Nevro Corporation

Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation

Advanced Bionics Corporation

Siemens-pacesetter, Inc.

Pacesetter, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

James R Thacker

Jon Parker

Konstantinos Alataris

Andre B Walker

Yougandh Chitre

Sangsoo Wesley Park

Kerry A Bradley

David K L Peterson

Carla Mann Woods

Bradford Evan Gliner

James P McGivern

Kelly Hobart McClure

Todd K Whitehurst

John D H King

Michael A Moffitt

Michael Steven Colvin

Robert Nathan

Harold Haut

Shahram Moaddeb

Alvin H Weinberg

Margaret E Theriot

John D King

Susan E Ford

Holly A Segel

Goran Nils Marnfeldt

Heinz Moeri

Sridhar Kothandaraman

Dongchul Lee

Donald M Cohen

James E Barcel

Philip H Lee

John Dh King

Tissue stimulation systems generally include a pulse generating device for generating electrical stimulation pulses, at least one implanted electrode for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses generated by the pulse generating device, and a programmer capable of communicating with the pulse generating device. Stimulation pulses may be defined by several parameters, such as pulse width and amplitude. In methods of stimulating the tissue with the stimulation system, a user may adjust one of the parameters such as pulse width. The programmer may automatically adjust the pulse amplitude in response to the change in pulse width in order to maintain a substantially constant effect of the stimulation pulses.

Automatic adjustment to maintain evoked potential feature

Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region from an epidural, cervical location to address at least one of high back pain, mid-back pain, low back pain, and leg pain without creating paresthesia in the patient.

Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, including cephalic and/or total body pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods

Selective high-frequency spinal chord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side affects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal chord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side affects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.

Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods

Systems and methods for treating congestive heart failure with high frequency stimulation are disclosed. A representative method for treating a patient includes applying an electrical signal having a frequency of from about 1 kHz to about 100 kHz to the patient via a treatment system that includes a signal delivery element in electrical communication with the patient's vagus nerve at a portion of the vagus nerve located at or proximate to the anterior interventricular junction of the patient's heart. The method can further include automatically detecting at least one physiological parameter of the patient, automatically determining at least one of an ejection fraction of the patient's heart and a correlate of the ejection fraction based on the detected parameter, and automatically adjusting the applied signal based on the determined ejection fraction.

Treatment of congestive heart failure with electrical stimulation, and associated systems and methods

Systems and methods for positioning implanted devices in a patient are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes, for each of a plurality of patients, receiving a target location from which to deliver a modulation signal to the patient's spinal cord. The method further includes implanting a signal delivery device within a vertebral foramen of each patient, and positioning an electrical contact carried by the signal delivery device to be within &#xb1;5 mm. of the target location, without the use of fluoroscopy. The method can still further include, for each of the plurality of patients, activating the electrical contact to modulate neural activity at the spinal cord. In further particular embodiments, RF signals, ultrasound, magnetic fields, and/or other techniques are used to locate the signal delivery device.

Systems and methods for positioning implanted devices in a patient

Methods for automatically programming a signal generator in a patient therapy system and associated systems are disclosed. A representative method comprises retrieving data including therapy program parameters, level of efficacy, and medication use corresponding to a plurality of time periods; identifying from the data a target time period having a corresponding level of efficacy; determining from the data if medication was used during the target time period; determining from the data if medication was used during a prior time period immediately before the target time period; calculating a lead position confidence factor; and programming the signal generator to repeat therapy with the therapy program parameters corresponding to the target time period if the confidence factor is greater than a threshold value and medication was used during the prior time period and not during the target time period.

Systems and methods for automatically programming patient therapy devices

Systems and methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders with high frequency stimulation are disclosed. A representative method for treating a patient includes applying an electrical signal to the patient via a treatment system that includes a signal delivery element positioned at or within a white matter of the patient's brain, spinal cord, or both, the electrical signal having a frequency of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz.

Treatment of neurodegenerative disease with high frequency stimulation, and associated systems and methods

Methods for identifying responders to paresthesia-free stimulation therapy, and associated systems are disclosed. A representative method comprises implanting a pair of spinal cord signal delivery devices and connecting an external signal generator thereto. A plurality of the electrical contacts are simultaneously activated with a high frequency signal without causing paresthesia in the patient, wherein the electrical contacts would cause paresthesia in the patient if activated with a low frequency signal. The high frequency signal is in a range of from about 3 kHz to about 20 kHz and an amplitude of less than 4 mA. If the patient responds favorably, a signal generator is implanted in the patient. A second high frequency signal is then applied to fewer than the plurality of electrical contacts.

Systems and methods for deploying patient therapy devices

Methods for systematically testing a plurality of therapy programs in a spinal cord modulation system, and associated systems are disclosed. A representative method comprises loading a plurality of therapy programs into a signal generator, wherein individual therapy programs include parameters specifying electrode configuration, signal amplitude, and/or signal frequency. The programs are automatically activated for an automatically instructed period of time. The method includes automatically changing from one therapy program to another after the instructed period of time. The patient is queried for patient input corresponding to the therapy programs. The patient input is received via a remote. The patient input is correlated with a corresponding time of day and recorded in the signal generator. Thereafter, the patient input is retrieved from the signal generator.

Systems and methods for systematically testing a plurality of therapy programs in patient therapy devices

Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address abdominal pain without creating paresthesia in the patient.

Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.

Growing community of inventors

Eureka, MO, United States of America

James R Thacker