Abstract: A method for using spinal cord stimulation to treat symptoms of motor disorders includes implanting a stimulation lead within a ventral portion of the epidural space. The lead is implanted with at least a portion of the electrodes facing the spinal cord. In a method for providing therapy to a patient suffering from a motor disorder, electrical stimulation energy is applied to at least one ventral column nerve fiber through the implanted stimulation lead. A peripheral region of the patient's body exhibits the symptoms of the motor disorder, and the ventral column nerve fiber to which the stimulation is applied innervates that peripheral region.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient having nociceptive pain in a body region using at least one electrode implanted within a spinal column of the patient. The method comprises conveying electrical stimulation energy from the at least one implanted electrode to an efferent motor neural structure innervating the body region, thereby inducing an endogenous chemical response within a spinal cord of the patient that treats the nociceptive pain. Another method for treating a patient suffering from a medical ailment.

Abstract: Interelectrode impedance or electric field potential measurements are used to determine the relative orientation of one lead to other leads in the spinal column or other body/tissue location. Interelectrode impedance is determined by measuring impedance vectors. The value of the impedance vector is due primarily to the electrode-electrolyte interface, and the bulk impedance between the electrodes. The bulk impedance between the electrodes is, in turn, made up of (1) the impedance of the tissue adjacent to the electrodes, and (2) the impedance of the tissue between the electrodes. In one embodiment, the present invention makes both monopolar and bipolar impedance measurements, and then corrects the bipolar impedance measurements using the monopolar measurements to eliminate the effect of the impedance of the tissue adjacent the electrodes. The orientation and position of the leads may be inferred from the relative minima of the corrected bipolar impedance values.

Abstract: A programming system for selecting an electrode configuration for use in a medical electrical stimulator coupled to an electrode array. A programmer is configured for providing a set of electrode configurations for the electrode array, automatically testing a first portion of the set of electrode configurations in a first order, allowing the selection of one or more of the tested electrode configurations, determining whether a suitable number of electrode configurations from among the first portion have been selected within a predefined interval, and automatically testing a second portion of the set of electrode configurations in a second order if the suitable number of electrode configurations from among the first portion are not selected within the predefined interval. The programmer may further allow the selection of the tested electrode configurations, and adjusting parameters during the testing, wherein the adjusting is controllably shared in parallel between a clinician and a patient.

Abstract: A removable patch configured to be applied over a skin surface, comprises an adhesive layer disposed on the removable patch, and a delivery layer disposed on the removable patch. The delivery layer carries an activating chemical neuromodulator adapted to be transcutaneously applied to afferent A fibers disposed under the skin surface. The delivery layer further carries an inhibiting chemical neuromodulator adapted to be transcutaneously applied to C fibers disposed under the skin surface. A method for treating a patient suffering from a neurological disorder comprises transcutaneously applying an activating chemical neuromodulator over a skin surface adjacent to a trigeminal nerve tissue of the patient, and activating afferent A fibers in the trigeminal nerve, the activation being carried out by the chemical neuromodulator.

Abstract: A method of operating a neurostimulation device comprises outputting a pulsed electrical waveform from the neurostimulation device between a plurality of electrodes while at least one of the electrodes has a first polarity, thereby stimulating neural tissue adjacent the electrode(s), allowing the neural tissue to undergo neurological accommodation in response to the electrical energy output between the electrodes, switching the electrode(s) from the first polarity to a second polarity, outputting the pulsed electrical waveform from the neurostimulation device between the electrodes while the electrode(s) has the second polarity, thereby hyperpolarizing the neural tissue to reverse the neurological accommodation, switching the electrode(s) from the second polarity to the first polarity, and outputting the pulsed electrical waveform from the neurostimulation device between the electrodes while the electrode(s) has the first polarity, thereby stimulating the previously hyperpolarized neural tissue.

Abstract: A method and neurostimulation system for providing therapy to a patient is provided. A plurality of electrodes is placed adjacent to tissue of the patient. The electrodes include first and second electrodes, with the first electrode having a first tissue contacting surface area and the second electrode having a second tissue contact surface area greater than the first tissue contacting surface area. Anodic electrical current is simultaneously sourced from one of the first and second electrodes to the tissue and while cathodic electrical current is sunk from the tissue to another of the first and second electrodes to provide the therapy to the patient.

Abstract: A device for brain stimulation includes a lead having a longitudinal surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a lead body. The device also includes a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead. The plurality of electrodes includes a first set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a first longitudinal position along the lead; and a second set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a second longitudinal position along the lead. The device further includes one or more conductors that electrically couple together all of the segmented electrodes of the first set of segmented electrodes.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient requiring conditioning of one or more muscle groups comprises applying electrical stimulation to a ventral epidural space of the patient, thereby activating the muscles. The method includes conveying the stimulation energy to one or more motor efferents associated with the muscles through respective one or more electrodes implanted within the ventral epidural space, and thus activating the muscles.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient suffering from epilepsy and/or depression includes applying electrical stimulation energy to a first cervical segment and/or a second cervical segment of a spinal cord of the patient, thereby treating the epilepsy and/or depression. The electrical stimulation energy may be epidurally applied to the first cervical segment and/or the second cervical segment of the spinal cord of the patient by an electrode implanted within an epidural space of the patient adjacent to the first or second cervical segment of the spinal cord. The electrode may be implanted adjacent to the first cervical vertebra and/or the second cervical vertebra of the patient. Applying the electrical stimulation energy may include applying electrical activation energy to activate afferent pathways that feed collateral nerve fibers into a trigeminocervical complex of the patient. The applied electrical stimulation energy may have a frequency in the range of 40-50 Hz.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient suffering from loss of muscle control and/or function in a body region after a stroke includes epidurally applying electrical stimulation to a spinocerebellar tract of the patient (e.g., at or above the vertebral level of the spinal cord where the sensory and motor mapping for the body region are located), thereby increasing cortical excitability and facilitating the patient regaining muscle control and/or function in the body region. The method may include using cortical mapping to determine a cortical region having a residual motor response in or near the body region, implanting an electrode in a lateral epidural space, and applying the electrical stimulation in a manner that causes excitability in the cortical region having the residual motor response, wherein the stimulation is applied by the implanted electrode. The method may include exercising the body region while simultaneously applying the electrical stimulation.

Abstract: Miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) are capable of producing unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs). The methods and configurations described may, for instance, arrest action potentials traveling in one direction, arrest action potentials of small diameters nerve fibers, arrest action potentials of large diameter nerve fibers. These methods and systems may limit side effects of bidirectional and/or less targeted stimulation.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system and method of operating an implantable neurostimulation device configured for outputting electrical stimulation energy to at least one electrode in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters. The implantable neurostimulation device may be switched from a normal operating mode to a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) operating mode. Electrical parameter measurements may be repeatedly acquired at each of the electrode(s) in response to the placement of the implantable stimulation system in the MRI mode. A corrective action may be performed based on at least one of the repeatedly acquired electrical parameter measurements.

Abstract: An electrical neuromodulation system and method of meeting a therapeutic goal for a patient using a neuromodulation device. A modulation parameter value is varied by a step size. The neurostimulation device instructs the neuromodulation device to deliver electrical energy to at least one electrode in accordance with the varied modulation parameter value. A therapeutic feedback indicator is compared to a threshold in response to the delivery of the electrical energy. Whether the therapeutic goal has been met is determined based on the comparison, and the previous steps are repeated to determine the modulation parameter value at the resolution of the step size that minimizes energy consumption of the neuromodulation device required to meet the therapeutic goal when delivering the electrical energy to the electrode(s) in accordance with the varied modulation parameter value.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient with an ailment, comprises delivering ultrasound energy to a dorsal root ganglia (DRG), thereby modulating the DRG to treat the ailment.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient with an ailment using an optical element implanted within the patient, comprising conveying low-level laser energy having a wavelength in the range of 600 nm-2500 nm from the optical element to a neuronal element of the patient, thereby modulating the neuronal element to treat the ailment.

Abstract: A neuromodulation lead, comprising an elongated body, at least one electrode carried by the distal end of the elongated body, and at least one optical element carried by the distal end of the elongated body. The electrode(s) is configured for conveying electrical energy capable of modulating a neuronal element, and the optical element(s) is configured for conveying low-level laser energy capable of modulating a neuronal element. A method of treating a patient with an ailment comprises conveying electrical energy to a first neuronal element, thereby modulating the first neuronal element, and conveying low-level laser energy having a wavelength in the range of 600 nm-2500 nm to the first neuronal element, thereby modulating the first neuronal element. At least one of the conveyance of the electrical energy and the conveyance of the low-level laser energy treats the ailment.

Abstract: Electrical energy is conveyed via an implanted tissue stimulation system into tissue of the patient over a period of time. Electrical parameter data (e.g., impedance data and/or field potential data) is measured based on the electrical energy conveyed into the tissue of the patient, whereby the electrical parameter data is modulated in response to the physical activity of the patient to generate a time-varying signal (e.g., an oscillating signal). The time-varying signal is analyzed, and the physical activity of the patient (e.g., the physical activity level of the patient or the physical events performed by the patient) is tracking during the time period based on the analyzed time-varying signal.

Abstract: A method and system of providing therapy to a patient implanted with an array of electrodes is provided. Electrical stimulation current is conveyed from at least two of the electrodes to at least one of the electrodes along at least two electrical paths through tissue of the patient, and the electrical stimulation current is shifted between the electrical paths by actively adjusting one or more finite resistances respectively associated with one or more of the electrical paths.

Abstract: A method and neurostimulation system for providing therapy to a patient is provided. A plurality of electrodes is placed adjacent to tissue of the patient. The electrodes include first and second electrodes, with the first electrode having a first tissue contacting surface area and the second electrode having a second tissue contact surface area greater than the first tissue contacting surface area. Anodic electrical current is simultaneously sourced from one of the first and second electrodes to the tissue and while cathodic electrical current is sunk from the tissue to another of the first and second electrodes to provide the therapy to the patient.