Abstract: A method is provided for use with a human subject. The method includes accessing a cardiac site via a vena cava of the subject, and alleviating heart failure of the subject by applying to the cardiac site, during a refractory period of the site, a refractory-period signal that affects the left ventricle of the subject's heart. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: External control devices, neurostimulation systems, and programming methods. A neurostimulator includes a feature having a numerical range. Information identifying a type of the neurostimulator is transmitted to an external control device. The external control device receives the information from the neurostimulator, identifies the type of the neurostimulator based on the received information, and programs the neurostimulator in accordance with the numerical range of the feature corresponding to the identified type of the neurostimulator.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and devices for managing health conditions associated with posture. The devices can be configured to monitor patient body angles and alert caregivers when measurements are outside a recommended range for the health condition. The methods and devices can facilitate patient compliance and assist caregivers in adhering to action plans.

Abstract: A contacting device for electrical connections to flexible electrode lines insertable or implantable into a patient body, includes a line coil with a plurality of coradially bundled coil wires, an inner fixing sleeve for a partial bundle of the coil wires, the fixing sleeve has a through-slit running in the axial direction for the partial bundle of the coil wires, and a winding groove running in the peripheral direction for the partial bundle led through, an outer electrode sleeve sitting on the inner fixing sleeve and electrically contacted with the partial bundle, and a strain-resistant fixing between the fixing sleeve and the partial bundle guided through the through-slit via an application of force on the partial bundle by pressing the fixing sleeve onto the line coil to produce plastic deformation and by looping the led-out partial bundle around the fixing sleeve in the winding groove by a minimum looping angle.

Abstract: An integrated catheter placement system for accurately placing a catheter within a patient's vasculature is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated system comprises a system console, a tip location sensor for temporary placement on the patient's chest, and an ultrasound probe. The tip location sensor senses a magnetic field of a stylet disposed in a lumen of the catheter when the catheter is disposed in the vasculature. The ultrasound probe ultrasonically images a portion of the vasculature prior to introduction of the catheter. ECG signal-based catheter tip guidance is included in the integrated system to enable guidance of the catheter tip to a desired position with respect to a node of the patient's heart. Various means for establishing a conductive pathway between a sterile field of the patient and a non-sterile field to enable passage of ECG signals from the catheter to the tip location sensor are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to securing electrodes of a medical lead adjacent to a target tissue site. The medical lead may include at least one adhesive element disposed along a longitudinal outer surface of the lead body to adhere the adjacent tissue to the lead. Adhesive elements may be disposed proximal to, distal to, or in-between the electrodes of the lead. Each adhesive element may be inactive during lead implantation and activated by removing a covering sheath to expose the adhesive elements to moisture in the tissue or presenting an energy, e.g. ultraviolet light, to the adhesive elements. Once active, the adhesive elements secure the lead to surrounding tissue to prevent migration of the electrodes from the target tissue.

Abstract: Software and apparatus are provided to automatically detect and map areas of complex fractionated electrograms within cardiac chambers. Electrogram signal are analyzed to count the number of complexes whose amplitude and peak-to-peak intervals meet certain criteria. Functional maps indicating average complex interval, shortest complex interval, and confidence levels are produced for display.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods are provided for automatically identifying a problem with sensing heart activity. In use, a plurality of heartbeats is sensed utilizing an implantable medical device. Further, data associated with the heartbeats is collected and stored. To this end, a problem with the sensing of the heartbeats (e.g., oversensing, undersensing, etc.) may be automatically identified and corrected, utilizing the data.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, or system to identify optimal parameters for programming a cardiac stimulator by a matrix-based decision algorithm using sensor data representing cardiovascular function. The parameters include pacing intervals optimized concurrently to produce the maximum resulting cardiac function.

Abstract: An implantable medical device applies an electric signal to at least a portion of a heart in a subject. A resulting electric signal is collected from the heart and is used together with the applied signal for determining a cardiogenic impedance signal. The impedance signal is processed in order to estimate an isovolumetric contraction time, an isovolumetric relaxation time and an ejection time for a heart cycle. These three time parameters are employed for calculating a Tei-index of the heart. The Tei-index can be used as myocardial performance parameter in heart diagnosis and/or cardiac therapy adjustment.

Abstract: A method and medical device for detecting a cardiac event that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes forming a first sensing vector and a second sensing vector, determining, in response to the cardiac event being identified as a shockable event, a first R-wave morphology corresponding to R-waves of a next interval subsequently sensed along the first sensing vector during the predetermined sensing window and a second R-wave morphology corresponding to R-waves of a next interval subsequently sensed along the second sensing vector, determining whether the next interval subsequently sensed along the first sensing vector and the next interval subsequently sensed along the second sensing vector satisfy a morphology metric, and identifying the cardiac event as one of a monomorphic ventricular tachycardia and a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in response to the determined first R-wave morphology, second R-wave morphology, and the next interval subsequently se

Abstract: A system and method to determine pulse transit time using a handheld device. The method includes generating an electrocardiogram (EKG) for a user of the handheld device. Two portions of the user's body are in contact with two contact points of the handheld device. The method also includes de-noising the EKG to identify a start time when a blood pulse leaves a heart of the user. The method further includes de-noising a plurality of video images of the user to identify a pressure wave indicating an arterial site and a time when the pressure wave appears. Additionally, the method includes determining the PTT based on the de-noised EKG and the de-noised video images.

Abstract: A semi-automated AED with a second shock switch. In an illustrative embodiment, programming running on the AED after prompting a user of the AED to push a shock switch looks to see if an event associated with pushing the shock switch, such as the delivery of a shock, has occurred. If the event being monitored for has not occurred within a given time, the user is prompted to push another button to initiate the event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a neurological disorder comprising determining a first set of neural stimulation parameters capable of treating a first subset of symptoms, determining a second set of neural stimulation parameters capable of treating a second subset of symptoms, and applying a neural stimulation therapy based upon the first set of neural stimulation parameters and the second set of neural stimulation parameters to the patient. The first set of neural stimulation parameters can include electrical stimulation at a first frequency, and the second set of neural stimulation parameters can include electrical stimulation at a second frequency. In other embodiments, a treatment method comprises applying a first neural stimulation therapy to the patient in a continuous or generally continuous manner during a first time interval, and applying a second neural stimulation therapy to the patient in a noncontinuous or interrupted manner following the first time interval.

Abstract: An antenna for an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided that is formed on the same substrate as the telemetry circuitry for the IMD. The telemetry circuitry is formed on a portion of the substrate within the interior of a housing for the IMD, while at least one antenna is formed on an exterior portion of the substrate on the exterior of the housing to allow for far field telemetry. At least one electrical interconnect is formed on the substrate for connecting the antenna to the telemetry circuitry, where the electrical interconnect may comprise a controlled impedance line to minimize loss. A conformally-shaped hermetic cover, such as a ceramic material, may be formed in a desired shape around the exterior portion of the substrate and antenna and cofired together to form a monolithic structure encasing the antenna and exterior portion of the substrate.

Abstract: An implantable electrical lead is provided. The electrical lead comprises an electrically insulative, flexible, elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, an electrical contact carried by the distal end of the lead body, an electrical terminal carried by the proximal end of the lead body, an electrical conductor axially extending within the lead body between the electrical contact and the electrical terminal, and a stiffening tube extending within the proximal end of the lead body from a point proximal to the terminal to a point distal to the terminal and proximal to the electrode. An implantable lead assembly kit comprises the implantable electrical lead, and a connector configured for firmly receiving the proximal end of the lead body. A method of implanting the electrical lead comprises introducing the electrical lead into a patient.

Abstract: Neurostimulators and methods of using neurostimulators are provided. The neurostimulator is implanted within a tissue pocket of a patient, and electrical energy is conveyed from the neurostimulator to stimulate a target tissue site remote from the tissue pocket. The neurostimulator has a case with which one or more electrodes are associated. The electrical energy is returned to the electrode(s) in a manner that prevents, or at least reduces, pocket stimulation that may otherwise occur due to the return of electrical energy to the case of the neurostimulator.

Abstract: A blood pump has a hollow body in which an impeller with a spiral blading produces an axial propulsion of blood along the impeller, as well as an at least partly actively stabilized magnetic bearing device and a hydrodynamic bearing device for the impeller. The impeller may be set into a rotation about a rotation axis of the impeller with a motor stator located outside the hollow body. The hollow body has an inlet for the flow of blood into the hollow body in an inflow direction which is essentially parallel to the rotation axis, and an outlet for the outflow of the blood out of the hollow body in an outflow direction which is offset to the rotation axis of the impeller to produce a non-zero outflow angle (?) between the inflow direction and the outflow direction. A total artificial heart can be formed from two such blood pumps.

Abstract: A system and method for cardiac rhythm management using a programmable cardiac rhythm management device is described, wherein the method includes storing parameter interaction constraints between different programmable parameters, storing programmable parameters for the device, wherein each programmable parameter has a predefined set of possible values, wherein one programmable parameter is a delay value, and calculating initial seed values for user-set delay range input fields, wherein the seed values do not violate any parameter interaction constraints and maximize the difference between ends of the user-set delay range, wherein the user-set delay range provides the outer limits of a programmed delay value. The method further includes presenting an input screen to the user on a user display device, wherein the input screen comprises user-set delay range input fields containing the initial seed values.

Abstract: A heart monitor is disclosed including an electroacoustic transducer such as an earphone coupled to a controller. The transducer is positioned in a person's ear in acoustic communication with the tympanum. Signals from the transducer are processed to determine the presence of pulsatile blood flow. The heart monitor may be incorporated into a defibrillator to sense the presence of blood flow for use in a shock delivery decision.