Abstract: A wearable device for suppressing appetite or hunger in a patient includes a microprocessor, electrical stimulator and at least one electrode configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the epidermis, through a range of 0.1 mm to 10 mm or a range of 0.1 mm to 20 mm of the dermis, of a T2 frontal thoracic dermatome to a T12 frontal thoracic dermatome or meridian of the patient and/or front or back, C5-T1 dermatome across the hand and/or arm, and/or the upper chest regions. The device includes a pad, in which the electrode is disposed, for secure placement of the device on a skin surface of a patient. The device is adapted to provide electrical stimulation as per stimulation protocols and to communicate wirelessly with a companion control device configured to monitor and record appetite patterns of the patient. The control device is also configured to monitor, record, and modify stimulation parameters of the stimulation protocols.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a cardiac condition of the human based on acceleration measurements received from one or more accelerometers of a garment worn by a human, electrocardiogram measurements received from electrodes of a garment worn by the human, and a machine learning model previously determined based on training data. An alert message that indicates the determined cardiac condition may be transmitted or displayed to the human wearing the garment or another person who will assist the human. For example, a posture pattern may be determined based on the acceleration measurements. The cardiac condition may be determined based in part on the posture pattern.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft module and a handle module selectively separable from one another. The elongated shaft module includes an elongated shaft member and a pair of jaw members supported at a distal end of the elongated shaft member, at least one of the jaw members moveable relative to the other jaw member between open and closed positions. The handle module includes a housing including an opening extending longitudinally therethrough. The opening is dimensioned to permit passage of the pair of jaw members in the closed position. The handle module also includes a movable handle movable relative to the housing to move the pair of jaw members between open and closed positions, and a lock to secure the elongated shaft module in place within the housing.

Abstract: A wearable device for suppressing appetite or hunger in a patient includes a microprocessor, electrical stimulator and at least one electrode configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the epidermis, through a range of 0.1 mm to 10 mm or a range of 0.1 mm to 20 mm of the dermis, of a T2 frontal thoracic dermatome to a T12 frontal thoracic dermatome or meridian of the patient and/or front or back, C5-T1 dermatome across the hand and/or arm, and/or the upper chest regions. The device includes a pad, in which the electrode is disposed, for secure placement of the device on a skin surface of a patient. The device is adapted to provide electrical stimulation as per stimulation protocols and to communicate wirelessly with a companion control device configured to monitor and record appetite patterns of the patient. The control device is also configured to monitor, record, and modify stimulation parameters of the stimulation protocols.

Abstract: A method of preparing an electrode for use with an implantable medical device, the electrode including a titanium surface, the method including: maintaining a nitrogen gas environment proximate to the titanium surface, delivering energy to a portion of the titanium surface, modifying the portion of the titanium surface with the energy delivered to the titanium surface, and forming titanium nitride by reacting titanium at the portion of the titanium surface with nitrogen from the nitrogen gas environment. Modifying includes increasing a surface area of the portion of the titanium surface, and removing titanium from the portion of the titanium surface. The titanium nitride is formed at the portion of the titanium surface where titanium has been removed.

Abstract: Described is a system for controlling epidural spinal cord stimulation. Using an Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), the system receives sensed physiological signals from a subject and, based on the sensed physiological signals, estimating an unobservable state of a target area on the subject. A central pattern generator is then used to generate a stimulation pattern based on the unobservable state. The stimulation pattern is applied to the target area (e.g., spinal cord) of the subject using an electrode array. Receiving feedback, the UKF continuously updates a model of the spinal cord, which results in adjustment of the stimulation pattern as necessary.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining optimized settings for a closed-loop stimulation system based on analyzing a phase response curve measured from electrophysiological activity, such as electrical nerve activity or electrical muscle activity. The slope of the phase response curve is computed and used to determine a phase window during which phasic burst stimulation should be provided to achieve a desired effect on oscillations in the subject. When the slope of the phase response curve is positive, a phasic burst stimulation applied during the phase window will decrease synchrony of the oscillations. When the slope of the phase response curve is negative, a phasic burst stimulation applied during the phase window will increase synchrony of the oscillations.

Abstract: Molded headers, implantable signal generators having molded headers, and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. An implantable signal generator in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a can having a shell and a battery positioned at least partially within the shell. An output terminal can be operably coupled to the battery and positioned to provide electrical power to a signal delivery device. A pre-molded header having a plurality of openings can be coupled to the can, and the output terminal can be positioned at least partially within an individual opening.

Abstract: An automated external defibrillation (AED) device includes a wireless interface to exchange data with one or more other devices. The AED device collects patient data associated with a patient and identifies, based on the patient data, a heart condition associated with the patient. The AED device directs a user to apply defibrillation to the patient to address the heart condition; and forwards via the wireless interface, a notification to a dispatch device. The notification may identify, for example, a location associated with the AED device. The dispatch device may direct emergency medical assistance to the location. The AED device may collect data, used to diagnose the heart condition, from a patient device and via the wireless interface. The AED device may further forward, to a user device and via the wireless interface, instructions guiding the user to use the AED device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of transcatheterly delivering a band to encircle multiple papillary muscles in a heart. The method may comprise transcutaneously inserting a catheter into a heart and delivering a first end of a first guidewire to a ventricle in the heart via the catheter. The method may further comprise looping a first end of a first guidewire around a first papillary muscle and a second end of a second guidewire around a second papillary muscle. The first end of the first guidewire and the second end of the second guidewire may be brought out of the body while the first and second guidewires remain looped around the first and second papillary muscles, respectively. The first and second guidewires may be interconnected, and at least one end of the first and second guidewires may be pulled to establish a single loop around the papillary muscles.

Abstract: Receiver-stimulator with folded or rolled up assembly of piezoelectric components, causing the receiver-stimulator to operate with a high degree of isotropy are disclosed. The receiver-stimulator comprises piezoelectric components, rectifier circuitry, and at least two stimulation electrodes. Isotropy allows the receiver-stimulator to be implanted with less concern regarding the orientation relative the transmitted acoustic field from an acoustic energy source.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method for providing dynamic gain over non-noise electrocardiographic data with the aid of a digital computer are provided. A time series of a plurality of voltage values that comprises a digital representation of a raw electrocardiography (“ECG”) signal recorded by an ambulatory monitor recorder is obtained. One or more segments of the ECG signal is marked as noise, each of the segments including a plurality of the values, based on a difference between a maximum one and a minimum one of the values within that segment. Further segments not marked as noise are analyzed, each of the segments comprising a plurality of the values. A gain factor for all of the values in the analyzed further segments is determined based on the analysis.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs), and methods for use therewith, reduce how often an IMD accepts false messages. Such a method can include receiving a message and measuring a message interval indicative of a length of time between when the message was received and when a preceding message was received. The method can also include determining, based on the measured message interval, whether the message was received within the message window, and determining whether to reject the message based on results thereof. The method can also include adjusting a temporal position of the message window based on the measured message interval. The method can further include determining a quality measure indicative of a quality of the message and/or a quality of a channel over which the message was received, and determining whether to reject the message based on the quality measure.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating a cardiac rhythm disorder diagnosis with the aid of a digital computer are provided. Cutaneous action potentials of a patient are recorded as electrocardiogram (ECG) data over a set time period. A set of R-wave peaks is identified within the ECG data and an R-R interval plot is constructed. A difference between recording times of successive pairs of the R-wave peaks in the set is determined. A heart rate associated with each difference is also determined. The pairs of the R-wave peaks and associated heart rate are plotted as the R-R interval plot. A diagnosis of cardiac disorder is facilitated based on patterns of the plotted pairs of the R-wave peaks and the associated heart rates in the R-R interval plot.

Abstract: An exemplary targeted channel selection system may determine a target stimulation rate for a user of a cochlear implant system, determine a pulse width value that is representative of one or more pulse widths that are to be used for stimulation pulses applied by the cochlear implant system to the user during a stimulation session, and determine, based on the target stimulation rate and on the pulse width value, a value for N that is specific to the user. In this example, N represents a total number of analysis channels that are to be selected from M available analysis channels for presentation by the cochlear implant system to the user during a stimulation frame of the stimulation session.

Abstract: A system may include a therapy controller including a telemetry circuit configured to communicate with an implantable or wearable medical device and a processor configured to execute instructions relating to programming the implantable medical device, and a communication circuit operatively coupled to the therapy controller and configured to transfer information between the therapy controller and a remote device. The therapy controller is configured to receive at least one input relating to operation of the implantable medical device, convert the input into proposed programming instructions, apply device programming rules to verify the safety of the proposed programming instructions, and deliver the programming instructions to the implantable or wearable medical device. In an example, the therapy controller is also configured to deliver information about the programming and data from the IPG, such as various data reporting on the IPG status to a remote device using the communication circuit.

Abstract: Blood pump devices having improved rotor design are provided herein. Such blood pump devices include rotors having cantilevered support through a sealed mechanical bearing disposed outside a blood flow path of the device so as to avoid thrombus formation caused by blood contact with the bearing. The bearing means can be rotatably coupled with a proximal portion of the rotor shaft extending outside the fluid path, while a stator drives rotation of the rotor shaft so that one or more rotor blades on a distal portion of the rotor force blood flow through the device. The bearing means may include one or more radial bearings on a proximal portion of the rotor shaft that are isolated from the blood flow path by one or more rotary seals.

Abstract: A multi-branch stimulation electrode is disclosed herein. The multi-branch stimulation electrode can include a plurality of branches that extend from a hub. The branches can each include one or several stimulation contacts that can deliver an electrical current to tissue contacting the stimulation contacts. The stimulation contacts can be electrically connected with the lead. The lead can extend from the hub and can be connected with the pulse generator. The branches can include features to facilitate implantation including, for example, one or several removable stiffening elements.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for monitoring heart rate variability (HRV) are presented. The HRV monitoring systems and devices are adapted to give immediate feedback to the subject concerning their current condition and any pertinent changes in their condition. The HRV monitoring systems and devices detect, analyze, and assess HRV against a pre-determined application or user need. They also have the ability to provide real time notifications based on the system's assessment of a user's heart HRV and changes in the HRV.

Abstract: In embodiments, a WCD system includes one or more transducers that may sense patient parameters from different parts of the patient's body, and thus render physiological inputs from those parameters. First aspects and second aspects may be detected from the physiological inputs. An aggregated first aspect may be generated from the detected first aspects, and an aggregated second aspect may be generated from the detected second aspects. An aggregate analysis score may be determined from the aggregated first aspect and the aggregated second aspect. A shock/no shock determination may be made depending on whether or not the aggregate analysis score meets an aggregate shock criterion. Accordingly, such a WCD system can make shock/no shock determinations by aggregating aspects of multiple patient parameters. Accordingly, multiple inputs are considered in making the shock/no shock determination.