Leads with X-ray fluorescent capsules for electrode identification
US Patent 8,923,982
December 30, 2014
An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes a plurality of conductors disposed in a lead body, the plurality of conductors each electrically coupling at least one electrode to at least one terminal. The plurality of conductors includes a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor includes a plurality of alternating first and second coiled regions. The first coiled regions have tighter pitches than the second coiled regions. The second conductor includes a plurality of alternating third and fourth coiled regions. The third coiled regions have tighter pitches than the fourth coiled regions. The plurality of conductors are arranged into repeating adjacent winding geometries disposed along a longitudinal length of the lead body. The repeating adjacent winding geometries each include one of the plurality of first coiled regions and one of the plurality of third coiled regioAn implantable lead for an electrical stimulation system includes a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal length, and a circumference; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body in an electrode array; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body; a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals; and at least one capsule including an x-ray fluorescent material and disposed along the distal end of the lead body relative to the electrode array to indicate, when viewed fluoroscopically, an orientation of the electrode array. The plurality of electrodes includes a plurality of segmented electrodes. Each of the plurality of segmented electrodes extends partially around the circumference of the lead body. ns axially disposed adjacent to one another.
Electrode array assembly and method of making same
US Patent 8,918,987
December 30, 2014
A lead assembly and a method of making a lead are provided. The method of making a multi-contact lead assembly comprises placing monofilament placed in the void spaces not occupied by the plurality of conductor wires and, in one embodiment, thermally fusing the monofilament to the like material spacer by applying heat just below the melting temperature of the monofilament and spacer material. Alternatively, the monofilament and spacer may be of different materials and heat is applied to cause at least one material to thermally reflow or melt. The conductive contacts may be located at either the distal end and/or proximal end of the lead. Oversized spacers may be used in order to provide extra material to fill voids during the thermal fusion/reflow process.
Method for direct modulation of the dorsolateral funiculus
US Patent 8,923,975
December 30, 2014
A method for treating a patient suffering from chronic neuropathic pain, comprises epidurally applying electrical stimulation energy to a dorsolateral funiculus of the patient, thereby treating the chronic neuropathic pain. The method may further comprise increasing the activation threshold of a side-effect exhibiting neural structure relative to the activation threshold of the dorsolateral funiculus of the patient, wherein the electrical stimulation energy is applied to the dorsolateral funiculus of the patient while the activation threshold of the neural structure relative to the dorsolateral funiculus is increased, thereby treating the chronic neuropathic pain without stimulating the neural structure.
Systems and methods for memorializing a viewers viewing experience with captured viewer images
US Patent 8,914,820
December 16, 2014
Systems and methods of memorializing a viewer’s viewing experience are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment presents a movie to the viewer, detects an occurrence of one of a plurality of event capture triggers, captures at least one image of the viewer in response to detecting the event capture trigger, and stores the image of the viewer.
Watersports inflation vest
US Patent 8,911,273
December 16, 2014
A selectively inflatable watersports inflation device is disclosed. The device is a vest or another wearable device having an inner layer, an outer layer, and a bladder between the inner and outer layers. The device also includes one or more canisters coupled to the bladder and configured to selectively deliver pressurized gas into the bladder to provide flotation when actuated. The device also includes a pressure release valve that can also be manually actuated to release pressure from the bladder. The device can include multiple discrete canisters that can each be deployed independently of one another to provide an inflatable device that can be triggered multiple times even in hazardous conditions such as high surf.
Deep brain stimulation current steering with split electrodes
US Patent 8,914,121
December 16, 2014
A device for brain stimulation includes a lead having a longitudinal surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a lead body. The device also includes a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead near the distal end of the lead. The plurality of electrodes includes a first set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a first longitudinal position along the lead; and a second set of segmented electrodes comprising at least two segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead at a second longitudinal position along the lead. The device further includes one or more conductors that electrically couple together all of the segmented electrodes of the first set of segmented electrodes.
Systems and methods for forming an end of an elongated member of an electrical stimulation system
US Patent 8,910,376
December 16, 2014
A method for forming a lead or lead extension having an arrangement of elongated conductors disposed in a body of a lead or lead extension includes ablating a plurality of spaced-apart channels in proximity to at least one of the proximal end or the distal end of the body to expose at least part of at least one of the conductors. A C-shaped contact is disposed into each of a different one of the transverse channels. Each C-shaped contact is electrically coupled to at least one of the conductors. Each C-shaped contact is closed so that opposing ends of the C-shaped contact are adjacent to one another and aligned over one of the elongated conductors. The two opposing ends of each C-shaped contact is coupled together such that each C-shaped contact forms a continuous path around the arrangement within the transverse channel in which the C-shaped contact is disposed.
Online signature identity and verification in community
US Patent 8,910,258
December 9, 2014
Techniques for electronic signature process management are described. Some embodiments provide an electronic signature service (“ESS”) configured to manage electronic identity cards. In some embodiments, the ESS generates and manages an electronic identity card for a user, based on personal information of the user, activity information related to the user’s actions with respect to the ESS, and/or social networking information related to the user. The electronic identity card of a signer may be associated with an electronic document signed via the ESS, so that users may obtain information about the signer of the document. Electronic identity cards managed by the ESS may also be shared or included in other contexts, such as via a user’s profile page on a social network, a user’s email signature, or the like.
Contact assemblies for leads of electrical stimulation systems
US Patent 8,909,354
December 9, 2014
First contacts are disposed along a distal end portion or a proximal end portion of a lead body of an electrical stimulation lead. A contact assembly is disposed along the other of the distal end portion or the proximal end portion of the lead body. The contact assembly includes a tubular-shaped composite structure formed from multiple layered elements mechanically coupled together and rolled together into a tube. Each of the layered elements includes a first electrically-nonconductive substrate, a second electrically-nonconductive substrate, and micro-circuits laminated therebetween. Second contacts are disposed over the composite structure and electrically coupled to a first end portion of at least one of the micro-circuits. Lead-body conductors electrically couple the first contacts to the second contacts. Each of each of the lead-body conductors is attached to a second end portion of at least one of the micro-circuits.
Slit lamp adaptor for portable camera
US Patent 8,905,543
December 9, 2014
An adaptor for a slit lamp holds a portable camera, such as a cell phone, in place relative to a slit lamp. The adaptor is adjustable to accommodate virtually any size of portable camera through the use of screws, washers, spacers, and other adjustment mechanisms. The adaptor can be formed in two parts: an ocular engaging portion and a camera support. The two portions can be coupled together to position the camera relative to the slit lamp to photograph a patient’s eye.
