Abstract: A medical monitoring system and method for monitoring a patient is provided. A sensor is implanted within the patient. A biomarker is detected via the implanted sensor within the patient. The detected biomarker is indicative of a neural respiratory drive (NRD) of the patient. An NRD index value is generated based on the detected biomarker.

Abstract: Suture tracking dilators and methods for removing implanted medical devices such as microstimulators or microsensors from living tissue are described. A suture tracking dilator has a slit running along its axial length. The slit can have a curved portion. A suture is attached to a medical device prior to its implantation. To remove the implanted medical device, the free end of the suture is exposed and inserted in the slit in the suture tracking dilator. The suture is held under tension at its free end, the dilator is inserted in the living tissue and the dilator follows the suture to the implanted medical device. The medical device is removed by pulling on the free end of the suture.

Abstract: A brain implant device includes a housing containing communication and control electronics coupled to a conduit configured for monitoring signals from a brain's motor cortex and providing stimulation signals to the brain's sensory cortex. The brain implant device is capable of wireless communication with an external communication and control signal source by means of an antenna provided in the housing. The conduit is flexible and may contain upwards of 128 electrical conductors providing electrical connections between the device electronics and related sites on the motor and/or sensory cortex by means of a plurality of electrically conductive protuberances extending from the conduit and adapted for contact with such sites.

Abstract: Surgical dilators with tips having curved tapers and with a minimal distance between the distal and proximal ends of the dilator tips provide for precision placement of miniature medical devices at a target area in a body with reduced insertion force. A contour of a longitudinal cross section of the dilator tip comprises a first convex portion extending from the distal end to a first interface; a concave portion extending from the first interface to a second interface; and a second convex portion extending from the second interface to a third interface at the proximal end. The first convex portion and the second convex portion are convex relative to an interior of the tip and the concave portion is concave relative to the interior of the tip.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include systems, methods and/or devices used to produce a rectified and regulated output signal. In one aspect, the method includes, at a circuit, comparing an output signal at an output node with an input signal at an input node, wherein the output signal is a rectified and regulated signal, and the input signal is an unrectified and unregulated signal, and computing a difference between a reference signal and a comparison signal. Power transfer from the input node to the output node is prevented when the output signal is greater than the input signal. Furthermore, power transfer from the input node to the output node is regulated to produce the rectified and regulated output signal when both the input signal is greater than the output signal, and when the magnitude of the reference signal exceeds the magnitude of the comparison signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monolith for processing fluid samples, and methods of making and using the monolith. The monolith can contain certain monomers or combinations of monomers that can be polymerized to give a polymeric monolith that can efficiently self-wick fluid. The self-wicking polymeric monolith can be used as a convenient tool for point of care/on site diagnostics and analytics. The monolith is easily stored and transported, comparatively cost-efficient to make, permits good detection of analyte molecules and is readily functionalizable by impregnation of and/or covalently grafting additional chemical moieties to either the whole monolith or in zones.

Abstract: A multiple output current stimulator circuit with fast turn on time is described. At least one pair of input side and output side transistors is arranged in a current mirror connected to a supply transistor by cascode coupling. The output side transistor supplies stimulation current to an electrode in contact with tissue. An operational amplifier connected to a reference voltage and to the output side transistor drives the supply transistor to maintain the voltage at the output side transistor equal to the reference voltage. The at least one pair of transistors includes multiple pairs of transistors whose output side transistors drive respective electrodes with stimulation currents. The stimulator determines the initiation and duration of stimulation current pulses supplied to each electrode. At circuit activation, large currents are generated which discharge capacitances in the output side transistors causing rapid output side transistor turn on.

Abstract: An upper airway stimulator for treating obstructive sleep apnea is described. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator monitors the phase difference between ribcage expansion and abdomen expansion to detect apneic events and stimulates to alleviate those events. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator applies primary stimulation when an apneic event is not detected and secondary stimulation when an apneic event is detected. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator applies primary stimulation when the patient is not in an apneic position and secondary stimulation when the patient is in an apneic position.

Abstract: An upper airway stimulator for treating obstructive sleep apnea is described. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator monitors the phase difference between ribcage expansion and abdomen expansion to detect apneic events and stimulates to alleviate those events. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator applies primary stimulation when an apneic event is not detected and secondary stimulation when an apneic event is detected. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator applies primary stimulation when the patient is not in an apneic position and secondary stimulation when the patient is in an apneic position.

Abstract: An upper airway stimulator for treating obstructive sleep apnea is described. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator monitors the phase difference between ribcage expansion and abdomen expansion to detect apneic events and stimulates to alleviate those events. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator applies primary stimulation when an apneic event is not detected and secondary stimulation when an apneic event is detected. In some embodiments, the upper airway stimulator applies primary stimulation when the patient is not in an apneic position and secondary stimulation when the patient is in an apneic position.

Abstract: A multiple output current stimulator circuit with fast turn on time is described. At least one pair of input side and output side transistors is arranged in a current mirror connected to a supply transistor by cascode coupling. The output side transistor supplies stimulation current to an electrode in contact with tissue. An operational amplifier connected to a reference voltage and to the output side transistor drives the supply transistor to maintain the voltage at the output side transistor equal to the reference voltage. The at least one pair of transistors includes multiple pairs of transistors whose output side transistors drive respective electrodes with stimulation currents. The stimulator determines the initiation and duration of stimulation current pulses supplied to each electrode. At circuit activation, large currents are generated which discharge capacitances in the output side transistors causing rapid output side transistor turn on.

Abstract: A multi-branch stimulation electrode is disclosed herein. The multi-branch stimulation electrode can include a plurality of branches that extend from a hub. The branches can each include one or several stimulation contacts that can deliver an electrical current to tissue contacting the stimulation contacts. The stimulation contacts can be electrically connected with the lead. The lead can extend from the hub and can be connected with the pulse generator. The branches can include features to facilitate implantation including, for example, one or several removable stiffening elements.

Abstract: An inductive wireless power transfer and communication system includes an electrostatic shield for one of the coils. The electrostatic shield is inductively coupled with the coil and is configured as an open circuit. A signal processing element or elements, especially a modulator or a demodulator, are connected across the electrical discontinuity in the electrostatic shield. Because the electrostatic shield is inductively coupled to the coil, the modulator or demodulator can operate on the signal on the coil. A variable impedance element is connected across the electrical discontinuity in the electrostatic shield. Because the electrostatic shield is inductively coupled to the coil, the variable impedance element can tune the impedance of the system.

Abstract: Described herein are monoliths for processing fluid samples, and methods of making and using such monoliths.

Abstract: Methods and systems for applying charge to a piezoelectric element include and/or facilitate implementation of processes including cyclical multi-stage processes for: providing a piezoelectric element with an accumulated charge; providing one or more charge holding elements with a scavenged charge from the piezoelectric element; substantially removing or discharging a remaining charge from the piezoelectric element; and applying the scavenged charge to the piezoelectric element with an opposite polarity in relation to the polarity of the remaining charge.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for wireless recharging of an implanted device. In response to receiving identification information from an implanted device, a charger can set an electrical field to a first field strength and receive first field strength information from the implanted device. The charger can then set the electrical field to a second field strength and receive second field strength information from the implanted device. This information relating to the first and second field strengths can be used to determine whether to recharge the implanted device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for applying charge to a piezoelectric element include and/or facilitate implementation of processes including cyclical multi-stage processes for: providing a piezoelectric element with an accumulated charge; providing one or more charge holding elements with a scavenged charge from the piezoelectric element; substantially removing or discharging a remaining charge from the piezoelectric element; and applying the scavenged charge to the piezoelectric element with an opposite polarity in relation to the polarity of the remaining charge.

Abstract: An inductive wireless power transfer and communication system includes an electrostatic shield for one of the coils. The electrostatic shield is inductively coupled with the coil and is configured as an open circuit. A signal processing element or elements, especially a modulator or a demodulator, are connected across the electrical discontinuity in the electrostatic shield. Because the electrostatic shield is inductively coupled to the coil, the modulator or demodulator can operate on the signal on the coil.

Abstract: A microfluidic flow rate sensor includes a droplet within a channel and a droplet movement detector that generates a signal based on the position and/or movement of the droplet within the channel. A processor determines the flow rate of a fluid through the channel based on the signal received from the droplet movement detector. In one example, the droplet movement detector is an optical detector, such as a combination of a lens and an image capturing device. In other examples, the droplet is electrically conductive, and at least a portion of the channel is conductive or includes electrical contacts. The position of the droplet within the channel is determined by observing the electrical characteristics of the channel.

Abstract: A successive approximation ADC made of a low voltage configurable differential amplifier and low voltage logic circuits which can convert a high voltage analog input to a digital equivalent. The differential amplifier can be configured as either an op amp or a comparator depending upon the mode of operation. An input capacitor C1 is switchably coupled to an electrode selected for voltage sampling. A switched capacitor array C2 is coupled across the differential amplifier input and output. A SAR coupled to the switched capacitor array provides a digital output corresponding to the sampled analog voltage. During a sampling interval and a charge transfer interval, the differential amplifier is configured as an op amp. During the transfer interval, the voltage on the input capacitor multiplied by the ratio C1/C2 is transferred to the switched capacitor array. During an analog to digital conversion interval, the ADC converts the analog voltage to an equivalent digital output.