Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110152956 | ELECTRICAL INIBITION OF THE PHRENIC NERVE DURING CARDIAC PACING - According to various method embodiments for pacing a heart and avoiding unwanted stimulation of a phrenic nerve during cardiac pacing, a desired pacing time for delivering a cardiac pace is determined, and a desired nerve traffic inhibition time to inhibit nerve traffic in the phrenic nerve is determined using the desired pace time. The cardiac pace is delivered at the desired pacing time and nerve traffic in the phrenic nerve is inhibited at the desired nerve traffic inhibition time. | 06-23-2011 |
20110301658 | SPATIALLY SELECTIVE VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION - By targeting on selected branches or fascicles of a vagus nerve using electrode placement and/or selection, one or more target branches of the vagus nerve are substantially activated by electrical stimulation pulses delivered to a branch without substantially activating one or more non-target branches. In one embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through an electrode placed on a thoracic vagus nerve that is separated from a recurrent laryngeal nerve, such that the vagus nerve is stimulated without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. In another embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through a multi-contact electrode with one or more contacts selected for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. | 12-08-2011 |
20110301659 | VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION WITH TARGET EFFECTS CONTROLLED BY ADJUSTING TEMPORAL PARAMETERS - One or more temporal stimulation parameters of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are selected to substantially modulate one or more target physiological functions without substantially modulating one or more non-target physiological functions. In one embodiment, a stimulation duty cycle is selected such that VNS is delivered to the cervical vagus nerve trunk to modulate a cardiovascular function without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. | 12-08-2011 |
20110313483 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING NEUROSTIMULATION USING EVOKED RESPONSES - A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity. | 12-22-2011 |
20110313484 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING NEUROSTIMULATION USING EVOKED PHYSIOLOGIC EVENTS - A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity. | 12-22-2011 |
20110313488 | AUTOMATIC NEURAL STIMULATION TITRATION SWEEP - Various neural stimulator embodiments comprise controller circuitry, neural stimulation output circuitry, sensor circuitry and a memory. The neural stimulation output circuitry is configured to deliver the neural stimulation. The controller circuitry is configured to control stimulation parameters of the neural stimulation delivered by the neural stimulation output circuitry. The sensor circuitry, including at least one sensor, is configured to sense a response to the neural stimulation. The controller is configured to communicate with the sensor circuitry. The memory has instructions stored therein, operable on by the controller circuitry. The instructions include instructions for delivering neural stimulation using the neural stimulation output circuitry, instructions for controlling a titration sweep wherein the titration sweep varies stimulation parameter values, and instructions for monitoring a response to the titration sweep and automatically selecting stimulation parameters that provide an efficacious neural stimulation and provide a desirable safety margin to prevent injury to neural tissue. | 12-22-2011 |
20110313495 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING NEUROSTIMULATION INTENSITY USING EVOKED RESPONSES - A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity. | 12-22-2011 |
20120022617 | MINIMALLY INVASIVE LEAD SYSTEM FOR VAGUS NERVE STIMLATION - A system including two neurostimulation leads can be used for stimulating a select region of a nerve within a nerve bundle. For example, two leads can be used to stimulate a select region of the vagus nerve located within a patient's carotid sheath. The first neurostimulation is positioned within the carotid sheath and the second neurostimulation lead is positioned external to the carotid sheath. Each of the first and second neurostimulation leads includes at least one electrode defining an electrode array about the select region of the nerve. The electrode array, and more particularly, the different possible electrode vector combinations provided by the first and second neurostimulation leads facilitate steering of stimulation current density fields as needed or desired between the electrodes to effectively and efficiently treat a particular medical, psychiatric, or neurological disorder. | 01-26-2012 |
20120035691 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURING A LEAD IN A VESSEL - A two-part system for securing and stabilizing a lead at a location within a patient's internal jugular vein adjacent a region of the vagus nerve to be stimulated is described. The two-part system includes a lead and a stent-like fixation member that is provided separate from the lead. The stent-like fixation member is used to secure an electrode region of the lead at a location within the internal jugular vein adjacent the vagus nerve. The stent-like fixation member urges the electrode region of the lead against the vessel walls of the internal jugular vein such that at least one electrode is oriented in a direction towards the vagus nerve. In one example, the stent-like fixation member includes a channel sized to receive and retain a portion of the lead therein. | 02-09-2012 |
20120065702 | AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF LEAD CONFIGURATION FOR A NEURAL STIMULATION LEAD - A neurostimulation system includes a neural stimulation lead having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a plurality of electrodes along the distal portion. The plurality of electrodes are configured for positioning proximate a portion of the autonomic nervous system. A neural stimulation circuit, coupled to the plurality of electrodes, delivers neural stimulation pulses to the plurality of electrodes. A processor and controller is configured to control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver first neural stimulation pulses to each of a plurality of electrode configurations. Each electrode configuration includes one or more of the plurality of electrodes. The processor and controller is further configured to receive information related to motor fiber activity that is induced in response to delivery of the first neural stimulation pulses to each of the plurality of electrode configurations and to identify the electrode configurations that induce the motor fiber activity. | 03-15-2012 |
20120095530 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING NEUROSTIMULATION ACCORDING TO PHYSICAL STATE - A neurostimulation system senses a signal indicative of a patient's physical state such as posture and/or activity level. In various embodiments, a stored value for each of stimulation parameters controlling delivery of neurostimulation is selected according to the patient's physical state. In various embodiments, values of the stimulation parameters are approximately optimized for each of a number of different physical states, and are stored for later selection. | 04-19-2012 |
20120271382 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ACCOUNT FOR NECK MOVEMENT DURING NERVE STIMULATION - Some embodiments provide a method, comprising performing a neural stimulation test routine for stimulating a neural target in a cervical region of a patient, wherein for each of a plurality of head positions, performing the neural stimulation test routine includes testing a plurality of electrode configurations. The method further comprises recording threshold data for each of the tested electrode configurations for the plurality of head positions, and recommending an electrode configuration based on the recorded threshold data. | 10-25-2012 |
20120296395 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NEUROSTIMULATION WITH PREVENTION OF NEURAL ACCOMMODATION - A neurostimulation system delivers neurostimulation to a patient using one or more primary parameters and one or more secondary parameters. The one or more primary parameters are controlled for maintaining efficacy of the neurostimulation. The one or more secondary parameters are adjusted for preventing the patient from developing neural accommodation. In various embodiments, values for the one or more secondary parameters are varied during the delivery of the neurostimulation for prevention of neural accommodation that may result from a constant or periodic pattern of stimulation pulses. | 11-22-2012 |
20130041269 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS USING CERVICAL IMPEDANCE - Implanted electrodes can be used to deliver electrical stimulation signals to areas near blood vessels, nerves, or other internal body locations. In an example, an electrode can be implanted in a cervical location and can be used to measure dimensional changes in an artery using impedance plethysmography. Measured artery dimensional changes can be used to determine one or more physiological parameters associated with a patient's health status, such as pulse transit time, relative pulse pressure, or aterial compliance, among others. These parameters can be used to monitor a patient health status or to modulate a patient's therapy, among other uses. In some examples, an electrode configured to deliver an electrostimulation signal to nerve tissue can be used to provide non-neurostimulating electrical stimulation plethysmography signals near a blood vessel. | 02-14-2013 |
20130053926 | SYSTEMS TO DETECT VAGUS CAPTURE - Some embodiments provide a system for delivering neurostimulation. Some system embodiments comprise a lead configured to be implanted in the body, a stimulation output circuit configured to deliver neurostimulation pulses to the vagus nerve through the lead, an EMG sensing circuit configured to use the lead to sense EMG signals from laryngeal muscle activity, and an evoked muscular response detection circuit configured to use the EMG signals sensed by the EMG sensing circuit to detect evoked laryngeal muscle activity evoked by the neurostimulation pulse. | 02-28-2013 |
20130226264 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING NEUROSTIMULATION ACCORDING TO PHYSICAL STATE - A neurostimulation system senses a signal indicative of a patient's physical state such as posture and/or activity level. In various embodiments, a stored value for each of stimulation parameters controlling delivery of neurostimulation is selected according to the patient's physical state. In various embodiments, values of the stimulation parameters are approximately optimized for each of a number of different physical states, and are stored for later selection. | 08-29-2013 |
20130253615 | AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF LEAD CONFIGURATION FOR A NEURAL STIMULATION LEAD - A neurostimulation system includes a neural stimulation lead having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a plurality of electrodes along the distal portion. The plurality of electrodes are configured for positioning proximate a portion of the autonomic nervous system. A neural stimulation circuit, coupled to the plurality of electrodes, delivers neural stimulation pulses to the plurality of electrodes. A processor and controller is configured to control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver first neural stimulation pulses to each of a plurality of electrode configurations. Each electrode configuration includes one or more of the plurality of electrodes. The processor and controller is further configured to receive information related to motor fiber activity that is induced in response to delivery of the first neural stimulation pulses to each of the plurality of electrode configurations and to identify the electrode configurations that induce the motor fiber activity. | 09-26-2013 |
20130310893 | SPATIALLY SELECTIVE VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION - By targeting on selected branches or fascicles of a vagus nerve using electrode placement and/or selection, one or more target branches of the vagus nerve are substantially activated by electrical stimulation pulses delivered to a branch without substantially activating one or more non-target branches. In one embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through an electrode placed on a thoracic vagus nerve that is separated from a recurrent laryngeal nerve, such that the vagus nerve is stimulated without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. In another embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through a multi-contact electrode with one or more contacts selected for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. | 11-21-2013 |
20130345591 | METHOD FOR DETECTING VAGUS CAPTURE - Some embodiments provide a system for delivering neurostimulation. Some system embodiments comprise a lead configured to be implanted in the body, a stimulation output circuit configured to deliver neurostimulation pulses to the vagus nerve through the lead, an EMG sensing circuit configured to use the lead to sense EMG signals from laryngeal muscle activity, and an evoked muscular response detection circuit configured to use the EMG signals sensed by the EMG sensing circuit to detect evoked laryngeal muscle activity evoked by the neurostimulation pulse. | 12-26-2013 |
20140088661 | ELECTRICAL INIBITION OF THE PHRENIC NERVE DURING CARDIAC PACING - According to various method embodiments for pacing a heart and avoiding unwanted stimulation of a phrenic nerve during cardiac pacing, a desired pacing time for delivering a cardiac pace is determined, and a desired nerve traffic inhibition time to inhibit nerve traffic in the phrenic nerve is determined using the desired pace time. The cardiac pace is delivered at the desired pacing time and nerve traffic in the phrenic nerve is inhibited at the desired nerve traffic inhibition time. | 03-27-2014 |