Neurostimulation Device Patent Landscape 2026
Neurostimulation Device Patent Landscape in 2026
The neurostimulation device space is highly concentrated, with Boston Scientific Neuromodulation dominating ahead of Medtronic and Pacesetter; together, the top five filers account for nearly half of the hundred largest filers’ combined output. Filing volume peaked in 2019 and has eased since, placing the field in a post-peak phase where differentiation increasingly hinges on sensing, software, and power delivery rather than core stimulation hardware.
Boston Scientific leads a highly concentrated field with a commanding margin
Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation holds the top position by a wide margin, followed by Medtronic and Pacesetter. The top five filers together account for 49% of the hundred largest filers’ combined patent records, signaling a field where a small cohort of established device makers has built substantial defensive positions.
A steep drop-off exists between the top three and the rest of the ranked applicants. The fourth-ranked Nyxoah and fifth-ranked Cardiac Pacemakers are meaningfully smaller than the leaders, and applicants from rank six onward are substantially smaller still, suggesting a two-tier structure with limited clustering in the middle.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation | 805 | |
| 2 | Medtronic Inc | 480 | |
| 3 | Pacesetter Inc | 461 | |
| 4 | Nyxoah SA | 332 | |
| 5 | Cardiac Pacemakers Inc | 286 | |
| 6 | Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc | 199 | |
| 7 | Axonics Inc | 135 | |
| 8 | Saluda Medical Pty Ltd | 110 | |
| 9 | Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) | 79 | |
| 10 | Cala Health Inc | 71 |
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | BIOTRONIK SE & CO KG | 66 | |
| 12 | Ceregate GmbH | 62 | |
| 13 | Dirk De Ridder | 60 | |
| 14 | MAN & SCIENCE SA | 60 | |
| 15 | Battelle Memorial Institute | 54 | |
| 16 | Vanderbilt University | 51 | |
| 17 | Neuvana LLC | 48 | |
| 18 | Neuspera Medical Inc | 45 | |
| 19 | Inspire Medical Systems Inc | 44 | |
| 20 | Ethicon Inc | 41 |
The leaders’ depth of coverage — particularly in core electrotherapy (A61N) and diagnostic surgery (A61B) — creates high barriers to entry in standard implantable stimulation approaches, pushing newer entrants toward peripheral or adjacent sub-domains such as closed-loop sensing and digital health integration.
The most recent 18–24 months of filing data are subject to publication lag and will undercount activity; apparent declines in 2024–2026 data should be treated as provisional. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Activity eased from a 2019 peak; electrotherapy hardware dominates but software and power branches are growing in relative share
The annual filing trend reveals a field that expanded sharply through 2019 and has been contracting on a per-year basis since. The technology composition chart shows how diverse the enabling sub-disciplines have become, even as core electrotherapy hardware remains the anchor class.
Annual filing trend
Filings climbed from 223 in 2017 to a peak of 455 in 2019, then declined to 357 in 2022 and 314 in 2024. The 2025 and 2026 bars reflect publication lag and should not be read as a continuation of the decline. The multi-year window growth rate stands at -16%, confirming the post-peak phase.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
A61N (electrotherapy) is the dominant class by a large margin, reflecting the core hardware focus of the field. A61B (diagnosis and surgery) is the second-largest branch, consistent with the shift toward sensing and closed-loop capabilities. Healthcare informatics (G16H), implants and prostheses (A61F), and power supply (H02J) are present at lower but meaningful levels, pointing to the expanding systems footprint of modern neurostimulation devices.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Non-invasive intraoral neurostimulation device for…
Disclosed herein is a non-invasive intraoral neurostimulation device and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) while improving adherence, effectiveness, and outcomes. The intraoral neurostimulation device includes a mouthpiece, at least one electrode pair having a reference electrode and a stimulating electrode supported by the mouthpiece, and a… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Treatment of eating disorders by nerve stimulation | 1,320 |
| 2 | Treatment of eating disorders by nerve stimulation | 1,085 |
| 3 | Techniques for positioning therapy delivery elemen… | 835 |
| 4 | Treatment of obesity by bilateral vagus nerve stim… | 825 |
| 5 | New stimulation design for neuromodulation | 654 |
| 6 | Stimulation design for neuromodulation | 558 |
| 7 | Techniques for positioning therapy delivery elemen… | 493 |
| 8 | Modular physiologic monitoring systems, kits, and … | 461 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the structure means for R&D investment decisions
Four structural signals — maturity, concentration, collaboration, and geography — define the strategic context for any entrant or incumbent seeking to allocate R&D resources in neurostimulation.
Post-peak field; hardware core is saturated, differentiation shifting to software and sensing
The lifecycle evidence places neurostimulation devices in a Decline stage, with annual filings easing back from the 2019 peak of 455. Core electrotherapy hardware (A61N) is densely patented by incumbents. R&D investment with a realistic freedom-to-operate path is more likely in closed-loop control algorithms, healthcare informatics integration (G16H), and wireless power delivery (H02J) than in conventional electrode or lead design.
Post-peak · Decline stageTop three players hold a commanding share; mid-tier is thin
The top five filers account for 49% of the hundred largest filers’ combined patent records, and the gap between the top three (Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Pacesetter) and the rest is substantial. This two-tier structure means that competing head-on in conventional implantable spinal cord or deep-brain stimulation requires either a significant portfolio or a differentiated technical approach. Smaller entrants such as Axonics and Saluda Medical have carved niches in specific indications or closed-loop feedback.
High concentration · Two-tierEcole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) is the most active academic co-filer, partnering with multiple entities
The most active co-filing pair is Mashiach Adi and Nyxoah, with 45 joint filings, reflecting inventor-led partnership at the company level. EPFL is the most networked academic institution, co-filing with UTI Limited Partnership (23 joint records), the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota (7), and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (2). Advanced Neuromodulation Systems has one recorded collaboration with Ericsson Air Crane. These links suggest academic-industry partnerships around neuro-interface research are concentrated in a few European-American corridors.
EPFL · Nyxoah-Mashiach hubUS-centric protection; Europe and PCT meaningful but Asia significantly under-filed
The United States accounts for the large majority of patent records, followed by Europe (EPO) and WIPO (PCT). Australia is a notable fourth jurisdiction, consistent with Saluda Medical’s Australian origin. China, Japan, and South Korea are each represented at very low levels relative to the US, suggesting that incumbents have not prioritized Asian market protection — or that there is meaningful exposure in those markets for local or entering players.
US-dominant · Asia under-filedGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| MASHIACH ADI | Nyxoah SA | 45 |
| Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) | UTI Limited Partnership | 23 |
| Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) | Regents of the University of Minnesota | 7 |
| Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) | Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois | 2 |
| Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc | Ericsson Air Crane Inc | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Boston Scientific and Medtronic lead on volume; Axonics and Saluda show diverging momentum
The top two players are separated from the rest of the field by both volume and technology breadth. Among mid-tier applicants, momentum varies sharply — some are growing, others contracting.
Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
Boston Scientific Neuromodulation holds 805 patent records, nearly 70% more than the second-ranked Medtronic. Its portfolio is concentrated in core electrotherapy (A61N, 788 records), with meaningful secondary positions in diagnostics and surgery (A61B, 93) and healthcare informatics (G16H, 88). Recent momentum is positive at +49% compared to the prior period, indicating continued active filing despite the broader market deceleration.
805 patent recordsMedtronic
Medtronic holds 480 patent records and is the fastest-growing among the large incumbents, with recent filings up +73% versus the prior period. Its focus mirrors the leader’s in electrotherapy (A61N, 454) and diagnostics (A61B, 60), with a secondary position in fluid management devices (A61M, 34). The strong momentum suggests Medtronic is actively reinforcing its portfolio as the field matures, potentially in closed-loop and systems-level innovation.
480 patent records| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation | 179 | ▲ +49% |
| Medtronic Inc | 121 | ▲ +73% |
| Pacesetter Inc | 134 | ▼ -14% |
| Cardiac Pacemakers Inc | 1 | ▼ -92% |
| Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc | 33 | ▼ -65% |
| Axonics Inc | 23 | ▲ +53% |
| Saluda Medical Pty Ltd | 30 | ▼ -54% |
| Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) | 2 | ▼ -91% |
Under-served adjacent branches in healthcare informatics and power systems
Relative to the dominant electrotherapy core, several adjacent IPC branches show notably lower filing density. These observations are starting points for technical due diligence, not validated commercial opportunities.
G16H · Healthcare informatics
Healthcare informatics accounts for 364 patent records — roughly 4% of the technology composition — despite being directly relevant to closed-loop stimulation control, remote patient monitoring, and adaptive therapy algorithms. The relatively sparse coverage compared to the hardware core suggests that software-defined therapy management and data analytics layers are less defensively patented. Entrants with strengths in clinical decision support or real-time signal processing could find a more navigable landscape here than in core electrode or implant design. The realistic entry path is through combining A61N stimulation methods with G16H data-processing claims in integrated system filings.
Search this in Eureka →H02J · Power supply and grid systems
Power supply and grid systems (H02J) appears at 151 patent records — approximately 2% of the corpus — despite wireless charging and energy harvesting being critical enablers for miniaturized, implantable neurostimulators. The low density relative to the stimulation hardware core indicates that power delivery architecture is an under-patented enabling layer. Technical value is high: longer device lifetimes and transcutaneous wireless power transfer directly affect device competitiveness. An entry path exists through coupling H02J power-transfer claims with A61N implant claims in the same family, particularly for leadless or minimally invasive device architectures.
Search this in Eureka →How leaders differ by technology route across electrotherapy, diagnostics, and informatics
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | A61N 1 · Electrotherapy & radiation therapy | A61B 5 · Diagnosis & surgery | A61B 17 · Diagnosis & surgery | G16H 40 · Healthcare informatics | G16H 20 · Healthcare informatics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation | Strong · 788 | Emerging · 93 | Absent | Emerging · 73 | Emerging · 88 |
| Pacesetter Inc | Strong · 350 | Strong · 232 | Absent | Emerging · 31 | Emerging · 5 |
| Medtronic Inc | Strong · 454 | Emerging · 60 | Emerging · 10 | Emerging · 17 | Emerging · 12 |
| Nyxoah SA | Strong · 199 | Moderate · 65 | Moderate · 53 | Absent | Absent |
| Cardiac Pacemakers Inc | Strong · 207 | Moderate · 74 | Emerging · 9 | Emerging · 7 | Absent |
| Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc | Strong · 172 | Emerging · 27 | Absent | Emerging · 26 | Emerging · 29 |
Frequently asked questions
The corpus covers 2,893 patent families. This is the base count for the landscape; applicant rankings and technology composition figures are derived from patent records, which can exceed the family count because a single family may be filed in multiple jurisdictions or classified under multiple IPC codes.
Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation leads with 805 patent records, followed by Medtronic with 480 and Pacesetter with 461. The top five filers together account for 49% of the hundred largest filers’ combined patent records, indicating a highly concentrated field.
Annual filing volume peaked in 2019 at 455 records and has declined each year since, reaching 357 in 2022 and 314 in 2024. The most recent years (2025–2026) reflect publication lag rather than real-world activity. The overall multi-year growth rate stands at -16%, consistent with a post-peak lifecycle stage.
The United States is the dominant jurisdiction with 2,594 patent records, followed by Europe (EPO) at 938 and WIPO (PCT) at 670. Australia is a notable fourth at 371, reflecting the presence of Australian-origin companies like Saluda Medical. China, Japan, and South Korea are each represented at comparatively low levels — 43, 15, and 6 records respectively.
The most active co-filing pair is Mashiach Adi and Nyxoah, with 45 joint filings. Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) is the most networked academic institution, with joint filings alongside UTI Limited Partnership (23), the University of Minnesota (7), and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (2). Advanced Neuromodulation Systems has one recorded collaboration with Ericsson Air Crane.
Relative to the dominant A61N electrotherapy core, healthcare informatics (G16H, 364 records, ~4% of composition) and power supply systems (H02J, 151 records, ~2%) are notably less densely patented. These branches are directly relevant to closed-loop therapy management and wireless charging for implantable devices — areas where the incumbent landscape is less saturated than in core hardware.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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