Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation

Advanced Bionics Corporation

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research

Other

Todd K Whitehurst

Rafael Carbunaru

James P McGivern

Kristen N Jaax

Andrew DiGiore

Kelly Hobart McClure

Brett Daniel Schleicher

Janusz A Kuzma

Tom Xiaohai He

Matthew Isaac Haller

Kerry A Bradley

James R Thacker

Greg Baldwin

James Carl Makous

Carla Mann Woods

Carla M Mann

Anne Margaret Pianca

Allison M Foster

Michael A Moffitt

Goran Nils Marnfeldt

Paul Milton Meadows

Courtney C Lane

Kirsten N Jaax

Roger Noel Hastings

John Michael Barker

John Matthew Swoyer

Gerald E Loeb

Chuladatta Thenuwara

Alfred E Mann

Matthew Braden Flowers

Jesse D Geroy

Ellis Garai

Lani A Smith

Jeff Gagnon

Meredith Lee Anderson

Philip H J Lee

Terry Ferrell

Peter K Johnson

Jeffery Van Funderburk

Michael Allen Faltys

William Vanbrooks Harrison

Mun Pook Lui

Janusz Kuzma

Jay Daulton

Salomo Siilas Murtonen

Mark Pierre

Mark Raymond Stultz

Frances J R Richmond

Philip H Lee

Gregory Baldwin

Charles Tilden Hagan, Iv

Francis J R Richmond

Derrick Sung

Jim Makous

Cliff Brainard

Matt Flowers

Andrew Digiore

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 a plurality of field customization coils for customizing the magnetic charging field generated by the external charger such that the magnetic charging field is not radially symmetric. For example, one embodiment includes a primary coil with a plurality of field customization coils distributed radially with respect to the coil. The generated magnetic charging field can be rendered radially asymmetric by selectively activating or disabling the field customization coils in response to data quantifying the coupling between the various implants and the field customization coils in the charger. If there is a relatively high coupling between a particular implant and a particular customization coil for example, that customization coil can be activated to counter the magnetic charging field at that location, while still maintaining a relatively high magnetic charging field at the location of other implants that may have lower couplings.

External charger with customizable magnetic charging field

A system for performing a neurostimulation trial comprises an external trial stimulator capable of delivering stimulation energy to a plurality of electrodes carried by one or more stimulation leads. The external trial stimulator is configurable to operate in a plurality of stimulation energy delivery modes to respectively emulate one of different neurostimulator types. The system may further comprise a programmer capable of configuring the external trial stimulator to operate in one of the stimulation energy delivery modes. The programmer may be capable of generating a first programming screen capable of allowing a first set of stimulation parameters to be defined for the first neurostimulator type, and a second programming screen capable of allowing a second set of stimulation parameters to be defined for a second neurostimulator type.

Multimodal neurostimulation systems and methods

Miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) with programmably configurable electrodes allow, among other things, steering of the electric fields created. In addition, the microstimulators are capable of producing unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs).

Implantable microstimulators with programmable multielectrode configuration and uses thereof

Methods of treating a medical condition include applying at least one stimulus to a motor cortex within a brain of a patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. Systems for treating a medical condition include a system control unit implanted within the patient that is configured to apply at least one stimulus to a motor cortex within a brain of a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

Methods and systems for stimulating a motor cortex of the brain to treat a medical condition

Methods of treating a psychotic disorder include applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters configured to treat the psychotic disorder. Systems for treating a psychotic disorder include a stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters configured to treat the psychotic disorder.

Methods and systems for treating a psychotic disorder

Methods of treating a medical condition include applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the brain of a patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The at least one stimulus is configured to promote neural remodeling within the brain of the patient. Systems for treating a medical condition include an implantable stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the brain of a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The at least one stimulus is configured to promote neural remodeling within the brain of the patient.

Methods and systems for treating a medical condition by promoting neural remodeling within the brain

Miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) are capable of producing unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs). The methods and configurations described may, for instance, arrest action potentials traveling in one direction, arrest action potentials of small diameters nerve fibers, arrest action potentials of large diameter nerve fibers. These methods and systems may limit side effects of bidirectional and/or less targeted stimulation.

Implantable microstimulators and methods for unidirectional propagation of action potentials

Methods of treating autism include applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the brain of a patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The stimulus is configured to decrease neural activity within at least a portion of the brain to treat autism. Systems for treating autism include a stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the brain of a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The stimulus is configured to decrease neural activity within at least a portion of the brain to treat autism.

Methods and systems for treating autism by decreasing neural activity within the brain

The burr hole plug comprises a plug base configured for being mounted around a burr hole, and having an aperture through which an elongated medical device exiting the burr hole may pass. The burr hole plug further comprises a retainer configured for being mounted within the plug base aperture. The retainer includes a retainer support, a slot formed in the retainer support for receiving the medical device, and a clamping mechanism having a clamping bar and a flange slidably engaged with the retainer support to laterally slide the clamping bar to secure the medical device. A method comprises introducing the medical device through the burr hole, mounting the plug base around the burr hole, mounting the retainer within the plug base aperture, receiving the medical device into the slot, and sliding the slidable flange relative to the retainer support to laterally slide to secure the medical device.

Burr hole plug having sidable clamping mechanism

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.

Methods and systems for treating seizures caused by brain stimulation

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.

External charger for an implantable medical device having at least one moveable charging coil

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.

Connector assemblies for implantable stimulators

A method for treating a patient may include treating coronary artery disease in combination with angina pectoris and/or the control of angina pain by delivering chemical and/or electrical stimulation pulses to the cardiac and/or nervous tissue of the patient in a coordinated manner. A system for treating a patient suffering from coronary artery disease and angina may include a stimulator that generates at least one pulse in accordance with prescribed parameters, a catheter, a lead, and/or a sensor.

Neurostimulation and coronary artery disease treatment

Methods and systems of treating a patient with pancreatitis pain include providing a stimulator, configuring one or more stimulation parameters to control sphincter of Oddi function, programming the stimulator with the one or more stimulation parameters, generating a stimulus configured to control sphincter of Oddi function with the stimulator in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters, and applying the stimulus with the stimulator to one or more stimulation sites in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters.

Methods and systems of treating pancreatitis pain caused by sphincter of Oddi dysfunction

Growing community of inventors

Frazier Park, CA, United States of America

Todd K Whitehurst