Stimulation devices and methods

• US 9,821,159 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oculeve Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated), Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Oculeve Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated), Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Ackermann, Douglas Michael, Loudin, James Donald, Kuzma, Janusz, Palanker, Daniel, Wetenkamp, Scott Franklin
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTON, AMANDA K
• Application Number:
  US13/441,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 607 53, 607116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

Described here are stimulation systems and methods for stimulating one or more anatomical targets in a patient for treatment conditions such as dry eye. The stimulation system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a signal received from the controller and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. In some variations, the microstimulator may include a passive generation circuit configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller.

Claims

1. An implantable microstimulation unit comprising:

a housing comprising a stimulation circuit and a feedthrough at a first end of the housing, wherein the stimulation circuit does not include any internal logic or intelligence and does not have an internal battery; and

a flexible extension comprising at least one electrode and an energy-receiving inductive coil positioned within the flexible extension, wherein the electrode is connectable to the stimulation circuit via the feedthrough, and

wherein the flexible extension has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the housing and tapers to the thickness of the housing or has a thickness that is the same as the thickness of the housing, such that the first end of the housing and a first end of the flexible extension have corresponding and complementary shapes that connect to form the implantable microstimulation unit, wherein the implantable microstimulation unit has a length of about 0.6 cm to about 2 cm, a thickness of about 1 mm to about 2 mm, and a width of about 3 mm to about 8 mm.

2. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode and a second electrode.

3. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 2 wherein the first and second electrodes are positioned on a first side of the flexible extension.

4. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 2 wherein the first electrode is positioned on a first side of the flexible extension, and the second electrode is positioned on a second side of the flexible extension.

5. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one electrodes is textured or patterned.

6. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one electrodes is recessed.

7. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 1 wherein the stimulation circuit comprises a ramping control unit.

8. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 1 wherein the microstimulation unit comprises one or more coatings.

9. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 8 wherein at least one of the one or more coatings is configured to enhance charge injection capacity.

10. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 8 wherein at least one of the one or more coatings is an insulating coating.

11. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 1 wherein the microstimulation unit comprises one or more fixation elements.

12. The implantable microstimulation unit of claim 1 wherein the implantable microstimulation unit is configured to be positioned within an orbit of a patient'"'"'s eye.