Abstract: An implanted stimulator can deliver a patient-detectable electrical stimulation to remind or prompt a patient to interact with an implanted therapeutic device (e.g., neurostimulator) when a prompting event occurs. For example, the apparatuses and methods described herein may be configured to apply a prompting patient-detectable electrical vagus nerve stimulation to remind a patient that it is time to administer a therapeutic dose. When the therapeutic device is operated in an automatic fashion, the apparatus can also deliver a patient-detectable warning stimulation prior to the therapeutic stimulation to let the patient know that a therapeutic stimulation will be delivered soon thereafter.

Abstract: Information can be stored in a cochlear stimulation system by determining an item of patient specific information, transferring the item of patient specific information to an implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system, and permanently storing the item of patient specific information in the implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system. The item of patient specific information can comprise a parameter for use in generating a stimulation current. The implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system also can be configured to permanently store one or more items of patient specific information in an alterable fashion. Further, an item of patient specific information can be retrieved from the implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system. Additionally, an item of non-patient specific information for use in processing a received acoustic signal can be determined and permanently stored in an external portion of the cochlear stimulation system.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for applying extremely low duty-cycle stimulation sufficient to treat chronic inflammation using feedback to adjust the off times between stimulations. In particular, the feedback include an assessment of the level of inflammation by the patient or the healthcare provider, or by measure the level of an inflammatory analyte or biomarker, or by detecting nerve activity correlated with inflammation.

Abstract: An extravascular nerve cuff that is configured to hold a leadless, integral, implantable microstimulator. The nerve cuff may include a cuff body having a pocket or pouch for removably receiving the implantable device within. The nerve cuff can be secured around the nerve such that the electrodes of the device are stably positioned relative to the nerve. Furthermore, the nerve cuff drives the majority of the current from the stimulation device into the nerve, while shielding surrounding tissues from unwanted stimulation.

Abstract: Leadless, implantable microstimulators for treating chronic inflammation. These devices can include a static magnetic field detector (e.g., non-Hall effect sensors/detectors, including those based on a Wiegand effect or generating pulses at a predetermined frequency range and using a detection circuit to determine the decay rate of the pulses), to trigger an emergency shut off of the microstimulator. Also described are methods and apparatuses for regulating the temperature of an implant based applied power from a charger (e.g., voltage across the charger when unloaded and when loaded by the implant) to yield a power control loop correlated with the power drawn by the implant to determine temperature of the implant. A negotiation protocol can exchange data between the charger and the implant (e.g., type of charger, type of implant, nature of the coupling between the two, etc.) to set target power control loop parameters to estimate and regulate implant temperature.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for stimulation of the vagus nerve to treat inflammation including adjusting the stimulation based on one or more metric sensitive to patient response. The one or more metrics may include heart rate variability, level of T regulatory cells, particularly memory T regulatory cells, temperature, etc. Stimulation may be provided through an implantable microstimulator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses (e.g., devices and systems) for vagus nerve stimulation, including (but not limited to) sub-diaphragmatic vagus nerve stimulation. In particular, the methods and apparatuses described herein may be used to stimulate the posterior sub-diaphragmatic vagus nerve to treat inflammation and/or inflammatory disorders. The implantable microstimulators described herein may be inductively charged and/or communicated with using the external charger. The implant may include a receiving antenna wrapped around the battery and/or the housing of the microstimulator/microregulator and/or may include a high magnetic permeability material in order to serve as a magnetic core for the antenna coil. Wearable inductive chargers/communication devices for inductively communicating with (including charging) an implanted microstimulator are described herein, which may include magnetically conductive material to enhance communication with an implant, including sub-diaphragmatic implants.

Abstract: A nerve cuff for establishing a nerve block on a nerve can have a cuff body with a channel for receiving a nerve, a reservoir for holding a drug, and an elongate opening slit extending the length of the cuff body that can be opened to provide access to the channel and can be closed to enclose the cuff body around the nerve. The nerve cuff can also include an electrode for detecting and measuring electrical signals generated by the nerve. A controller can be used to control delivery of the drug based on the electrical signals generated by the nerve.

Abstract: An extravascular nerve cuff that is configured to hold a leadless, integral, implantable microstimulator. The nerve cuff may include a cuff body having a pocket or pouch for removably receiving the implantable device within. The nerve cuff can be secured around the nerve such that the electrodes of the device are stably positioned relative to the nerve. Furthermore, the nerve cuff drives the majority of the current from the stimulation device into the nerve, while shielding surrounding tissues from unwanted stimulation.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a beamforming signal is disclosed. A beam forming signal is generated by disposing a first microphone and a second microphone in horizontal coplanar alignment. The first and second microphones are used to detect a known signal to generate a first response and a second response. The first response is processed along a first signal path communicatively linked to the first microphone, and the second response is processed along a second signal path communicatively linked to the second microphone. The first and second responses are matched, and the matched responses are combined to generate the beamforming signal on a combined signal path.

Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems and method of treating inflammation by vagus nerve stimulation and the delivery of an anti-inflammatory drug. In particular, described herein are methods of treating inflammation including the steps of stimulating a subject's inflammatory reflex to inhibit the immune response and administering an anti-inflammatory drug.

Abstract: Devices and methods for stimulation of the vagus nerve to modulate (e.g., reduce, suppress, etc.) bone erosion. Methods and apparatus for modulating bone erosion may modulate levels of Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor ?B Ligand (RANKL), and/or to modulate (increase, enhance, etc.) osteoprotegerin (OPG) and/or OPG/RANKL ratio. Devices may include electrical stimulation devices that may be implanted, and may be activated to apply current for a proscribed duration, followed by a period without stimulation.

Abstract: Devices and methods for stimulation of the vagus nerve to modulate (e.g., reduce, suppress, etc.) bone erosion. Methods and apparatus for modulating bone erosion may modulate levels of Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor ? B Ligand (RANKL), and/or to modulate (increase, enhance, etc.) osteoprotegerin (OPG) and/or OPG/RANKL ratio. Devices may include electrical stimulation devices that may be implanted, and may be activated to apply current for a proscribed duration, followed by a period without stimulation.

Abstract: An external programmer, such as an external clock synchronization tool, can be used to update or modify the stimulation protocol and/or parameters on an implanted electrical stimulator. In particular, described herein are external clock synchronization tools that can be used to calibrate a low-power clock of the implanted electrical stimulator. These tools may also be used to provide command overrides, including suspending or delaying neurostimulation, stopping neurostimulation, and/or on-demand neurostimulation.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for using EEG recordings to improve vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy. In particular, described herein are methods and systems for using EEG recordings to detect P300 and/or activation of the nucleus basalis and/or the locus coeruleus to determine the efficacy of VNS. The EEG recordings can be used to provide feedback control to help optimize stimulation parameters and to screen for patients that respond well to VNS therapy.

Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems and method of treating inflammation by vagus nerve stimulation and the delivery of an anti-inflammatory drug. In particular, described herein are methods of treating inflammation including the steps of stimulating a subject's inflammatory reflex to inhibit the immune response and administering an anti-inflammatory drug.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for applying extremely low duty-cycle stimulation sufficient to treat chronic inflammation using feedback to adjust the off times between stimulations. In particular, the feedback include an assessment of the level of inflammation by the patient or the healthcare provider, or by measure the level of an inflammatory analyte or biomarker, or by detecting nerve activity correlated with inflammation.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders that include an implantable microstimulator and an external charger/controller wherein the controller is configured to operate using closed-loop feedback.

Abstract: An extravascular nerve cuff that is configured to hold a leadless, integral, implantable microstimulator. The nerve cuff may include a cuff body having a pocket or pouch for removably receiving the implantable device within. The nerve cuff can be secured around the nerve such that the electrodes of the device are stably positioned relative to the nerve. Furthermore, the nerve cuff drives the majority of the current from the stimulation device into the nerve, while shielding surrounding tissues from unwanted stimulation.

Abstract: A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.