Systems and methods for preventing, diagnosing, and/or treating one or more medical conditions via neuromodulation

Abstract

Described are systems and methods for preventing, diagnosing, and/or treating one or more medical conditions. The medical conditions can be ocular and/or neurological diseases, disorders, and/or conditions. The systems and methods can employ a microstimulator that is configured to be placed within an anatomical structure of a subject. The microstimulator can be capacitively linked to an external electronic device to provide neuromodulation to a biological target site proximal to the anatomical structure. The microstimulator can include a body and an electrically conductive insert arranged within the body to create a capacitively coupled link with the external electronic device. The electrically conductive insert can receive a power signal from an external electronic device and convert the power signal to deliver a therapy signal to the biological target site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 an external electronic device; and   a microstimulator configured to be placed within an anatomical structure of a subject comprising:
 a body; and 
 an electrically conductive insert, arranged within the body to create a capacitively coupled link with the external electronic device, wherein the electrically conductive insert receives a power signal from the external electronic device and converts the power signal to deliver a therapy signal to a biological target site proximal to the anatomical structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external electronic device is configured to deliver the power signal through a patient's skin as a dielectric medium. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external electronic device comprises circuitry to control the microstimulator and at least a portion of the external electronic device is located within a pair of glasses, a sleep mask, a nose clip, a flexible bandage, or a key fob. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external electronic device comprises:
 a power source to deliver the power signal to the microstimulator; and   a controller to control delivery of the power signal to the microstimulator,   wherein the power source and the controller are enclosed in a casing, wherein at least a portion of the casing that contacts a patient's skin comprises an electrically conductive material.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external electronic device further comprises a wireless transceiver to exchange data with a wireless transceiver of the microstimulator or a device corresponding to a medical professional. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the data comprises control data and the system is a closed-loop control system, wherein the external device is a master and the microstimulator is a slave. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a horizontal portion, a vertical portion, and a curved portion extending between and connecting the horizontal portion and the vertical portion,
 wherein the horizontal portion and the vertical portion are arranged at an angle relative to one another.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the angle is from 70 degrees to 120 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the vertical portion has a length that is less than a length of the horizontal portion. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive insert is arranged in a circular or oval cross section. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive insert further comprises:
 an electrically conductive plate having a surface area to receive the power signal from the external electronic device;   a stimulating electrode physically connected to and electrically coupled with the electrically conductive plate to deliver the therapy signal to the biological target site.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a reference electrode or a return electrode isolated from the conductive plate to create a reference or return path that is connected to the external electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electrically conductive insert comprises an electrically conductive material layered upon a nonconductive material. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a longitudinal central lumen. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the body further comprises one or more radial channels in fluid communication with the central lumen,
 wherein the at least one radial channel allows tear drainage to coat at least a portion of the exterior of the body.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microstimulator further comprises a faceplate disposed at a proximal end of the body and covering at least a portion of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the faceplate is impregnated with a pharmaceutical for release into the biological target site in response to delivery of the therapy signal to the target biological site. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the body comprises one or more radial channels to control the release of the pharmaceutical into the biological target site. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the faceplate comprises a wireless transceiver to exchange a signal with the external electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . A method for powering an implantable microstimulator comprising:
 establishing a connection between an external electronic device and the implantable microstimulator through a dielectric biological material; and   capacitively linking the external electronic device with the implantable microstimulator to deliver a power signal from the external electronic device to the implantable microstimulator.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the dielectric biological material comprises skin. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the microstimulator comprises:
 a body; and   an electrically conductive insert, arranged within the body to create the link with the external electronic device, wherein the electrically conductive insert receives the power signal from the external electronic device and delivers a therapy signal to a biological target site.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the therapy signal comprises an electrical signal.