Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110224665 | MODULAR STIMULATOR FOR TREATMENT OF BACK PAIN, IMPLANTABLE RF ABLATION SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE - Apparatus and methods for treating back pain are provided, in which an implantable stimulator is configured to communicate with an external control system, the implantable stimulator providing a neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy designed to cause muscle contraction to rehabilitate the muscle, restore neural drive and restore spinal stability; the implantable stimulator further including one or more of a number of additional therapeutic modalities, including a module that provides analgesic stimulation; a module that monitors muscle performance and adjusts the muscle stimulation regime; and/or a module that provides longer term pain relief by selectively and repeatedly ablating nerve fibers. In an alternative embodiment, a standalone implantable RF ablation system is described. | 09-15-2011 |
20130131766 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ANCHORING ELECTRODE LEADS FOR USE WITH IMPLANTABLE NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATOR - Apparatus and methods for tethering an electrode lead to an anatomical structure within a patient using a coupling member are provided. An anchor configured to be secured to the anatomical structure and an electrode lead suitable for neuromuscular stimulation of spinal muscles and/or nerves innervating one or more muscles that contribute to spine stability may be used. The electrode lead is configured to be coupled to the anchor via the coupling member by securing a first end of the coupling member to the electrode lead and securing a second end of the coupling member to an eyelet of the anchor to place the electrode lead at a desired anatomical site within the patient. | 05-23-2013 |
20130338730 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ANCHORING ELECTRODE LEADS ADJACENT TO NERVOUS TISSUE - Apparatus for neuromuscular electrical stimulation and methods for anchoring the same are provided. The apparatus may include an elongated member having one or more electrodes disposed at the distal region of the elongated member and at least one fixation element disposed at the distal region of the elongated member. The fixation element may be shaped and sized to be deployed between tissue layers, such as muscle layers, without damaging the tissue layers so as to secure the one or more electrodes in or adjacent to a desired anatomical site within a patient. An additional fixation element may be disposed at the distal region of the elongated member so that tissue, such as a muscle, may be sandwiched between the fixation elements without damaging the tissue. | 12-19-2013 |
20140046398 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESTORING MUSCLE FUNCTION TO THE LUMBAR SPINE - A system for restoring muscle function to the lumbar spine to treat low back pain is provided. The system may include electrodes coupled to an implantable pulse generator (IPG), a handheld activator configured to transfer a stimulation command to the IPG, and an external programmer configured to transfer programming data to the IPG. The stimulation command directs the programmable controller to stimulate the tissue in accordance with the programming data. The system may include a software-based programming system run on a computer such that the treating physician may program and adjust stimulation parameters. | 02-13-2014 |
20140058476 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR REHABILITATING A MUSCLE AND ASSESSING PROGRESS OF REHABILITATION - Apparatus and methods for rehabilitating a muscle are provided including one or more electrodes configured to be positioned in or adjacent to tissue, one or more sensors configured to sense muscle contraction and to generate a sensor signal based on the muscle contraction, and a pulse generator operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes, e.g., via a lead, and having a controller configured to receive the sensor signal and to adjust the stimulation frequency based on the sensor signal to cause the muscle to contract where muscle contraction is smooth and continuous. | 02-27-2014 |
20140288616 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTING ELECTRODE LEADS FOR USE WITH IMPLANTABLE NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATOR - A system of implanting electrode leads for restoring muscle function to the lumbar spine to treat low back pain is provided. The system provides efficient implantation of the leads, including the ability to verify deployment of anchoring mechanisms on the lead using an impedance assessment, such that the implanted lead may be secured within the patient and used to restore muscle function of local segmental muscles associated with the lumbar spine stabilization system. | 09-25-2014 |
20140350653 | ELECTRODE LEADS FOR USE WITH IMPLANTABLE NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATOR - An apparatus for neuromuscular electrical stimulation is provided. The apparatus may be a stimulation lead having an elongated member made up of at least one conductor and an insulative sheath surrounding at least a portion of the conductor. A distal portion of the elongated member may include one or more electrodes and at least one fixation element to secure the one or more electrodes in or adjacent to a desired anatomical site for providing stimulation thereto. The stimulation lead has a strain relief portion on the proximal side of the one or more electrodes, configured to reduce axial forces on the distal region of the elongated member, and the effects thereof, to reduce the risk of, or even prevent, displacement of the one or more electrodes and to accommodate localized flexural motion. The apparatus also may include at least one fixation element sized and configured to be deployed between muscle layers to maintain the electrode position at the stimulation site. | 11-27-2014 |
20150306405 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESTORING MUSCLE FUNCTION TO THE LUMBAR SPINE - A system for restoring muscle function to the lumbar spine to treat low back pain is provided. The system may include electrodes coupled to an implantable pulse generator (IPG), a handheld activator configured to transfer a stimulation command to the IPG, and an external programmer configured to transfer programming data to the IPG. The stimulation command directs the programmable controller to stimulate the tissue in accordance with the programming data. The system may include a software-based programming system run on a computer such that the treating physician may program and adjust stimulation parameters. | 10-29-2015 |