Systems and methods for implantable leadless nerve stimulation
First Claim
1. A system for nerve stimulation therapy, said system comprising:
- an acoustic controller-transmitter configured to transmit acoustic energy, wherein the controller-transmitter comprises acoustic transducers disposed in a housing and one or more sensors disposed on an external surface of the housing; and
an implantable acoustic receiver-stimulator having a stimulation electrode assembly adapted to be in direct contact with nerve, wherein the receiver-stimulator is configured to receive and convert the acoustic energy into an electrical stimulation output delivered to the nerve by the stimulation electrode assembly, wherein the electrical stimulation output has at least one of pulse amplitude, pulse duration, duty cycle, and timing based on energy and signal information included in the generated acoustic energy;
wherein the controller-transmitter is configured to sense the electrical stimulation output of the receiver-stimulator using one or more of the sensors and adjust acoustic energy transmission from the controller-transmitter accordingly in order to compensate for changes in electrical stimulation output of the receiver-stimulator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate nerves to treat medical conditions such as pain, and other conditions, such as, CHF, obesity, incontinence, etc., that could be controlled by the stimulation of the vagal nerves. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the nerve, 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 pre-determined nerve site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located in the various regions on or around the nerve that needs to be stimulated. The implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates different nerves and regions of a nerve to provide therapeutic benefit.
47 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for nerve stimulation therapy, said system comprising:
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an acoustic controller-transmitter configured to transmit acoustic energy, wherein the controller-transmitter comprises acoustic transducers disposed in a housing and one or more sensors disposed on an external surface of the housing; and an implantable acoustic receiver-stimulator having a stimulation electrode assembly adapted to be in direct contact with nerve, wherein the receiver-stimulator is configured to receive and convert the acoustic energy into an electrical stimulation output delivered to the nerve by the stimulation electrode assembly, wherein the electrical stimulation output has at least one of pulse amplitude, pulse duration, duty cycle, and timing based on energy and signal information included in the generated acoustic energy; wherein the controller-transmitter is configured to sense the electrical stimulation output of the receiver-stimulator using one or more of the sensors and adjust acoustic energy transmission from the controller-transmitter accordingly in order to compensate for changes in electrical stimulation output of the receiver-stimulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification