Abstract: A modified nerve cuff electrode is designed to enhance the stability of neural recording and/or nerve stimulation. Any nerve cuff electrode includes a nerve cuff and a plurality of electrodes within the nerve cuff. While traditional nerve cuff electrodes have every one of the plurality of electrode contacts on the inner surface of the nerve cuff, in the modified nerve cuff electrode each of an inner surface and an outer surface of the nerve cuff has at least one electrode contact. The at least one electrode contact on the outer surface can be electrically isolated from the peripheral nerve to provide a stable reference or ground during recording or a stable pathway for a return current during stimulation to enhance the stability of the recording or the stimulation.

Abstract: Systems and methods that deliver a continuous partial nerve conduction block are described. A waveform generator can configure one or more direct current (DC) waveforms to provide a continuous partial nerve conduction block. One or more electrodes can deliver the one or more DC waveforms to provide the partial block to the neural structure. Feedback can be provided to the waveform generator related to the partial block. The feedback includes monitoring a property associated with the partial block and altering a parameter associated with the one or more direct current waveforms in response to the property associated with the partial block.

Abstract: Slurry electrodes can deliver direct current (DC) nerve conduction block to neural tissue. Such slurry electrodes can include an ionically conductive membrane having a first side and a second side. Slurry electrodes can also include a mechanism that is configured to encapsulate a slurry against the first side of the ionically conductive membrane. The slurry can include an ionically conductive material and a plurality of electrically conducting high surface area particles. The mechanism and the first side of the ionically conductive membrane make up a housing for the slurry. Slurry electrodes can also include a connector configured to establish an electrical connection between the slurry and the DC generator.

Abstract: Systems and methods that deliver a continuous partial nerve conduction block are described. A waveform generator can configure one or more direct current (DC) waveforms to provide a continuous partial nerve conduction block. One or more electrodes can deliver the one or more DC waveforms to provide the partial block to the neural structure. Feedback can be provided to the waveform generator related to the partial block. The feedback includes monitoring a property associated with the partial block and altering a parameter associated with the one or more direct current waveforms in response to the property associated with the partial block.

Abstract: Chronic pain management can be achieved by electrically anesthetizing a peripheral nerve with on-demand electrical nerve block (OD-ENB). OD-ENB can be provided by an implantable capsule. Externally, at least a portion of the capsule can be constructed of a conductive membrane and the rest of the capsule comprises a biocompatible material. A blocking electrode contact, a return electrode contact, and a powering/communication component can be within the capsule. The blocking electrode contact can deliver a direct current (DC) through a portion of the conductive membrane to block conduction in the neural tissue to provide the OD-ENB. The return electrode contact can receive a return current from the neural tissue through another portion of the conductive membrane. The powering/communication component can communicate with one or more external components located external to the patient's body to receive a power signal. Notably the capsule has no internal battery.

Abstract: Chronic pain management can be achieved by electrically anesthetizing a peripheral nerve with on-demand electrical nerve block (OD-ENB). OD-ENB can be provided by an implantable capsule. Externally, at least a portion of the capsule can be constructed of a conductive membrane and the rest of the capsule comprises a biocompatible material. A blocking electrode contact, a return electrode contact, and a powering/communication component can be within the capsule. The blocking electrode contact can deliver a direct current (DC) through a portion of the conductive membrane to block conduction in the neural tissue to provide the OD-ENB. The return electrode contact can receive a return current from the neural tissue through another portion of the conductive membrane. The powering/communication component can communicate with one or more external components located external to the patient's body to receive a power signal. Notably the capsule has no internal battery.

Abstract: The present disclose relates to slurry electrodes that can deliver direct current (DC) nerve conduction block to neural tissue. Such slurry electrodes can include an ionically conductive membrane having a first side and a second side. Slurry electrodes can also include a mechanism that is configured to encapsulate a slurry against the first side of the ionically conductive membrane. The slurry can include an ionically conductive material and a plurality of electrically conducting high surface area particles. The mechanism and the first side of the ionically conductive membrane make up a housing for the slurry. Slurry electrodes can also include a connector configured to establish an electrical connection between the slurry and the DC generator.

Abstract: The present disclose relates to slurry electrodes that can deliver direct current (DC) nerve conduction block to neural tissue. Such slurry electrodes can include an ionically conductive membrane having a first side and a second side. Slurry electrodes can also include a mechanism that is configured to encapsulate a slurry against the first side of the ionically conductive membrane. The slurry can include an ionically conductive material and a plurality of electrically conducting high surface area particles. The mechanism and the first side of the ionically conductive membrane make up a housing for the slurry. Slurry electrodes can also include a connector configured to establish an electrical connection between the slurry and the DC generator.

Abstract: Accelerated recovery from direct current (DC) nerve block can be achieved using repolarization. A direct current (DC) waveform can be applied to a nerve for a time sufficient to achieve nerve block. The DC waveform can be switched to another DC waveform of reversed polarity, which can be applied for a second time, causing the nerve to enter a repolarization cycle to accelerate recovery time for the nerve. Moreover, simply applying a subthreshold DC waveform to the nerve for a time by itself can enhance a response of the nerve without blocking conduction in the nerve.

Abstract: The present disclose relates to intravertebral electrical block of spinal transmission of neural signals (at least a portion of sensory signals from the peripheral nervous system and/or at least a portion of motor signals to the peripheral nervous system). At least one intravertebral electrode can be located at a level of a spinal cord of a subject. At least one waveform generator can be coupled to the at least one intravertebral electrode and configured to generate an electrical signal that is sent to the at least one intravertebral electrode for application to the level of the spinal cord of the subject.

Abstract: A capacity-expanding separated interface nerve electrode (SINE) can be used to deliver a nerve conduction block to one or more nerves. The SINE can include a source electrode coupled to a waveform generator. The source electrode can deliver an electrical neuromodulation signal (e.g., a direct current (DC) signal) to an ionically conductive medium. The SINE can also include a vessel holding the ionically conductive medium, which can include a material that facilitates a transformation of the electrical neuromodulation signal to an ionic neuromodulation signal with a high charge capacity. The SINE can also include a nerve interface that can deliver the ionic neuromodulation signal to a nerve. The SINE can be used in combination with a return electrode that is also coupled to the waveform generator.

Abstract: A DC nerve conduction block can be maintained by delivering a subthreshold direct current (DC) after priming a neural structure with a suprathreshold DC. A waveform generator can provide a DC waveform including a first phase with a first amplitude capable of providing a nerve conduction block of a neural structure within 1 second and a second phase with a second amplitude less than the first amplitude. One or more electrodes can deliver the first phase for to the neural structure for a first time to provide the nerve conduction block of the neural structure within 1 second and deliver the second phase to the neural structure for a second time to maintain the block of the neural structure. By maintaining the DC nerve conduction block with the subthreshold DC, significant power can be saved, resulting in an extended battery life of the waveform generator.

Abstract: The present disclose relates to slurry electrodes that can deliver direct current (DC) nerve conduction block to neural tissue. Such slurry electrodes can include an ionically conductive membrane having a first side and a second side. Slurry electrodes can also include a mechanism that is configured to encapsulate a slurry against the first side of the ionically conductive membrane. The slurry can include an ionically conductive material and a plurality of electrically conducting high surface area particles. The mechanism and the first side of the ionically conductive membrane make up a housing for the slurry. Slurry electrodes can also include a connector configured to establish an electrical connection between the slurry and the DC generator.

Abstract: A modified nerve cuff electrode is designed to enhance the stability of neural recording and/or nerve stimulation. Any nerve cuff electrode includes a nerve cuff and a plurality of electrodes within the nerve cuff. While traditional nerve cuff electrodes have every one of the plurality of electrode contacts on the inner surface of the nerve cuff, in the modified nerve cuff electrode each of an inner surface and an outer surface of the nerve cuff has at least one electrode contact. The at least one electrode contact on the outer surface can be electrically isolated from the peripheral nerve to provide a stable reference or ground during recording or a stable pathway for a return current during stimulation to enhance the stability of the recording or the stimulation.

Abstract: Chronic pain management can be achieved by electrically anesthetizing a peripheral nerve with on-demand electrical nerve block (OD-ENB). OD-ENB can be provided by an implantable capsule. Externally, at least a portion of the capsule can be constructed of a conductive membrane and the rest of the capsule comprises a biocompatible material. A blocking electrode contact, a return electrode contact, and a powering/communication component can be within the capsule. The blocking electrode contact can deliver a direct current (DC) through a portion of the conductive membrane to block conduction in the neural tissue to provide the OD-ENB. The return electrode contact can receive a return current from the neural tissue through another portion of the conductive membrane. The powering/communication component can communicate with one or more external components located external to the patient's body to receive a power signal. Notably the capsule has no internal battery.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a capacity-expanding separated interface nerve electrode (SINE), which can be used to deliver a nerve conduction block to one or more nerves. The SINE can include a source electrode coupled to a waveform generator. The sour electrode can deliver an electrical neuromodulation signal (e.g., a direct current (DC) signal) to an ionically conductive medium. The SINE can also include a vessel holding the ionically conductive medium, which can include a material that facilitates a transformation of the electrical neuromodulation signal to an ionic neuromodulation signal with a high charge capacity. The SINE can also include a nerve interface that can deliver the ionic neuromodulation signal to a nerve. The SINE can be used in combination with a return electrode that is also coupled to the waveform generator.

Abstract: Systems and methods that deliver a continuous partial nerve conduction block are described. A waveform generator can configure one or more direct current (DC) waveforms to provide a continuous partial nerve conduction block. One or more electrodes can deliver the one or more DC waveforms to provide the partial block to the neural structure. Feedback can be provided to the waveform generator related to the partial block. The feedback includes monitoring a property associated with the partial block and altering a parameter associated with the one or more direct current waveforms in response to the property associated with the partial block.

Abstract: A system for scheduling periodic events having varying rates. The system uses a linked list type data structure and an array to schedule the plurality of events having varying rates. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, data items are scheduled for transfer during a plurality of data transfer intervals. The linked list type data structure is traversed for each data transfer interval to collect the data items requiring transfer.