Neuropace, Inc.

Neuralieve, Inc.

Adrian R M Upton

David R Fischell

Robert E Fischell

Benjamin D Pless

Barbara Gibb

Lisa Guzzo

Stephen T Archer

Dennis Potts

A system for treating neurological conditions by low-frequency time varying electrical stimulation includes an electrical device for applying such low-frequency energy, in a range below approximately 10 Hz, to the patient's brain tissue. An implantable embodiment applies direct electrical stimulation to electrodes implanted in or on the patient's brain, while a non-invasive embodiment causes a magnetic field to induce electrical currents in the patient's brain.

Low frequency neurostimulator for the treatment of neurological disorders

An interactive implantable medical device system includes an implantable medical device and a network-enabled external device capable of bi-directional communication and interaction with the implantable medical device. The external device is programmed to interact with other similarly-enabled devices. The system facilitates improved patient care by eliminating unnecessary geographic limitations on implantable medical device interrogation and programming, and by allowing patients, physicians, and other users to access medical records, history, and information and to receive status and care-related alerts and messages anywhere there is access to a communications network.

Systems and methods for interacting with an implantable medical device

Low frequency magnetic neurostimulator for the treatment of neurological disorders

Disclosed is a system and method for treating headaches. The system employs a self-contained, battery operated, readily portable and easy-to-operate head-mounted magnetic depolarizer to generate a transient or time-varying high-intensity magnetic field into and around the user's head or neck. The magnetic depolarizer system can be used to depolarize the neurons of the brain and/or the trigeminal nerve. This type of neuronal depolarization has the capability for terminating migraine or other types of headaches.

Means and methods for treating headaches

A system and method for treating gastrointestinal and other disorders via electrical stimulation of plural portions of a patient's gastrointestinal tract uses an implantable control module, sensors attached to various structures of the gastrointestinal tract, and electrodes also attached to various structures of the gastrointestinal tract. Signals received from the sensors are analyzed to identify events in the gastrointestinal system, and electrical stimulation is applied to structures of the gastrointestinal tract, in sequence, to restore normal function or achieve other clinically desirable results.

Implantable neuromuscular stimulator for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

Disclosed is a multiple electrode, closed-loop, responsive system for the treatment of certain neurological diseases such as epilepsy, migraine headaches and Parkinson's disease. Brain electrodes would be placed in close proximity to the brain or deep within brain tissue. When a neurological event such as the onset of an epileptic seizure occurs, EEG signals from the electrodes are processed by signal conditioning means in a control module that can be placed beneath the patient's scalp, within the patient's chest, or situated externally on the patient. Neurological event detection means in the control module will then cause a response to be generated for stopping the neurological event. The response could be an electrical signal to brain electrodes or to electrodes located remotely in the patient's body. The response could also be the release of medication or the application of a sensory input such as sound, light or mechanical vibration or electrical stimulation of the skin. The response to the neurological event can originate from devices either internal or external to the patient. The system also has the capability for multi-channel recording of EEG related signals that occur both before and after the detection of a neurological event. Programmability of many different operating parameters of the system by means of external equipment provides adaptability for treating patients who manifest different symptoms and who respond differently to the response generated by the system.

Methods for responsively treating neurological disorders

Disclosed is a means and method for placing an implantable neurostimulator control module into a place in the cranium where cranial bone has been removed. The method for accomplishing this cranial implantation is by first removing a patient's hair over the site of the implant, then cutting the scalp at that site and pulling it back to expose the cranium. A neurosurgeon would then remove a portion of the cranial bone to accept a control module to be implanted within that hole. The control module would then be placed into that hole. It is also conceived that the control module would be fixed in place by the use of one or more attachment devices such as a multiplicity of bone screws placed through holes in one or more flanges that extend over the cranium beyond the control module. The implantation could also include a fairing placed around the control module to provide a smooth contour under the patient's scalp. Also described is a spacer shim placed under the flange(s) to adjust the position of the control module so that its bottom surface does not put pressure on the dura mater lying directly over the brain tissue at the bottom of the hole. It is also envisioned that a resorbable disk could be placed under the bottom surface of the control module to further protect the brain and/or to elute an anti-biotic or anti-inflammatory substance to reduce the possibility of infection and/or inflammation.

Growing community of inventors

Dundas, Canada

Adrian R M Upton