Abstract: Systems, devices and methods to facilitate wireless interaction between an implantable therapy delivery device and an external transmitter device are provided. In an example, the systems, devices, and methods discussed herein include or use a garment for receiving and positioning an external transmitter device proximal to an implanted device, and the external transmitter device includes a midfield device configured to provide one or more signals to manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate a propagating and focused field in the tissue. In an example, the garment includes a receptacle configured to receive and retain the external transmitter device near a tissue interface, and the garment further includes a dielectric portion provided between the receptacle and the tissue interface. In an example, the dielectric portion has a relative permittivity that is approximately the same as the relative permittivity of air.

Abstract: A laser tip, a laser treatment tool, a laser treatment device and a laser treatment system are provided for performing laser treatment surgery and minimizing any bleeding. A laser tip is attachable to a laser radiation opening located at the tip end of a laser transmission tube. The laser tip includes an attaching portion detachable from the laser radiation opening and a contact portion contactable with biological tissue. The contact portion is at the front of the attaching portion in the direction in which the laser light exits the laser radiation opening. An open space is located between the contact portion and the attaching portion, and a coupler couples a part of the contact portion and a part of the attaching portion. The contact portion has a reflective surface at a rear end thereof which reflects the laser light toward the coupler.

Abstract: A system for supplementing communications capabilities of a patient monitoring device, the system including an interface device configured to communicably couple with and to receive the patient monitoring information from the patient monitoring device, a memory device hosted by the interface device and configured to store at least a portion of the patient monitoring information, a wireless transceiver hosted by the interface device, a database hosted by the interface device; and a processor communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver and the asset management database, the processor configured to format the patient monitoring information into one or more data objects, each of the one or more data objects associated with an EMS incident during which the patient monitoring information was gathered, the processor further configured to store the one or more data objects to the database and to transmit the one or more data objects with the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: A pressure differential across a blood pump and/or a flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump is estimated based at least in part on impeller thrust load. A blood pump for a circulation assist system includes a housing forming a blood flow channel, an impeller, one or more support members coupled to the housing, a sensor, and a controller operatively coupled with the sensor. At least one of the one or more support members react a thrust load applied to the impeller by blood impelled through the blood flow channel by the impeller. The sensor generates output indicative of the magnitude of the thrust load. The controller is configured to process the sensor output to estimate at least one of a pressure differential across the blood pump and a flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for performing electrophysiology (EP) signal processing. An embodiment includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) circuit board configured to process an ECG signal. The embodiment further includes a plurality of intracardiac (IC) circuit boards, each configured to process a corresponding IC signal. The embodiment further includes a communications interface communicatively coupled to a remote device, and a processor, coupled to the ECG circuit board, the plurality of IC circuit boards, and the communications interface. The processor is configured to receive, via the communications interface, feedback from the remote device. The processor is further configured to control, via the communication interface, the remote device based on the ECG signal, the IC signals, or the feedback from the remote device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for identifying a site with a patient for treatment. The method may include engaging a plurality electrodes with an interior wall of the patient at a plurality of locations. The method may also generating a virtual map of a plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is displayed with a first indicia. The method may also include displaying each of the plurality of electrodes engaged with the interior wall with a second indicia, measuring electrical activity, identifying at least one site for treatment based on the measured resulting electrical activity, and displaying each of the plurality of electrodes identified for treatment with a third indicia.

Abstract: An electrical implant or implant system includes an energy supply unit or is connected to an energy supply unit and includes at least one fixing device for permanently fixing the electrical implant or implant system to bodily tissue, or is connected to the fixing device. At least two implant components are releasably mechanically connected to one another. A first of the implant components includes at least parts of the fixing device. A second of the implant components includes an electromechanical component which, as a result of current drain or current feed, can swell in such a way that it causes a swelling at an outer contour of the electromechanical component at least at one point. The electromechanical component is disposed in such a way that a swelling of the electromechanical component results in a separation of the mechanical connection between the first and second implant components.

Abstract: A method and system for expediting the rescue of victims experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) when used in conjunction with an automated external defibrillator (AED). The system involves an apparatus that calls for help (i.e. 911), detects SCA and cardiac arrhythmias, locates an AED, guides the rescuer through CPR and connection of the AED. A second apparatus is in the enclosure that contains the AED, sends location information to the other apparatus, triggers audible and visual indicators, and provides information on the victim's location.

Abstract: A visor for visual stimulation of visually impaired subjects is shown. The visor comprises a frame, a coil, a camera and a mounting system. A connector allows the coil to be positioned along a first direction. A sliding device allows the coil to be positioned along a second direction. Positioning of the visor on a subject's nose allows the coil to be positioned along a third direction. Positioning of the coil along the first, second or third direction is useful to maximize coupling RF coupling between the coil and an internal coil implanted on a subject wearing the visor.

Abstract: Cardiac activity of the heart can be sensed using, for example, one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCPs) that are implanted in a close proximity to the heart. Sensing cardiac activity by the one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCPs) can help the system in determining an occurrence of cardiac arrhythmia. For treatment purposes, electrical stimulation therapy, for example anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing (ATP) therapy, can be delivered by at least one of the devices of the system. Such therapy can help treat the detected cardiac arrhythmia. In some instances, one of the leadless cardiac pacemakers can instruct one or more of the other devices to assist in providing pacing therapy. In some instances, one of the leadless cardiac pacemakers can instruct one or more of the other devices to temporarily stop providing therapy or to simply shut down while another device provides therapy.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a cardiac function management system can detect heart sounds following a sensed transition in physical activity level, such as from an elevated physical activity level to rest. A technique can include systems, methods, machine-readable media, or other techniques that can include identifying a physical activity level transition, receiving a heart sound signal, determining characteristics of the heart sound and subject physiologic activity to provide an indication, such as a heart failure status indication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension and heart failure by increasing vagal tone and secretion of endogenous atrial hormones by excitory pacing of the heart atria. Atrial pacing is done during the ventricular refractory period resulting in atrial contraction against closed AV valves, and atrial contraction rate that is higher than the ventricular contraction rate. Pacing results in the increased atrial wall stress. An implantable device is used to monitor ECG and pace the atria in a nonphysiologic manner.

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 exemplary cochlear implant system for a patient includes a cochlear implant, a sound processor, and an implantable battery configured to be implanted within the patient. The cochlear implant is configured to 1) determine that a signal is not being provided to the cochlear implant by a device external to the patient, 2) determine, in response to the determination that the signal is not being provided to the cochlear implant, that an amount of power remaining in the implantable battery is above a predetermined threshold amount, and 3) initiate, in response to the determination that the amount of power remaining in the implantable battery is above the predetermined threshold, an idle mode in which the cochlear implant remains powered on while waiting for one or more signals to be provided to the cochlear implant by the device external to the patient.

Abstract: Methods and devices for sensing vector analysis in an implantable cardiac stimulus system. In an illustrative example, a first sensing vector is analyzed to determine whether it is suitable, within given threshold conditions, for use in cardiac event detection and analysis. If so, the first vector may be selected for detection and analysis. Otherwise, one or more additional vectors are analyzed. A detailed example illustrates methods for analyzing sensing vectors by the use of a scoring system. Devices adapted to perform these methods are also discussed, including implantable medical devices adapted to perform these methods, and systems comprising implantable medical devices and programmers adapted to communicate with implantable medical devices, the systems also being adapted to perform these methods. Another example includes a programmer configured to perform these methods including certain steps of directing operation of an associated implanted or implantable medical device.

Abstract: So as to be able to determine the position of a functional element as precisely as possible during the invasive use of a blood pump in a patient's body without the use of imaging methods, the blood pump is connected to a main sensor which records signals of the patient's heart, which are compared to other electrophysiological heart signals recorded by several sensors distributed on the body surface so as to allow the position of the blood pump to be determined by way of linking.

Abstract: A medical lead may be fabricated using an electrode fixture ((130A)-(130D)) configured to facilitate circumferential and axial alignment between electrodes of the lead. In one example, a method includes positioning an electrode fixture around at least one conductor of a plurality of conductors (122) for a medical lead, wherein the electrode fixture at least partially retains an electrode assembly. The method also includes electrically coupling a portion of the at least one conductor with at least a portion of the electrode assembly at an attachment area defined by the electrode assembly when the electrode assembly is at least partially retained by the electrode fixture.

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, including, receiving a first group of electrocardiograph (ECG) signals derived from a single heartbeat and generated at a respective plurality of electrodes on a catheter in a heart of a subject, formulating a template relating times of annotations of the first group of the ECG signals, and assigning the template an index. The method further includes receiving a second group of ECG signals derived from a subsequent single heartbeat and generated at the electrodes, calculating times of annotations of the second group, formulating a comparison between the template and the times of annotations of the second group, and, when the comparison indicates that the times of annotations of the second group correspond to the template, assigning the index to the second group of ECG signals, and presenting graphically on a display an occurrence of the template relative to a timeline representing heartbeats from the heart.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and a computer program for monitoring a fitness exercise are described. A plurality of heart-rate variability values and a plurality of exertion parameter values are measured during an exercise measured. The heart rate variability values correlate with the exertion parameter values through a human physiological mechanism, and the exertion parameter values characterize the physical exertion of the exercise. A mathematical correspondence is then constructed from the plurality of measured heart rate variability values and associated exertion parameter values. The mathematical correspondence describes correlation between the heart rate variability values and the exertion parameter values and the user's physiological state during the exercise. Then, the physical exertion of the exercise is monitored by applying the mathematical correspondence.