Abstract: Some implementations may provide an implantable wirelessly powered device that includes: one or more electrodes configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to an excitable tissue; and 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 device; and 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 excitable 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 implantable device is shaped and arranged for delivery into a subject's body through an introducer or a needle of 18 gauge or smaller.

Abstract: A method for implanting a wireless neural stimulator device, the method including: inserting a device through on a patient's skin on a posterior side of the patient's neck region, wherein the device includes a proximal end, a distal end, a first opening at the proximal end, a second opening at the distal end, and a lumen extending between the first opening and the second opening; after inserting the device through the patient's skin, advancing the distal end into the epidural space of the patient; inserting the wireless neural stimulator device through the first opening; advancing the wireless neural stimulator from the first opening through the lumen until the wireless neural stimulator exits the second opening and into the patient's epidural space; and advancing the wireless neural stimulator through the epidural space until a target site is reached.

Abstract: Some implementations provide an implantable wirelessly powered device for implantation in a patient's body, the device including: two or more electrode arrays configured to apply at least one electrical pulse to an excitable tissue, each electrode array including at least one electrode; two or more connector contacts, each integrally wired to a particular electrode array, each configured to drive the at least one electrode of the particular electrode array integrally wired thereto with the at least one electrical pulse and to set a polarity for each of the at least one electrode of the particular electrode array integrally wired thereto; a first antenna configured to: receive, from a second antenna and through electrical radiative coupling, an input signal containing electrical energy as well as polarity assignment information, the second antenna located outside the patient's body; and one or more circuits electrically connected to the first antenna and the connector contacts, the circuits configured to: crea

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: Some implementations may provide an implantable wirelessly powered device that includes: one or more electrodes configured to apply one or more electrical pulses to an excitable tissue; and 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 device; and 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 excitable 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 implantable device is shaped and arranged for delivery into a subject's body through an introducer or a needle of 18 gauge or smaller.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a method for implanting a neurostimulator system that includes: placing an introducer through an incision site on a patient into an epidural space of the patient, the introducer including a sheath and the patient having a primary area of pain; placing a neurostimulator system through the introducer into the epidural space of the patient, the neurostimulator system comprising an enclosure housing at least one pair of electrodes and at least one passive antenna; advancing the neurostimulator system through the epidural space such that the electrodes are placed at a targeted tissue of the patient; removing the introducer sheath from the epidural space of the patient; adjusting the neurostimulator system enclosure to leave a customized length of the device body enclosure in the epidural space; and anchoring the customized length of the neurostimulator system enclosure in tissue of the patient.

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 patch antenna assembly that includes a signal metal layer configured to emit linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to a receiving antenna implanted up to 12 cm underneath a subject's skin; a signal metal layer substrate on which the signal metal layer substrate is positioned; a ground plane located next to the signal metal layer substrate and further away from the subject's skin; a microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer substrate located next to the ground plane; and a microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer next to the microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer substrate, the microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer comprising: a capacitance adjustment pad configured to adjust a resonant frequency of the patch antenna assembly; and a microstrip attached to the capacitance adjustment pad and configured to induce the emitted electromagnetic energy to be linearly polarized along a longitudinal direction of the microstrip.

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: Systems and methods are disclosed for implanting a passive implantable stimulator device to targeted excitable tissue, such as nerves, for treating chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, sleep apnea, seizures, incontinence, pain associated with cancer, incontinence, problems of movement initiation and control, involuntary movements, vascular insufficiency, heart arrhythmias, obesity, diabetes, craniofacial pain, such as migraines or cluster headaches, and other disorders. In certain embodiments, a device may be used to send electrical energy to targeted nerve tissue by using remote radio frequency (RF) energy without cables or inductive coupling to power a passive implanted wireless stimulator device. The targeted nerves can include, but are not limited to, the spinal cord and surrounding areas, including the dorsal horn, dorsal root ganglion, the exiting nerve roots, nerve ganglions, the dorsal column fibers and the peripheral nerve bundles leaving the dorsal column and brain.

Abstract: A method for implanting a wireless neural stimulator device, the method including: making a surgical incision or a percutaneous opening on a patient's skin; inserting an assembly of an introducer or needle and a needle stylet through the surgical incision or a percutaneous opening and underneath the patient's skin, the needle stylet mounted in an inner lumen of the introducer or needle; withdrawing the needle stylet from the inner lumen of the introducer or needle when the assembly is in place; inserting the wireless neural stimulator device through an inner lumen of the introducer or needle and into the patient's tissue; and withdrawing the introducer from the surgical incision or percutaneous opening.

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 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 method for implanting a wireless neural stimulator device, the method including: inserting a device through a patient's skin on a lateral side of a patient's neck, wherein the device includes with a proximal end, a distal end, a first opening at the proximal end, a second opening at the distal end, and a lumen extending between the first opening and the second opening; after inserting the device through the patient's skin, advancing the distal end towards a perivascular bundle of the patient until the distal end is proximate to the perivascular bundle; inserting the wireless neural stimulator device through the first opening; and advancing the wireless neural stimulator from the first opening through the lumen until the wireless neural stimulator exits the second opening and is proximate to the vagus nerve such that the neural stimulator is able to stimulate the vagus nerve.

Abstract: An implementation provides a system that includes: a control module including a first antenna, the control module configured to generate a first radio frequency (RF) signal and transmit the first RF signal using the first antenna; an implantable lead module including a second antenna and at least one electrode configured to stimulate excitable tissue of a subject; and a relay module configured to receive the first RF signal; generate a second RF signal based on the first RF signal, the second RF signal encoding a stimulus waveform to be applied by the at least one electrodes of the implantable lead module to stimulate the excitable tissue of the subject; and transmit the second RF signal to the implantable lead module.

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 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: A patch antenna assembly that includes a signal metal layer configured to emit linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to a receiving antenna implanted up to 12 cm underneath a subject's skin; a signal metal layer substrate on which the signal metal layer substrate is positioned; a ground plane located next to the signal metal layer substrate and further away from the subject's skin; a microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer substrate located next to the ground plane; and a microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer next to the microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer substrate, the microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer comprising: a capacitance adjustment pad configured to adjust a resonant frequency of the patch antenna assembly; and a microstrip attached to the capacitance adjustment pad and configured to induce the emitted electromagnetic energy to be linearly polarized along a longitudinal direction of the microstrip.

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 ear-piece assembly includes (i) an antenna portion enclosing a transmitting antenna configured to send one or more input signals containing electrical energy to a passive implantable neural stimulator device such that the passive implantable neural stimulator generates one or more stimulation pulses suitable for stimulating a neural structure in the craniofacial region solely using the electrical energy in the input signals; and (ii) an enclosure coupled to the antenna portion, wherein enclosure is sized and shaped to be mounted on a helix portion of an ear such that, when worn by a patient, weight from the enclosure is distributed over the helix portion of the ear for the enclosure to rest thereon, wherein the enclosure comprises (i) a controller module configured to provide the one or more input signals to the transmitting antenna, and (ii) a battery adapted to provide energy to the ear-piece assembly.