108results about "Subcutaneous electrodes" patented technology

An implantable lead configured to be implanted in an anterior mediastinum of a patient. The implantable lead includes a generator interface and a lead body coupled to the generator interface. The generator interface is configured to couple the implantable lead to a generator of an implantable treatment device. The lead body includes a sternal portion configured to be positioned in the anterior mediastinum to engage a posterior portion of a sternum of the patient, and a heart wall portion configured to be positioned in the anterior mediastinum to engage a heart wall of a heart of the patient. At least one of the sternal portion or the heart wall portion is configured to deliver treatment energy to the heart of the patient.

A cardiac pacing system that includes an implantable pulse generator and electrical leads that include a lead body portion having a distal end and a proximal end, a connector configured to electrically connect the proximal end of the lead body to the pulse generator, and at least one electrode disposed at the distal end of the lead body for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient's heart, wherein the distal end of the lead body is configured to terminate within the mediastinum of the thoracic cavity of the patient, proximate to the heart.

The present application relates to an apparatus (100) for stimulating a peripheral nerve. The apparatus comprises: an implantable electrode assembly (102), which can be implanted in the body of a patient, and is configured to apply a stimulation signal to a nerve. The implantable electrode assembly (102) comprises: a stimulation electrode (102a), which is fixed to a predetermined position of the body of the patient and is adjacent to a nerve therein, and is configured to operably apply a stimulation signal to the nerve; and an electrode circuit (102b), which is coupled to the stimulation electrode (102a), and is configured to receive stimulation energy in the form of an electromagnetic field, convert the stimulation energy into the stimulation signal and provide the stimulation signal to the stimulation electrode (102a), wherein the stimulation energy is from the outside of the implantable electrode assembly (102). The apparatus further comprises: a stimulation energy generator (104), which can be worn outside the body of the patient, so as to provide stimulation energy to the implantable electrode assembly (102) by means of electromagnetic field coupling. The stimulation energy generator (104) comprises: a generator circuit (658), which is used for generating stimulation energy in the form of an electromagnetic field; and a power source (660), which is coupled to the generator circuit (658), and is configured to supply power to the generator circuit (658).

A defibrillation generator for an implantable defibrillation system comprises a housing, a connector block for connecting an electrode lead assembly to be non-transvenously implanted in a patient, and control device for controlling the operation of the defibrillation generator. The connector block has two connectors, to each of which an electrode lead of the electrode lead assembly, said electrode leads having at least one defibrillation electrode pole, is connectable, wherein the control device is configurable to assume a first operating state if an electrode lead is connected to just one of the two connectors, or a second operating state if electrode leads are connected to each of the two connectors.

Alternating electric fields (e.g., tumor treating fields, a.k.a. TTFields) may be applied to a target region in a subject's body via sheets of graphite that are implanted in the subject's body. One or more ports configured for affixation to the subject's body include or connect to one or more mating electrical connectors. Electrical conductors are positioned to route electrical signals between the electrical connector(s) and the sheets of graphite. The alternating electric fields are applied to the target region by applying (via the ports) an alternating voltage between two sheets of graphite that are positioned on opposite sides of the target region.

In some examples, a tool for, e.g., creating a sub-sternal tunnel in a patient or other use, is described. The tool may include a handle and a tunneling shaft coupled to the handle. The tunneling shaft extends from a proximal end to a distal end, and at least a portion of the tunneling shaft extends in a curved orientation between the first end to the distal end. The distal end of the tunneling shaft includes a cutting tool having a sharp edge. The cutting tool is moveable from a recessed position in which the sharp edge of the cutting tool is recessed into the distal end of the tunneling shaft to a deployed position in which the sharp edge of the cutting tool extends beyond the distal end of the tunneling shaft in the deployed position, e.g., to cut pericardium, scar tissue, and / or connective tissue with the sharp edge.

A medical device is provided that includes a flexible electrode array having a bend radius of about 2 mm or less and a fluidic component, the fluidic component being fluidically actuatable to cause the fluidic component to change configuration, wherein the fluidic component and the flexible electrode array are configured such that a change in configuration of the fluidic component causes a change in configuration of the flexible electrode array.

Systems and methods involving implants positioned within implant pockets through minimally invasive entrance incisions, along with related neurostimulatory implants. In some implementations, implants may be folded, rolled, or otherwise compressed to fit within subcutaneous implant pockets, after which they may be decompressed to fit within an implant pocket having one or more dimensions substantially larger than the entrance incision. Such implants may be used for a variety of purposes, including generating electrical energy for various other implants, including neurostimulatory implants located throughout the body.

In some examples, a tool for, e.g., creating a sub-sternal tunnel in a patient or other use, is described. The tool may include a handle and a tunneling shaft coupled to the handle. The tunneling shaft extends from a proximal end to a distal end, and at least a portion of the tunneling shaft extends in a curved orientation between the first end to the distal end. The distal end of the tunneling shaft includes a cutting tool having a sharp edge. The cutting tool is moveable from a recessed position in which the sharp edge of the cutting tool is recessed into the distal end of the tunneling shaft to a deployed position in which the sharp edge of the cutting tool extends beyond the distal end of the tunneling shaft in the deployed position, e.g., to cut pericardium, scar tissue, and / or connective tissue with the sharp edge.

The present invention provides a method to reduce pain using electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves in or near the spine. This approach involves an electrical stimulation device including at least one electrode adapted for insertion within a human body and at least one pulse generator operatively coupled with the at least one electrode, wherein the pulse generator delivers electrical stimulation activating at least one peripheral nerve in or near the spine, such as the dorsal rami and its distal branches (e.g., the medial branch nerves, cluneal nerves), the ventral rami and its distal branches (e.g., sacral nerves, gluteal nerves), and those accessed via the paravertebral space (e.g., peripheral spinal nerves), to produce pain relief.

A subcutaneously implantable device includes a housing, a clip attached to the housing that is configured to anchor the device to a muscle, a bone, and / or a first tissue, and circuitry in the housing that is configured to provide monitoring, therapeutic, and / or diagnostic capabilities with respect to an organ, a nerve, the first tissue, and / or a second tissue. The circuitry includes a first power source, and a transceiver. A first antenna on the device is in electrical communication with the first power source. The first antenna is configured to be subcutaneously positioned in a patient. A second antenna on the device is in electrical communication with the transceiver. The second antenna is configured to be subcutaneously positioned in the patient.

We provide implantable medical devices, particularly subcutaneous devices. [Solution] The device, which can be implanted subcutaneously, comprises a housing, a clip attached to the upper surface of the housing, an electrode, and a circuit within the housing that is electrically in communication with the electrode. The clip includes an upper part, the upper part of the clip is configured to be pressed down onto the xiphoid process and / or the sternum in order to fix the device to the xiphoid process and / or the sternum, with the xiphoid process and / or the sternum between the upper part of the clip and the housing.

A pacemaker has a housing and a therapy delivery circuit enclosed by the housing for generating pacing pulses for delivery to a patient's heart. An electrically insulative distal member is coupled directly to the housing and at least one non-tissue piercing cathode electrode is coupled directly to the insulative distal member. A tissue piercing electrode extends away from the housing.

A medical device is configured to sense electrical signals and determine that a signal-to-noise ratio criterion is satisfied based on stored electrical signal segments in response to sensed electrophysiology events. The medical device is configured to determine, from one of the stored electrical signal segments, an increased-gain signal segment in response to determining that the signal-to-noise ratio criterion is satisfied. The medical device determines a noise metric from the increased-gain signal segment. In response to the noise metric satisfying a noise detection criterion, the stored electrical signal segment associated with the increased-gain signal segment can be classified as a noise segment.

The disclosure describes a medical electrical lead including bonding strip to bond an elongate electrode coil to an elongate lead body to reduce damage to the medical electrical lead during manipulation of the medical electrical lead. The elongate lead body extends from a proximal end to a distal end and includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The elongate electrode coil surrounds at least part of the distal portion of the elongate lead body. The bonding strip extends axially along the elongate electrode coil and extends only partially around the circumference of the elongate electrode coil for at least part of the length of the bonding strip, where at least a portion of the bonding strip is bonded to the elongate lead body to fix a portion of the elongate electrode coil to the elongate lead body.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in / with sensing biological signals and / or stimulating a body part of a subject. The invention relates to flexible bioelectrode(s) device and a method of manufacturing such a flexible bioelectrode device. The flexible bioelectrode device comprises a moulded body, a wire array of conductive wires at least partially embedded in the moulded body; the wire array defining terminal ends and distal ends; wherein each of the terminal ends of the wire array are connected to an electrode; and at least one or more connector terminals connected to the distal ends of the wire array.

The subcutaneously implantable device includes a housing, a clip attached to the housing, prongs, and an electrode. The clip is configured to secure the device to muscle, bone, and / or a first tissue. The prongs have a base attached to the housing, arms extending from the base including opposing ends of the arms of the prongs to define a first plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the housing, and contact portions configured to contact an organ, nerve, first tissue, and / or second tissue. The contact portions are angled away from the first plane. The electrodes are located at the contact portions of the prongs. The electrodes are configured to contact the organ, nerve, first tissue, and / or second tissue. Circuitry is within the housing.

This invention relates to the use of an alternating electric field to increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. [Solution] Many drugs and other molecules cannot normally pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, when an alternating current field of a specific optimal frequency (e.g., 100 kHz) is applied to the brain, the BBB becomes permeable to those molecules. When the alternating current field is stopped, the BBB eventually returns to its original impermeable state. The BBB is then reopened by reapplying the alternating current field at the optimal frequency. Typically, many frequencies of the alternating current field (e.g., 200 kHz) are ineffective or less effective in inducing permeability than the optimal frequency. However, once the BBB has been opened by applying an alternating current field at the optimal frequency, alternating current fields at non-optimal frequencies can maintain the permeability of the previously opened BBB.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in / with sensing biological signals and / or stimulating a body part of a subject. The invention relates to flexible bioelectrode(s) device and a method of manufacturing such a flexible bioelectrode device. The flexible bioelectrode device comprises a moulded body, a wire array of conductive wires at least partially embedded in the moulded body; the wire array defining terminal ends and distal ends; wherein each of the terminal ends of the wire array are connected to an electrode; and at least one or more connector terminals connected to the distal ends of the wire array.

Many drugs and other molecules cannot ordinarily traverse the blood brain barrier (BBB). However, when alternating electric fields at certain optimum frequencies (e.g., 100 kHz) are applied to the brain, the BBB becomes permeable to those molecules. When the alternating electric fields are discontinued, the BBB eventually recovers to its original impermeable state. Subsequently, re-application of alternating electric fields at the optimum frequencies will re-open the BBB. Ordinarily, many frequencies (e.g., 200 kHz) of alternating electric fields are either ineffective or less effective at inducing permeability than the optimum frequencies. But once the BBB has been opened by applying alternating electric fields at the optimum frequencies, alternating electric fields at non-optimum frequencies can maintain the permeability of a previously-opened BBB.

A cardiac pacing system that includes an a pulse generator configured to generate appropriate therapeutic electrical pulses for pacing a heart of a patient from the region of an intercostal space at the cardiac notch, where the therapeutic electrical pulses have one or more of amplitudes, pulse widths, frequencies, or electrode polarities specified by therapy protocols for pacing one or more atria or ventricles of the heart of the patient from the region of the intercostal space at the cardiac notch. The system also includes bifurcated lead having a plurality of cores configured to be advanced in different directions and configured to transmit the therapeutic electrical pulses generated by the pulse generator to pace the heart of the patient from the region of an intercostal space at the cardiac notch.

Provided herein are neural interface systems for a patient, the systems comprising an implantable sensor device and an external processing device. The implantable sensor device comprises: an implantable lead assembly for implantation above the skull and below the skin of the patient, and for recording physiologic parameter information of the patient; and an implantable transmitter for receiving the physiologic parameter information from the implantable lead assembly and for transmitting patient data that is based on the physiologic parameter information. The external processing device receives the patient data from the implantable transmitter. Methods of provided a neural interface are also described.

The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for pain management (e.g., motor pain management, sensory pain management, etc.), vasodilation, and / or arteriovenous fistula maturation. [Solution] The injection lead assembly 100 comprises a housing 140 having a needle receptacle, a housing lumen, a pin receptacle, and a housing conductive trace; a connector having a connector needle, an internal lumen, a metal pin, and a connector conductive trace; and an injection lead body 110 having an injection lumen, an outlet port, an internal wire, and a tip electrode 112. The injection lead assembly forms an electrical path for transmitting electrical signals across the connector conductive trace, the metal pin, the housing conductive trace, the internal wire, and the tip electrode. The injection lead assembly forms a fluid path for transmitting fluid across the internal lumen, the connector needle, the injection lumen, and the outlet port 118.

An introducer sheath for implanting a subcutaneous lead into a patient includes a gripping element and a tubular body. The gripping element is configured to be held by an operator. The tubular body extends a length from the gripping element to a distal end of the introducer sheath. The tubular body defines an internal cavity that extends the length of the tubular body. The internal cavity is sized and shaped to accommodate a rod of a tunneling tool therethrough. The tubular body defines an array of flushing holes at different locations along the length of the tubular body and at different radial locations along a perimeter of the tubular body.

Methods for implanting leads in the internal thoracic vein (ITV) of a patient may include first screening the patient to determine if various screening criteria are met. The screening criteria may include rib spacing, ITV location, and ITV diameter. When a predetermined parameter of at least one of the screening criteria is met, the implantation of one or more leads extending into the ITV and to a pulse generator are completed.

A system is provided for driving an implantable neurostimulator lead, the lead having an associated plurality of electrodes disposed in at least one array on the lead. The system comprises an implantable pulse generator (IPG), the IPG including an electrode driver, a load system for determining load requirements, an IPG power coupler, and an IPG communication system. The system also includes an external unit, which includes an external variable power generator, an external power coupler, an external communication system, and a controller for varying the power level of the variable power generator.

Methods and / or devices may be configured to estimate right ventricular- timings from left ventricular (LV) sensing times for adaptive cardiac therapy using DDD / VDD LV pacing without using a right ventricular (RV) lead. One embodiment employs a subcutaneous device (SD) in a patient and a leadless pacing device (LPD) coupled to a patient's heart. Heart activity including atrial and ventricular events are sensed from the patient's heart using the SD. Left ventricular events (LVS) are sensed using the LPD. The SD is used to determine whether cardiac resynchronization pacing therapy (CRT pacing) is appropriate based upon the heart activity sensed by the SD. The SD is further configured to determine timing of CRT pacing pulses for delivery to cardiac tissue through the LPD.

The invention inter alia relates to a microelectrode comprising an electrically conductive element, the electrically conductive element comprising a proximal electrically insulated portion and distal non-insulated portion, at least part of the conductive element being disposed in a casing of electrically insulating non-degradable material comprising a first structural component and optionally a second structural component, the distal non-insulated portion of the conductive element being encapsulated (surrounded) by the casing forming a distal chamber, a void / lumen being present between the insulated portion of the conductive element and the first structural component the void / lumen enabling the conductive element to slide with respect to the casing, wherein the casing of the distal chamber comprises at least one electrically conductive bridge electrically coupling the distal chamber with the adjacent soft tissue.

System and methods for monitoring and / or controlling nerve activity in a subject are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes electrodes configured to be placed proximate to a subject's skin, and a signal detector configured to detect electrical signals using the electrodes. The system also includes a signal processor configured to receive the electrical signals to generate filtered signals, the filter configured to attenuate at least signals having frequencies corresponding to heart muscle activity during a heartbeat. The signal processor is also configured to identify a skin nerve activity using the filtered signals, estimate a sympathetic nerve activity using the identified skin nerve activity, and further to generate a report indicative of the estimated sympathetic nerve activity. In some aspects, the system further includes a signal generator to deliver the electrical stimulation to the subject's skin.

An external generator may apply current to the skin of a subject to deliver transcutaneous current to an implantable device. The external generator may apply a first current using a first electrode surface area, may determine a first impedance value based on the first current, may apply a second current using the first electrode surface area, may determine a second impedance based on the second current value, may apply a third current using a second electrode surface area, may determine a third impedance value based on the third current, and may determine an implant current or a pick up ratio based on the first impedance value, the second impedance value, and the third impedance value.