Electrical Treatment Of Pain Patents (Class 607/46)
  • Patent number: 12201839
    Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and techniques are described for using evoked compound action potential (ECAP) signals to monitor lead position and/or detect lead migration. An example system includes sensing circuitry configured to sense an ECAP signal, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry controls the sensing circuitry to detect, after delivery of an electrical stimulation pulse, a current ECAP signal, and determines one or more characteristics of the current ECAP signal. The processing circuitry also compares the one or more characteristics of the current ECAP signal to corresponding one or more characteristics of a baseline ECAP signal, and determines, based on the comparison, a migration state of the electrodes delivering the electrical stimulation pulse. Additionally, the processing circuitry outputs, based on the migration state, an alert indicative of migration of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiashu Li, David A. Dinsmoor, Duane L Bourget, Kristin N. Hageman, Hank Bink, Christopher L. Pulliam
  • Patent number: 12201832
    Abstract: A medical system for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment includes therapy delivery circuitry configured to output one or more electrical stimulation signals to a tongue of a patient; sensing circuitry configured to sense one or more compound muscle action potential (CMAP) signals, wherein the one or more CMAP signals are generated in response to the delivery of the one or more electrical stimulation signals; and processing circuitry configured to: cause the therapy delivery circuitry to output the one or more electrical stimulation signals to the tongue; receive information indicative of the one or more CMAP signals from the sensing circuitry; determine, based on the one or more CMAP signals, one or more therapeutic stimulation parameters for the OSA treatment; and cause the therapy delivery circuitry to deliver therapeutic electrical stimulation signals according to at least the determined one or more therapeutic stimulation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid M. Litvak, Avram Scheiner, Kristin N. Hageman, Kanthaiah Koka, James Britton Hissong, Erik J. Peterson, David J. Miller, Robert T. Sandgren, Adam J. Rivard, Sean P. Skubitz, Thomas I. Miller
  • Patent number: 12201628
    Abstract: A method for modulating an immune response by activating or inhibiting dopaminergic neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) is provided. Modulation is achieved by modulating the activity, the abundance or both of: a natural killer cell, a CD8 T-cell, a CD4 T-cell, a B-cell, a dendritic cell, a macrophage, a granulocyte, or their combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignees: TECHNION RESEARCH &DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LIMITED, HEALTH CORPORATION—RAMBAM
    Inventors: Asya Rolls, Tamar Ben Shannan, Hilla Azulay-Debbie, Fahed Hakim, Maya Schiller, Shai Shen-Orr, Elina Starosvetsky
  • Patent number: 12194296
    Abstract: Device/system that provides pain relief by delivering stimulation that neither generates action potentials nor completely blocks neural transmission (in the peripheral nerve). The present teachings provide relief by modulating release of neurotransmitters in peripheral nerves to cause neuromodulation at the level of the peripheral nerve (modulation of neural signals in the peripheral nerve). The present teachings provide relief by modulating release of neurotransmitters in peripheral nerves to cause neuromodulation at the level of the peripheral nerve (modulation of neural signals in the peripheral nerve) to alter the frequency of physiologically generated neural transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: SPR Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Boggs, Amorn Wongsarnpigoon, Matthew G. deBock, Nathan Crosby
  • Patent number: 12194291
    Abstract: An electrical stimulation lead includes a cuff having a cuff body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a circumference; longitudinally elongated electrodes disposed on the interior surface of the cuff body and helically arranged with each of the longitudinally elongated electrodes longitudinally offset relative to any adjacent longitudinally elongated electrodes; and a longitudinal slit extending through the cuff body and further extending along an entire length of the cuff body, the longitudinal slit operable to receive a portion of a target nerve from a region outside of the cuff to within the cuff body. The lead also includes a lead body coupled to the cuff and conductors extending through the lead body and the cuff with the conductors electrically coupled to the longitudinally elongated electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Foster, Pratap Arangil, Hari Hara Subramanian
  • Patent number: 12194299
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for the treatment of pain through activation of select neural fibers. The neural fibers may comprise one or more afferent neural fibers and/or one or more efferent neural fibers. If afferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with efferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate afferent pathways in a manner approximating natural afferent activity. The afferent fibers may be associated with primary receptors of muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs, secondary, receptors of muscle spindles, joint receptors, touch receptors, and other types of mechanoreceptors and/or proprioceptors. If efferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with afferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate intrafusal and/or extrafusal muscle fibers, which results in an indirect activation of afferent fibers associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: SPR Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria E. Bennett, Joseph W. Boggs, Warren M. Grill, John Chae
  • Patent number: 12186581
    Abstract: The invention is method comprising the use of an external photic stimulator treat and/or prevent pain in a subject, such as migraine headache, dental pain, and/or other sources of cranial pain. The presently disclosed method includes treating the pain externally through the cheek, over the zygomatic arch and area of the trigeminal ganglion. The external photic stimulation is believed to inhibit excessive firing of trigeminal ganglion circuits, preventing the excessive expression of calcitonin gene-related peptides and/or other inflammatory manifestations of the pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventor: Charles Joseph Matthews
  • Patent number: 12179019
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a system with a sensor with electrodes including an active electrode and a receiving electrode that is in physical contact with skin of a patient forming an electrical circuit with control electronics of a controller that can measure an electrical parameter using an active electrode and a receiving electrode within a closed loop electrical muscle stimulation system. A sense electrical pulse can be applied to the tissue using the sensor, an electrical parameter measured from the tissue, and a stimulation pulse applied to the tissue based at least in part on the measured electrical parameter. The stimulation is adjustably controlled by the controller to maintain a constant power output to the tissue based on the electrical parameter. A good is coupled to a computer readable medium configured to store usage data, the usage data relating to the patient's use of the good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Motive Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Struan Coleman, Calvin Domenico, Edison Gieswein, Jessica Paparella, Joshua Butters, Marlina Kessler, David Saar, Lee Knox
  • Patent number: 12179017
    Abstract: A material and apparel that positively affect the health and well-being of a mammal include fibers that are formed with a semiconductor. Upon contact of the material or apparel with a region of the mammal's body, a positive effect occurs that relates to the health and wellbeing of that mammal. The material includes a region that includes an expanse. The expanse is formed with a semiconductor and constructed for contact with the skin of the mammal. The apparel has a body that includes a region that has a wearable form made of a semiconductor, and is constructed for making contact with a human body when the human wears the apparel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Incrediwear Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Jackson Corley
  • Patent number: 12179012
    Abstract: Devices and methods for the non-invasive stimulation of nerves, such as the vagus nerve, include a housing and an electrode coupled to the housing. The electrode is configured to be positioned adjacent to, or in contact with, an outer skin surface of a patient. A source of energy is coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the electrode. The source of energy emits an electrical impulse to the electrode such that the electrical impulse passes through the outer skin surface of the patient to a nerve at a target region in the patient sufficient to modulate the nerve. The electrical impulse comprises burst periods and constant periods, wherein each burst period includes 2 to 20 pulses and has a duration of less than 20,000 microseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: ElectroCore, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Simon, Joseph P. Errico, John T. Raffle
  • Patent number: 12172019
    Abstract: An example of a system may include a processor and a memory device comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: access a patient metric of a subject; use the patient metric as an input to a machine learning algorithm, the machine learning algorithm to search a plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets and to identify a candidate neuromodulation parameter set of the plurality of neuromodulation parameter sets, the candidate neuromodulation parameter set designed to produce a non-regular waveform that varies over a time domain and a space domain; and program a neuromodulator using the candidate neuromodulation parameter set to stimulate the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Moffitt, Natalie A. Brill, Jianwen Gu, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez, Changfang Zhu, Hemant Bokil, Stephen Carcieri
  • Patent number: 12168127
    Abstract: An ankle cuff for managing incontinence in a patient, comprising: a body; a first micro-needle electrode array located on an inner face of the body; a second micro-needle electrode array separately located from the first micro-needle electrode array; a pulse generator electrically coupled to the first and second micro-needle electrode arrays; in use, the body is configured to be worn around an ankle of the patient such that individual micro-needles of the first and second micro-needle electrode arrays insert into an epidermis of the patient; and a controller, wherein the controller controls the pulse generator to pulse the first and second micro-needle electrode arrays to electrically stimulate the posterior tibial nerve for managing incontinence in the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Inventor: Nicky Agahari
  • Patent number: 12168130
    Abstract: A system for restoring muscle function to the lumbar spine to treat low back pain is provided. The system may include electrodes coupled to an implantable pulse generator (IPG), a handheld activator configured to transfer a stimulation command to the IPG, and an external programmer configured to transfer programming data to the IPG. The stimulation command directs the programmable controller to stimulate the tissue in accordance with the programming data. The system may include a software-based programming system run on a computer such that the treating physician may program and adjust stimulation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Mainstay Medical Limited
    Inventors: Dan Sachs, Prashant Brijmohansingh Rawat, Jason Shiroff, Peter Crosby
  • Patent number: 12161870
    Abstract: A fitting algorithm for a spinal cord stimulator is disclosed, which is preferably implemented in a clinician programmer having a graphical user interface. In one example, coupling parameters indicative of coupling to neural structures are determined for each electrode in an implanted electrode array. The user interface associates different pole configurations with different anatomical targets and with different measurement techniques (subjective or objective) to gauge the effectiveness of the pole configuration at different positions in the electrode array. The pole configuration, perhaps as modified by the coupling parameters, is then steered in the array, and effectiveness is measured along with a paresthesia threshold at each position. Using at least this data, the fitting algorithm can determine one or more candidate positions in the electrode array at which a therapeutic stimulation program can be centered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Tianhe Zhang, Que Doan
  • Patent number: 12157001
    Abstract: A system and method for providing therapy to a patient can include a monitoring unit and a therapy unit. The monitoring unit can have a user interface and one or more sensors to measure patient data. The therapy unit can have a stimulator for generating electrical stimulation and a microcontroller for controlling the generation of the electrical stimulation based on the measured patient data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Cala Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Serena HanYing Wong, Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Samuel Richard Hamner, Paula Jean Chidester, Scott Lee Delp, Terence D. Sanger
  • Patent number: 12138453
    Abstract: A system may include at least one lead, a stimulation waveform generator, and a controller. The controller may be programmed to implement a process to suggest at least one electrode to be used to stimulate the nerve root. A therapeutic window may be determined for each electrode. For each electrode determining the therapeutic window may include applying stimulation, determining a first stimulation threshold for the applied stimulation to cause a first physiological effect, determining a second stimulation threshold for the applied stimulation to cause a second physiological effect, and determining a difference between the first stimulation threshold and the second stimulation threshold, wherein the difference is the therapeutic window. The process may further include determining at electrode(s) with a minimum value for the therapeutic window, and suggesting the electrode(s) to be used to stimulate the nerve root based on the determined electrode(s) with the minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Jessica Block, Rosana Esteller
  • Patent number: 12133979
    Abstract: Apparatus for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in a user, the apparatus comprising: a stimulation unit for electrically stimulating at least one nerve using electrical pulses; an electrode assembly connectable to the stimulation unit, the electrode assembly comprising a sensing unit, a storage unit, and a communications unit; and a control unit connected to the stimulation unit and the communications unit, the control unit being configured for controlling operation of the stimulation unit based on information from the electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Neurometrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Shai N. Gozani, Marc P. Cryan, Andres Aguirre, Glenn Herb, Xuan Kong
  • Patent number: 12133981
    Abstract: The present technology provides systems and methods for directly suppressing nerve cells by delivering electrical stimulation having relatively long pulse widths and at amplitudes below an activation threshold of the nerve cells. For example, some embodiments include delivering a therapy signal having individual pulses with pulse widths of between about 5 ms and 100 ms. Directly suppressing the nerve cells is expected to reduce the transmission of pain signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nevro Corp.
    Inventors: Dongchul Lee, Kerry Bradley
  • Patent number: 12128235
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to devices, systems, and techniques for controlling electrical stimulation therapy. In some examples, a medical device includes stimulation generation circuitry configured to deliver a first stimulation pulse to a patient, sensing circuitry configured to sense the first stimulation pulse, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that a value of a characteristic of the sensed first stimulation pulse exceeds a target stimulation pulse value and responsive to determining that the value of the characteristic of the sensed first stimulation pulse exceeds the target stimulation pulse value, change a first value of a parameter to a second value of the parameter that at least partially defines a second stimulation pulse deliverable by the stimulation generation circuitry after the first stimulation pulse was sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Jiashu Li
  • Patent number: 12128236
    Abstract: An Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) is disclosed that is capable of sensing a degree to which recruited neurons in a patient's tissue are firing synchronously, and of modifying a stimulation program to promote desynchronicity and to reduce paresthesia. An evoked compound action potential (ECAP) of the recruited neurons is sensed as a measure of synchronicity by at least one non-active electrode. An ECAP algorithm operable in the IPG assesses the shape of the ECAP and determines one or more ECAP shape parameters that indicate whether the recruited neurons are firing synchronously or desynchronously. If the shape parameters indicate significant synchronicity, the ECAP algorithm can adjust the stimulation program to promote desynchronous firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley L. Hershey, Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 12109407
    Abstract: Apparatus (20) is provided that includes a battery (48) including first and second poles (78, 79); and a circuit board (50) that includes electronic circuitry (53), the second pole (79) electrically coupled to the circuitry (53). A battery-isolation tab (42, 142) is removably disposed between the first pole (78) and the circuitry (53), and includes a non-conductive substrate (90) configured to electrically isolate the first pole (78) from the circuitry (53), while the tab (42, 142) is disposed between the first pole (78) and the circuitry (53); and a conductive layer (92) disposed upon the non-conductive substrate (90), the conductive layer (92) being electrically coupled to the first pole (78) and configured to facilitate electrical coupling of the first pole (78) to the circuitry (53), while the tab (42, 142) is disposed between the first pole (78) and the circuitry (53). Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: THERANICA BIO-ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Ronen Jashek, Alon Ironi, Roy Zimmerman, Ofer Rivkind, Rostislav Barabash, Arie Ravid
  • Patent number: 12097033
    Abstract: A method includes providing a first electrode and a second electrode, receiving a first plurality of signals from the first electrode during a first period of time, and receiving a second plurality of signals from the second electrode during a second period of time. The method also includes receiving a pooled signal comprising a third plurality of signals from the first electrode and a fourth plurality of signals from the second electrode and isolating, from the pooled signal, one or more of the third plurality of signals and one or more of the fourth plurality of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Markus Meister, Kyu Hyun Lee, Yu-Li Ni
  • Patent number: 12090324
    Abstract: New waveforms for use in an implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator are disclosed which mimic actively-driven biphasic pulses, and which are particularly useful for providing sub-perception Spinal Cord Stimulation therapy using low frequency pulses. The waveforms comprise anodic and cathodic pulses which are effectively monophasic in nature, although low-level, non-therapeutic charge recovery can also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Tianhe Zhang, Michael A. Moffitt, Que Doan
  • Patent number: 12090081
    Abstract: A shoulder brace includes a shoulder cuff that can be worn to cover the shoulder of a user, an upper arm cuff that can be worn to cover the elbow joint of the user, a belt that can secure the shoulder cuff to the shoulder of the user, and an actuator that is the McKibben artificial muscle which can optionally expand and contract in entire length. The actuator contains a main actuator to link the vicinity of the acromion on the shoulder cuff and a side face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint, an anterior auxiliary actuator to link a front face of the shoulder cuff and a front face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint, and a posterior auxiliary actuator to link a back face of the shoulder cuff and a back face of the upper arm cuff across the shoulder joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: FUYUKI ACADEMY
    Inventors: Koji Shomoto, Masanori Fuyuki
  • Patent number: 12076562
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for the treatment of pain through activation of select neural fibers. The neural fibers may comprise one or more afferent neural fibers and/or one or more efferent neural fibers. If afferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with efferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate afferent pathways in a manner approximating natural afferent activity. The afferent fibers may be associated with primary receptors of muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs, secondary receptors of muscle spindles, joint receptors, touch receptors, and other types of mechanoreceptors and/or proprioceptors. If efferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with afferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate intrafusal and/or extrafusal muscle fibers, which results in an indirect activation of afferent fibers associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: SPR Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria E. Bennett, Joseph W. Boggs, Warren M. Grill, John Chae
  • Patent number: 12064620
    Abstract: Applying therapeutic neural stimuli involves monitoring for at least one of sensory input and movement of a user. In response to detection of sensory input or user movement, an increased stimulus dosage is delivered within a period of time corresponding to a duration of time for which the detected sensory input or user movement gives rise to masking, the increased stimulus dosage being configured to give rise to increased neural recruitment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Saluda Medical Pty Ltd
    Inventor: John Louis Parker
  • Patent number: 12057213
    Abstract: Methods for treating and managing pain in a patient with therapeutic neuromodulation and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. Chronic or debilitating pain can be associated, for example, with a disease or condition of the abdominal or reproductive viscera. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods that at least partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in nerves proximate a target blood vessel of a diseased or damaged organ of a patient experiencing pain. Targeted sympathetic nerve activity can be modulated at least along afferent pathways which can improve a measurable parameter associated with the pain of the patient The modulation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly, e.g., a therapeutic assembly configured to use electrically-induced, thermally-induced, and/or chemically-induced approaches to modulate the target sympathetic nerve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Carol Sullivan, Neil Barman, Dwayne S. Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 12048844
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treating back pain are provided, in which an implantable stimulator is configured to communicate with an external control system, the implantable stimulator providing a neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy designed to cause muscle contraction to rehabilitate the muscle, restore neural drive and restore spinal stability; the implantable stimulator further including one or more of a number of additional therapeutic modalities, including a module that provides analgesic stimulation; a module that monitors muscle performance and adjusts the muscle stimulation regime; and/or a module that provides longer term pain relief by selectively and repeatedly ablating nerve fibers. In an alternative embodiment, a standalone implantable RF ablation system is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Mainstay Medical Limited
    Inventors: Peter Andrew Crosby, Dan Sachs, Prashant Brijmohansingh Rawat, Jason Alan Shiroff, Johannes Petrus Heemels
  • Patent number: 12048847
    Abstract: This application is generally related to systems and methods for providing a medical therapy to a patient by tracking patient activity and adjusting medical therapy based on occurrence of different types of activities performed by the patient while automatically balancing stimulation program duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. L. Crawford
  • Patent number: 12036414
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes selecting, by one or more processors and based on a representation of sensed electrical signals for a particular patient and a plurality of representations of sensed electrical signals for a plurality of other patients, a combination of electrodes of a plurality of combinations of one or more implantable electrodes for delivery of electrical stimulation to the particular patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Kaemmerer, Siddharth Dani, Allison T. Connolly
  • Patent number: 12036408
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for managing pain uses separate varying electromagnetic fields, with a variety of temporal and amplitude characteristics, which are applied to a particular neural structure to modulate glial and neuronal interactions as a mechanism for relieving chronic pain. In another embodiment, a single composite modulation/stimulation signal which has rhythmically varying characteristics is used to achieve the same results as separate varying electromagnetic fields. Also, disclosed is an apparatus and method for modulating the expression of genes involved in diverse pathways including inflammatory/immune system mediators, ion channels and neurotransmitters, in both the Spinal Cord (SC) and Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) where such expression modulation is caused by spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation using the disclosed apparatus and techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic SG, LLC
    Inventors: Ricardo Vallejo, David Leonardo Cedeno, Ramsin M. Benyamin
  • Patent number: 12036407
    Abstract: It has been discovered that pain felt in a given region of the body can be treated by stimulating a peripheral nerve at a therapeutically effective distance from the region where pain is felt to generate a comfortable sensation (i.e., paresthesia) overlapping the regions of pain. A method has been developed to reduce pain in a painful region following limb joint replacement by stimulating a peripheral nerve innervating the painful region with an electrode inserted into tissue and spaced from the peripheral nerve. This method may be used to help alleviate postoperative pain in patients following total knee arthroplasty surgery or other limb joint replacement surgeries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SPR Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Boggs, II, Maria E. Bennett, Amorn Wongsarnpigoon, John Chae, Warren M. Grill, Kathryn Stager, Rosemary Zang
  • Patent number: 12023491
    Abstract: A microcurrent treatment device has one or more electrodes or emitters configured for electrical communication with the surface of a subject's skin. A voltage or current supply is adapted to generate an electrical waveform or other energetic waveform for application to the skin surface, via the one or more electrodes or emitters, and a controller is configured to modulate the waveform. The controller can modulate consecutive pulses of the waveform so that the pulse width, period, frequency, amplitude or integrated amplitude of the consecutive pulses varies in a predefined, random, pseudorandom, or other aperiodic manner, or so that the pulses exhibit a degree of statistical randomness, over a predefined period. The period can cover a set of consecutive pulses defining a treatment cycle, or a continuous subset of consecutive pulses defining one or more phases of a treatment cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: NSE Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale G. Kern, DucToan Thanh Doan
  • Patent number: 12017074
    Abstract: An Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) or External Trial Stimulator (ETS) system is disclosed that is capable of sensing an Evoked Compound Action Potential (ECAP), and (perhaps in conjunction with an external device) is capable of adjusting a stimulation program while keeping a location of a Central Point of Stimulation (CPS) constant. Specifically, one or more features of measured ECAP(s) indicative of its shape and size are determined, and compared to thresholds or ranges to modify the electrode configuration of the stimulation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Rosana Esteller, Goran N. Marnfeldt, Natalie A. Brill, David M. Wagenbach, Pujitha Weerakoon, Jordi Parramon
  • Patent number: 12017082
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an implantable stimulation device includes providing a circuit board of the implantable stimulation device, the circuit board optionally equipped with circuit components and being electrically connected to an antenna, adhering one or more electrodes to the circuit board, and applying an insulation material to the circuit board such that the insulation material forms a housing that surrounds the circuit board, the optional circuit components and antenna, while leaving the one or more electrodes exposed for stimulating a tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: CURONIX LLC
    Inventors: Graham Patrick Greene, Benjamin Speck, Paul Lombard
  • Patent number: 12017077
    Abstract: An external control device for indicating whether a stimulation parameter set for use in a neurostimulator is available on a remote control in communication with the external control device is provided. The device includes a user interface configured for displaying the stimulation parameter set and an indicator that indicates whether the stimulation parameter set is available to the patient from the remote control. The device also includes control circuitry configured for, in response to input from the user (e.g., actuating the indicator), selectively turning the indicator on or off. The indicator may be an icon, and the icon may be a graphical depiction of a remote control. The user interface may be further configured for receiving additional input from the user, and the control circuitry may be further configured for, in response to the additional input from the user, programming the remote control with the stimulation parameter set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Sridhar Kothandaraman, Mun Pook Lui
  • Patent number: 11998233
    Abstract: A device is described for marking a path on a skin surface for inserting an epidural needle into an epidural space. The device includes a first arm having one or more holes spaced apart along the length of the first arm. A pin is attached at the proximal end of the first arm. A second arm has a proximal end attached to the pin allowing the first and second arms to rotate about the pin to adjust an angle separating the first and second arms. The second arm has one or more holes spaced apart along the length of the second arm. The holes on the first and second arms provide locations for marking the path on the skin surface to insert the epidural needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Spiro Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen T. Pyles
  • Patent number: 11996645
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to implantable neuromodulation devices and methods of fabrication, and in particular to a separable high density connectors for implantable neuromodulation devices. Particularly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a medical device comprising an electronics module and a header for connecting the electronics module to a lead assembly. The header includes: a housing that includes (i) a cavity having a central axis or plane and an internal surface, and (ii) an opening aligned with the central axis or plane of the cavity, an array of retractable contacts extending from the internal surface towards the central axis or plane of the cavity, and an array of connection terminals on the housing, where each connection terminal of the array of connection terminals is: (i) electrically connected to the electronics module, and (ii) electrically connectable to a retractable contact of the array of retractable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Loo, Cindy Au
  • Patent number: 11986393
    Abstract: The present invention is a device and a method to generate an electric current in a conductor (15). More specifically, the present invention is a device (10) that comprises a magnetic field generator element (11), a control element (12), and a support element (14). The magnetic field generator element (11) and the control element are electrically assembled, the magnetic field generator element (11) is designed to generate a varying magnetic field (B). The aforementioned varying magnetic field (B) comprises at least one varying parameter, the control element (12) is designed to control at least one varying parameter, and the support element (14) is designed to hold the magnetic field generator element (11), and the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel Moreira Pacca
  • Patent number: 11967969
    Abstract: Digital-to-Analog (DAC) circuitry for an implantable pulse generator is disclosed which is used to program currents at the electrodes. Calibration circuitry allows the positive and negative currents produced at each electrode to be independently calibrated to achieve an ideal (linear) response across a range of amplitude values provided to the DAC circuitry by a digital amplitude bus. The calibration circuitry includes electrode gain and electrode offset circuitry for each of the electrodes. Current range DAC circuitry is also provided which can be used to adjust the gain and offset current at all of the electrodes. The current range DAC circuitry is particularly useful when spanning a range of therapeutic currents for a patient, and allows all possible amplitude values provided by the digital bus to be used to span the range. This can improve (reduce) the current resolution of the electrode currents with each amplitude value step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Pujitha Weerakoon, Goran N. Marnfeldt
  • Patent number: 11957911
    Abstract: An example of a system for modulating neuroinflammation at a tissue site in a patient includes a neuromodulation output circuit, a memory, and a control circuit. The neuromodulation output circuit may be configured to deliver the neuromodulation. The memory may be configured to store a neuromodulation parameter set selected to modulate neural activity at the tissue site and a sensed biomarker parameter. The biomarker parameter may include a measure of a biomarker or a measure of a derivative of the biomarker. The biomarker may be indicative of the neuroinflammation at the tissue site. The control circuit may be configured to control the delivery of the neuromodulation using the neuromodulation parameter set and adjust one or more parameters of the neuromodulation parameter set using the biomarker parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley Lawrence Hershey, Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 11951311
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for selectively and reversibly modulating targeted neural and non-neural tissue of a nervous system for the treatment of pain. An electrical stimulation is delivered to the treatment site that selectively and reversibly modulates the targeted neutral- and non-neural tissue of the nervous structure, inhibiting the perception of pain while preserving other sensory and motor function, and proprioception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Avent, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. Schepis, David M. Page, Natalia Alexeeva, Lee C. Burnes
  • Patent number: 11944809
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating chronic pain occurring secondarily to subacromial impingement syndrome in a human body. A system is provided to deliver percutaneous electrical stimulation through at least one electrode to neurological motor points of the posterior and middle deltoid muscles to mediate such pain. One-time, continued and/or periodic dosing of treatment methods according to the present invention may result in a change to central nervous system maladaptive neuroplasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SPR Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria E. Bennett, Joseph W. Boggs, II, John Chae
  • Patent number: 11944817
    Abstract: Variable amplitude signals for neurological therapy, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method includes activating automatic delivery of an electrical therapy signal to a patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a frequency range between 1.5 kHz and 100 kHz, via at least one signal delivery contact carried by an implanted signal delivery device. The delivery can include repeatedly and automatically delivering the electrical therapy signal at each of multiple therapy signal amplitudes to the at least one signal delivery contact, without the therapy signal generating paresthesia in the patient. The foregoing process can be used as a screening tool to screen responders from non-responders in the context of a non-paresthesia-generating therapy, and/or can be used during long-term treatment, for example, for chronic pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Nevro Corp.
    Inventor: Chris Dawson
  • Patent number: 11931577
    Abstract: Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for automated parameter selection are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes receiving a first input corresponding to a location of a signal delivery device implanted in a patient, establishing a positional relationship between the signal delivery device and an anatomical feature of the patient, receiving a second input corresponding to a medical indication of the patient, and, based at least in part on the positional relationship and the indication, automatically identifying a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which a pulsed electrical signal is delivered to the patient via the signal delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NEVRO CORP.
    Inventor: Jon Parker
  • Patent number: 11911098
    Abstract: Current cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy have significant side-effects for the patients. New treatments are being developed to reduce these side-effects while giving doctors alternative methods to treat patients. This invention introduces a new apparatus for treatment of malignant tumors including brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. The apparatus couples RF power into the tumor using evanescent waves. The evanescent waves disrupt the division of cancer cells causing the cancer cells to die and shrink the size of the tumor. Due to the targeted approach of the evanescent waves, less RF energy is wasted in healthy cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Evanesc Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehran Matloubian, Timothy J. Brockett, Gregg A. Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 11904163
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including electrodes (22) configured to be placed upon a portion of a body of a subject, and a user interface device (26). A computer processor (24) applies a neuromodulation treatment to the subject, by driving electrical pulses into the portion of the subject's body via the electrodes, and generates an output on the user interface device that indicates to the subject a physiological effect that the neuromodulation treatment has upon the subject's body. Other applications are also applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: THERANICA BIO-ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventor: Alon Ironi
  • Patent number: 11904171
    Abstract: A system for adjusting neuromodulation parameters used by a neuromodulator operably connected to a plurality of electrodes to modulate a neural target, may comprise a translation trigger detector configured to determine that a translation trigger has occurred, a first parameter setting storage configured to store first parameter settings for use by the neuromodulator to modulate the neural target, and a neuromodulation parameter translator. The neuromodulation parameter translator may be operably connected to the translation trigger detector to automatically translate the first parameter settings into a second parameter settings in response to determining the translation trigger has occurred, and replace the first parameter settings with the second parameter settings, or store the second parameter settings in a second parameter setting storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Mustakos, Stephen Carcieri, Chirag Shah, Peter J. Yoo
  • Patent number: 11903894
    Abstract: The method of treating a patient addicted to pain medication or opioids has the step administering acoustic shock waves or pressure pulses to the patient. A second embodiment includes a treatment to reduce a patient's pain caused by a medical condition and/or medical procedure to reduce or eliminate the taking of addictive pain medication. The treatment has the step of administering acoustic shock waves or pressure pulses directed to an area near a source of the pain or to one or more reflexology zones or to one or more reflexology zones and to an area near the source of the pain or both to treat the medical condition or prior to the medical procedure or during the medical procedure or after the medical procedure or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Softwave Tissue Regeneration Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John F. Warlick, John Patrick Finney
  • Patent number: 11890472
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for targeted treatment of a variety of conditions, particularly conditions that are associated with or influenced by the nervous system, such as pain. Targeted treatment of such conditions is provided with minimal deleterious side effects, such as undesired motor responses or undesired stimulation of unaffected body regions. This is achieved by directly neuromodulating a target anatomy associated with the condition while minimizing or excluding undesired neuromodulation of other anatomies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Eyad Kishawi, Mir A. Imran, Brian J. Mossop, Jeffery M. Kramer, Richard W. O'Connor