3778 results about "Electrical stimulations" patented technology

A method and apparatus are used to provide therapy to a patient experiencing ventricular dysfunction or heart failure. At least one electrode is located in a region associated with nervous tissue, such as nerve bundles T1-T4, in a patient's body. Electrical stimulation is applied to the at least one electrode to improve the cardiac efficiency of the patient's heart. One or more predetermined physiologic parameters of the patient are monitored, and the electrical stimulation is adjusted based on the one or more predetermined physiologic parameters.

A method and apparatus to provide therapy to a patient for protecting cardiac tissue from insult is disclosed. The method comprises delivering electrical stimulation to one or more predetermined portions of the nervous system in a patient's body; and monitoring one or more physiologic indices of the body to determine whether the delivered therapy is effective. That is, a closed-loop feedback controller is used to apply electrical stimulation to preselected regions of the patient's body, and then the physiologic response of the patient is monitored to determine the efficacy of the stimulation.

A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract. Further, a capsule tracking system is provided for tracking a capsule's location along the length of an intestinal tract as various treatment and/or sensing modalities are employed. In one variation, an acoustic signal is used to determine the location of the capsule. A map of sensed information may be derived from the pass of a capsule. Capsules may be subsequently passed through to treat the intestinal tract at a determined location along its length. One variation uses an electrical stimulation capsule to treat and/or diagnose a condition in the intestinal tract.

Disclosed are devices and methods for detecting, preventing, and/or treating neurological disorders. These devices and methods utilize electrical stimulation, and comprise a unique concentric ring electrode component. The disclosed methods involve the positioning of multiple electrodes on the scalp of a mammal; monitoring the mammal's brain electrical patterns to identify the onset of a neurological event; identifying the location of the brain electrical patterns indicative of neurological event; and applying transcutaneous or transcranial electrical stimulation to the location of the neurological event to beneficially modify brain electrical patterns. The disclosed methods may be useful in the detection, prevention, and/or treatment of a variety of indications, such as epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, bipolar disorder, phobia, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, migraine or headache, concussion, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorder, substance abuse, and anxiety. The disclosed methods may also be used in combination with other peripheral stimulation techniques.

A system and method for providing pulsed electrical stimulation to one or both vagus nerve(s) of a patient to provide therapy for obesity, eating disorders, neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The electrical pulses can be provided either unilaterally or bilaterally (left and right vagus nerves) and can be supra-diaphramatic or be sub-diaphramatic. The system comprising implantable stimulator, lead(s), an external stimulator, and a programmer. The implantable stimulator, comprising a pulse generator module, and a stimulus-receiver module which is used in conjunction with an external stimulator. Control circuitry ensures selective operation of one of the modules of the implanted stimulator, at a time. Further, the external stimulator comprises a telemetry module for remotely activating (or de-activating) programs over the internet, to arrive at the optimal program for each patient. Once the optimal “dose” is titrated using the external stimulator, the implanted pulse generator can then be programmed to similar parameters. The external stimulator in conjunction with the implanted stimulus-receiver can override the implanted pulse generator module, to provide extra dose of therapy, and also to conserve the implanted battery. The external stimulator is networked to other computers. Using the networking, a physician situated remotely can monitor and program the devices, as well as, automatically generate invoicing. In one embodiment, the external stimulator also comprises GPS circuitry for locating patient.

A method for the treatment of obesity or other disorders by electrical activation or inhibition of nerves is disclosed. This activation or inhibition can be accomplished by stimulating a nerve using an electrode. Dynamic stimulation through ramped cycling of electrical stimulation, stimulation frequency alteration, and/or duty cycle variance can produce therapeutic benefits.

A method, computer medium, and system for programming a controller is provided. The controller controls electrical stimulation energy output to electrodes, and stores a set of programmed stimulation parameters associated with the electrodes. The programmed stimulation parameter set is compared with sets of reference stimulation parameters, each of the reference sets of stimulation parameters being associated with the electrodes. If an identical match is determined between the programmed stimulation parameter set and any one of the reference stimulation parameter sets exists based on the comparison, the identically matched stimulation parameter set is selected as an initial stimulation parameter set. If an identical match does not exist, a best between the programmed stimulation parameter set and the reference stimulation parameter sets is determined and selected as the initial stimulation parameter set. The controller is then programmed with a new set of programmable stimulation parameters based on the initial stimulation parameter set.

Treatment of hypertension includes implantation of the discharge portion(s) of a catheter and/or electrical stimulation electrode(s) adjacent the tissue(s) to be stimulated. Stimulation pulses, i.e., drug infusion pulses and/or electrical pulses, are supplied by one or more implanted stimulators, through the catheter and possibly also a lead, tunneled subcutaneously between the stimulator and stimulation site. A microstimulator(s) may also/instead deliver electrical stimulation pulses. Stimulation sites include the carotid sinus and carotid body, among other locations. Treatments include drugs used for acute and/or chronic treatment of hypertension. In a number of embodiments, a need for or response to treatment is sensed, and the electrical and/or infusion pulses adjusted accordingly.

System and method for neuromodulation therapy of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders comprises an implantable lead and pulse generator system for providing the appropriate electrical stimulation to a cranial nerve such as the vagus nerve. The implantable pulse generator having prepackaged/predetermined programs stored in the memory of the pulse generator, and means for accessing these with an external magnet. The pulse generator adapted to selectively activate predetermined programs with the external magnet, thereby eliminating the need for an external programmer. The elimination of the external programmer resulting in significant cost reduction with essentially the same functionality.

The above-described methods and apparatus are believed to be of particular benefit for patients suffering heart failure including cardiac dysfunction, chronic HF, and the like and all variants as described herein and including those known to those of skill in the art to which the invention is directed. It will understood that the present invention offers the possibility of monitoring and therapy of a wide variety of acute and chronic cardiac dysfunctions. The current invention provides systems and methods for delivering therapy for cardiac hemodynamic dysfunction.

The present invention provides a method of affecting physiological disorders by stimulating a specific location along the sympathetic nerve chain. Preferably, the present invention provides a method of affecting a variety of physiological disorders or pathological conditions by placing an electrode adjacent to or in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain and stimulating the at least one ganglion until the physiological disorder or pathological condition has been affected.

A method of making a stimulation lead includes attaching multiple segmented electrodes to a carrier. Each of the segmented electrodes has a curved form extending over an arc in the range of 10 to 345 degrees. The method further includes attaching conductors to the segmented electrodes; forming the carrier into a cylinder with segmented electrodes disposed within the cylinder; molding a lead body around the segmented electrodes disposed on the carrier; and removing at least a portion of the carrier to separate the segmented electrodes.

An intravascular implantable system for providing electrical stimulation of tissue inside an animal to deal with a clinical condition is described. The system comprises a power supply module supplying energy to the implantable system, an implanted control module controlling operation of the implantable system and producing desired digital waveforms. Each desired digital waveform has an envelope with a predetermined attribute. An implanted intravascular sensing module sensing at least one parameter of interest for the purpose of dealing with the clinical condition. An intravascular stimulation module is provided to electrically stimulate the tissue with an output waveform that is substantially similar to the desired digital waveform produced by the control module.

Methods and systems involve coordinating therapies used for treating disordered breathing. Disordered breathing therapies may include cardiac electrical stimulation therapy and external respiratory therapy as well as other therapies for treating disordered breathing in a patient. The therapies delivered to the patient may be coordinated to enhance effectiveness of the therapy, to reduce therapy interactions, to improve patient sleep, or to achieve other therapeutic goals.

A method, computer medium, and system for programming a control device are provided. The control device is configured for controlling electrical stimulation energy provided to a plurality of electrode leads that are physically implanted within a patient in a side-by-side lead configuration. Electrical energy is conveying from the electrode leads to create a stimulation region within the patient. The stimulation region is automatically shifted along the electrode leads (e.g., by selecting and using at least one navigation table) in accordance with an electrical current shifting pattern that is based on a stagger of the side-by-side lead configuration. At least one stimulation parameter set is selected based on the effectiveness of the shifted stimulation region, and the control device is programmed with the selected stimulation parameter set(s).

An implantable medical lead for stimulation of the sacral nerves comprises a lead body which includes a distal end and a proximal end, and the distal end having at least one electrode contact having a length of between 0.10 and 1.50 inches extending longitudinally from the distal end toward the proximal end. The lead body at its proximal end may be coupled to a pulse generator, additional intermediate wiring, or other stimulation device. The implantable medical lead can comprise a first and second electrode contacts. The second electrode contact has a length of between 0.030 and 1.00 extending longitudinally from a point approximately 1.00 from the distal end toward the proximal end. The first and second electrode contacts do no overlap longitudinally. The implantable lead is implanted by taking the lead and implanting near the sacral nerves and then connecting to a pulse generator.

Introducing one or more stimulating drugs to the brain and/or applying electrical stimulation to the brain is used to treat epilepsy. At least one implantable system control unit (SCU) produces electrical pulses delivered via electrodes implanted in the brain and/or drug infusion pulses delivered via a catheter implanted in the brain. The stimulation is delivered to targeted brain structures to adjust the activity of those structures. The small size of the SCUs of the invention allow SCU implantation directly and entirely within the skull and/or brain. Simplicity of the preferred systems and methods and compactness of the preferred system are enabled by the modest control parameter set of these SCU, which do not require or include a sensing feature.

One embodiment is a stimulation lead including a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and multiple electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body. The multiple electrodes include multiple segmented electrodes. At least a first portion of the lead body, proximal to the electrodes, is transparent or translucent and at least a second portion of the lead body, separating two or more of the segmented electrodes, is opaque so that the segmented electrodes separated by the second portion of the lead body are visually distinct. Alternatively or additionally, the stimulation lead can include an indicator ring, a stripe, a groove, or a marking aligned with one or more of the segmented electrodes.

One embodiment is a method of making a stimulation lead that includes providing a pre-electrode assembly comprising a plurality of segmented electrodes and a plurality of raised connectors. Each of the segmented electrodes is coupled to at least one other of the segmented electrodes by at least one of the raised connectors. The method further includes forming the pre-electrode assembly into a tube with the tube defining a longitudinal axis. Each of the raised connectors is disposed at a radius with respect to the longitudinal axis that is greater than a radius of any of the segmented electrodes with respect to the longitudinal axis. The method also includes forming at least a portion of a lead body around the segmented electrodes of the pre-electrode assembly; and grinding the tube comprising the pre-electrode assembly and portion of the lead body to remove the plurality of raised connectors leaving the plurality of segmented electrodes and the portion of the lead body.