ADVANCED BIONICS CORPORATION Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120073515 | INTRATHECAL NEEDLE GUIDE APPARATUS - An apparatus for inserting a needle into an intrathecal space of small animals is disclosed, where the apparatus includes an animal positioning platform having a curved section, and a needle guide that rotates around the curved section, and to methods for using same. | 03-29-2012 |
20090157155 | GRAPHICAL DISPLAY OF ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS FOR IMPLANTABLE THERAPIES - A method and system of providing therapy to a patient implanted with an array of electrodes is provided. The electrodes are configured for respectively providing electrical stimulation to tissue of the patient. The method comprises measuring physiological parameter information indicative of the coupling efficiencies between the respective electrodes of the array and the tissue, computing numerical values from the measured physiological parameter information, generating a chart representative of the computed numerical values, and displaying the chart to a user. | 06-18-2009 |
20090149917 | MULTIMODAL NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - 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. | 06-11-2009 |
20090118804 | METHOD OF MOUNTING MINIMALLY INVASIVE PLUG ELECTRODES WITHIN CRANIUM OF PATIENT - A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises forming a burr hole through the cranium of the patient, mounting a permanently integrated plug electrode within the burr hole, and electrically coupling the plug electrode to an electronics device. Another method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises forming a burr hole through the cranium of the patient, mounting an electrode within the burr hole, such that the electrode does not extend within the brain of the patient, and electrically coupling the electrode to an electronics device. A hybrid plug/electrode comprises a plug body configured for being anchored within a burr hole formed within a cranium of a patient, at least one electrode disposed on a distal-facing surface of the plug body, and at least one electrode lead affixed within the plug body in electrical communication with the at least one electrode. | 05-07-2009 |
20090118796 | EXTERNAL CONTROLLER FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM WITH COUPLEABLE EXTERNAL CHARGING COIL ASSEMBLY - An improved integrated external controller/charger system useable with an implantable medical device is disclosed. The system comprises two main components: an external controller and an external charging coil assembly that is coupleable thereto. When the external charging coil assembly is coupled to the external controller, the system can be used to both send and receive data telemetry to and from the implantable medical device, and to send power to the device. Specifically, the external controller controls data telemetry by energizing at least one coil within the external controller, and the external controller controls power transmission by energizing a charging coil in the external charging coil assembly, which is otherwise devoid of its own control, power, and user interface. The result is a cheaper, simpler, more compact, and more convenient data telemetry and charging solution for the patient having a medical implant. | 05-07-2009 |
20090118787 | Closed-loop feedback for steering stimulation energy within tissue - Methods, systems, and external programmers provide therapy to a patient having a dysfunction. In one aspect, electrical energy is conveyed between electrodes to create a stimulation region in tissue adjacent the electrodes. Physiological information from the patient is acquired and analyzed, and a locus of the stimulation region is electronically displaced relative to the tissue based on the analysis of the acquired physiological information. In another aspect, electrical energy is delivered to tissue of the patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. A cognitive brain signals is sensed and analyzed, and the stimulation parameter(s) are modified based on the analysis of the cognitive brain signal. | 05-07-2009 |
20090118786 | AUTOMATED FITTING SYSTEM FOR DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION - Methods, systems, and external programmers provide therapy to a patient having a dysfunction. In one aspect, stimulation energy is conveyed from a neurostimulator to electrodes located within a tissue region of the patient, thereby changing the status of the dysfunction. A physiological end-function of the patient indicative of the changed status of the dysfunction is measured, and stimulation parameters are programmed into the neurostimulator based on the measured physiological end-function. In another aspect, electrodes are placed adjacent to a tissue region of the patient, and stimulation energy is conveyed from the electrodes to the tissue region in accordance with the stimulation parameters, thereby changing the status of the dysfunction. A physiological end-function of the patient indicative of the changed status of the dysfunction is measured, and the stimulation parameters are adjusted based on the measured physiological end-function. | 05-07-2009 |
20090069869 | ROTATING FIELD INDUCTIVE DATA TELEMETRY AND POWER TRANSFER IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM - An improved implantable medical device system having dual coils in one of the devices in the system is disclosed. The dual coils are used preferably in an external device such as an external controller or an external charger. The dual coils are wrapped around axes that are preferably orthogonal, although other non-zero angles could be used as well. When used to transmit, the two coils are driven (for example, with FSK-modulated data when the transmitting data) out of phase, preferably at 90 degrees out of phase. This produces a magnetic field which rotates, and which reduces nulls in the coupling between the external device and the receiving coil within the implanted device. Moreover, implementation of the dual coils to transmit requires no change in the receiver circuitry of the implanted device. Should the device with dual coils also receive transmissions from the other device (e.g., the implanted device), the two coils are used in conjunction with optional receiver circuitry which likewise phase shifts the received modulated data signals from each coil and presents their sum to typical demodulation circuitry. | 03-12-2009 |
20090062883 | RECHARGEABLE SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR SYSTEM - A spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system includes multiple electrodes, multiple, independently programmable, stimulation channels within an implantable pulse generator (IPG) which channels can provide concurrent, but unique stimulation fields, permitting virtual electrodes to be realized. The SCS system includes a replenishable power source (e.g., rechargeable battery), that may be recharged using transcutaneous power transmissions between antenna coil pairs. An external charger unit, having its own rechargeable battery can be used to charge the IPG replenishable power source. A real-time clock can provide an auto-run schedule for daily stimulation. An included bi-directional telemetry link in the system informs the patient or clinician the status of the system, including the state of charge of the IPG battery. Other processing circuitry in the IPG allows electrode impedance measurements to be made. Further circuitry in the external battery charger can provide alignment detection for the coil pairs. | 03-05-2009 |
20090024179 | ENERGY EFFICIENT RESONANT DRIVING CIRCUIT FOR MAGNETICALLY COUPLED TELEMETRY - A driving circuit useful in a magnetic inductive coupling wireless communication system is disclosed. The circuit includes an inductor (coil; L) and capacitor (C) in series selectively coupled to a power source such as a rechargeable battery. The LC circuit is made to resonate in accordance with a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) or other protocol. Such resonance produces a voltage across the inductor. This voltage is used to create a first voltage either by tapping into the coil, or by providing a transformer. The first voltage is coupled to the rechargeable battery by a diode. When the circuit resonates, and when the first voltage exceeds the voltage of the power source, the diode turns on, thus shunting excess current back to recharge the rechargeable battery. By use of this circuit, energy is conserved. Additionally, oscillations can be quickly dampened so as to allow the circuit to transmit at high data rates. | 01-22-2009 |
20090018618 | TELEMETRY LISTENING WINDOW MANAGEMENT FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An improved arbitration scheme for allowing concurrent stimulation and telemetry listening in a microstimulator is disclosed. A listening window for telemetry is permitted to proceed, and access to the microstimulator's coil granted, during at least a portion of the inter-pulse period that follows the issuance of a stimulation pulse. This is permissible because access to the coil is not needed during the entirety of the inter-pulse period. For example, the listening window can issue during that portion of the inter-pulse period when the decoupling capacitor is discharged, but cannot issue during that portion of the inter-pulse period when the compliance voltage is being generated for the next stimulation pulse. However, because compliance voltage generation occupies only a small portion of the inter-pulse period, the technique is not substantially limited. By allowing the listening window to issue during the majority of the inter-pulse period, the listening window produces smaller gaps between the pulses, and stimulation therapy is thus brought closer to its ideal. | 01-15-2009 |
20090012591 | LEAD WITH CONTACTS FORMED BY COILED CONDUCTOR AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE - A lead includes an elongated lead body of non-conductive material and a plurality of conductive wires. Each wire has a first portion disposed within the lead body and a second portion extending out of the lead body. The second portion is coiled around the lead body to form a contact on the outer surface of the lead. | 01-08-2009 |
20080319497 | Architectures for an Implantable Medical Device System - An improved architecture for an implantable medical device such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the various functional blocks for the IPG are incorporated into a signal integrated circuit (IC). Each of the functional blocks communicate with each other, and with other off-chip devices if necessary, via a centralized bus governed by a communication protocol. To communicate with the bus and to adhere to the protocol, each circuit block includes bus interface circuitry adherent with that protocol. Because each block complies with the protocol, any given block can easily be modified or upgraded without affecting the design of the other blocks, facilitating debugging and upgrading of the IPG circuitry. Moreover, because the centralized bus can be taken off the integrated circuit, extra circuitry can easily be added off chip to modify or add functionality to the IPG without the need for a major redesign of the main IPG IC. | 12-25-2008 |
20080294226 | SHORT DURATION PRE-PULSING TO REDUCE STIMULATION-EVOKED SIDE-EFFECTS - A method and neurostimulation system of providing therapy to a patient is provided. At least one electrode is place in contact with tissue of a patient. A sub-threshold, hyperpolarizing, conditioning pre-pulse (e.g., an anodic pulse) is conveyed from the electrode(s) to render a first region of the tissue (e.g., dorsal root fibers) less excitable to stimulation, and a depolarizing stimulation pulse (e.g., a cathodic pulse) is conveyed from the electrode(s) to stimulate a second different region of the tissue (e.g., dorsal column fibers). The conditioning pre-pulse has a relatively short duration (e.g., less than 200 μs). | 11-27-2008 |
20080294211 | COUPLED MONOPOLAR AND MULTIPOLAR PULSING FOR CONDITIONING AND STIMULATION - A method and neurostimulation system of providing therapy to a patient is provided. A plurality of electrodes are placed in contact with tissue of a patient, a conditioning pulse is conveyed from the plurality of electrodes in one of a monopolar manner and a multipolar manner, and a stimulation pulse is conveyed from the plurality of electrodes in a different one of the monopolar manner and the multipolar manner. As one example, the sub-threshold conditioning pulse may be a depolarizing pulse conveyed from the plurality of electrodes to render a first region of the tissue less excitable to stimulation, and the stimulation pulse may be conveyed from the plurality of electrodes to stimulate a second different region of the tissue. | 11-27-2008 |
20080288025 | SMART CHARGER ALIGNMENT INDICATOR - Electrical energy is transmitted to charge the implanted medical device, and an electrical parameter (e.g., a steady-state voltage) indicating a rate at which the implanted medical device is charged by the electrical energy is detected. A threshold (e.g., by modifying a stored threshold value) at which the charge strength indicator generates a user-discernible signal is adjusted based on the detected electrical parameter. | 11-20-2008 |
20080243220 | LEAD ANCHOR FOR IMPLANTABLE STIMULATION DEVICES - Disclosed is a lead anchor comprising a body made of an elastomeric material and defining a first opening and a second opening through which a lead can pass, one or more fasteners disposed within the body, with the ends of the fasteners protruding from the body, wherein the ends are configured and arranged to be clamped down to secure a lead passing through the body. | 10-02-2008 |
20080196939 | Lead anchoring assembly - An electrical lead anchoring assembly comprising a body comprising at least one recess and at least one channel therethrough for receiving at least one electrical lead, at least one arm pivotably coupled to the body and moveable between an open and a closed position wherein the arm is at least partially disposed within the recess such that the arm intrudes into the channel and frictionally abuts at least a portion of the length of electrical lead disposed in the channel to couple the lead to the body. | 08-21-2008 |