Abstract: A system and method for providing diagnosis and monitoring of congestive heart failure for use in automated patient care is described. At least one recorded physiological measure is compared to at least one other recorded physiological measure on a substantially regular basis to quantify a change in patient pathophysiological status for equivalent patient information. An absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of congestive heart failure is evaluated dependent upon the change in patient pathophysiological status.

Abstract: A system and method for generating baseline data for automated management of cardiovascular pressure is disclosed. Collected device measures are accumulated to record raw physiometry for a patient, wherein the patient is regularly monitored by an implantable medical device, beginning with an initial observation period. Derived device measures are generated to provide derivative physiometry determined at least in part from the collected device measures. A patient status indicator is determined by analyzing the collected and derived device measures to diagnose a pathophysiology indicative of an absence, onset, progression, regression, and status quo in cardiovascular pressure, wherein the collected and derived device measures and the patient status indicator originating from the initial observation period include baseline data.

Abstract: A system and method for determining patient-specific implantable medical device programming parameters are presented. A set of physiological measures collected through a plurality of sensors monitoring physiological functions in a patient are assimilated. The physiological measures set are analyzed to identify physiological idiosyncrasies specific to the patient and to optimize the therapy to be delivered through an implantable medical device. A patient profile is formed including a plurality of programming parameters and the patient profile is preprogrammed into the implantable medical device prior to implantation in the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for collection and analysis of patient information for automated remote patient care is disclosed. Patient care records in a database are collected. Each patient care record is defined and includes collected measurements sets. Each collected measurements set is specified and includes individual measurements, which each relate to patient information recorded by a medical device adapted to be implanted. At least one of the collected measurements sets is processed. A set of the collected measurements regularly stored and periodically sent from the implantable medical device is received. The collected measurements set are stored into the patient care record. One or more of the collected measurements sets are analyzed in the patient care record for the individual patient relative to one or more other collected measurements sets stored in the patient care record. Feedback based on the analysis of the one or more collected measurements sets is sent.

Abstract: Embodiments for methods and apparatuses for forming a nonwoven web are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more sources configured to dispense a first fluid flow stream comprising a fiber and a second fluid flow stream also comprising a fiber. The apparatus also includes a mixing partition downstream from the one or more sources, where the mixing partition is positioned between the first and second flow streams from the one or more sources. The mixing partition defines one or more openings that permit fluid communication between the two flow streams. The apparatus also includes a receiving region situated downstream from the one or more sources and designed to receive at least a combined flow stream and form a nonwoven web by collecting fiber from the combined flow stream.

Abstract: A method of collecting patient event information from a cardiac rhythm management system (CRM system) is described, where the CRM system includes a cardiac rhythm management device (CRM device) and an external interface device. The method includes the steps of initiating a transmission session wherein the interface device communicates with the CRM device, prompting a user of the CRM system to select a reason for the transmission session, inputting the selected reason for the transmission session to the interface device, and storing the selected reason for the transmission session and timestamp information for the transmission session.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are related to an implantable medical system, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes a processor, an electrical sensor, and a temperature sensor. The processor is configured to monitor myocardial electrical activity with input from the electrical sensor; identify myocardial electrical activity indicative of an arrhythmia, measure temperature of blood in the coronary venous system with input from the temperature sensor; determine if the arrhythmia is hemodynamically stable or hemodynamically unstable based on the temperature of blood in the coronary venous system, and initiate high-voltage shock therapy if the arrhythmia is hemodynamically unstable. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A walker device is described herein including two side frames, each side frame comprising a front vertical support, a rear vertical support and at least one connecting member extending between the front and rear vertical supports. The walker device further includes a cross bar extending between the two side frames and pivotally connecting to the front vertical supports of the two side frames. The walker device also includes a tension device which applies a resistive force to the pivoting motion between the first cross bar and the two side frames. The walker device is therefore capable of a pivoting configuration which enables the user to learn or re-learn a more natural gait pattern including rotation of the upper and lower body. Some embodiments of the walker device include a second, auxiliary cross bar that is parallel to the first cross bar and horizontally offset from the first cross bar.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating a patient status from sampled physiometry for use in respiratory insufficiency management and heart failure assessment is presented. Physiological measures are stored and include direct measures regularly recorded on a substantially continuous basis by a medical device for a patient or measures derived from the direct measures. The physiological measures are sampled, which each relate to a same type of physiometry, and those of the physiological measures, which each relate to a different type of physiometry. A status is determined through analysis of those sampled physiological measures assembled from a plurality of recordation points. The sampled physiological measures are evaluated. Any trends are identified and include one of a status quo and a change, which might affect cardiac performance or respiratory performance.

Abstract: An automated patient care system and method for diagnosing and monitoring respiratory insufficiency is presented. A plurality of monitoring sets are stored into a database. Each monitoring set includes recorded measures, which each relate to patient information and contain medical device measures recorded on a substantially continuous basis or derived measures calculable therefrom. The monitoring sets are retrieved from the database. A set of indicator thresholds are defined. Each indicator threshold corresponds to a quantifiable physiological measure of a pathophysiology indicative of respiratory insufficiency. A respiratory insufficiency finding is diagnosed. A change in patient status is determined by comparing at least one recorded measure to at least one other recorded measure with both recorded measures relating to the same type of patient information. Each patient status change is compared to the indicator threshold corresponding to the same type of patient information as the recorded measures.

Abstract: An ambulatory repeater for use in automated patient care is presented. A local memory store includes a cryptographic key, sensitive information, and physiological measures. The cryptographic key is uniquely assigned to the implantable medical device prior to implant of the implantable medical device into a patient. The sensitive information is preencrypted under the cryptographic key and physiological measures are measured by the implantable medical device. An authentication module is in receipt of the cryptographic key. A permissions module confirms authorization of an external data processing device against the cryptographic key. A decryption module decrypts the sensitive information with the cryptographic key into decrypted information. A processor is operatively coupled to the local memory store. A communications module exchanges the decrypted information and the physiological measures with the external data processing device over a wireless interface contingent upon the authorization confirmation.

Abstract: Durable and disposable articles are provided which include a thermoplastic polymer composition, which includes a blend of a polymer and a modified polymer. The modified polymer has covalently bonded pendant substituents derived from cyclodextrin. The articles can be a films, coatings, nonwoven webs, or monolithic articles. An article can have the polymer composition as one part of the article, such as in one distinct area of the article, or on the surface of the article, for example as a coating or surface film. The article can be, for example, a multilayer barrier film, a nonwoven sheet or pad, an absorbent article, or a storage container.

Abstract: A hazardous material transfer system for the transfer of waste from a containment cell through a transfer port to a storage vessel. A port door in the containment cell is movable between a open and closed positions relative to the transfer port. The port door has a closure face with a first connector set. A storage vessel sealed by a storage vessel cover is provided for receipt of waste transferred through the port. The cover has an outside face that carries a second connector set that interlocks with the first connector set on the port door. The inside face of the vessel cover has a third connector set. A fourth connector set is located on the storage vessel and mates with the third connector set to lock and seal the cover to the vessel. The connector sets are the variety that engage and disengage upon rotational motion.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for coating a device comprising a coating chamber and a device rotator having at least one device mount wherein the apparatus allows insertion and retraction of the device on the device mount into and out of the coating chamber. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of applying a substantially uniform coating on a device comprising the steps of providing an apparatus for coating a device, mounting the device onto the device mount, purging the coating chamber to reduce humidity in the coating chamber, maintaining a reduced humidity content in the coating chamber, inserting the device into the coating chamber, disposing a coating material on the device and rotating the device mounts about the device axis.