Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120046710 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION USING HELICAL MOVEMENT OF THE CENTROID OF STIMULATION - A method of treating a target region in the brain includes a) contacting tissue to be stimulated with a lead of a stimulation device, the stimulation device comprising a pulse generator coupled to the lead, the lead having a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed at a distal end of the lead, the stimulation device being configured and arranged to stimulate a target region using a positionable centroid of stimulation; b) providing stimulation current to at least one of the segmented electrodes of the lead to generate a centroid of stimulation at a location and stimulate tissue around the location of the centroid of stimulation; c) repositioning the centroid of stimulation to a next location along a helical path by altering the provision of stimulation current to the plurality of electrodes and stimulating tissue around the location of the repositioned centroid of stimulation; and d) repeating c) for each location along the helical path. The method may optionally include collecting data associated with each of the locations of the centroid of stimulation; and displaying at least a portion of the collected data. | 02-23-2012 |
20120119699 | External Charger for an Implantable Medical Device Having at Least One Moveable Charging Coil - Improved external chargers for charging an implantable medical device, and particularly useful in charging a plurality of such devices, are disclosed. Each of the various embodiments include design elements for mechanically manipulating the position of one or more charging coils within the external charger to customize the magnetic charging field as appropriate for the charger/implantable device environment. For example, a single charging coil may be moved within a housing of the external charger to direct the charging field of the coil towards the currently “coldest” implant, i.e., the implant with the lowest coupling to the external charger. The one or more charging coils may be mechanically manipulated within the external charger housing in a number of ways, including by using linear actuators, by inflatable bladders, or even by hand. | 05-17-2012 |
20120203320 | LEADS WITH SPIRALLY ARRANGED SEGMENTED ELECTRODES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE LEADS - One embodiment is a stimulation lead including a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and multiple electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body. The multiple electrodes include multiple segmented electrodes with each of the segmented electrodes having an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. At least one of the segmented electrodes includes one or more of a) at least one channel formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode, b) an arcuate groove formed in at least one of the distal end surface or the proximal end surface, or c) a notch formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203321 | METHODS FOR MAKING LEADS WITH SEGMENTED ELECTRODES FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS - One embodiment is a stimulation lead including a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and multiple electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body. The multiple electrodes include multiple segmented electrodes. At least a first portion of the lead body, proximal to the electrodes, is transparent or translucent and at least a second portion of the lead body, separating two or more of the segmented electrodes, is opaque so that the segmented electrodes separated by the second portion of the lead body are visually distinct. Alternatively or additionally, the stimulation lead can include an indicator ring, a stripe, a groove, or a marking aligned with one or more of the segmented electrodes. | 08-09-2012 |
20120316615 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING IMPROVED LEADS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS - A method for manufacturing a lead includes forming an elongated multi-lumen conductor guide defining a central stylet lumen and a plurality of conductor lumens arranged around the stylet lumen. The multi-lumen conductor guide is twisted to form at least one helical section where the plurality of conductor lumens each forms a helical pathway around the stylet lumen. Each of the helical pathways of the at least one helical section has a pitch that is no less than 0.04 turns per centimeter. | 12-13-2012 |
20130105071 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING IMPROVED LEADS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS | 05-02-2013 |
20130123893 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES FOR IMPLANTABLE STIMULATORS - 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. | 05-16-2013 |
20130125394 | ELECTRODE DESIGN FOR LEADS OF IMPLANTABLE ELECTRIC STIMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING - A lead includes a lead body with a distal end and a proximal end. A plurality of terminals are disposed at the proximal end of the lead body. A plurality of electrodes are disposed at the distal end of the lead body. Each electrode includes an electrode body and at least one anchoring member. The at least one anchoring member couples to the electrode body and extends into the lead body and beneath the electrode body to anchor the electrode to the lead body. A plurality of conductive wires electrically couple the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals. | 05-23-2013 |
20130184790 | FIXATION OF IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATORS - Systems and techniques for improving the fixation of implantable pulse generators. In one aspect, a device includes an implantable pulse generator that comprises electrical circuitry configured to generate an electrical pulse and a biocompatible casing that houses the electrical circuitry and on which a collection of electrodes and a collection of fixation elements are mounted. The electrodes are in electrical contact with the electrical circuitry and the fixation elements increase the surface area of the biocompatible casing to reduce the likelihood that the biocompatible casing shifts after implantation. | 07-18-2013 |
20130304173 | PADDLE LEAD CONFIGURATIONS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING - A paddle lead includes a paddle body with a plurality of electrodes disposed on the paddle body. The plurality of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed laterally around the circumference of the paddle body. At least one connecting wire is disposed on, or within, the paddle body to electrically couple the first electrode and the second electrode. | 11-14-2013 |
20130331918 | ANCHORING UNITS FOR LEADS OF IMPLANTABLE ELECTRIC STIMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING - 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. | 12-12-2013 |
20140039590 | METHODS FOR MAKING LEADS WITH SEGMENTED ELECTRODES FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS - One embodiment is a stimulation lead including a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and multiple electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body. The multiple electrodes include multiple segmented electrodes. At least a first portion of the lead body, proximal to the electrodes, is transparent or translucent and at least a second portion of the lead body, separating two or more of the segmented electrodes, is opaque so that the segmented electrodes separated by the second portion of the lead body are visually distinct. Alternatively or additionally, the stimulation lead can include an indicator ring, a stripe, a groove, or a marking aligned with one or more of the segmented electrodes. | 02-06-2014 |
20140067004 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATING SEIZURES CAUSED BY BRAIN STIMULATION - 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. | 03-06-2014 |
20140084860 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CHARGING AN IMPLANTED MEDICAL DEVICE POWER SOURCE - Apparatus and methods for charging an implanted medical device. | 03-27-2014 |
20140155957 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES FOR IMPLANTABLE STIMULATORS - 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. | 06-05-2014 |
20140343631 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES FOR IMPLANTABLE STIMULATORS - 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. | 11-20-2014 |