muscle to synergistically control laryngeal motion and vocal fold movement, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates a system that can configure a stimulus for functional electrical stimulation (“FES”) to maintain a constant muscle force while delaying the onset of muscle fatigue and a related method of use. The stimulus can be delivered to a nerve via a set of multiple electrode contacts according to a stimulation parameter that maximizes a joint moment associated with the stimulus and minimizes the overlap between pairs of contacts. The joint moment can be related to the muscle force, and the overlap can be related to the onset of muscle fatigue.

Abstract: An implantable cuff includes an elastic collar, at least one conductive segment disposed on or within the elastic collar, and at least one conductor in electrical communication with the at least one conductive segment. The elastic collar defines an internal opening configured to receive an internal body tissue. At least a portion of the elastic collar includes a stiffening region having a stiffness greater than a second region of the elastic collar. The at least one conductor is configured to operably mate with an apparatus capable of delivering electrical stimulation to, and/or recording an electrical activity of, the internal body tissue.

Abstract: A nerve interface electrode has a plurality of conductive fibers. The fibers have a nonconductive sheath (108) surrounding a conducting wire. A conducting region (105) of the wire is exposed to the interior of the nerve (200). The fibers are configured for insertion between fascicles (204) of the nerve. In other teachings, a layer of polymer material configured to switch from a high strength/tensile modulus state to a low strength/tensile modulus state upon introduction of the fibers into the nerve is disposed on the fibers.

Abstract: A hybrid method is provided for modulating upper airway function in a subject. The method includes applying first and second therapy signals to the subject to modulate at least one extrinsic laryngeal muscle and at least one intrinsic laryngeal muscle to synergistically control laryngeal motion and vocal fold movement, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates a system that can configure a stimulus for functional electrical stimulation (“FES”) to maintain a constant muscle force while delaying the onset of muscle fatigue and a related method of use. The stimulus can be delivered to a nerve via a set of multiple electrode contacts according to a stimulation parameter that maximizes a joint moment associated with the stimulus and minimizes the overlap between pairs of contacts. The joint moment can be related to the muscle force, and the overlap can be related to the onset of muscle fatigue.

Abstract: A hybrid method is provided for modulating upper airway function in a subject. The method includes applying first and second therapy signals to the subject to modulate at least one extrinsic laryngeal muscle and at least one intrinsic laryngeal muscle to synergistically control laryngeal motion and vocal fold movement, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates a system that can configure a stimulus for functional electrical stimulation (“FES”) to maintain a constant muscle force while delaying the onset of muscle fatigue and a related method of use. The stimulus can be delivered to a nerve via a set of multiple electrode contacts according to a stimulation parameter that maximizes a joint moment associated with the stimulus and minimizes the overlap between pairs of contacts. The joint moment can be related to the muscle force, and the overlap can be related to the onset of muscle fatigue.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for stimulating motor units. An electrode array includes a plurality of electrodes configured to provide stimulation to respective motor units of a plurality of independent, mutually agonist motor units. A stimulator assembly is configured to provide a stimulation current to each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. The stimulation current is provided such that a sum of respective time-varying moments at the plurality of motor units remains substantially constant and non-zero.

Abstract: A nerve interface electrode has a plurality of conductive fibers. The fibers have a nonconductive sheath (108) surrounding a conducting wire. A conducting region (105) of the wire is exposed to the interior of the nerve (200). The fibers are configured for insertion between fascicles (204) of the nerve. In other teachings, a layer of polymer material configured to switch from a high strength/tensile modulus state to a low strength/tensile modulus state upon introduction of the fibers into the nerve is disposed on the fibers.

Abstract: Polymer nanocomposites exhibit a reversible change in stiffness and strength in response to a stimulus. The polymer nanocomposites include a matrix polymer with a comparably low modulus and strength and nanoparticles that have a comparably high modulus and strength. The particle-particle interactions are switched by the stimulus, to change the overall material's mechanical properties. In a preferred embodiment, a chemical regulator is used to facilitate changes of the mechanical properties. Methods for inducing modulus changes in polymer nanocomposites are also disclosed.

Abstract: A nerve interface electrode has a plurality of conductive fibers. The fibers have a nonconductive sheath (108) surrounding a conducting wire. A conducting region (105) of the wire is exposed to the interior of the nerve (200). The fibers are configured for insertion between fascicles (204) of the nerve. In other teachings, a layer of polymer material configured to switch from a high strength/tensile modulus state to a low strength/tensile modulus state upon introduction of the fibers into the nerve is disposed on the fibers.