Abstract: The invention relates to an infusate caddy for carrying, organizing, and operating infusate containers containing solutes for preparing dialysate and related fluids for use in dialysis. The infusate containers can be seated in the infusate caddy, and the infusate containers removed from the infusate caddy for restocking, cleaning, or resupply, as needed. The infusate caddy can be positioned or seated in a receiving compartment of a dialysis machine, and can also be removed, as needed, from the dialysis machine.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for interacting with targeted tissue of a patient. The apparatus comprises a central control module, a satellite module, and a lead. The satellite module comprises a processor, a communication module, a switching module, a memory, a sense amp, and a A/D converter. The apparatus is adapted for subcutaneous implantation. The central control module is coupled to the satellite module. The lead is coupled to the satellite module. A programming word comprising information to be sent to the satellite module is provided. The programming word is converted into identifiable groups of pulses corresponding to bits of the programming word. The identifiable groups of pulses are sent to the satellite module. The identifiable groups of pulses are converted to information for providing a therapy to the patient. The energy from the identifiable groups of pulses is stored to power the satellite module.

Abstract: Methods and/or devices may be configured to track effectiveness of pacing therapy by monitoring two or more electrical vectors of the patient's heart during pacing therapy and analyzing at least one feature of a morphological waveform within each of the two or more electrical vectors.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern assessing a degenerative cognitive disorder of a patient based on a plurality of episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. The non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity can be detected from one or more bioelectrical brain signals. A worsening cognitive disorder may be indicated by an increase in one or more of intensity, duration, and frequency of occurrence of the episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. A therapy can be delivered to reduce one or more of intensity, duration, and frequency of occurrence of the episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. The delivery of the therapy can be controlled based on the plurality of episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity.

Abstract: A system includes a stimulation generator, a sensing module, and a processing module. The stimulation generator is configured to generate electrical stimulation. The sensing module is configured to sense electrical physiological signals generated by a patient via a plurality of electrodes. The processing module is configured to determine a power value for each of the plurality of electrodes. Each power value indicates the power of the electrical physiological signals within a frequency band. The processing module is further configured to control the delivery of electrical stimulation to the patient based on the power values.

Abstract: A surgically implantable multiple orifice heart valve having a valve frame with at least two orifices, each of which can accommodate a tissue valve. The multiple orifice heart valve includes a stent frame having a first side, an opposite second side, and multiple orifices or opening, each of which extends from the first side to the second side of the stent frame and is adjacent to at least one of the other multiple orifices or openings.

Abstract: Techniques relate to operating a medical device in response to a detected posture state of a patient. A trigger event such as a request to modify how therapy is being delivered to the patient may cause a determination to be made as to whether the patient's posture state is stable. If the posture state is stable, an association is created between the posture state and one or more therapy parameter values. Over time, a library of such associations is created that may reflect any posture state in three dimensional space, wherein a posture state comprises at least one of a posture and an activity component. The library of associations may be used to automatically control therapy delivery. Similar ones of the associations may automatically be grouped into posture state regions to facilitate more efficient classification of the patient's posture state to control therapy delivery.

Abstract: Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a right ventricular electrode and a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Computing a first degree of resynchronization based on a sum of differences of activation times and corresponding activation times. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Computing a second degree of resynchronization based on the sum of differences of activation times and corresponding activation times.

Abstract: System and method for estimating a remaining capacity of a battery of an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device has a battery producing a current and having a remaining battery capacity, the implantable medical device being configured to utilize a relatively low amount of the current and, in specific instances, a relatively large pulse of the current. The processor is coupled to the battery and configured to calculate an estimate of the remaining battery capacity based, at least in part, on a measured battery parameter and occurrences of the specific instances of delivery of the relatively large pulse of the current.

Abstract: Suction-assisted tissue-engaging devices, systems, and methods are disclosed that can be employed through minimal surgical incisions to engage tissue during a medical procedure through application of suction to the tissue through a suction member applied to the tissue. A shaft is introduced into a body cavity through a first incision, and a suction head is attached to the shaft via a second incision. The suction head is applied against the tissue by manipulation of the shaft and suction is applied to engage the tissue while the medical procedure is performed through the second incision. A system coupled to the shaft and a fixed reference point stabilizes the shaft and suction head. When the medical procedure is completed, suction is discontinued, the suction head is detached from the shaft and withdrawn from the body cavity through the second incision, and the shaft is retracted through the first incision.

Abstract: A system and method for sealing a capacitor bottom in a filtered feedthrough. The feedthrough comprises a ferrule, a capacitor, at least one terminal pin and a support structure. The support structure includes at least one projection that extends into an aperture of the capacitor. The projection includes an opening through which the at least one terminal pin extends such that, in an assembled state, the terminal pin extends through the opening of the projection and the aperture of the capacitor.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern delivering electrical stimulation to the brain at a plurality of different levels of a stimulation parameter and sensing a bioelectrical response of the brain to delivery of the electrical stimulation for each of the plurality of different levels of the stimulation parameter. A suppression window of the stimulation parameter can be identified as having a suppression threshold as a lower boundary and an after-discharge threshold as an upper boundary based on the sensed bioelectrical responses. A therapy level of the stimulation parameter can be set for therapy delivery based on the suppression window. The therapy level of the stimulation parameter may be set closer to the suppression threshold than the after-discharge threshold within the suppression window. Data for hippocampal stimulation demonstrating a suppression window is presented.

Abstract: Controller, system and method for an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes, said implantable device being capable of delivering a therapeutic stimulation to a patient. An electrode interface is operatively coupled between a plurality of electrodes and a control module. The control module uses an electrode interface to obtain a plurality of measurements of impedance values for a plurality of selected pairs of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes. A user interface displays an indicia, indicative of operability of a group of at least one of said plurality of electrodes, based on a comparison of said plurality of measurements to a predetermined range, said indicia being a qualitative representation of operability of said group of at least one of said plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A system for securing at least one electrode to an anatomy is provided. The system can include a first plate, which can include at least one first passage. The at least one first passage can be configured to receive a lead of the at least one electrode. The system can also include a second plate configured to move relative to the first plate. The movement of the second plate relative to the first plate can couple the second plate to the first plate such that the second plate at least partially occludes the at least one passage of the first plate to secure the lead of the at least one electrode to the anatomy.

Abstract: System for transcutaneous energy transfer. An implantable medical device, adapted to be implanted in a patient, has componentry for providing a therapeutic output. The implantable medical device has an internal power source and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the internal power source. An external power source, having a primary coil, provides energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device and thereby generates a current in the internal power source. An alignment indicator reports the alignment as a function of the current generated in the internal power source with a predetermined value associated with an expected alignment between the primary coil and secondary coil.

Abstract: Delivery devices and methods for percutaneously delivering a prosthetic valve to the heart of a patient. These prosthetic valves may be configured to provide complimentary features that promote optimal placement of the prosthetic valve in a native heart valve, such as the aortic valve, mitral valve, pulmonic valve, and/or tricuspid valve. The delivery device includes a release sheath assembly housed within an outer delivery sheath. A release sheath component of the assembly captures a portion of the prosthetic valve to the delivery device, and effectuates complete release of the prosthetic valve with retraction of the outer sheath.

Abstract: A medical lead is provided for use in a pulse stimulation system of the type which includes a pulse generator for producing electrical stimulation therapy. The lead comprises an elongate insulating body and at least one electrical conductor within the insulating body. The conductor has a proximal end configured to be electrically coupled to the pulse generator and has a DC resistance in the range of 375-2000 ohms. At least one distal electrode is coupled to the conductor.

Abstract: Medical devices, systems and methods are provided and are designed to stretch the stomach wall of a patient to treat obesity. Stretch devices attached to the stomach wall may trigger stretch receptors to expand the stomach into a state of apparent stretching, causing early onset of satiety thereby causing the patient to consume less food. Stretching of the stomach can be achieved by the attachment of stretch devices to the wall of the stomach. The devices may be expandable and contractible and, in some embodiments, may take the form of a device that expands following attachment to a wall of the stomach.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring respiratory function that includes an impedance sensor configured to sense a first thoracic impedance waveform for at least one breath of a patient, a memory configured to store a first threshold slope value, and a processor configured to determine an first breath slope value in response to the impedance waveform, compare the first breath slope value to a first threshold slope value, and determine an indication of respiratory function of the patient in response to the comparing.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring respiratory function that includes an acoustic sensing device sensing an acoustic waveform ocurring during one of an inspiration phase associated with at least one breath of a patient and an expiration phase associated with at least one breath of a patient, and a processor configured to determine changes in high frequency acoustic amplitude associated with the sensed acoustic waveform and, in response to the determined changes in high frequency acoustic amplitude, determine an indication of respiratory function.