Abstract: An implantable medical device determines activity levels over a set of time periods, preferably on the order of seconds, minutes and hours and a display is enabled for days or weeks at recorded activity levels over a range of dates. This enables physical review of patient functional status. Additional physiologic data can be recorded along with the activity data, and this too may be reported out from the implanted device to a medical communications system for alarm purposes, filtrating drugs or other monitoring tasks.

Abstract: A distributed activation system for a unitary sheet of electrically conductive or insulative shape memory alloy having a sufficiently small section to limit the lateral flow of heat including at least one heating element disposed on the shape memory alloy sheet for locally heating an adjacent portion of the sheet such that the adjacent portion assumes a predetermined shape when activated to its threshold temperature. The activation system may be configured for shape memory alloy apparatus and related methods in combination with a control system for selectively activating discrete-shape memory alloy portions with various combinations of at least one heating element that receive an adjustable current such that the resultant local heating causes the sheet to assume a desired overall shape. Methods of forming and selectively activating two-dimensional sheets of electrically conducive and insulative shape memory alloy are further provided.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which multiple service requests of a global transaction are processed by a single server application program instance without the use of multiple intermediate communication server instances. A client application program instance initiates a global transaction that results in multiple service requests to be processed according to the logic of a server application program. A single server application program instance is started to process the multiple service requests. For each of the multiple service requests, an associated transaction message control endpoint is provided to the single server application program instance. The single server application program instance monitors the associated endpoints for transaction control messages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for normalizing waveform information displayed on a medical device. This waveform normalization allows the user to quickly adjust individual waveforms if they exceed the normal viewing range on the display. An electrogram signal is received from an implantable medical device. The electrogram signal is continuously transformed into a plurality of voltage data samples. A waveform is created from the plurality of voltage data samples, and the waveform is displayed on a medical display device. A user selectable waveform normalization control is located adjacent each displayed waveform on the medical display device. Upon activation of the waveform normalization control, the adjacent waveform is normalized to a pre-determined nominal height on the display.

Abstract: An implantable medical device and a method of operation thereof. The implantable device includes apparatus for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter of a patient and control circuitry for modifying operation of the device. The device further includes an audio receiver responsive to sequences of DTMF tones and coupled to the control circuitry, which modifies the operation of the device responsive to received DTMF tone sequences. The device preferably includes a telemetry system and the control circuitry may modify operation of the telemetry system responsive to received DTMF tone sequences. In addition or alternatively, the control circuitry may modify operation of the apparatus for delivering a therapy to a patient or monitoring a physiologic parameter responsive to received DTMF tone sequences. The device may further include an audio tone generator for generating a tone or series of tones indicative of operation or status of the device.

Abstract: Multifunction and radial deflection wires (66, 64) extend from a catheter shaft (8) and into a handle (4). The multifunction wire is pulled and pushed longitudinally and is rotated about its axis to change the stiffness of and to laterally deflect the tip portion (12). A curve size manipulator (32) on the handle body (24) moves the multifunction wire longitudinally but does not hinder its rotational movement. Rotation of a lateral deflection manipulator (38) on the handle causes the proximal end (70) of the multifunction wire to rotate about its own axis; the free longitudinal movement of the proximal end is unhindered. Any initial corkscrewing or other deflection of the tip portion can be removed at assembly by rotating the proximal end (68) of the radial deflection wire. The longitudinal movement of the manipulators can be limited by movable stops (120).

Abstract: A deflectable guiding catheter generally having an elongated shaft with a deflectable distal section, a second lumen, a first lumen in fluid communication with a port in the distal end of the shaft, an elongated tapered deflection line within the second lumen, and reinforcement strands within a wall of the shaft. The first lumen is independent from the second lumen, and is therefore not obstructed by the deflection line. The longitudinal axes of the second lumen and first lumen are axially aligned with respect to one another, and are eccentric to the shaft longitudinal axis. The reinforcement strands and the deflection line extend in at least a portion of the deflectable distal shaft section to a location spaced proximally of the distal end of the deflectable distal shaft section.

Abstract: A system and method for adding a queue entry containing message data to a queue shared by communicating, sequential processes includes an enqueue instruction. The enqueue instruction attaches a queue entry to either the tail or the head of the shared queue, as specified by an application programmer. Execution of the enqueue instruction includes blocking access to the queue by other processes, updating queue linkages, activating processes waiting on entries being made to the queue, monitoring interrupts, and validating the appropriate queue data structures. If desired, in lieu of adding a queue entry containing message data to the queue, the enqueue instruction inserts an event indicator into the shared queue structure, thereby providing synchronization capabilities between communicating processes.

Abstract: A left atrium ablation catheter (4), including a sheath (8) and a deflectable electrophysiology catheter (10) housed within the sheath, is used to ablate coronary tissue at a target site within the left atrium (LA) of a heart. The electrophysiology catheter has ablation electrodes (24) along the tip (10). The ablation catheter is introduced into the right atrium (RA) through either the superior vena cava (SVC) or the inferior vena cava (IVC). The distal open end of the sheath is guided through a punctured hole in the interatrial septum and into the left atrium. The distal end (20) of the sheath is either precurved or is steerable so the electrode tip can be directed to the coronary target site in the left atrium. The electrode tip is sized and configured to create the desired lesion at the target site without movement of the electrode tip.

Abstract: An improved maintenance system and interface for use in a large-scale data processing system is provided. Within the data processing system, logic is partitioned into multiple logical groups. Each of the groups is associated with a bi-directional port, and each group may be intercoupled to other groups via the associated port. Within each of the groups, an internal condition detection circuit selectively monitors selected logic circuits to detect the presence of certain predetermined conditions or events. When an internal condition is detected, a notification is provided to the bi-directional port and broadcast over the interface to all other logic groups simultaneously. Each logic group further includes an external condition detection circuit interconnected to the respective bi-directional port whereby condition indicators are received from other logic groups as an external condition indicator.

Abstract: An object management system is providing for managing, cataloging, and discovering various potentially reusable code and data components that exist within an Information Technology (IT) platform, and which each have well-defined interfaces with other components. For each of these re-usable code and data components, an associated software object called an “asset element” is created that describes the associated component. Relationships are created between various asset elements to represent the relationships existing between the software components. Other software objects called “locator elements” are created that each describes an application concept or sub-concept. This application concept or sub-concept is associated with a problem solved by the code and data components within the IT platform. Relationships are created between the various locator elements to correlate the concepts and sub-concepts to software constructs represented by asset elements.

Abstract: A control system and interface is provided for controlling the transmission of address and data signals via independently operative bi-directional address and data interfaces, respectively, within a data processing system. The system allows address signals to be transferred via the address interface either before, or after, associated data signals are transferred. The address interface operates at a rate which is independent of the rate achieved on the data interface. Address signals transferred on the address interface are stored in one of a plurality of address storage devices depending on request type. A routing circuit associates later-provided data signals with the address storage device storing the associated address signals, and a correlation circuit allows the address storage device to record the data transfer with the associated address signals. According to one embodiment, the correlation is performed using a pointer indicative of a storage location temporarily storing the data signals.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for selectively injecting interrupts within the instruction stream of a data processing system. The system includes a programmable storage device for storing interrupt injection signals, each of which is associated with a respective machine instruction. When execution of the associated machine instruction is initiated, the stored signal is read from the storage device and is made available to the interrupt logic within the instruction processor. If set to a predetermined logic level, the signal causes an interrupt to be injected within the instruction processor. The system provides the capability to simultaneously inject different types of interrupts, including fault and non-fault interrupts, during the execution of any instruction. The invention further provides a programmable means for injecting errors at predetermined intervals in the instruction stream.

Abstract: An AV search method and apparatus is taught with some variation. It allows a pacemaker to find the appropriate AV interval so as to avoid pacing in the ventricle when it is not necessary, even if there is intermittent AV conduction in the patient. Also, there is an adaptive PVARP method and apparatus that allows the PVARP and AV interval to be adjusted together automatically.

Abstract: A method for detecting the most likely source of an error in a document image processing system which processes sets of related documents. A set of characteristics is selected as being indicative that the document image, or item, is the source of the error. Each of the characteristics is assigned a weight, wherein the weight is in proportion to the likelihood that an item exhibiting the characteristic is the source of error. The items are ranked according to the characteristics exhibited by each item.

Abstract: A telemetry system and method includes an implantable medical device implanted in a body and an external communication device, e.g., a programmer. The implanted device includes a housing having transmitter/receiver circuitry positioned therein. The external communication device includes transmitter/receiver circuitry connected to an antenna thereof. The transmitter/receiver circuitry of the implanted device is electrically coupled to the body such that the body functions as an antenna for the implanted device to facilitate communication of data between the implanted device and the external communication device.

Abstract: A method of interfacing multiple requests using a request hold register, a multiplexer and a snapshot register with multiple requests directed into both the request hold register and a multiplexer which prevents forwarding the requests to the snapshot register if the snapshot register is not in a receiving condition but if the snapshot register is in a receiving condition allows the request to immediately enter snapshot register without having to wait for the next clock cycle.

Abstract: A system and method for interprocess communication between concurrently executing, cooperating sequential processes in a digital computer system uses a shared memory queue as a mechanism for message passing and process synchronization. Data to be transferred from a sending process to a receiving process is stored in a queue entry which is visible in the virtual address space of the first process. The queue entry is added to a queue by the sending process directing the processor to execute an enqueue instruction. The receiving process removes the queue entry from the queue by directing the processor to execute a dequeue instruction. The receiving process then has direct access and visibility to the contents of the queue entry without having to copy the data into its virtual address space. Instead of sending data in a queue entry, a sending process may send an event indicator and no data.

Abstract: A serial speed-matching buffer for transferring data signals between a selectable one of multiple transferring units to one or more receiving units. The serial speed-matching buffer has a plurality of registers which may each be selectably configured in load mode to receive data signals from selectable ones of the transferring units. Data signals provided to the speed-matching buffer from a selectable one of the transferring units may be made available to the receiving unit during the next clock period. This is an improvement over a rank-of-registers speed-matching buffer which generally inflicts a delay prior to the first word of any transfer. When not conditioned in load mode, each of the registers defaults to a serial chain mode in which data signals may be received from an associated adjacent one of the registers, and wherein a predetermined one of the registers provides data signals at the receiving rate.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the execution rate of an instruction processor on an instruction-by-instruction basis in a data processing system. The user controls the execution rate by specifying "cycle-slip" data for each instruction type in the instruction set. This cycle-slip data is used to force the instruction processor to idle for the specified number of execution cycles during the execution of the associated instruction type, thereby slowing down the rate of execution. Allowing rate control data to be unique for each instruction type allows temporary fixes to be implemented when timing-related hardware problems are discovered during system test. If desired, a uniform number of cycle slips can be imposed on all instructions so that the overall rate of the instruction processor is tailored to match the execution rate of slower peripheral devices.