Abstract: It is known that modern implantable electromedical devices for the stimulation of a physiological function, such as pacemakers, are programmable to work in different stimulating modes and comprise sensing and evaluating means for monitoring the capacity of the battery within the device. In order to achieve a constant time duration between the point in time when the battery capacity drops below a threshold value and the end of life of the battery, said threshold value is varied in dependence on the utilized stimulating mode in such a way that a higher threshold value is selected for a stimulating mode with a high energy consumption and vice versa.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discriminating among the various normal and pathologic tachycardias. In response to the detection of tachycardia, far-field ventricular electrograms sensed using atrial electrodes and far-field atrial electrograms sensed using ventricular electrodes are analyzed in order to categorize the source and type of tachyarrhythmia detected. The detection method and apparatus may be employed in conjunction with dual chamber anti-bradycardia pacemakers to avoid pacemaker mediated tachycardias or may be employed to mediate the delivery of pacing energy or cardioversion/defibrillation shock energy to a malfunctioning heart, in the context of an implantable antitachycardia device.

Abstract: A phantom assembly adapted to simulate a human subject to verify the accuracy of a carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco) measuring device for testing the functional integrity of the subject's alveolar-capillary membrane. The device includes a mouthpiece through which the subject inhales a mixture of carbon monoxide and an inert gas in a predetermined ratio. Then after a breath holding interval the subject exhales into the mouthpiece an alveolar sample whose carbon monoxide content is analyzed by the device to evaluate the subject's condition. The assembly includes a phantom whose chamber is interposable between the mouthpiece of the DLco device and a calibration syringe having a known capacity. Within the chamber cavity is a flow tube that extends between valved mouthpiece and syringe ports on opposing end wall of the chamber.

Abstract: Disposable laparoscopic surgical instruments for insertion through trocar tubes are disclosed. The instruments broadly include: a hollow aluminum tube; an aluminum clevis which is formed separately from the aluminum tube with the distal end of the hollow aluminum tube crimped around the proximal end of the clevis, and with the clevis including a pivot pin; at least one end effector element having a pivot hole through which the pivot pin of the clevis is pivotally engaged, and another through-hole; an aluminum push rod extending at least partially through the hollow aluminum tube and mechanically coupled to the end effector element; and a plastic actuator engaging the proximal end of the push rod and for imparting reciprocal motion to the push rod relative to the aluminum tube, where the reciprocal motion is translated at the clevis into pivotal motion of the end effector element.

Abstract: A defibrillation electrode for implantation on or about the heart and for connection to a defibrillation system. The electrode comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements spaced apart and electrically connected together, thus, increasing the number of discharging edges on the electrode. In a first embodiment, the electrode comprises a plurality of concentric conductive rings electrically connected together. In a second embodiment, the electrode comprises a plurality of conductive planar elements electrically connected together in a generally puzzle-like configuration. In a third embodiment, the electrode comprises electrically conductive wires wrapped around the length of a cardiac catheter. In a fourth embodiment, electrically conductive wires are concentrically spiralled into a spiral patch configuration. In a fifth specific embodiment, a plurality of electrically isolated active sites are provided on the distal portion of an endocardial catheter.

Abstract: An improved pulse oximeter for the measurement of oxygen saturation in the blood, which is faster and more accurate than conventional pulse oximeter. Improved speed and accuracy is attained by elimination of normalization and feedback circuitry and the use of analog to digital converting devices having a wide dynamic range along with a sophisticated computer analysis. The instant invention eliminates inaccurcies resulting from channel matching errors, and detects and eliminates aberrant input data.

Abstract: A sensor for non-invasive measurement of oxygen saturation using the reflection method comprises a red transmitter (55), an infrared transmitter (58) and a receiver (57). The distances between the transmitters and the receiver are selected such that the length of the light path (60, 61) between the red transmitter (55) and the receiver (57) is substantially equal to the length of the light path (62, 63) between the infrared transmitter (58) and the receiver (57). The sensor comprises a further red transmitter (56) which is used for another application at the human body or another tissue characteristics where the depth of penetration at the various wavelengths is different from the shown example. Together with an appropriate oximeter, manual or automatic adaptation is possible. Further signal improvement may be obtained by autocorrelating the received signal, detecting its frequency and cross-correlating it with a pattern function of the same frequency.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for seeking an area of interest within a body. The assembly includes an elongated directable member having a distal end for insertion into the body. The distal end includes a tip portion. The assembly also includes a deflector coupled to the directable member for deflecting the distal end of the directable member to direct the directable member within the body. The assembly further includes a sensor located in close proximity to the top portion of the directable member for sensing an area of interest within the body. The sensor generates an indicator signal upon detection of the area of interest. The assembly still further includes a control unit coupled to the deflector for controlling deflection of the distal end of the directable member by the deflector. The control unit generates a control signal to drive the deflector.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which ultrasonic echo beams is focused three-dimensionally, a probe employs plural transducers arranged in two directions, lateral and azimuth directions. The transducers arranged in each azimuth direction are connected to a transmitting-receiving channel in a transmitting-receiving portion via a switch circuit. The switch circuit operates on the control of a switching controller and can connect a transducer selected by the controller in the azimuth direction to the transmitting-receiving channel. Output signals from the transmitting-receiving portion are supplied to a signal processing portion, in which beam forming for three-dimension echo beams is carried out by using a beam former. Thus, transducers arranged on each line in the lateral direction can be driven simultaneously, resulting in a more compact circuit and a reduced number of transmitting and receiving for better real-time processing.

Abstract: The process comprises the steps of creating three reference points at an object and taking a tomogram of the object such that the three reference points define a first set of positional data in the tomogram. The object is then non-rigidly placed on a support for operation thereupon by an instrument which is mounted at a flexible arm containing sensors for sensing the movements of an instrument tip. The instrument tip is placed at the three reference points in order to create a second set of positional data which are in a fixed relationship to the first set of positional data. When the instrument is inserted into the object placed on the support, the positional data of the instrument tip during the insertion movement are sensed and related to the first set of positional data via the fixed relationship between the first and second sets of positional data.

Abstract: A method for in vivo measurement of oxygen concentration levels in animal bodily fluids or tissues comprises administering a biocompatible fluoroescent probe sensitive to oxygen quenching and having a known unquenched fluorescence intensity to an animal body in an amount sufficient to allow the probe to accumulate in the fluid or tissue, exposing the fluid or tissue to excitation light, measuring fluorescent emission light intensity from the probe in the fluid or tissue and determining the oxygen concentration level of the fluid or tissue by comparing the known unquenched fluorescence intensity and the measured fluorescence intensity. This method preferably uses a biocompatible fluorescent probe comprising pyrenebutyric acid or its biocompatible salt form.

Abstract: Implantable cardiac pacemaker with a plurality of inputs for signal reception and switchable capacitors connected to these inputs, whereby analog signals obtained through signal receivers from external and/or internal sources are consecutively transmitted on a common signal transmission path inside and/or outside the cardiac pacemaker housing.

Abstract: An electrotherapy device and process for treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. The device comprises an antenna formed of a series of spaced conductive strips, a high voltage, high frequency, low power source connected to the antenna, and dielectric shielding for preventing arcing from the device during treatment of a disorder. In the treatment process, a high voltage, high frequency, pulsed source is provided to produce a broad band output corona discharge from the antenna having an electrostatic field extending in frequency from 0 Hz to over 1 GHz and constantly changing randomly in amplitude and frequency. The excited antenna is applied to a body with the corona discharge enveloping a region experiencing a musculoskeletal disorder.

Abstract: This invention is related to an instrument for detecting prolapse in early stages, consists of a three principal parts: an elongated cylindrical rigid plunger with an annular notch, a tubular body with a concave flange and a scale tube where measurement can be taken. This instrument is placed intra-vaginally and its measuring scale is a basis for a diagnosis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe like a biplane probe having two ultrasonic transducers, a switch for selecting one of the ultrasonic transducers, a transmitting-receiving system for driving an ultrasonic transducer selected by the switch to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, a B-mode image producing means responsive to a receive signal from the ultrasonic transducer driven by the transmitting-receiving system for producing an ultrasonic cross-sectional image, a scanning-plane mark generator for generating a scanning-plane mark indicating the positional relationship between the ultrasonic scanning plane formed by the ultrasonic transducer selected by the switch and the other ultrasonic scanning plane formed by the other ultrasonic transducer and a TV monitor for displaying a superimposition image in which the scanning-plane mark generated by the scanning-plane mark generator is superimposed on the ultrasonic cross-sectional image produced by the B-mode image producing system

Abstract: An implantable device for the treatment of malfunctions of a patient's heart is disclosed. The device includes a first modality for sensing an electrical function in the patient's heart and providing a first signal representative of such electrical function, and a second modality for sensing an haemodynamic function in the patient's heart and providing a second signal representative of such haemodynamic function. The device is also provided with first circuitry that is primarily responsive to the signal from one of the sensing modalities for analyzing the state of the heart's function and providing any required electrical shock therapy to the heart. The device further includes second circuitry that is responsive to uncertainty in regard to the therapy to be provided by the first circuitry and is operative to change the responsiveness of the first circuitry to the signal provided by the other of the sensing modalities for controlling the therapy that is to be provided to the heart.

Abstract: In an implantable antiarryhythmia pacemaker, an automatic cardiac arrhythmia detection and classification monitoring apparatus and method for measuring stimulated intracardiac electrogram potentials, deriving therefrom a paced depolarization integral (PDI), analyzing time-based changes in the PDI, detecting and classifying harmful cardiac rhythms while distinguishing harmful from benign tachycardias, and automatically establishing and initiating an appropriate therapy, if necessary, to revert the arrhythmia condition.

Abstract: Pulse compensation is disclosed for electronic devices capable of producing a pulse output signal suitable for therapeutic purposes with pulse compensation being automatically provided upon sensing of a change in the conditions being monitored. The electronic device, which preferably includes a micro-computer, has externally accessible pulse width and intensity controls for determining the width and amplitude of pulses then being delivered. Upon each sensing of a change in a monitored condition capable of causing user discomfort or possible injury, the intensity of the pulses then being delivered is quickly reduced and then gradually increased toward the full intensity requested by the intensity control.

Abstract: A transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator having a plurality of treatment modes and producing a low-frequency pulse of a frequency corresponding to a selected treatment mode is provided with a plurality of indicators in association with the respective treatment modes such that one of the indicators corresponding to the selected treatment mode is caused to blink in synchronism with the produced low-frequency pulse.

Abstract: Non-invasive apparatus and method for obtaining a quantitative determination of mean left atrial pressure or otherwise obtaining a quantitative determination of a left atrial pressure value. A balloon is inserted by means of a catheter into the esophagus and positioned adjacent the left atrium. The balloon is gradually inflated. A tracing of mean balloon pressure is obtained as the balloon is inflated. In addition, a tracing of balloon pressure on a steady baseline and with low frequency oscillations due to respiration filtered out is obtained whereby the tracing represents balloon pressure oscillations effected by left atrial pressure. In accordance with the oscillometric principle the mean balloon pressure is measured at the time when the amplitude of the balloon pressure oscillations effected by the left atrial pressure is at a peak. This mean balloon pressure is indicative of approximate mean left atrial pressure.