Abstract: Provided herein are conjugates of retrograde tracers and cell-deactivating agents useful in targeting the nerve cells' body (soma) of neurons that are associated with pain, spasm or tonus, as well as methods of controllable selective deactivating of these nerve cells and devices for executing the methods.

Abstract: A hybrid powering system for an implanted medical device combines wireless power transfer with transcutaneous wired power transfer and/or control. A ventricular assist device (VAD) can include an implantable controller with a rechargeable battery, and an implantable power receiver antenna for receiving wireless power from a transmitter located outside of the patient's body. The power receiver charges the battery and allows the controller to drive the VAD. The system also includes the ability to connect a hardwired connection via a connector device configured to be implanted percutaneously. The connector device provides a socket for an external power source or an external controller to plug directly into the system, providing hardwired power and/or control to the implanted VAD. When an external controller is connected it causes the implanted controller to stop driving the VAD, in order to avoid short circuiting the VAD.

Abstract: A hybrid powering system for an implanted medical device combines wireless power transfer with transcutaneous wired power transfer and/or control. A ventricular assist device (VAD) can include an implantable controller with a rechargeable battery, and an implantable power receiver antenna for receiving wireless power from a transmitter located outside of the patient's body. The power receiver charges the battery and allows the controller to drive the VAD. The system also includes the ability to connect a hardwired connection via a connector device configured to be implanted percutaneously. The connector device provides a socket for an external power source or an external controller to plug directly into the system, providing hardwired power and/or control to the implanted VAD. When an external controller is connected it causes the implanted controller to stop driving the VAD, in order to avoid short circuiting the VAD.

Abstract: A system for alerting a patient includes a ventricular assist device (VAD), a battery, and an alarm system. All of these components of the system are configured to be implanted within the patient. The implanted alarm system is configured to provide an alert to and from within the patient based on a condition. The alert can be a vibration or an electrical shock, and the condition can be the implanted battery being below a threshold, a failure of the implanted battery, an error of the implanted battery, or an error of the implanted VAD.

Abstract: Multi-cell battery packs can be made safer with certain features that mitigate the consequences of cell failure. Parameters of a cell are monitored to determine when the cell should be disconnected from the pack in case of a fault. The battery is reconfigured to continue operating in a safer mode. An over-charging prevention system reduces the maximum voltage that remaining battery pack can be charged to, so that the cells do not overcharge. Additional circuitry allows the disconnected cell to be periodically reconnected to the battery pack to determine if its conditions have sufficiently improved. The cells also include components for self-powering these cell functions while it is disconnected from the rest of the circuit.

Abstract: A hybrid powering system for an implanted medical device combines wireless power transfer with transcutaneous wired power transfer and/or control. A preferred embodiment for powering a ventricular assist device (VAD) includes an implantable controller with a rechargeable battery, and an implantable power receiver antenna for receiving wireless power from a transmitter located outside of the patient's body. The power receiver charges the battery and allows the controller to drive the VAD. The system also includes the ability to connect a hardwired connection via a connector device configured to be implanted percutaneously. The connector device provides a socket for an external power source or an external controller to plug directly into the system, providing hardwired power and/or control to the implanted VAD. When an external controller is connected it causes the implanted controller to stop driving the VAD, in order to avoid short circuiting the VAD.

Abstract: A system for alerting a patient includes a ventricular assist device (VAD), a battery, and an alarm system. All of these components of the system are configured to be implanted within the patient. The implanted alarm system is configured to provide an alert to and from within the patient based on a condition. The alert can be a vibration or an electrical shock, and the condition can be the implanted battery being below a threshold, a failure of the implanted battery, an error of the implanted battery, or an error of the implanted VAD.

Abstract: A wristwatch wirelessly connected to an implanted medical device such as a VAD is a component of a coplanar energy transfer system. The wristwatch monitors the operation and performance of the VAD or its battery and provides alerts to potentially dangerous situations. The watch can receive signals related to, for example, the current status of the implant (e.g., operating metrics, energy demand, etc.) and current status of the internal battery (e.g., remaining useful life of battery, battery faults, etc.). The wristwatch serves as a redundant external controller of the implanted VAD. The user can interface with the wristwatch to send commands to the VAD and control its performance, power, or charging characteristics with the push of a button. The wristwatch also includes alarm features, which indicate to the user when a fault has occurred or whether there is some situation that requires medical attention.

Abstract: Multi-cell battery packs can be made safer with certain features that mitigate the consequences of cell failure. Parameters of a cell are monitored to determine when the cell should be disconnected from the pack in case of a fault. The battery is reconfigured to continue operating in a safer mode. An over-charging prevention system reduces the maximum voltage that remaining battery pack can be charged to, so that the cells do not overcharge. Additional circuitry allows the disconnected cell to be periodically reconnected to the battery pack to determine if its conditions have sufficiently improved. The cells also include components for self-powering these cell functions while it is disconnected from the rest of the circuit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for identifying conditions in a battery that predict fault or failure, alerting a user to the condition, and providing solutions to mitigate the potential harm that would otherwise result from the fault or failure. Further provided are battery casing designs for improved safety. These systems, devices, and methods are applicable to batteries generally, and are particularly useful in the field of implanted medical devices for mitigating the dangers of battery faults or explosions occurring within the body.

Abstract: An external transmitter inductive coil can be provided in, on, or with a belt designed to be placed externally around a part of a body of a patient. An implantable device (such as a VAD or other medical device) that is implanted within the patient's body has associated with a receiver inductive coil that gets implanted within that part of the patient's body along with the device. The externally-located transmitter inductive coil inductively transfers electromagnetic power into that part of the body and thus to the receiver inductive coil. The implanted receiver inductive coil thus wirelessly receives the inductively-transferred electromagnetic power, and operates the implant.

Abstract: An external transmitter inductive coil can be provided in, on, or with a belt designed to be placed externally around a part of a body of a patient. An implantable device (such as a VAD or other medical device) that is implanted within the patient's body has associated with a receiver inductive coil that gets implanted within that part of the patient's body along with the device. The externally-located transmitter inductive coil inductively transfers electromagnetic power into that part of the body and thus to the receiver inductive coil. The implanted receiver inductive coil thus wirelessly receives the inductively-transferred electromagnetic power, and operates the implant.

Abstract: An external transmitter inductive coil can be provided in, on, or with a belt designed to be placed externally around a part of a body of a patient. An implantable device (such as a VAD or other medical device) that is implanted within the patient's body has associated with a receiver inductive coil that gets implanted within that part of the patient's body along with the device. The externally-located transmitter inductive coil inductively transfers electromagnetic power into that part of the body and thus to the receiver inductive coil. The implanted receiver inductive coil thus wirelessly receives the inductively-transferred electromagnetic power, and operates the implant.

Abstract: An external transmitter inductive coil can be provided in, on, or with a belt designed to be placed externally around a part of a body of a patient. An implantable device (such as a VAD or other medical device) that is implanted within the patient's body has associated with a receiver inductive coil that gets implanted within that part of the patient's body along with the device. The externally-located transmitter inductive coil inductively transfers electromagnetic power into that part of the body and thus to the receiver inductive coil. The implanted receiver inductive coil thus wirelessly receives the inductively-transferred electromagnetic power, and operates the implant.

Abstract: An external transmitter inductive coil can be provided in, on, or with a belt designed to be placed externally around a part of a body of a patient. An implantable device (such as a VAD or other medical device) that is implanted within the patient's body has associated with a receiver inductive coil that gets implanted within that part of the patient's body along with the device. The externally-located transmitter inductive coil inductively transfers electromagnetic power into that part of the body and thus to the receiver inductive coil. The implanted receiver inductive coil thus wirelessly receives the inductively-transferred electromagnetic power, and operates the implant.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for identifying conditions in a battery that predict fault or failure, alerting a user to the condition, and providing solutions to mitigate the potential harm that would otherwise result from the fault or failure. Further provided are battery casing designs for improved safety. These systems, devices, and methods are applicable to batteries generally, and are particularly useful in the field of implanted medical devices for mitigating the dangers of battery faults or explosions occurring within the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to safety precautions and mechanisms, particularly in connection with a wireless energy transfer system which involves the use of a transmitter (or transceiver) external to a patient's body and also a receiver implanted within a part of the patient's body.

Abstract: This embodiment suggests new approach for Endovascular Ventricular Assist Device, using the mathematical objective & principle of superposition allow design and calculation of the body response to VAD pump located in the Aorta. This new approach allows minimal invasive Endovascular VAD that result in similar relief to the heart as partial VAD. Using special power transfer technique will allow wireless power transformation into the aorta.

Abstract: This embodiment suggests new approach for Endovascular Ventricular Assist Device, using the mathematical objective & principle of superposition allow design and calculation of the body response to VAD pump located in the Aorta. This new approach allows minimal invasive Endovascular VAD that result in similar relief to the heart as partial VAD. Using special power transfer technique will allow wireless power transformation into the aorta.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the invention generally involve a convertible power transfer system for supplying wireless energy to an implant. According to certain aspect, a system of the invention includes a convertible inductive coil and a receiver inductive coil. The convertible inductive coil may be disposed externally on a body of a patient and to inductively transmit electromagnetic power. The convertible inductive coil transitions between direct electromagnetic power transfer and passive electromagnetic power transfer. The receiver inductive coil can be implanted within the body and provides received electromagnetic power to the implant. The convertible inductive coil, during passive electromagnetic power transfer, couples to the receiver inductive coil such that the convertible inductive coil and receiver inductive coil operate together as single receiver inductive coil that receives inductively transferred electromagnetic power from a distant transmitter inductive coil.