Abstract: A stimulation system is disclosed that may include a stimulator unit coupled to electrode contacts on a cuff. In one embodiment, the cuff may be placed at least partially around a nerve. The stimulation system may include at least two electrode contacts disposed on the cuff such that a distance between the at least two electrode contacts various along a length of the electrode contacts. In another embodiment, a plurality of electrode contacts are disposed on the cuff such that distances between at least one electrode contact within the plurality of electrode contacts and each electrode contact immediately adjacent to the at least one electrode contact are different. The stimulator unit may also be implantable.

Abstract: Neurostimulation systems and methods for providing therapy to a patient suffering from a symptom of a disease that latently responds to electrical stimulation therapy are provided. First electrical stimulation energy is conveyed to or from a tissue region of the patient in accordance with a first set of stimulation parameters, thereby affecting the symptom. A predetermined period of time estimated for the symptom to resolve in response to electrical stimulation therapy is allowed to elapse. Second electrical stimulation energy is conveyed to or from the tissue region in accordance with a second set of stimulation parameters different from the first set of stimulation parameters.

Abstract: Methods of using unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs) for cavernous nerve stimulation and for certain disorders are provided. Stimulators capable of creating such UPAPs include, but are not limited to, miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators), possibly with programmably configurable electrodes.

Abstract: Methods of treating a medical condition include applying at least one stimulus to a motor cortex within a brain of a patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. Systems for treating a medical condition include a system control unit implanted within the patient that is configured to apply at least one stimulus to a motor cortex within a brain of a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for applying stimulation to a target stimulation site within a patient, while avoiding undesirable eye movement side effects of the stimulation, are provided. The method includes determining whether eye movement, sensed by internal or external electrodes, is a side effect of a conveyed electrical stimulus. If the eye movement is a side effect, the electrical current distribution of the stimulus is modified in order to steer a locus of the electrical stimulus from one tissue region of the patient to another different tissue region of the patient, thereby mitigating the eye movement side effects. For example, the locus of the electrical stimulus may be steered away from the oculomotor nerve. Eye movement side effects of DBS treatment may include apraxia of lid opening, downward movement and adduction of only one eyeball, and/or continuous deviation of both eyeballs.

Abstract: An implantable device includes a device body and at least one anchoring unit configured and arranged for anchoring the device body in a patient upon implantation. The anchoring unit includes a resorbable material that resorbs into the patient over a period of time after implantation.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system and method of providing therapy to a patient implanted with a plurality of electrodes using a plurality of electrical sources is provided. One of the electrical sources is reconfigured from a second polarity to a first polarity. A first electrical current is generated with the one electrical source when configured in the first polarity. A second electrical current is generated with another one of the electrical sources. At least a portion of the first electrical current and at least a portion of the second electrical current is combined in one of an additive manner and a subtractive manner to produce a first combined electrical current. The first combined electrical current is conveyed to or from one or more of the electrodes.

Abstract: An improved external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device (implant), and technique for charging batteries in multiple implants using such improved external charger, is disclosed. During charging, values for a parameter measured in the implants are reported from the implants to the external charger. The external charger infers from the magnitudes of the parameters which of the implants has the highest and lowest coupling to the external charger, and so designates those implants as “hot” and “cold.” The intensity of the magnetic charging field is optimized for the cold implant consistent with the simulation to ensure that that the cold implant is charged with a maximum (fastest) battery charging current. The duty cycle of the magnetic charging field is also optimized for the hot implant consistent with the simulation to ensure that the hot implant does not exceed the power dissipation limit.

Abstract: A neurostimulation system and method of providing therapy to a patient implanted with a plurality of electrodes using a plurality of electrical sources is provided. A source-electrode coupling configuration is determined from the electrical sources and electrodes. Electrical current is respectively conveyed between active ones of the plurality of electrical sources and active subsets of the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the determined source-electrode coupling configuration. The total number of the electrodes in the active electrode subsets is greater than the total number of the active electrical sources.

Abstract: A method and external control device for providing therapy to a patient using first and second electrodes implanted within the patient is provided. A train of electrical multi-phasic pulses is generated. A first electrical current is sourced from the second electrode and at least a portion of the first electrical current is sunk to the first electrode during a stimulation phase of each multi-phasic pulse, thereby therapeutically stimulating a first tissue region adjacent the first electrode. A second electrical current is sourced from the first electrode and at least a portion of the second electrical current is sunk to the second electrode during a charge recovery phase of each multi-phasic pulse, thereby recovering at least a portion of the charge that had been injected into the patient during the stimulation phase of each multi-phasic pulse, and therapeutically stimulating a second tissue region adjacent the second electrode.

Abstract: An improved external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device (implant), and technique for charging the battery using such improved external charger, is disclosed. In one example, simulation data is used to model the power dissipation of the charging circuitry in the implant at varying levels of implant power. A power dissipation limit is chosen to constrain the charging circuitry from producing an inordinate amount of heat to the tissue surrounding the implant, and duty cycles are determined for the various levels of input intensities to ensure that the power limit is not exceeded. A maximum simulated average battery current determines the optimal (i.e., quickest) battery charging current, and at least an optimal value for a parameter indicative of that current, for example, the voltage across the battery charging circuitry, is determined and stored in the external charger.

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 method and neurostimulation system for treating a patient are provided. A plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms are respectively delivered within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient. Sets of stimulation pulses within the electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally are predicted. Each of the potentially overlapping pulse sets is substituted with a replacement stimulation pulse, such that each replacement stimulation pulse is delivered within at least one of the respective timing channels, thereby preventing temporal overlap between the stimulation pulses of the respective electrical waveforms while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.

Abstract: A burr hole sealing device for preventing brain shift during a stimulation lead implantation procedure is provided. The device includes a suction cup ring and a self-sealing membrane positioned within the aperture of the ring. The sealing device is attached adjacent to a burr hole and over a dura layer that is exposed in the bottom of the burr hole. The stimulation lead is disposed through the burr hole, through the membrane, through the dura layer and into brain tissue. The membrane is configured to allow the lead to pass therethrough while maintaining a tight seal around the diameter of the lead, thereby hindering leakage of cerebrospinal fluid out of the cranial cavity and maintaining a substantially fixed intracranial pressure. In one embodiment, the sealing device includes a syringe for adding fluid to, or removing fluid from, the cranial cavity in response to a detected change in intracranial pressure.

Abstract: A method and neurostimulation system for treating a patient are provided. A plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms are respectively delivered within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient. Sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally are predicted. Stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms are temporally shifted in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.

Abstract: Methods of using unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs) for cavernous nerve stimulation and for certain disorders are provided. Stimulators capable of creating such UPAPs include, but are not limited to, miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators), possibly with programmably configurable electrodes. A method of stimulating a cavernous nerve includes providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two cathodic electrodes; programming stimulation parameters for the cathodic electrodes to radially steer an electric field generated by the cathodic electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along a cavernous nerve; and applying the stimulation to the cavernous nerve in accordance with the stimulation parameters to generate orthodromic action potentials traveling in one direction along the nerve, thereby limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation.

Abstract: Methods of treating chronic pelvic pain include applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. Systems for treating chronic pelvic pain include a system control unit configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

Abstract: A method for configuring stimulation pulses in an implantable stimulator device having a plurality of electrodes is disclosed, which method is particularly useful in adjusting the electrodes by current steering during initialization of the device. In one aspect, a set of ideal pulses for patient therapy is determined, in which at least two of the ideal pulses are of the same polarity and are intended to be simultaneous applied to corresponding electrodes on the implantable stimulator device during an initial duration. These pulses are reconstructed into fractionalized pulses, each comprised of pulse portions. The fractionalized pulses are applied to the corresponding electrodes on the device during a final duration, but the pulse portions of the fractionalized pulses are not simultaneously applied during the final duration.

Abstract: A communication system is provided for a patient featuring a cushion with an opening for receiving the face of the patient. The cushion includes a microphone for receiving audible signals from the patient and one or more speakers for delivering audible signals to the patient. The microphone and speaker(s) are integrated with the cushion to avoid interfering with the comfort of the patient. In one embodiment, the audible signals are delivered to and from the patient via a communication port. In another embodiment, the system includes a display device, so the patient may view parts of the patient's body on the device and then communicate with system operators through the microphone and speaker(s).

Abstract: Methods and systems of enhancing transmission of a neural signal through damaged neural tissue include providing a stimulator, programming the stimulator with one or more stimulation parameters configured to enhance transmission of a neural signal through the damaged neural tissue, and applying a hyperpolarizing electrical stimulation current with the stimulator to the damaged neural tissue in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters.