Abstract: Various examples provide devices, systems, and techniques for dissipating electromagnetic interference (EMI) induced energy in a medical device. In one example, an implantable electronic device includes a housing, at least one connector coupled to the housing and configured to at least one of receive first electrical signals or transmit second electrical signals, and an integrated circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the integrated circuit comprises at least one clamp stage coupled to a supply line of the integrated circuit, and wherein the at least one clamp stage is configured to dissipate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) induced energy from the supply line in response to at least one of a voltage or a current on the supply line exceeding a respective predetermined voltage threshold value or a current threshold value.

Abstract: The disclosure describes devices and systems for determining alternative electrode combinations and power consumption for these alternative electrode combinations. In one example, a method includes identifying a set of one or more electrodes configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy via a lead, determining, based on the set of one or more electrodes, one or more alternative electrode combinations for delivering electrical stimulation therapy, calculating, for each of the one or more alternative electrode combinations, a respective field similarity score with respect to the set of one or more electrodes, and outputting a representation of at least one of the one or more alternative electrode combinations for selection in at least partially defining electrical stimulation therapy, the representation comprising an indication of at least one of the respective power consumption values or the respective field similarity scores.

Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and techniques for checking synchronization between two or more modules of a system. In one example, a first module is configured to output a therapy, and a second module distinct from the first module is configured to receive an alternating current (AC) power signal from an AC power source, monitor a characteristic of the AC power signal, determine, based on the characteristic of the AC power signal, a period of time during which the first module is expected to one of output the therapy or refrain from outputting the therapy, and check, during the period of time, a synchronicity between the first module and the second module.

Abstract: A control circuitry (134) and a method for controlling a bi-directional switch (132) is provided. The bi-directional switch (132) having a control terminal (130) for receiving a control voltage (124) to control an on state and an off state of the bi-directional switch (132) and at least one semiconductor switch in a bi-directional main current path. The control circuitry (134) comprises an energy storage element (102), a coupling means (101) to couple the energy storage element (102) to a supply voltage to charge the energy storage element (102), and a control circuit (108) configured to receive power from the energy storage element (102) and pendent of the supply voltage when the emergency storage element (102) is not coupled to the supply voltage. The coupling means (101) is configured for only coupling the energy storage element (102) to the supply voltage when the bi-directional switch (132) is in the off state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic system for a system for neural applications, comprising at least one first connector element and at least one second connector element, the first connector element being configured such that the electronic system is directly and/or indirectly connectable or connected to a controller which is at least configured to supply and/or provide and/or measure at least one voltage and/or at least one current and/or at least one voltage waveform and/or at least one current waveform especially via one or more stimulation outputs and/or recording inputs, the second connector element being configured such that the electronic system is directly and/or indirectly connectable or connected to a lead for neural stimulation and/or recording, wherein the electronic system comprises at least one leakage current detection means configured such that a leakage current, especially a leakage current within and/or around the system for neural applications is detectable.

Abstract: An electronic module (500) for a system for neural applications (100) comprising a housing (530) and a filtering element (567) that form a closed, miniaturized Faraday cage a corresponding lead, active lead can, a controller and systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a probe for an implantable electro-stimulation device. The probe (20) has a distal end (12) and a proximal end (13), and moreover comprises: one or more electrodes (11) a shield (21) of conducting material covering a major part of the probe, said shield extending from the vicinity of at least one of the one or more electrodes (11) towards the proximal end (13) or towards the distal end (12) of the probe (20); and a layer (22a, 22b) of insulating material covering part of the shield (21) in the vicinity of the at least one of the one or more electrodes. The shield protects wires (14), extending from electrodes to the proximal end of the probe, from undesired interference of external RF fields. The exposed part of the shield not covered by the layer of insulating material serves as a return electrode for the electrostimulation signal path.

Abstract: In some example, a medical device system including a medical lead; a bending sensor; and a controller configured to sense a bending of the medical lead during implantation of the medical lead in a patient based on the output of the bending sensor. The systems and techniques of this disclosure may improve the accuracy of the implantation of neurostimulation medical leads, for example, by accounting for bending deformation of the medical lead during implantation.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes delivering, via one or more stimulation generators of a medical device implanted in a patient, electrical stimulation to the patient. In this example, the method also includes disturbing, by one or more components of the medical device, an image of the patient generated by a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scanner.

Abstract: The disclosure describes tissue resistance measurement techniques. To avoid errors caused by bandwidth limitations of the amplifier that amplifies a signal used to determine the tissue resistance, the disclosure describes determining values at different frequencies, where the values include respective error values. The respective error values are proportional to the respective frequencies, and based on this relationship the error value can be removed from the tissue resistance measurement.

Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and techniques for checking synchronization between two or more modules of a system. In one example, a first module is configured to output a therapy, and a second module distinct from the first module is configured to receive an alternating current (AC) power signal from an AC power source, monitor a characteristic of the AC power signal, determine, based on the characteristic of the AC power signal, a period of time during which the first module is expected to one of output the therapy or refrain from outputting the therapy, and check, during the period of time, a synchronicity between the first module and the second module.

Abstract: Various examples provide devices, systems, and techniques for dissipating electromagnetic interference (EMI) induced energy in a medical device. In one example, an implantable electronic device includes a housing, at least one connector coupled to the housing and configured to at least one of receive first electrical signals or transmit second electrical signals, and an integrated circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the integrated circuit comprises at least one clamp stage coupled to a supply line of the integrated circuit, and wherein the at least one clamp stage is configured to dissipate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) induced energy from the supply line in response to at least one of a voltage or a current on the supply line exceeding a respective predetermined voltage threshold value or a current threshold value.

Abstract: The disclosure describes devices and systems that include a grounding electrode. In one example, a system may include a first module including a pulse generator within a first housing, a second module comprising a switch matrix within a second housing distinct from the first housing, a connecting cable that connects the first module to the second module, a grounding electrode disposed distal of the first module and proximal of the second module, and a plurality of electrodes disposed distal of the second module, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes are selectively coupled to the pulse generator via the switch matrix. These devices or system can be used to provide neurostimulation and/or neurorecording.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus with a DC power source and power-consuming electronic circuits and a method of transferring power between these components include converting the DC voltage of the power source into an AC voltage which is then transferred via a connector to the electronic circuits.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic apparatus (100) comprising a charging module (20) for receiving external energy (RF1) and for transferring it to a rechargeable energy storage (10) in a “charging state”. Moreover, the apparatus comprises a processing module which can be operated in a working state that is enabled if the charging module (20) is in the charging state and the apparatus is in a standard operating mode. The processing module may for example be a communication module (30) that can communicate wirelessly in its working state. In the standard operating mode, communication with the apparatus (100) is thus only possible if the apparatus (100) is simultaneously charged. The communication module (30) can therefore be completely switched off during the residual time, thus reducing power consumption and avoiding erroneous communication or misuse.

Abstract: A system for communicating information between at least two medical devices implanted within the body of a subject using volume conduction of electrical signals as a means of communication and wherein one of the implanted medical devices is configured to provide electrical stimulation to the tissue is disclosed. The system comprises a first implant device having at least two transmit electrodes configured to transmit electrical stimulation pulses, wherein one of the electrodes may be a common return electrode, an encoding means configured to employ a channel as a transmitter transmission medium for stimulation pulses and encoding the information into the stimulation pulses, a second implant device having at least two receive electrodes configured to receive the transmitted stimulation pulses with encoded information, and a decoding means configured to decode the information encoded into the stimulation pulses. The disclosed system provides reliable and efficient communication between implantable devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interface means, especially an interface means for a medical device, comprising at least one or more lines, whereby the lines are configured such that each line has at least one specific functionality and/or is able to connect a first connection means with a second connection means, and at least one grouping and/or redistributing means, wherein the at least one grouping and/or redistributing means is configured such that the lines can be grouped and/or redistributed onto one or more lines and/or the functionality of lines can be grouped and/or redistributed onto one or more lines, preferably onto at least one single line. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for communicating a plurality of signals, in particular power and/or data signals and/or control signals, over a plurality of lines.

Abstract: A control circuitry (134) and a method for controlling a bi-directional switch (132) is provided. The bi-directional switch (132) having a control terminal (130) for receiving a control voltage (124) to control an on state and an off state of the bi-directional switch (132) and at least one semiconductor switch in a bi-directional main current path. The control circuitry (134) comprises an energy storage element (102), a coupling means (101) to couple the energy storage element (102) to a supply voltage to charge the energy storage element (102), and a control circuit (108) configured to receive power from the energy storage element (102) and pendent of the supply voltage when the emergency storage element (102) is not coupled to the supply voltage. The coupling means (101) is configured for only coupling the energy storage element (102) to the supply voltage when the bi-directional switch (132) is in the off state.

Abstract: A control circuitry and a method for controlling a bi-directional switch is provided. The bi-directional switch having a control terminal for receiving a control voltage to control an on state and an off state of the bi-directional switch and at least one semiconductor switch in a bi-directional main current path. The control circuitry comprises an energy storage element, a coupling means to couple the energy storage element to a supply voltage to charge the energy storage element, and a control circuit configured to receive power from the energy storage element and configured to supply the control voltage having a voltage level being independent of the supply voltage when the energy storage element is not coupled to the supply voltage. The coupling means is configured for only coupling the energy storage element to the supply voltage when the bi-directional switch is in the off state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe system for brain applications, especially for neurostimulation and/or neurorecording, comprising at least one lead for brain applications with a first number of stimulation and/or recording electrodes, the lead being connectable to a low-count connector element or having a low-count connector element, whereby the low-count connector element has a second number of connector contacts, whereby the second number of connector contacts is lower than the first number of the electrodes, whereby the low-count connector element is configured such that the low-count connector element can be directly and/or indirectly connected to at least one pulse generator, whereby the probe system further comprises a power-management unit, a controller unit, a communication unit, and a switching unit. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a deep brain stimulation system, a low-count connector element, and to a method of manufacturing a probe system for a deep brain stimulation system.