Abstract: Methods of treating autism include applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the brain of a patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. Systems for treating autism include a stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the brain of a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

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: An external charger transmits energy to charge an implanted medical device. A sensor measures a parameter that is correlated to a temperature that is adjacent to the external charger. This parameter is indicative of the temperature or an amount of heat that is generated during the charging of the implanted medical device by the external charger. The temperature is compared to a user programmable temperature threshold and based on the comparison, the charge rate or output power of the external charger or input power of the implanted medical device is adjusted to reduce the heat generated by the charging. The user programmable temperature threshold is set to an optimum charge rate whereby the temperature that is generated during charging of the implanted medical device by the external charger feels comfortable to the user.

Abstract: Exemplary implantable stimulators for stimulating a stimulation site within a patient include an electronic module configured to generate stimulation and a housing configured to house the electronic module. The housing has a shape allowing the a stimulator and a surgical device to be accommodated together within an insertion tool used to insert the stimulator into the patient. Exemplary methods of stimulating a stimulation site within a patient include generating stimulation with an electronic module and housing the electronic module in a housing. The housing has a shape allowing the housing and a surgical device to be accommodated together within an insertion tool used to insert the housing into the patient.

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: Systems for adjusting a position of an implanted medical device within a patient include an engagement tool configured to couple to the implanted medical device. The engagement tool adjusts the position of the medical device when coupled to the implanted medical device. Methods of adjusting a position of an implanted medical device within a patient include locating the implanted medical device, coupling an engagement tool to the medical device, and adjusting a position of the engagement tool to adjust the position of the medical device.

Abstract: Methods of treating osteoarthritis 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 osteoarthritis 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 stimulator arrangement for stimulating nerves or other tissue includes an electrode arrangement having a substrate and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the substrate. The substrate is configured and arranged to be in a curved state prior to implantation into the body and to flatten with exposure to the body after implantation. The stimulator arrangement may also include a stimulator unit coupled to the electrode arrangement. The stimulator unit may also be implantable.

Abstract: A nerve stimulation lead has a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length. The nerve stimulation lead includes a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end, a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end, and a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes electrically to the plurality of terminals. The nerve stimulation lead also includes at least one anchoring unit disposed on the nerve stimulation lead. The at least one anchoring unit is configured and arranged for anchoring the nerve stimulation lead against a bony structure.

Abstract: One embodiment is a stimulator arrangement for a nerve. The stimulator arrangement includes a cuff for placement around the nerve and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the cuff. The cuff comprises a first edge and defines a plurality of indentations along the first edge of the cuff. The stimulator arrangement may also include a stimulator unit coupled to the electrodes of the cuff. The stimulator unit may also be implantable.

Abstract: Methods and systems of treating a patient with pancreatitis pain include providing a stimulator, configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat pancreatitis pain, programming the stimulator with the one or more stimulation parameters, generating a stimulus configured to treat pancreatitis pain with the stimulator in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters, and applying the stimulus with the stimulator to one or more stimulation sites in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems of treating a patient with pancreatitis pain include providing a stimulator, configuring one or more stimulation parameters to control sphincter of Oddi function, programming the stimulator with the one or more stimulation parameters, generating a stimulus configured to control sphincter of Oddi function with the stimulator in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters, and applying the stimulus with the stimulator to one or more stimulation sites in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for thermal management of implantable medical devices. In one aspect an implantable device includes an active component configured to perform medical activities, a charging component configured to convert energy from outside a body in which the implantable device is implanted into potential energy, and a thermal barrier between the charging component and the active portion. The thermal barrier thermally isolates the charging component from the active portion so that thermal resistance between the charging component and the active component is above the thermal resistance between the charging component and the body.

Abstract: Methods for treating seizures caused by brain stimulation include providing a stimulator, programming the stimulator with one or more stimulation parameters configured to treat a medical condition, applying at least one stimulus with the stimulator to a stimulation site within the brain of a patient in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters, and monitoring the patient for a seizure caused by the at least one stimulus.

Abstract: A system for performing a neurostimulation trial comprises an external trial stimulator capable of delivering stimulation energy to a plurality of electrodes carried by one or more stimulation leads. The external trial stimulator is configurable to operate in a plurality of stimulation energy delivery modes to respectively emulate one of different neurostimulator types. The system may further comprise a programmer capable of configuring the external trial stimulator to operate in one of the stimulation energy delivery modes. The programmer may be capable of generating a first programming screen capable of allowing a first set of stimulation parameters to be defined for the first neurostimulator type, and a second programming screen capable of allowing a second set of stimulation parameters to be defined for a second neurostimulator type.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for implanting medical devices. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a flexible base member that can be flexed manually to conform to a contour of an anatomy, the base member including a radioscopic indicium that has a characteristic such that, under radioscopic imaging, passage of a skin-penetrating electromagnetic radiation is hindered to an extent that is distinguishable from a hindrance of the electromagnetic radiation by another portion of the base member.

Abstract: A burr hole plug comprises a plug base including a flange configured for being mounted around a burr hole, an aperture through which an elongated medical device may pass, and tabs configured for extending within the cranial burr hole to center the plug base relative to the cranial burr hole. The burr hole plug further comprises a retainer configured for being mounted within the aperture of the plug base to secure the medical device. A method may comprise locating the plug base within a burr hole, such that the tabs are disposed within the burr hole to center the plug base relative to the cranial burr hole, introducing the elongated medical device through the cranial burr hole and into the brain tissue of the patient, mounting the retainer within the aperture of the plug base, and actuating the retainer to secure the medical device.

Abstract: Exemplary systems include a stimulator configured to be implanted within a patient, the stimulator having a body defined by at least one side surface disposed in between distal and proximal end surfaces, and a connector assembly configured to be coupled to the stimulator and extend parallel to the at least one side surface of the stimulator. The connector assembly is further configured to facilitate removable coupling of a lead having one or more electrodes disposed thereon to the stimulator.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for charging an implanted medical device.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for thermal management of implantable medical devices. In one aspect, an implantable device adapted for implantation in a body includes a conductor component that conducts an electrical current in response to the body in which that implantable device is implanted being subjected to an alternating electromagnetic field and a thermal management component in thermal contact with the conductor component and configured to manage excess heat generated by the conduction of the electrical current. The thermal management component comprises a material that undergoes a phase transition at a temperature above the temperature of the body in which the implantable device is adapted to be implanted.