Abstract: A system, including: an implantable neural stimulator including electrodes, at least one antenna and an electrode interface; a radio-frequency (RF) pulse generator module comprising an antenna module configured to send an input signal to the antenna in the implantable neural stimulator through electrical radiative coupling, the input signal containing electrical energy and polarity assignment information that designates polarity assignments of the electrodes in the implantable neural stimulator; and wherein the implantable neural stimulator is configured to: control the electrode interface such that the electrodes have the polarity assignments designated by the polarity assignment information, create one or more electrical pulses suitable for modulation of neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal, and supply the electrical pulses to the electrodes through the electrode interface such that the electrodes apply the electrical pulses to the neural tissue with the polarity assignmen

Abstract: Some computer-assisted methods include: presenting configuration options to a user of the implanted stimulator device, the configuration options comprising stimulation parameters for the implanted stimulator; receiving a user specification of the configuration options in response to the presented configuration options; receiving user feedback when the user specified configuration options are implemented at the implanted stimulator device, the user feedback comprising a quantitative index of pain resulting from implementing the user specified configuration options on the implanted stimulator device; building a user profile for the user based on the user specified configuration options and the user feedback, the user profile including the user specified configuration options as well as the corresponding quantitative index of pain; and selecting at least one configuration option based on the user profile when the configuration options are subsequently presented to the user for a later treatment.

Abstract: A wearable device for facilitating neurophysiological treatment of a patient harboring an implanted neural stimulator is provided. The wearable device includes a transmitting antenna configured to accept one or more input signals and to transmit one or more electromagnetic signals to a neural stimulator that is implanted in a patients body. The wearable device further includes a control circuitry configured to provide the one or more input signals to the transmitting antenna. The wearable device further includes a battery that provides electrical power to at least the control circuitry. The wearable device is configured to be worn outside the patient's body.

Abstract: A passive implantable relay module includes a first coupler arm configured to wirelessly receive electromagnetic energy radiated through electric radiative coupling from a transmitting antenna located outside a subject's body; a second coupler arm; and a connector portion comprising a first metal core and a first dielectric coating surrounding the first metal core, the connector portion configured to connect the first coupler arm to the second coupler arm such that when the passive implantable relay module is implanted inside the subject's body and the transmitting antenna initiates wireless energy transfer to the first coupler arm via non-inductive coupling, electromagnetic waves carrying the electromagnetic energy received at the first coupler arm propagate along the first metal core to arrive at the second coupler arm, where the electromagnetic energy arriving is wirelessly transferred, again via non-inductive coupling, to a receiving antenna on a passive wireless neural stimulator device.

Abstract: A device for providing an implantable lead with wireless energy, the device including: a housing configured for implantation in a patient's body; one or more non-inductive antennas substantially enclosed within the housing and configured to receive electromagnetic energy radiated from a source located outside of the patient's body; electronic circuitry coupled to each of the one or more non-inductive antennas and configured to extract electric power and excitation waveforms from the radiated electromagnetic energy as received by the one or more non-inductive antennas; and one or more connection pads substantially enclosed within the housing, wherein the connection pads are configured to couple with one or more electrodes in the implantable lead and form an electric connection over which the connection pads provide the extracted excitation waveforms from the electronic circuit to the electrodes in the implantable lead, the implantable lead being separate from the device.

Abstract: A system includes a controller module, which includes a storage device, a controller, a modulator, and one or more antennas. The storage device is stored with parameters defining a stimulation waveform. The controller is configured to generate, based on the stored parameters, an output signal that includes the stimulation waveform, wherein the output signal additionally includes polarity assignments for electrodes in an implantable, passive stimulation device. The modulator modulates a stimulus carrier signal with the output signal to generate a transmission signal.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a metal layer configured to emit linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to a receiving antenna implanted underneath a subject's skin; and a feed port configured to connect the antenna assembly to a signal generator such that the antenna assembly receives an input signal from the signal generator and then transmits the input signal to the receiving dipole antenna, wherein the antenna assembly is less than 200 um in thickness, and wherein the metal layer is operable as a dipole antenna with a reflection ratio of at least 6 dB, the reflection ratio corresponding to a ratio of a transmission power of the antenna assembly in transmitting the input signal and a reflection power seen by the antenna assembly resulting from electromagnetic emission of the input signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes: a radio-frequency (RF) to direct current (DC) rectifying circuit coupled to one or more antenna on an implantable wirelessly powered device, the rectifying circuit configured to: rectify an input RF signal received at the one or more antennas and from an external controller through electric radiative coupling; and extract DC electric power and configuration data from the input RF signal; a logic control circuit connected to the rectifying circuit and a driving circuit, the logic control circuit configured to: generate a current for the driving circuit solely using the extracted DC electrical power; in accordance with the extracted configuration data, set polarity state information for each electrode; and a driving circuit coupled to one or more electrode, the driving circuit comprising current mirrors and being configured to: steer, to each electrode and via the current mirrors, a stimulating current solely from the generated current.

Abstract: An implantable neural stimulator method for modulating excitable tissue in a patient including: implanting a neural stimulator within the body of the patient such that one or more electrodes of the neural stimulator are positioned at a target site adjacent to or near excitable tissue; generating an input signal with a controller module located outside of, and spaced away from, the patient's body; transmitting the input signal to the neural stimulator through electrical radiative coupling; converting the input signal to electrical pulses within the neural stimulator; and applying the electrical pulses to the excitable tissue sufficient to modulate said excitable tissue.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a method for treating craniofacial pain in a patient, the method including: placing a wirelessly powered passive device through an opening into a target site in a head or neck region of the patient's body, the wirelessly powered passive device configured to receive an input signal non-inductively from an external antenna; positioning the wirelessly powered passive device adjacent to or near a nerve at the target site; and causing neural modulation to the nerve through one or more electrodes on the wirelessly powered passive device.

Abstract: A passive implantable relay module includes a first coupler arm configured to wirelessly receive electromagnetic energy radiated through electric radiative coupling from a transmitting antenna located outside a subject's body; a second coupler arm; and a connector portion comprising a first metal core and a first dielectric coating surrounding the first metal core, the connector portion configured to connect the first coupler arm to the second coupler arm such that when the passive implantable relay module is implanted inside the subject's body and the transmitting antenna initiates wireless energy transfer to the first coupler arm via non-inductive coupling, electromagnetic waves carrying the electromagnetic energy received at the first coupler arm propagate along the first metal core to arrive at the second coupler arm, where the electromagnetic energy arriving is wirelessly transferred, again via non-inductive coupling, to a receiving antenna on a passive wireless neural stimulator device.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a metal layer configured to emit linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to a receiving antenna implanted underneath a subject's skin; and a feed port configured to connect the antenna assembly to a signal generator such that the antenna assembly receives an input signal from the signal generator and then transmits the input signal to the receiving dipole antenna, wherein the antenna assembly is less than 200 um in thickness, and wherein the metal layer is operable as a dipole antenna with a reflection ratio of at least 6 dB, the reflection ratio corresponding to a ratio of a transmission power of the antenna assembly in transmitting the input signal and a reflection power seen by the antenna assembly resulting from electromagnetic emission of the input signal.

Abstract: A system, including: an implantable neural stimulator including electrodes, at least one antenna and an electrode interface; a radio-frequency (RF) pulse generator module comprising an antenna module configured to send an input signal to the antenna in the implantable neural stimulator through electrical radiative coupling, the input signal containing electrical energy and polarity assignment information that designates polarity assignments of the electrodes in the implantable neural stimulator; and wherein the implantable neural stimulator is configured to: control the electrode interface such that the electrodes have the polarity assignments designated by the polarity assignment information, create one or more electrical pulses suitable for modulation of neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal, and supply the electrical pulses to the electrodes through the electrode interface such that the electrodes apply the electrical pulses to the neural tissue with the polarity assignmen

Abstract: An implantable wireless lead includes an enclosure, the enclosure housing: one or more electrodes configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to a neural tissue; a first antenna configured to: receive, from a second antenna and through electrical radiative coupling, an input signal containing electrical energy, the second antenna being physically separate from the implantable neural stimulator lead; one or more circuits electrically connected to the first antenna, the circuits configured to: create the one or more electrical pulses suitable for stimulation of the neural tissue using the electrical energy contained in the input signal; and supply the one or more electrical pulses to the one or more electrodes, wherein the enclosure is shaped and arranged for delivery into a subject's body through an introducer or a needle.

Abstract: A device for providing an implantable lead with wireless energy, the device including: a housing configured for implantation in a patient's body; one or more non-inductive antennas substantially enclosed within the housing and configured to receive electromagnetic energy radiated from a source located outside of the patient's body; electronic circuitry coupled to each of the one or more non-inductive antennas and configured to extract electric power and excitation waveforms from the radiated electromagnetic energy as received by the one or more non-inductive antennas; and one or more connection pads substantially enclosed within the housing, wherein the connection pads are configured to couple with one or more electrodes in the implantable lead and form an electric connection over which the connection pads provide the extracted excitation waveforms from the electronic circuit to the electrodes in the implantable lead, the implantable lead being separate from the device.

Abstract: Some computer-assisted methods include: presenting configuration options to a user of the implanted stimulator device, the configuration options comprising stimulation parameters for the implanted stimulator; receiving a user specification of the configuration options in response to the presented configuration options; receiving user feedback when the user specified configuration options are implemented at the implanted stimulator device, the user feedback comprising a quantitative index of pain resulting from implementing the user specified configuration options on the implanted stimulator device; building a user profile for the user based on the user specified configuration options and the user feedback, the user profile including the user specified configuration options as well as the corresponding quantitative index of pain; and selecting at least one configuration option based on the user profile when the configuration options are subsequently presented to the user for a later treatment.

Abstract: A method includes: transmitting a first set of radio-frequency (RF) pulses to an implantable wireless stimulator device such that electric currents are created from the first set of RF pulses and flown through a calibrated internal load on the implantable wireless stimulator device; in response to the electric currents flown through a calibrated internal load, recording a first set of RF reflection measurements; transmitting a second set of radio-frequency (RF) pulses to the implantable wireless stimulator device such that stimulation currents are created from the second set of RF pulses and flown through an electrode of the implantable wireless stimulator device to tissue surrounding the electrode; in response to the stimulation currents flown through the electrode to the surrounding tissue, recording a second set of RF reflection measurements; and characterizing an electrode-tissue impedance by comparing the second set of RF reflection measurements with the first set of RF reflections measurements.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes: an antenna including: a metal signal layer having a radiating surface; and a feed port; and a waveguide surrounding the antenna and configured to guide electromagnetic energy transmitted from the radiating surface in a direction away from the antenna; and a controller module connected to the feed port and configured to drive the antenna to transmit electromagnetic energy from the radiating surface; wherein the antenna, waveguide, and controller module are configured such that, when the controller module drives the antenna, the transmitted electromagnetic energy matches a reception characteristic of an implantable device and is sufficient for the implantable device to create one or more electrical pulses of sufficient amplitude to stimulate neural tissue of a patient, solely using electromagnetic energy received from the antenna, when the implantable device is located at least 10 centimeters away from the antenna.

Abstract: A system includes a controller module, which includes a storage device, a controller, a modulator, and one or more antennas. The storage device is stored with parameters defining a stimulation waveform. The controller is configured to generate, based on the stored parameters, an output signal that includes the stimulation waveform, wherein the output signal additionally includes polarity assignments for electrodes in an implantable, passive stimulation device. The modulator modulates a stimulus carrier signal with the output signal to generate a transmission signal.

Abstract: A wearable device for facilitating neurophysiological treatment of a patient harboring an implanted neural stimulator is provided. The wearable device includes a transmitting antenna configured to accept one or more input signals and to transmit one or more electromagnetic signals to a neural stimulator that is implanted in a patient's body. The wearable device further includes a control circuitry configured to provide the one or more input signals to the transmitting antenna. The wearable device further includes a battery that provides electrical power to at least the control circuitry. The wearable device is configured to be worn outside the patient's body.