116 results about "Implanted electrodes" patented technology

Methods and devices for implanting pacing electrodes or other apparatus, or for delivering substances, to the heart of other tissues within the body. A guided tissue penetrating catheter is inserted into a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel) or into a body cavity or space (e.g., the pericardial space) and a penetrator is advanced from the catheter to a target location. In some embodiments, a substance or an apparatus (such as an electrode) may be delivered through a lumen in the penetrator. In other embodiments, a guidewire may be advanced through the penetrator, the penetrating catheter may then be removed and an apparatus (e.g., electrode) may then be advanced over that guidewire. Also disclosed are various implantable electrodes and electrode anchoring apparatus.

Cardiac monitoring and / or stimulation methods and systems provide for monitoring, diagnosing, defibrillation and pacing therapies, or a combination of these capabilities, including cardiac systems incorporating or cooperating with neuro-stimulating devices, drug pumps, or other therapies. Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to implantable medical devices employing automated cardiac activation sequence monitoring and / or tracking for arrhythmia discrimination. Embodiments of the invention are directed to devices and methods involving sensing a plurality of composite cardiac signals using a plurality of implantable electrodes. A source separation is performed using the sensed plurality of composite cardiac signals and the separation produces one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with one or more cardiac activation sequences that is indicative of ischemia. A change of the one or more cardiac signal vectors is detected using the one or more cardiac signal vectors. Cardiac arrhythmias are discriminated using the one or more cardiac signal vectors.

Systems and methods are disclosed to enhance bone growth by stimulating bone sites for bone regrowth, fusion, or grafts. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the bone site, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the bone site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-transmitter, which could be incorporated into an orthopedic device, such as pin, cage, plate or prosthetic joint used for bone healing.

Methods and devices for implanting pacing electrodes or other apparatus, or for delivering substances, to the heart of other tissues within the body. A guided tissue penetrating catheter is inserted into a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel) or into a body cavity or space (e.g., the pericardial space) and a penetrator is advanced from the catheter to a target location. In some embodiments, a substance or an apparatus (such as an electrode) may be delivered through a lumen in the penetrator. In other embodiments, a guidewire may be advanced through the penetrator, the penetrating catheter may then be removed and an apparatus (e.g., electrode) may then be advanced over that guidewire. Also disclosed are various implantable electrodes and electrode anchoring apparatus.

Electrode leads for providing neuromuscular stimulation of the spinal muscles, and methods of implantation of electrode leads, are provided that reduce injury to target muscles, and avoid extended recuperation period, by enabling a clinician to visualize and confirm the implantation site of the electrode leads during an implantation procedure

A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (10) that has a chamber or lumen (14) for receiving a bioactive fluid that is delivered therein, and a fluid transfer connector (50) that is in fluid communication with the chamber (14) and through which a bioactive fluid can move from a location external the carrier member, such as a reservoir (23), to the chamber (14).

A diaphragm pacing stimulatory method and a system to implement the method are provided to improve respiratory function and the quality of sleep in patients whose sleep is compromised by poor respiration. The diaphragm pacing method includes adaptations that make it particularly compatible with the onset of sleep and sustaining sleep. Embodiments of the method are operated independently of breathing effort the patient may make during sleep. Patients for whom the invention is appropriate include those with a neuromuscular disease, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). System elements include an external electrical stimulator coupled to one or more implanted electrodes that stimulate diaphragm contraction. The system and method provide for a pacing of the diaphragm, improved breathing, and improved sleep. Features of improved sleep include longer sleep time, an increased amount of REM sleep, and fewer episodes of wakefulness and restlessness.

To avoid charge accumulation on capacitive connections to implanted electrodes during delivery of stimulation pulses, stimulation pulses are followed by active discharge pulses having opposite polarity of the stimulation pulses. The active discharge pulses preferably have at least one pulse attribute magnitude (e.g., duration, voltage, and / or current) different than a corresponding stimulation pulse and are preferably programmable. Approximately the same total net current flow is delivered during active discharge pulses as during the stimulation pulses, but in the opposite direction and optionally at a lower amplitude. In addition, by reducing the driving voltage and a variable load within the electrical path for delivery of the pulses, power dissipation during active discharge is preferably reduced.

A diaphragm pacing stimulatory method and a system to implement the method are provided to improve respiratory function and the quality of sleep in patients whose sleep is compromised by poor respiration. The diaphragm pacing method includes adaptations that make it particularly compatible with the onset of sleep and sustaining sleep. Embodiments of the method are operated independently of breathing effort the patient may make during sleep. Patients for whom the invention is appropriate include those with a neuromuscular disease, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). System elements include an external electrical stimulator coupled to one or more implanted electrodes that stimulate diaphragm contraction. The system and method provide for a pacing of the diaphragm, improved breathing, and improved sleep. Features of improved sleep include longer sleep time, an increased amount of REM sleep, and fewer episodes of wakefulness and restlessness.

A cochlear implant arrangement is described for creating sound perception in an implanted patient. An implant electrode contains electrode wires for carrying stimulation signals to corresponding electrode contacts distributed along a length of an outer surface of an apical electrode array section of the implant electrode. An apical portion of the electrode array is characterized by a tendency to fold back against a more basal section of the electrode array when inserted into a cochlea of the patient. An implantable stimulation processor produces the stimulation signals such that each electrode contact, including any in a folded back portion, delivers stimulation signals for a frequency band defined based on a function of spatial spread of stimulation voltage and correctly associated with tonotopic frequency response of the adjacent neural tissue.

A medical, implantable electrode device, in particular a cardiological electrode device, comprises an elongate electrode body (2) having a proximal and a distal end (1) for insertion into the body of the patient and multiple strut-like anchoring elements (4), which are attached laterally to the electrode body (2) before the distal end (1) for fixing the electrode device in the patient and are distributed around the circumference, which each project having their longitudinal axis (SL) at an acute angle (W1) opening in the direction of the proximal end in relation to the electrode body axis (KL). The anchoring elements have a preferred direction around the circumference in such a way that upon engagement of the anchoring elements (4) in a body part of the patient, a rotation of the electrode body (2) is opposed by a greater resistance in one rotational direction than in the opposite direction.

Electrode stimulation signals are generated for an implanted electrode array. An acoustic audio signal is processed with a bank of filters that are each associated with a band of audio frequencies, and a set of band pass signals is generated with each band pass signal corresponding to the band of frequencies associated with one of the filters. Stimulation information is extracted from the band pass signals to generate a set of stimulation event signals defining electrode stimulation signals. Then the stimulation event signals are weighted with a weighted matrix of stimulation amplitudes reflecting patient-specific perceptual characteristics to produce a set of electrode stimulation signals for electrodes in the implanted electrode array.

Generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array is described. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals which represent associated bands of audio frequencies. Macro bands are defined, each of which characterizes multiple band pass signals. The macro bands are processed in a sequence of sampling intervals. For each sampling interval, the processing includes: i. extracting timing and energy information from each band pass signal to form requested stimulation events, ii. decimating the requested stimulation events to select a maximum energy band pass signal within each macro band, and iii. decimating each selected band pass signal based on a pulse selection inhibition function and preserving temporal and spectral structures of the band pass signals so as to generate stimulation event signals. The stimulation event signals are weighted with a weighting matrix reflecting patient-specific pitch perception characteristics to produce output electrode stimulation signals to the implanted electrode array.

A method for treating a patient suffering from loss of muscle control and / or function in a body region after a stroke includes epidurally applying electrical stimulation to a spinocerebellar tract of the patient (e.g., at or above the vertebral level of the spinal cord where the sensory and motor mapping for the body region are located), thereby increasing cortical excitability and facilitating the patient regaining muscle control and / or function in the body region. The method may include using cortical mapping to determine a cortical region having a residual motor response in or near the body region, implanting an electrode in a lateral epidural space, and applying the electrical stimulation in a manner that causes excitability in the cortical region having the residual motor response, wherein the stimulation is applied by the implanted electrode. The method may include exercising the body region while simultaneously applying the electrical stimulation.

Systems and methods are disclosed to enable hearing in the deaf by stimulating sites in the cochlea. The invention uses electrical stimulation in the cochlea, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the cochlear nerve. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which contains multiple electrodes to stimulate along selected sites in the cochlea.

An implantable therapy generator that includes sensing circuitry that senses cardiac signals representative of atrial activity and ventricular activity; detection circuitry connected to the sensing circuitry; control circuitry that controls generation and selective delivery of a multi-stage atrial cardioversion therapy to implanted electrodes, each stage of the therapy including multiple pulses, each pulse including multiple high-frequency sub-pulses; and therapy circuitry. The therapy circuitry includes a high-voltage charging circuit charging a storage capacitor to a predetermined voltage; a delivery capacitor connectable to the storage capacitor; and a control circuit adapted to selectively cause the storage capacitor to be electrically connected to the delivery capacitor so as to charge the delivery capacitor to a predetermined delivery voltage, and to cause a delivery switching circuit to be repeatedly opened and closed at a predetermined rate, thereby causing the sub-pulses to be transmitted to the electrodes.

The present invention is a method of stimulating visual neurons to create the perception of light. A visual prosthesis electrically stimulating the retina with implanted electrodes exhibits interaction between electrodes stimulated closely together in both space and time. The method of the present invention includes determining a minimum distance at which spatiotemporal interactions occur, determining a minimum time at which spatiotemporal interactions occur, and avoiding stimulation of electrodes within the minimum distance during the minimum time. The minimum are ideally established for each individual patient. Alternatively, approximate minimums have been established by the applicants at 2 mm and 1.8 μsec.

An implantable logic circuit configured to receive analog bioelectric signals from one or more implanted electrodes, perform amplification, A / D conversion of the received analog bioelectric signals, signal sampling, and to communicate the signals to a remote processing system over a wireless communications link. Power for the implantable logic circuit is derived from an external source over a wireless link.

Methods and system are provided for monitoring a patients venous blood oxygen saturation (SvO2). At least one signal indicative of electrical activity of a patient's heart is obtained. Such a signal can be, e.g., an IEGM or ECG signal. In specific embodiments, such a signal(s) can be obtained from implanted electrodes, and thus, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented by an implantable system. Additionally, there are measurements of at least one metric of cardiac cycles represented in the at least one signal indicative of electrical activity of the patient's heart, where the metric changes with changes in SvO2. Examples of such metric include T-wave metrics and PR intervals. SvO2, and changes therein, are monitored based on the measured metric(s).

An implantable electrode is described for a cochlear implant patient with a malformed common cavity cochlea having a single internal cavity defined by an outer cavity wall or patients having an incomplete partition or conventional spiral-shaped cochlea. An intra-cochlear electrode array is configured to be inserted into the cochlea through a single cochleostomy opening. Outer array branches are closable about a center axis and the electrode array is configured to be closed into a single tube including the array branches for insertion through the single cochleostomy opening into the internal chamber of the cochlea. The electrode array opens within the internal cavity after insertion into the cochlea so that the array branches move away from the center axis to lie with their outer surfaces against the outer cavity wall to deliver the electrical stimulation signals through the stimulation contacts to adjacent neural tissue for auditory perception by the patient.

The invention relates to an electrical stimulation audition tone perception testing and estimating system. By selecting a part tone testing and estimating module (8), a time tone testing and estimating module (9) or a part-time combined tone perception testing and estimating module (10), the testing and estimation are carried out by combining a testee basic information and electrical stimulation loudness information database (6) with an electrical stimulation audition tone perception experimental database (7); the part tone testing and estimating module (8) is used for testing the correlationbetween an implanted electrode position and electrical stimulation audition tone perception; the time tone testing and estimating module (9) is used for testing the correlation between an electric pulse stimulation rate and tone perception; and the part-time combined tone perception testing and estimating module (10) is used for testing the correlation between electrode position-electric pulse stimulation rate combination and tone perception. The method is accurate and effective.

A skull-implantable electrode assembly for delivering pulses of electric current to a patient's brain, comprising an electrode housed in an insulated conduit and threaded through an electrically-conductive cannulated skull screw. Details of the exterior construction are discussed, as well as electrode arrangements and methods of treating a medical ailment of a patient.

A system and method are described for generating electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array having multiple stimulation electrodes. An acoustic audio signal is processed to determine associated pitch characteristics and frequency component information. From the pitch characteristics and the frequency component information, electrode stimulation signals are determined which have intensity levels that reflect the pitch characteristics. Then audio nerve tissue is stimulated by applying the electrode stimulation signals to the electrodes in the implanted electrode array.

Methods and systems for seamless adjustment of treatment are disclosed. A determination can be made as to whether to intervene with a patient's treatment based on data obtained from implantable electrodes and / or non-implantable electrodes. The data from non-implantable electrodes have a correction factor applied to adjust for less accuracy compared to data acquired from implantable electrodes.

The invention discloses a detection method for epileptic seizure signals based on brain network ictogenicity (BNI). The invention discusses the effectiveness of the prediction method from the perspective of micro-neurons, from the perspective of the micro-neurons, neural mass model (NMM) is used to fit brain depth electrode electroencephalogram (Depth EEG) signals and clarify the relationship among a network structure, a dynamic equation and epileptic discharge generation. In order to quantify the pathological degree that a given network can cause epileptic seizures, the concept of the brain network ictogenicity (BNI) is introduced, and the BNI is used as a predictor of the epileptic seizures for the first time. The method shortens the detection time, reduces the number of implanted electrodes, and can observe a good prediction effect.

A method for accurate localization and visualization of implanted electrodes, such as implanted intracranial electrodes, is provided. More particularly, a realistic representation of intracranial electrode positions on patient-specific post-implantation MRI brain renderings is obtained. The resulting computer models provide an accurate depiction of electrode locations on three-dimensional brain renderings that are suitable for use in surgical planning of resection boundaries around, for example, epileptic zones. Electrodes placed inter-hemispherically are also visible with this method. In addition, a method for creating electrode “shadows” cast upon the brain model surface is provided. These electrode shadows are useful for estimating cortical areas sampled by iEEG and for locating electrodes that may straddle sulci and contact two adjacent cortical gyri.

The embodiment of the invention discloses a multi-encephalic region field potential recording electrode which comprises multiple single-encephalic region electrodes and single-encephalic region electrode needle holders, wherein the single-encephalic region electrodes are implanted into target encephalic regions; and the single-encephalic region electrode needle holders are used to clamp the single-encephalic region electrodes, move the multiple single-encephalic region electrodes under guidance of a stereoscopic positioning instruction respectively and implant the multiple single-encephalic region electrodes into the multiple target encephalic regions. The embodiment of the invention also discloses an implantation method for the multi-encephalic region field potential recording electrode. Through application of the electrode and the method disclosed by the invention, only local field potentials of multiple encephalic regions need to be recorded; electrode formats of multi-encephalic region field potential recording as well as corresponding electrode implantation methods can be simplified; and loads of implanted electrodes can be reduced.