Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to strategies pertaining to implantation of an implantable medical device between a scalp and a skull of the patient. The invention pertains to collection of data such as data pertaining to the skull of the patient, the scalp of the patient, the vascular structure or neurological structures in the head of the patient, and the like. The data may be in the form of images, such as images generated by X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, CT-scan and fluoroscopy. A surgeon can use the collected data to determine, for example, whether the patient is a candidate for a cranial implantation, whether the patient's skull and scalp can support the implantation, what configuration of device should be implanted, where the device should be implanted, and how the surgical incisions should be made.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to strategies pertaining to implantation of an implantable medical device between a scalp and a skull of the patient. The invention pertains to collection of data such as data pertaining to the skull of the patient, the scalp of the patient, the vascular structure or neurological structures in the head of the patient, and the like. The data may be in the form of images, such as images generated by X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, CT-scan and fluoroscopy. A surgeon can use the collected data to determine, for example, whether the patient is a candidate for a cranial implantation, whether the patient's skull and scalp can support the implantation, what configuration of device should be implanted, where the device should be implanted, and how the surgical incisions should be made.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to strategies pertaining to implantation of an implantable medical device between a scalp and a skull of the patient. The invention pertains to collection of data such as data pertaining to the skull of the patient, the scalp of the patient, the vascular structure or neurological structures in the head of the patient, and the like. The data may be in the form of images, such as images generated by X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, CT-scan and fluoroscopy. A surgeon can use the collected data to determine, for example, whether the patient is a candidate for a cranial implantation, whether the patient's skull and scalp can support the implantation, what configuration of device should be implanted, where the device should be implanted, and how the surgical incisions should be made.

Abstract: An implantable medical device comprises an anti-infection agent. The implantable medical device may be configured for placement in the head of a patient and for monitoring or treatment of the brain. The implantable medical device may have a housing or it may have a housing and a member for providing a smooth interface between the device and the adjacent tissue. The anti-infection agent may be provided on or impregnated in the housing or the member. In some embodiments, the device includes a single module while in other embodiments a plurality of modules are coupled to provide a smaller profile. In some embodiments the implantable medical device may include both anti-infection and lubricious materials.

Abstract: Implantable medical device adapted to provide a therapeutic output to a patient. A therapy module, operatively coupled to a battery, is adapted to provide the therapeutic output. A control circuit provides an action indicative of recharging the battery when the voltage of the battery reaches a recharge voltage wherein the recharge voltage is varied as the battery ages. Also a method of providing a therapeutic output to a patient using an implantable medical device having a battery having a voltage. An action indicative of recharging the battery is provided when the voltage of the battery reaches a recharge voltage. The recharge voltage is varied as the battery ages.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to strategies pertaining to implantation of an implantable medical device between a scalp and a skull of the patient. The invention pertains to collection of data such as data pertaining to the skull of the patient, the scalp of the patient, the vascular structure or neurological structures in the head of the patient, and the like. The data may be in the form of images, such as images generated by X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, CT-scan and fluoroscopy. A surgeon can use the collected data to determine, for example, whether the patient is a candidate for a cranial implantation, whether the patient's skull and scalp can support the implantation, what configuration of device should be implanted, where the device should be implanted, and how the surgical incisions should be made.

Abstract: An implantable medical device with anti-infection agent. The implantable medical device may be configured for placement in the head of a patient and for monitoring or treatment of the brain. The implantable medical device may have a housing or it may have a housing and a member for providing a smooth interface between the device and the adjacent tissue. The anti-infection agent may be provided on or impregnated in the housing or the member. In some embodiments, the device includes a single module while in other embodiments a plurality of modules are coupled to provide a smaller profile. In some embodiments the implantable medical device may include both anti-infection and lubricious materials.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an implantable neurostimulator device for delivery of neurostimulation to treat head, neck, or facial pain or tension, including pain or tension caused by occipital neuralgia. The device may be a neurostimulation device having a miniaturized housing with a low profile that permits subcutaneous implantation at a stimulation site directly adjacent a neuralgic region at the back of the neck of a patient. For example, the device may be subcutaneously implanted at the back of the neck of a patient to relieve symptoms of occipital neuralgia.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an implantable neurostimulator device for delivery of neurostimulation to treat head, neck, or facial pain or tension, including pain or tension caused by occipital neuralgia. The device may be a neurostimulation device having a miniaturized housing with a low profile that permits subcutaneous implantation at a stimulation site directly adjacent a neuralgic region at the back of the neck of a patient. For example, the device may be subcutaneously implanted at the back of the neck of a patient to relieve symptoms of occipital neuralgia.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an implantable neurostimulator device for delivery of neurostimulation to treat head, neck, or facial pain or tension, including pain or tension caused by occipital neuralgia. The device may be a neurostimulation device having a miniaturized housing with a low profile that permits subcutaneous implantation at a stimulation site directly adjacent a neuralgic region at the back of the neck of a patient. For example, the device may be subcutaneously implanted at the back of the neck of a patient to relieve symptoms of occipital neuralgia.

Abstract: At least one surface of an implantable medical device is concave along at least one axis such that it substantially conforms to a surface within a patient, such as the cranium, when it is implanted on that surface. In some embodiments, the surface of the implantable medical device substantially conforms to an arc with a radius that is between 4.5 and 9.5 centimeters, and is preferably approximately equal to 7 centimeters. In some embodiments, the implantable medical device comprises a plurality of interconnected modules, and an overmold that at least partially encapsulates each of the modules. In such embodiments, at least one surface of the overmold is concave along at least one axis. Further, each of the modules of such an implantable medical device may comprise a housing, and at least one surface of at least one of the housings may be concave along at least one axis.

Abstract: A medical device known as a trial neuro stimulator with a diagnostics module to determine whether the therapy lead is operational for delivering stimulation therapy to improve operation in areas such as reliability and patient comfort is disclosed. The trial neuro stimulator is typically used to test the efficacy of neuro stimulation before implanting an implantable neuro stimulator in a patient. The trial neuro stimulator has a processor, memory, system reset, telemetry module, recharge module, power management module, power source, therapy module, therapy measurement module, and diagnostics module. The diagnostics module can be a lead sensor, a software detector using therapy lead measurements from the therapy measurement module, or, a combination of both the lead sensor and software detector to detect whether the therapy lead is operational. A method for diagnosing whether a therapy lead is operational is also disclosed.

Abstract: A modular implantable medical device includes a plurality of modules that are at least partially encapsulated by an overmold. The modules may be connected by coupling modules, which may be flexible to provide for one or more degrees of relative intermodular motion. The overmold may also be flexible. In order to reduce relative intermodule motion to acceptable direction and/or ranges, the overmold may include one or more motion reduction elements.

Abstract: Techniques for selectably providing either constant voltage or constant current stimulation are described. A programming device provides a user interface by which a user selects either constant voltage or constant current stimulation, and selects either a voltage or current amplitude based on the selected stimulation mode. The programming device configures a medical device to provide the selected mode of stimulation at the selected amplitude. For example, when a medical device has constant voltage stimulation circuitry, e.g., circuitry including a voltage source, and the user selects constant current stimulation, the programming device configures the medical device to adjust the voltage amplitude based on a measured impedance to provide substantially constant current amplitude.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a recharging system and associated techniques to recharge an implantable medical device (IMD). In particular, a recharging system according to the invention comprises a headset having an energy delivery module that delivers energy to a power source of an IMD implanted on or within the cranium of a patient. The energy delivery module may comprise a coil for inductive transfer of energy to the power source. The headset may be configured for placement over the head of the patient, and may further only partially cover the top of the head. The energy delivery module may be adjustably coupled to the headset. In some embodiments, the position of the energy delivery module may be adjusted along three or four axes, including a rotational axis, allowing the coil to be placed over an IMD located at any of a variety of locations on or within the cranium.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) including a nonhermetic battery is described. The IMD includes components and a power source module that includes the nonhermetic battery. The IMD also includes a barrier to substantially impede movement of substances from the nonhermetic battery to the components. The barrier may include a hermetic feedthrough, a gel, a polymer, or a solid electrolyte within the nonhermetic battery, and a seal member. The barrier may also be a material that encapsulates the nonhermetic battery and a getter within the IMD. In some embodiments, the IMD comprises a modular IMD including an interconnect member. In that case, the barrier may include a material that fills at least a portion of a void defined by the interconnect member. A length and a cross-sectional area of the interconnect member may also act as a barrier.

Abstract: A modular implantable medical device permits implantable medical devices to have a smaller profile in order to better fit into locations within the human body. A modular implantable medical device separates various functional components of the implantable medical device into a set of interconnected modules. This distributed architecture of a modular implantable medical device may permit the device footprint to be distributed over a larger area while making the profile smaller, and may permit the overall shape of the implantable medical device to better match the body location into which it is to be implanted. An overmold integrates the modules of a modular implantable medical device into a single structure. In some embodiments the overmold is flexible and provides a biocompatible interface from the component modules and the patient, while restraining potentially harmful intermodule motion.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a process for non-invasively screening a patient to select a stimulation site for treatment of head, neck or facial pain and tension symptoms caused by disorders such as occipital neuralgia. The screening process involves application of a transcutaneous stimulation screening device, a percutaneous micro-electrode screening device, and a temporary implantable screening device to the patient to select a site for chronic implantation.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for implantation in the head of a patient. The implantable medical device has a plurality of interconnected modules one or more of which are covered by an overmold and one or more of which are partially covered by the overmold. The module(s) covered by the overmold may be implanted between the cranium and scalp, while the module(s) partially covered by the overmold may be placed at least partially into a recess in the cranium.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for implantation in the head of a patient. The implantable medical device has a plurality of interconnected modules one or more of which are covered by an overmold and one or more of which are partially covered by the overmold. The module(s) covered by the overmold may be implanted between the cranium and scalp, while the module(s) partially covered by the overmold may be placed at least partially into a recess in the cranium.