Abstract: Systems and methods for improved power transmission are disclosed herein. The system can include an implantable neurostimulator for delivering the one or more electrical pulses to a patient's body. The implantable neurostimulator can include a hermetic housing made of a biocompatible material, an energy storage feature for powering the implantable neurostimulator, a receiving coil assembly including an elongate wire winding wound around a first ferritic core, and control circuitry for controlling recharging of the energy storage feature. The system can include a charging device for wirelessly delivering energy to the implantable neurostimulator. The charging device can include a sending coil assembly including a planar wire winding coupled to a surface of a second ferritic core.

Abstract: A system for electrical ventilation stimulation of a patient including an implantable nerve stimulator including a stimulation circuit and a pulse generator that produces biphasic charge-balanced pulses to stimulate a phrenic nerve, an external digital programming device having near field communication transmission and a digital interface, and wherein the external digital programming device is used to control settings of the implantable nerve stimulator.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods that employ a pump to assist or support blood flow. An apparatus for pumping blood may include a pump housing having an outer wall disposed about a longitudinal pump axis, and having an upstream end and a downstream end; a blood flow straightener having a plurality of fins and positioned in the upstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of fins; a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser fins and positioned in the downstream end of the pump housing and secured to the pump housing by the plurality of diffuser fins; and an impeller positioned between the blood flow straightener and the diffuser, and including a plurality of impeller blades. The apparatus may further include a pump drive configured to impart a rotational motion to the impeller by applying a magnetic field.

Abstract: An intracellular monitoring device (IMD) that fits completely inside a living cell, and causes no significant impairment, to a cell's normal biological processes. The IMD monitors a cell for its level of a biological substance (e.g., calcium ion concentration) of interest. If the biological substance reaches or exceeds a threshold, the IMD transmits an electromagnetic signal, received by an antenna outside the cell. Each IMD has its electromagnetic signal encoded with a unique frequency. Detection of the frequency components, in the signals received by an antenna, permits identification of the source IMD's. A high calcium ion concentration is indicative of a strongly-activated cerebral cortex neuron. Brain tissue is relatively transparent to near infrared, making it a good frequency band, for the electromagnetic signals from neuron-monitoring IMD's. The near infrared of each IMD can be produced by quantum dots, powered by bioelectric catalysis triggered by high calcium ion concentration.

Abstract: A peripheral nerve stimulator configured as a flexible circuit to stimulate or block the operation of a nerve or nerve bundle, including electrode array, cable and bond pad portions connected to an electronics package. The electrode array is configured for peripheral nerve modulation and may be curved cylindrically to encompass a nerve. A cylindrical curve can be imparted through thermoforming or by applying a stretchable polymer. The stretchable polymer places the electrode array portion into a cylinder when the electrode array portion is in a relaxed position. The electronics package includes low profile, stacked thin chip electronic components that are tunable in-situ, requiring less vertical and lateral space than stacked passives. The thin chip components may be high density trench capacitors, metal-on-semiconductor capacitors positioned on an integrated circuit chip.

Abstract: The application relates to a catheter device with a distal bearing for bearing a distal end of a drive shaft. The distal bearing comprises a heat conducting part for enabling heat transfer away from the distal bearing and/or a spiral sleeve for receiving the distant end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for characterizing a behavior of an anatomical structure. Tracking data can be generated by a tracking system to represent at least a location of at least one sensor in a three-dimensional tracking coordinate system over time. A motion model is generated to characterize the behavior of the anatomical structure over a plurality of time instances. For instance, the motion model includes at least one free parameter and a temporal parameter. Each free parameter estimating geometry of the anatomical structure derived from the tracking data, and the temporal parameter indexes the free parameter over the plurality of time instances. A visualization is generated to provide a sequence of graphical images based on the motion model to characterize behavior of the anatomical structure over time.

Abstract: Tissue may be cut and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects cutting and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the cut tissue through an extraction lumen of the cutting device. The cutting may be achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly, including a first electrode on a cutting member and a second electrode within a cutting probe or tool.

Abstract: A medical device is utilized to monitor physiological parameters of a patient and capture segments of the monitored physiological parameters. The medical device includes circuitry configured to monitor one or more physiological parameters associated with the patient and an analysis module that includes a buffer and a processor. The buffer stores monitored physiological parameters and the processor analyzes the monitored physiological parameters and triggers capture of segments from the buffer in response to a triggering criteria being satisfied. The analysis module selects a pre-trigger duration based at least in part on the triggering criteria.

Abstract: An electrocardiogram analysis apparatus includes: an electrocardiogram signal inputting section to which electrocardiogram signals of measurement electrodes attached to a subject are input; a mistaken attachment determining section which, by using the input electrocardiogram signals, determines whether the measurement electrodes are mistakenly attached or not; an outputting section which, if it is determined that the measurement electrodes are mistakenly attached, notifies of mistaken attachment of the measurement electrodes; and an electrocardiogram data storing section which, in a case where there is an input indicative of confirmation of the notification, stores information indicating that the measurement electrodes have been checked, together with the input electrocardiogram signals, and, in a case where there is not an input indicative of confirmation of the notification, stores information indicating that the measurement electrodes have not been checked, together with the input electrocardiogram signals

Abstract: An improved system for supporting (e.g., localization and/or positioning of) intravascular devices discussed herein provides for example a multi-element arrangement. A set of struts optionally projects from the intravascular device and contacts the vessel walls. The localization and positioning of the pump may be provided by the struts and/or by use of a tether opposing a propulsive force to ensure localization.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a dipolar antenna system to electrically power an implantable miniature device and/or to stimulate bioelectrically excitable tissue. Other related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system are described for, based upon a plurality of previously-acquired directional LFP signals measured in a plurality of different directions at a directional sensor lead located in a predetermined region of a patient's brain, determining optimised patient-specific programming parameters for programming a directional stimulation lead with parameters for stimulating the said region. The method comprises a first step of determining, over at least one predetermined frequency range, a power-frequency variation curve of each of the directional LFP signals, a second step of identifying frequency peaks in the power-frequency variation curves, a third step of detecting one of the identified frequency peaks at which a maximum difference in signal power between the directional LFP signals occurs, and a fourth step of calculating a plurality of directional stimulation weighting factors on the basis of the relative signal powers of the directional LFP signals at the detected frequency peak.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an impeller configured to pump blood through a subject's body, and a frame disposed around the impeller. The frame defines struts having a structure that is such that, as the frame transitions from a proximal end of the frame toward a center of the frame, the struts pass through junctions, at which the two struts branch from a single strut, in a Y-shape. The structure of the struts of the frame is configured such that, in response to a distal end of a delivery catheter and the frame being moved into overlapping positions with respect to each other, the frame assumes a radially-constrained configuration by becoming axially elongated, and the frame causes the impeller to assume a radially-constrained configuration by becoming axially elongated. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A ventricular assist assembly, for assisting a heart, includes an anchoring device, a cardiac pump and a stabilizing device. The anchoring device anchors a cardiac pump, is intended to be assembled with an opening in a ventricular wall of the heart, and delimits an internal passage. The cardiac pump is intended to be attached to the anchoring device, is configured for intra-ventricular insertion into the heart, and has a distal end. The cardiac pump extends through the internal passage into the heart when attached to the anchoring device implanted in the opening so that its distal end is placed in a ventricular chamber. The stabilizing device stabilizes the cardiac and includes at least two elongate, biocompatible and flexible connecting members, each elongate connecting member being intended to connect a part of the cardiac pump that is positioned in the ventricular chamber to an internal wall of the ventricular chamber.

Abstract: A blood flow assist system can include an impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller on the impeller shaft, a primary flow pathway disposed along an exterior surface of the impeller. The system can include a rotor assembly at a proximal portion of the impeller shaft. A secondary flow pathway can be disposed along a lumen of the impeller shaft. During operation of the blood flow assist system, blood can be pumped proximally along the primary flow pathway and the secondary flow pathway. The system can include a sleeve bearing distal the impeller. The system can include a drive unit having a distal end disposed distal a proximal end of the second impeller. The drive unit comprising a drive magnet and a drive bearing between the drive magnet and the impeller assembly.

Abstract: A system for improving cardiac output of a patient suffering from pulseless electrical activity or shock and yet displays myocardial wall motion including: a sensor to detect myocardial activity to determine the presence of residual left ventricular pump function having a contraction or ejection phase and a filling or relaxation phase, a device to prompt the application of or apply a compressive force repeatedly applied to the chest based on the sensed myocardial activity such that the compressive force is applied during at least some of the ejection phases and is ceased during at least some of the relaxation phases to permit residual cardiac filling, thereby enhancing cardiac output and organ perfusion.

Abstract: A filtered feedthrough assembly includes a ferrule configured to be installed in an AIMD housing. An insulator is disposed within a ferrule opening. A conductive pathway is disposed within a passageway through the insulator. A filter capacitor is disposed on a device side having active and ground electrode plates disposed within a capacitor dielectric k greater than 0 and less than 1,000. A capacitor active metallization is electrically connected to the active electrode plates. A ground capacitor metallization is electrically connected to the ground electrode plates. The filter capacitor is the first filter capacitor electrically connected to the conductive pathway coming from a body fluid side into the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects the conductive pathway to the capacitor active metallization. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the ground capacitor metallization to the ferrule. The filter capacitor is a flat-through or an X2Y attenuator filter capacitor.

Abstract: A mobile ECG system includes: a multiplexor, the multiplexor comprising an input port connected with a plurality of electrodes, two output ports, and a control port; a digital detection module being connected with one output port of the multiplexor; an analog detection module being connected with the other output port of the multiplexor and configured to detect a heart beat without utilizing any portion of the digital detection module; and a processor being connected with the control port of the multiplexor and configured to receive an electrical signal and control the multiplexor through the control port to selectively transmit output of all of the electrodes to the analog detection module or the digital detection module based on the electrical signal.

Abstract: A tremor-reduction system is provided that delivers electric current to a body region of a subject that is associated with a tremor. A computing device stores received data associated with a tremulous movement of the body region and determines measurements associated with the stored data. If a magnitude of the most recent tremulous movement is the same as or greater than magnitudes associated with prior tremulous movements, characteristics of a subsequent electric current to be applied to the body region may be adjusted.