Abstract: Charging circuitry is disclosed for receiving a magnetic charging field and using the received field to charge a battery in an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) without passive trickle charging, and even if the battery voltage (Vbat) is severely depleted. The charging circuitry includes a source capable of producing a constant charging current via a current mirror that receives a reference current for setting the charging current. Two reference current generators are provided: a first enabled when Vbat is severely depleted to produce a small non-adjustable reference current; and a second enabled once Vbat is recovered to produce a reference current that can be controlled to adjust the charging current. Because Vbat may be too low, the first generator is powered by a DC voltage produced from the magnetic charging field. A passively-generated undervoltage control signal is used to transition between use of the first and second generators.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes a condition determining section which is configured to determine a condition of one of a heart, lungs, and blood vessels based on: a concentration of carbon dioxide in an expired gas which is measured by using a first sensor; and an oxygen transport parameter or a metabolic parameter which is measured by using a second sensor.

Abstract: A universal implant for an implantable medical device, the universal implant including a plurality of functional components, having a plurality of hardware components disposed in a housing, and an auxiliary component interface disposed in a surface of the housing and configured to electrically connect any one of a plurality of auxiliary components to said hardware components. The universal implant further includes a determinator configured to identify one or more of the auxiliary components, select one or more of said functional components based on the identified auxiliary components, and adapt said selected functional components for operation with the identified auxiliary components.

Abstract: A processing device detects a medical device and sends an audio wake-up signal to the medical device, wherein the audio wake-up signal causes the medical device to transition from a low power state to a higher power state. The processing device receives a diagnostic audio signal from the medical device after sending the audio wake-up signal. The processing device processes the diagnostic audio signal to determine medical information of a patient, the medical information comprising at least one of heart beat information or breathing information of the patient. The processing device performs at least one of storing the medical information or transmitting the medical information to a remote computing device.

Abstract: Methods for allowing a user to control a neuromodulator to modify a cognitive state being experienced by the user. The user may select a waveform ensemble from a hand-held user device having an interface, and the user may adjust the perceived intensity of the applied waveform ensemble with the user device while the waveform ensemble is being applied. Also described are methods of managing communication between the hand-held user device (such as a smartphone or the like) and a wearable neurostimulator. Methods of displaying and visually tracking and controlling the applied waveform ensemble are also described herein.

Abstract: Designs and methods of construction for an implantable medical device employ an internal support structure. The single-piece support structure holds various electronic components such as a communication coil and a circuit board, and further is affixed to a battery, thus providing a subassembly that is mechanically robust. The support structure further provides electrical isolation between these and other components. A method of construction allows for the subassembly to be adhered to a case of the implantable medical device at the support structure, and possibly also at the battery, without electrically shorting the battery to the case.

Abstract: Methods and devices to treat discogenic lumbar back pain are disclosed. Electrodes are implanted within the anterior epidural space of the patient. A pulse generator that is connected to the electrodes delivers electrical impulses to sympathetic nerves located within the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) of the lumbar spine and outer posterior annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc. In alternate embodiments, energy directed to nerves in the PLL may be from light or mechanical vibrations, or the nerves may be cooled. The electrodes may also be used diagnostically to correlate spontaneous nerve activity with spinal movement, fluctuations in autonomic tone and the patient's experience of pain. The electrodes may also be used to generate diagnostic evoked potentials. The diagnostic data are used to devise parameters for the therapeutic nerve stimulation. Automatic analysis of the data may be incorporated into a closed-loop system that performs the nerve stimulation automatically.

Abstract: The present invention is wireless visual prosthesis with a remote driver for the external coils this, among other things, provides for a magnetic resonance image (MRI) safe visual prosthesis. fMRI is an effective tool for analyzing cortical responses to neural stimulation, such as from a visual prosthesis. However, the external electronics of a visual prosthesis cannot operate in a MRI field. The present invention provides a radio frequency shielded link between a video processing unit, driver circuitry and the coils used for communicating with the implantable portion of the visual prosthesis.

Abstract: A device for calculating a pulse period of a living body. The device includes a maximum value detecting unit that detects a maximum value of a biological signal received at a predetermined time interval, a peak value determining unit that determines whether the maximum value is a peak value of the biological signal detected by the maximum value detecting unit during a fixed time period, a calculating unit that calculates a rhythmic pulse period of a living body generating the biological signal based on a time interval between successive peak values of the biological signal; and a fixed time period changing unit that changes the fixed time period to a predetermined time period that corresponds to the time interval between the successive peak values of the biological signal.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system is provided with multiple medical devices implanted in a patient's body and a wireless mesh communication network providing multiple communication pathways between the multiple medical devices. A communication pathway between a first and a second implanted device of the multiple medical devices can comprise one or more of the other implanted multiple medical devices.

Abstract: A method improving or restoring neural function in a mammalian subject in need thereof, the method including: using an input receiver to record an input signal generated by a first set of nerve cells; using an encoder unit including a set of encoders to generate a set of coded outputs in response to the input signal; using the encoded outputs to drive an output generator; and using an output generator to activate a second set of nerve cells wherein the second set of nerve cells is separated from the first set of nerve cells by impaired set of signaling cells. In some embodiments, the second set of nerve cells produces a response that is substantially the same as the response in an unimpaired subject.

Abstract: A method may include storing electrical measurement data and geometry. One or more boundary conditions can be determined based on supplemental information associated with at least one selected location associated an anatomic envelope within a patient's body. Reconstructed electrical activity can be computed for a plurality of locations residing on the anatomic envelope within the patient's body based on the electrical data and the geometry data, the least one boundary condition being imposed to improve the computing.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for detecting the status of a rechargeable battery included within an implantable medical device. The medical device can incorporate a status indicator which signals the user concerning the battery status, e.g., low battery level. The signal may be audible or it may arise from an electrical stimulation that is perceptually distinguished from the operative, therapeutic stimulation. The external programmer may also incorporate a second battery status indicator that is visual, audible, or physically felt. Battery status data may be conveyed on visual displays on the external programmer by uploading this information from the medical device using a bi-directional telemetry link. Such battery status data are helpful to the user to indicate when the battery should be recharged and to the clinician to monitor patient compliance and to determine end-of-useful life of the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: An exercise physiological sensing system, a motion artifact suppression processing method and a motion artifact suppression processing device for obtaining a stable exercise heart rate signal of a user during exercise are provided. The exercise physiological sensing system includes a bone conduction object, a signal-to-noise ratio analysis module, and a computation module. The bone conduction object has a physiological sensor. The physiological sensor detects a physiological signal of otic bones of the user. The signal-to-noise ratio analysis module is coupled to the physiological sensor and detects a stability of the physiological signal of the otic bones. The computation module is coupled to the signal-to-noise ratio analysis module and generates the stable exercise heart rate signal according to the physiological signal of the otic bones. Accordingly, the exercise physiological sensing system can effectively improve the detected stability of an exercise physiological signal.

Abstract: An exemplary cochlear implant system includes 1) a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient, 2) a sound processor configured to be located external to the patient and to direct the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, and 3) an implantable battery configured to be implanted within the patient and to provide operating power for the cochlear implant. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Adaptive systems and methods for automatically determining and continuously updating stimulation parameters for adjusting ventilation to accommodate a patient's specific physiology, metabolic needs, and muscle state are disclosed herein. Having a closed loop implementation, the system may comprise a controller including a neuromorphic controlled adaptive feed-forward Pattern Generator/Pattern Shaper (PG/PS) assembly, which controls respiratory muscle movement using electrical stimulation. This PG/PS assembly comprises a biomimetic design where the pattern generator includes a neural network mimicking the simplified connectivity pattern of respiratory related neurons in the brain stem to produce a rhythmic breathing pattern frequency and the pattern shaper includes a neural network mimicking the simplified connectivity pattern of neurons to produce a stimulus control signal.

Abstract: An electronic stethoscope has a body with a diaphragm at one end of the body. A microphone is housed within the body, wherein the microphone is to generate a first analog audio signal based on sounds waves amplified by the diaphragm. A processing device is also housed within the body and connected to the microphone. The processing device is to receive a second audio signal from a computing device connected to the electronic stethoscope via a connection, and enable the microphone responsive to receipt of the second audio signal.

Abstract: An improved external trial stimulator provides neurostimulation functionality for implanted medical electrodes prior to implantation of an implantable neurostimulator. The external trial stimulator is housed in a four-part housing that provides mechanical and electrostatic discharge protection for the electronics mounted in a central frame of the housing. Connectors attached to leads from the electrodes connect to contacts that are recessed in the housing through ports that are centered for easy access. Multiple indicators provide information to users of the external trial stimulator.

Abstract: A physiological signal processing system for a physiological waveform that includes a cardiovascular signal component provides a variable high pass filter that is responsive to the physiological waveform, and that is configured to high pass filter the physiological waveform in response to a corner frequency that is applied. A heart rate metric extractor is responsive to the variable high pass filter and is configured to extract a heart rate metric from the physiological waveform that is high pass filtered. A corner frequency adjuster is responsive to the heart rate metric extractor and is configured to determine the corner frequency that is applied to the variable high pass filter, based on the heart rate metric that was extracted. Analogous methods may also be provided.

Abstract: A method and medical device for determining sensing vectors that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes forming a plurality of sensing vectors, setting a blanking period and a blanking period adjustment window for the plurality of sensing vectors in response to the sensed cardiac signals, determining first signal differences during the blanking period adjustment window, and adjusting the blanking period in response to the determined first signal differences.