Abstract: A medical implant comprising a housing and an antenna member carried by the housing. The antenna member is configured to be capacitively coupled to body tissue in which the housing is implanted. This forms, together with the impedance of the body tissue, part of a resonant circuit. A reference electrode carried by the housing as a return for the antenna member also forms a further part of the resonant circuit. Transceiver circuitry is also provided and is operable as at least one of a source and a load for the antenna member and forms yet a further part of the series resonant circuit.

Abstract: A medical implant comprising a housing and an antenna member carried by the housing. The antenna member is configured to be capacitively coupled to body tissue in which the housing is implanted. This forms, together with the impedance of the body tissue, part of a resonant circuit. A reference electrode carried by the housing as a return for the antenna member also forms a further part of the resonant circuit.

Abstract: A medical implant comprising a housing and an antenna member carried by the housing. The antenna member is configured to be capacitively coupled to body tissue in which the housing is implanted. This forms, together with the impedance of the body tissue, part of a resonant circuit. A reference electrode carried by the housing as a return for the antenna member also forms a further part of the resonant circuit. Transceiver circuitry is also provided and is operable as at least one of a source and a load for the antenna member and forms yet a further part of the series resonant circuit.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, implantable stimulator for use in an FES system includes a housing, implantable into a patient's body. The housing contains a receiving device and a control unit, the control unit receiving signals from the receiving device which, in turn, receives signals transcutaneously from a controller arranged externally of the patient's body. A plurality of leads extend from the housing, the leads being arranged in separate bundles of discrete leads, each bundle being associated with a particular site of the patient's body.

Abstract: A multi-purpose FES system includes a multi-function, implantable stimulator for stimulating different sites in a patient's body. The stimulator includes a control unit and a receiving device. The stimulator further has a plurality of bundles of electric leads connected to the control unit, each lead terminating in at least one electrode to provide a plurality of discrete groups of electrodes associated with each site. Each group of electrodes is operable to stimulate its associated site in the patient's body, under the action of stimulation signals from the control unit, the control unit receiving signals from the receiving device. A transmitter is arranged externally of the patient's body for supplying signals transcutaneously to the receiving device of the stimulator. A controller is in communication with the transmitter via a communications interface unit.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system 10 includes an implantable stimulator unit 12 for stimulating a plurality of different sites in a patient's body 14. A transmitter 20 is arranged externally of the patient's body 14 for supplying signals transcutaneously to the stimulator unit 12. A controller 16 is in communication with the transmitter 20. At least one implantable switching node 26 has an input terminal 30 in electrical communication with the stimulator unit 12 and a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node 26 and a stimulating element 24 is connected. The switching node 26 including addressing circuitry 44 for switching at least one output terminal into electrical connection with the input terminal 30 of the switching node 26 in response to a control signal received from the controller 16 via the stimulator unit 12.

Abstract: An implantable sensor for monitoring the condition of an organ, such as the bladder, of a recipients' body. The sensor (100) comprises a carrier (102), such as a tubular housing that is attachable to the outer surface of the organ. An impedance-varying means (104), such as a saline solution, is carried by the carrier (102). The impedance-varying means (104) within the carrier varies as the condition of the organ changes to cause in output state of the sensor (100). The sensor (1000) can be used for the purposes of monitoring the filling of the bladder, making bladder volume information to the recipient or another person, and causing an alarm signal to be generated when a preset bladder volume is reached.

Abstract: A medical implant comprising a housing and an antenna member carried by the housing. The antenna member is configured to be capacitively coupled to body tissue in which the housing is implanted. This forms, together with the impedance of the body tissue, part of a resonant circuit. A reference electrode carried by the housing as a return for the antenna member also forms a further part of the resonant circuit.

Abstract: A wireless, multi-purpose functional electrical stimulation (FES) system 10 includes a plurality of implantable stimulator units 12. Each unit 12 is implanted, in use, at a particular site in a patient's body 14 for stimulating and/or monitoring that site. Each stimulator unit 12 includes a power source and a programmable microcontroller for controlling stimulation at its associated site. Each stimulator unit 12 further has a plurality of implantable transducer elements 22 connected to and in communication with the microcontroller. At least certain of the transducer elements 22operate as stimulating electrodes. A controller 16 is arranged, in use, externally of the patient's body 14 for supplying programming and control signals transcutaneously to each of the stimulator units 12 independently to effect stimulation of the site associated with the stimulator unit 12 being addressed at that time by the controller 16.

Abstract: A multi-purpose FES system includes a multi-function, implantable stimulator for stimulating different sites in a patient's body. The stimulator includes a control unit and a receiving device. The stimulator further has a plurality of bundles of electric leads connected to the control unit, each lead terminating in at least one electrode to provide a plurality of discrete groups of electrodes associated with each site. Each group of electrodes is operable to stimulate its associated site in the patient's body, under the action of stimulation signals from the control unit, the control unit receiving signals from the receiving device. A transmitter is arranged externally of the patient's body for supplying signals transcutaneously to the receiving device of the stimulator. A controller is in communication with the transmitter via a communications interface unit.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system 10 includes an implantable stimulator unit 12 for stimulating a plurality of different sites in a patient's body 14. A transmitter 20 is arranged externally of the patient's body 14 for supplying signals transcutaneously to the stimulator unit 12. A controller 16 is in communication with the transmitter 20. At least one implantable switching node 26 has an input terminal 30 in electrical communication with the stimulator unit 12 and a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node 26 and a stimulating element 24 is connected. The switching node 26 including addressing circuitry 44 for switching at least one output terminal into electrical connection with the input terminal 30 of the switching node 26 in response to a control signal received from the controller 16 via the stimulator unit 12.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, implantable stimulator for use in an FES system includes a housing, implantable into a patient's body. The housing contains a receiving device and a control unit, the control unit receiving signals from the receiving device which, in turn, receives signals transcutaneously from a controller arranged externally of the patient's body. A plurality of leads extend from the housing, the leads being arranged in separate bundles of discrete leads, each bundle being associated with a particular site of the patient's body.