Abstract: An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The forceps also includes a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. A generally tube-like cutter is included which is slidably engaged about the elongated shaft and which is selectively movable about the elongated shaft to engage and cut tissue on at least one side of the jaw members while the tissue is engaged between jaw members.

Abstract: Cosmetic method and apparatus are provided that can provide cooling and/or freezing of skin tissue proximal to the skin surface to generate an appearance of lightening or reduced pigmentation in the skin. The skin can be cooled to a temperature of less than about ?5 degrees Celsius for a duration of about one minute or less, using a cooled surface that is at least 3 cm in width. A cooling arrangement can be provided to provide controlled heat removal from the skin tissue being treated. A sensor can optionally be provided to detect freezing of tissue proximal to the cooled surface.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for bonding body tissue includes a shank and first and second tool elements which are movable relative to each other and include a respective electrode. The electrodes define a minimum distance from each other, are opposed to each other and face each other in an approximating position of the tool elements. The first tool element is arranged or formed at the distal end of the shank, so that a mechanical load of anastomoses of body tissue parts produced by current flow is minimized when removing the surgical instrument. The second tool element is adapted to be brought from an operating position, in which it can be brought into the approximating position, into a removing position, in which a peripheral withdrawing line defined by the electrode of the second tool element is shorter than a peripheral approximating line defined by the electrode in the approximating position.

Abstract: A neuromonitoring needle electrode placement gun which includes a housing, at least a first needle electrode and housing assembly, an elongated channel dimensioned and configured for accommodating axial movement of the at least a first needle electrode and housing assembly within the channel and for directing movement of the at least a first needle electrode and housing assembly and a pusher dimensioned and configured for engaging the at least a first needle electrode and housing assembly and for axially displacing the at least a first needle electrode and housing assembly.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a handle and a catheter component operatively connected to the handle for selective adjustment by an actuator associated with the handle housing. The actuator comprises at least in part a generally cylindrical shuttle disposed at least in part within the housing for longitudinal movement. The catheter component is operatively coupled to the shuttle for movement therewith. The shuttle has an outer surface with an annular groove formed therein, and an elastomeric ring seated in the annular groove. An annular slide bearing is retained in the housing, with the shuttle being in part disposed in the annular groove and with the elastomeric ring in frictional contact with the slide bearing. Friction between the elastomeric ring and the slide bearing is sufficient to frictionally retain the shuttle at a selected longitudinal position relative to the housing corresponding to a selected adjustment of the catheter component.

Abstract: An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes an elongated shaft having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The forceps also includes a source of electrical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. A generally tube-like cutter is included which is slidably engaged about the elongated shaft and which is selectively movable about the elongated shaft to engage and cut tissue on at least one side of the jaw members while the tissue is engaged between jaw members.

Abstract: Vector selection is automatically achieved via a thoracic or intracardiac impedance signal collected in a cardiac function management device or other implantable medical device that includes a test mode and a diagnostic mode. During a test mode, the device cycles through various electrode configurations for collecting thoracic impedance data. At least one figure of merit is calculated from the impedance data for each such electrode configuration. In one example, only non-arrhythmic beats are used for computing the figure of merit. A particular electrode configuration is automatically selected using the figure of merit. During a diagnostic mode, the device collects impedance data using the selected electrode configuration. In one example, the figure of merit includes a ratio of a cardiac stroke amplitude and a respiration amplitude. Other examples of the figure of merit are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a cardiac event in a medical device that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes forming a first sensing vector and a second sensing vector, advancing from a first state to a second state in response to processing of an interval associated with a cardiac cycle of the sensed cardiac signals, and advancing from the second state in response to processing of a cardiac signal sensed during a predetermined sensing window.

Abstract: A system and method for stimulating a nerve, wherein the system includes a first waveform generator adapted to generate a first waveform having a frequency capable of stimulating a predetermined nerve of the mammal, a second waveform generator adapted to generate a carrier waveform having a frequency capable of passing through tissue of the mammal, a modulation device electrically coupled to the first and second waveform generators and adapted to modulate the first and carrier waveforms to create a modulated waveform, and an electrode electrically coupled to the modulation device and positioned substantially adjacent to skin of the mammal, and adapted to apply the modulated waveform thereto.

Abstract: A communication device for an implantable medical device may include: an input/output interface configured to communicate with a wireless communication device; a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system; and a processor configured to perform an analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the input/output interface and associated with the implantable medical device. The communication device may include a user interface configured to receive data input by a user. A communication system may include a wireless communication device and the aforementioned communication device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for desynchronization of neural illness-synchronous brain activity in which the activities in at least two subareas of a brain area or at least two functionally associated brain areas are stimulated by means of at least two electrodes. In the case of a person with an illness, desynchronization therapy suppresses symptoms in the relevant neuron population. The feedback stimulation signal, that is to say the measured, time-delayed and process neural activity, is used as an individual stimulus. This results in self-regulated, demand control of the amplitude of the stimulation signal, thus minimizing the intensity of the stimulation stimuli automatically after successful desynchronization. The apparatus has at least two stimulation electrodes and at least one sensor, which are driven by a controller such that they result in desynchronization in their local environment.

Abstract: An implantable medical apparatus for detecting diastolic heart failure, DHF, has a DHF determining device for determining at least one DHF parameter for detecting a DHF state of the heart of a patient. The DHF includes circuitry for determining, as the DHF parameter, the time duration of a predetermined phase of diastole. A pacemaker has such an apparatus and a control unit that optimizes pacing therapy and pacemaker settings depending on the determined time duration. A corresponding method of detecting diastolic heart failure, DHF, includes determining at least one DHF parameter for detecting a DHF state of the heart of a patient. As the DHF parameter, the time duration of a predetermined phase of diastole is determined.

Abstract: A system to monitor heart sounds. The system comprises an implantable heart sound sensor configured to produce an electrical signal representative of at least one heart sound, an implantable posture sensor operable to produce an electrical signal representative of a patient's posture, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to determine a patient posture, measure at least one heart sound in correspondence with at least one corresponding patient posture, adjust the heart sound measurement by using the corresponding determined patient posture to reduce or remove variation in the heart sound measurement due to patient posture, detect a change in the adjusted heart sound measurement, and provide an indication of congestive heart failure to a user or an automated process in response to the detected change.

Abstract: A visual prosthesis apparatus and a method for limiting power consumption in a visual prosthesis apparatus. The visual prosthesis apparatus comprises a camera for capturing a video image, a video processing unit associated with the camera, the video processing unit configured to convert the video image to stimulation patterns, and a retinal stimulation system configured to stop stimulating neural tissue in a subject's eye based on the stimulation patterns when an error is detected in a forward telemetry received from the video processing unit.

Abstract: Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems provide monitoring, defibrillation and/or pacing therapies. A signal processor receives a plurality of composite signals associated with a plurality of sources, separates a signal using a source separation algorithm, and identifies a cardiac signal using a selected vector. The signal processor may iteratively separate signals from the plurality of composite signals until the cardiac signal is identified. The selected vector may be updated if desired or necessary. A method of signal separation involves detecting a plurality of composite signals at a plurality of locations, separating a signal using source separation, and selecting a vector that provides a cardiac signal. The separation may include a principal component analysis and/or an independent component analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a cardiac event in a medical device that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes, charging an energy storage device in response to the sensed cardiac signals, determining whether the charging of the energy storage device is completed, and determining whether the cardiac event is confirmed in response to an asynchronous look back.

Abstract: A holster that may be donned in a first configuration for charging a pectorally implanted medical device on the patient's right side, a second configuration for charging a pectorally implanted medical device on the patient's left side, or a third configuration for use as a waist belt for charging a pectorally implanted medical device on either side of the patient.

Abstract: A device, such as an implantable cardiac device, and methods for determining exercise diagnostic parameters of a patient are disclosed. Specifically, a maximum observed heart rate of a patient during exercise can be identified when an activity level and a heart rate measurement of the patient exceed predetermined thresholds. Included are methods for filtering out premature heartbeats or noise from the maximum heart rate determination. Methods of determining other exercise parameters, such as workload are also disclosed. The device includes hardware and/or software for performing the described methods.

Abstract: A system and method of positioning an interface element for interfacing with laryngeal structures in a subject such as for diagnosis or treatment of a laryngeal impairment is presented. Illustratively, a curved hollow needle system is inserted into a subperichondral space beneath posterior cricoarytenoid muscle from the larynx. The curved hollow needle system is pushed in a curve around cartilage at least until the curved hollow needle is seen from outside of a body of the subject. The curved hollow needle system is retracted back into the larynx along a retraction route. At least one interface element is positioned at a desired position along the retraction route.

Abstract: An implantable medical electrical lead particularly for stimulation of the sacral nerves comprises a lead body extending between a distal end and a proximal end, and the distal end having at least one electrode of an electrode array extending longitudinally from the distal end toward the proximal end. A fixation mechanism is formed on or integrally with the lead body proximal to the electrode array that is adapted to be implanted in an engage subcutaneous tissue, particularly muscle tissue, to inhibit axial movement of the lead body and dislodgement of the stimulation electrodes.