Abstract: An example of a method embodiment may include receiving a user programmable neural stimulation (NS) dose for an intermittent neural stimulation (INS) therapy, and delivering the INS therapy with the user programmable NS dose to an autonomic neural target of a patient. Delivering the INS therapy may include delivering NS bursts, and delivering the NS bursts may include delivering a number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle during a portion of the cardiac cycles and not delivering NS pulses during a remaining portion of the cardiac cycles. The method may further include sensing cardiac events within the cardiac cycles, and controlling delivery of the user programmable NS dose of INS therapy using the sensed cardiac events to time delivery of the number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle to provide the user programmable NS dose. The user programmable NS dose may determine the number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle.

Abstract: An example of a system may include a processor and a memory device comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: access a patient metric of a subject; use the patient metric as an input to a machine learning algorithm, the machine learning algorithm to search a plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets and to identify a candidate neuromodulation parameter set of the plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets, the candidate neuromodulation parameter set designed to produce a non-regular waveform that varies over a time domain and a space domain; and program a neuromodulator using the candidate neuromodulation parameter set to stimulate the subject.

Abstract: An example of a system may include a processor and a memory device comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: access a patient metric of a subject; use the patient metric as an input to a machine learning algorithm, the machine learning algorithm to search a plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets and to identify a candidate neuromodulation parameter set of the plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets, the candidate neuromodulation parameter set designed to produce a non-regular waveform that varies over a time domain and a space domain; and program a neuromodulator using the candidate neuromodulation parameter set to stimulate the subject.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity.

Abstract: An example of a neurostimulation system may include one or more sensing devices and a patient assistance device. The sensing device(s) may be configured to sense one or more signals from a patient and may include one or more non-invasive sensing devices. The patient assistance device may be configured to assist the patient in use of a stimulation device and may include a communication circuit configured to receive the sensed signal(s), a user interface configured to allow for interactions with the patient, and a processing circuit which may be configured to receive patient-specific information including the sensed signal(s), to analyze the patient-specific information with neurostimulation algorithm information representative of available therapeutic options, to produce one or more recommendations related to use of the stimulation device for treating the patient based on the analysis, and to present at least one recommendation using the user interface.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity.

Abstract: An example of a system may include a processor and a memory device comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: access a patient metric of a subject; use the patient metric as an input to a machine learning algorithm, the machine learning algorithm to search a plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets and to identify a candidate neuromodulation parameter set of the plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets, the candidate neuromodulation parameter set designed to produce a non-regular waveform that varies over a time domain and a space domain; and program a neuromodulator using the candidate neuromodulation parameter set to stimulate the subject.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity.

Abstract: An example of a system may include a processor and a memory device comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: access a patient metric of a subject; use the patient metric as an input to a machine learning algorithm, the machine learning algorithm to search a plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets and to identify a candidate neuromodulation parameter set of the plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets, the candidate neuromodulation parameter set designed to produce a non-regular waveform that varies over a time domain and a space domain; and program a neuromodulator using the candidate neuromodulation parameter set to stimulate the subject.

Abstract: An example of a system may include an electrode and a pulse generation system. The electrode may be configured to be implanted near a neural target that innervates airways. The pulse generation system may be configured to be operably connected to the electrode to deliver depletion block stimulation through the electrode to alleviate symptoms of pulmonary disease. The pulse generation system and the electrode may be configured to cooperate to capture axons in the neural target. The depletion block stimulation may include a series of pulses at a depletion pulse frequency.

Abstract: A neural stimulation system delivers neural stimulation to a target nerve with control of direction of propagation of evoked neural signals in one or more fiber types of the target nerve using electrode configuration, thereby providing effective therapy while minimizing unintended effects. In various embodiments, mechanical parameters of a multi-polar electrode are determined to provide directed propagation of the neural stimulation by effecting neural conduction block in or near the stimulation site. In various embodiments, the electrode includes a cathode for evoking action potentials and a plurality of anodes for blocking the propagation of the evoked action potentials in specified direction(s) and fiber type(s) while minimizing the formation of virtual cathodes.

Abstract: Various aspects describe a lead delivery system for percutaneous introduction of a lead to a stimulation site near a neural target, such as the vagus nerve for nerve stimulation. The lead delivery system may include a needle assembly having a needle adapted to cut through tissue and provide initial access into the carotid sheath. The needle may be retracted into the lead delivery system to prevent cutting structures in the carotid sheath. The lead delivery system may also include a dilator assembly having one or more dilators to dilate a path to the stimulation site. The lead delivery system may further comprise a dilator assembly including a retractable needle adapted to cut through tissue. One or more locating elements, alternatively or in addition to one or more imaging elements, may be used on individual components of the lead delivery system for enhanced trackability and locatability within the body.

Abstract: An example of a method embodiment may include receiving a user programmable neural stimulation (NS) dose for an intermittent neural stimulation (INS) therapy, and delivering the INS therapy with the user programmable NS dose to an autonomic neural target of a patient. Delivering the INS therapy may include delivering NS bursts, and delivering the NS bursts may include delivering a number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle during a portion of the cardiac cycles and not delivering NS pulses during a remaining portion of the cardiac cycles. The method may further include sensing cardiac events within the cardiac cycles, and controlling delivery of the user programmable NS dose of INS therapy using the sensed cardiac events to time delivery of the number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle to provide the user programmable NS dose. The user programmable NS dose may determine the number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle.

Abstract: An example of a neurostimulation system may include one or more sensing devices and a patient assistance device. The sensing device(s) may be configured to sense one or more signals from a patient and may include one or more non-invasive sensing devices. The patient assistance device may be configured to assist the patient in use of a stimulation device and may include a communication circuit configured to receive the sensed signal(s), a user interface configured to allow for interactions with the patient, and a processing circuit which may be configured to receive patient-specific information including the sensed signal(s), to analyze the patient-specific information with neurostimulation algorithm information representative of available therapeutic options, to produce one or more recommendations related to use of the stimulation device for treating the patient based on the analysis, and to present at least one recommendation using the user interface.

Abstract: A neural stimulation system delivers neural stimulation to a target nerve with control of direction of propagation of evoked neural signals in one or more fiber types of the target nerve using electrode configuration, thereby providing effective therapy while minimizing unintended effects. In various embodiments, mechanical parameters of a multi-polar electrode are determined to provide directed propagation of the neural stimulation by effecting neural conduction block in or near the stimulation site. In various embodiments, the electrode includes a cathode for evoking action potentials and a plurality of anodes for blocking the propagation of the evoked action potentials in specified direction(s) and fiber type(s) while minimizing the formation of virtual cathodes.

Abstract: An example of a system may include a stimulator and at least one controller. The stimulator may be configured to deliver nerve stimulation to capture a first set of axons in a nerve and to deliver depletion block stimulation to capture a second set of axons in the nerve, where the second set is a subset of the first. The depletion block stimulation may include a series of pulses at a depletion pulse frequency within a range between about 100 Hz to about 1 kHz, and the nerve stimulation may include a series of pulses at a stimulation pulse frequency within a range of about 0.25 Hz to about 50 Hz. At least a portion of the nerve stimulation and at least a portion of the depletion block stimulation may be delivered to be effective in providing a nerve block while delivering nerve stimulation.

Abstract: An example of a method embodiment may include receiving a user programmable neural stimulation (NS) dose for an intermittent neural stimulation (INS) therapy, and delivering the INS therapy with the user programmable NS dose to an autonomic neural target of a patient. Delivering the INS therapy may include delivering NS bursts, and delivering the NS bursts may include delivering a number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle during a portion of the cardiac cycles and not delivering NS pulses during a remaining portion of the cardiac cycles. The method may further include sensing cardiac events within the cardiac cycles, and controlling delivery of the user programmable NS dose of INS therapy using the sensed cardiac events to time delivery of the number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle to provide the user programmable NS dose. The user programmable NS dose may determine the number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system delivers neurostimulation to a patient using one or more primary parameters and one or more secondary parameters. The one or more primary parameters are controlled for maintaining efficacy of the neurostimulation. The one or more secondary parameters are adjusted for preventing the patient from developing neural accommodation. In various embodiments, values for the one or more secondary parameters are varied during the delivery of the neurostimulation for prevention of neural accommodation that may result from a constant or periodic pattern of stimulation pulses.