Abstract: A nerve monitoring system facilitates monitoring an integrity of a nerve.

Abstract: An implantable medical device may comprise a therapy module configured to generate pacing therapy for a heart of a patient and a control module configured to control the therapy module. The control module may also be configured to detect a condition indicative of the presence of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device and switch operation from a first pacing therapy program to a second pacing therapy program in response to detecting the condition indicative of the presence of the MRI device. While operating in the second pacing therapy program, control module may control the therapy module to generate a pacing pulse to an atrium of the heart of the patient during a time period between the end of an atrial refractory period of a previous atrial depolarization and the end of a ventricular refractory period of a previous ventricular depolarization corresponding to the previous atrial depolarization.

Abstract: A catheter has an elongate tubular component that defines a pull wire lumen, which extends along at least a portion of a length thereof. A pull wire extends within the pull wire lumen with a distal end of the pull wire being secured near a distal end of the catheter. The catheter includes a pull wire actuation mechanism slidably disposed thereon that is operably coupled to a proximal end of the pull wire. The pull wire actuation mechanism includes a first or upper housing portion that is longitudinally translatable in a first direction relative to the guide catheter and a second or lower housing portion that is longitudinally translatable in an opposite, second direction relative to the catheter to actuate the pull wire and selectively operate the distal end thereof.

Abstract: A transcatheter valve prosthesis includes an expandable tubular stent, a prosthetic valve within the stent, and an anti-paravalvular leakage component coupled to and encircling the tubular stent. The anti-paravalvular leakage component includes a radially-compressible annular scaffold, which is a sinusoidal patterned ring of self-expanding material, and an impermeable membrane extending over the annular scaffold. The anti-paravalvular leakage component has an expanded configuration in which at least segments of the annular scaffold curve radially away from the tubular stent. Alternatively, the anti-paravalvular leakage component includes a plurality of self-expanding segments and an annular sealing element coupled to inner surfaces of the segments. The anti-paravalvular leakage component has an expanded configuration in which the segments curve radially away from the tubular stent and the annular sealing element is positioned between an outer surface of the tubular stent and inner surfaces of the segments.

Abstract: A method and medical device for detecting a cardiac event that includes sensing a cardiac signal, identifying R-waves in the cardiac signal attendant ventricular depolarizations, determining RR-intervals between successive R-waves in response to the sensed cardiac signal, detecting an atrial tachyarrhythmia based on an analysis of the RR-intervals, iteratively sensing groups of a predetermined number of P-waves attendant atrial depolarizations in response to detecting the atrial tachyarrhythmia, and confirming the atrial tachyarrhythmia based on an analysis of the iteratively sensed groups of P-waves.

Abstract: An accessory and system to provide a medical device with mapping and ablation functionality. The system may include an ablation device with a handle, a treatment element, and an elongate body. The ablation element may be located on the elongate body distal portion, and a mapping sleeve may be disposable about at least part of the distal portion of the ablation device and may include mapping electrodes disposed on the outer surface. The mapping sleeve proximal region may include a retraction element defining a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the proximal region of the mapping sleeve, such that retracting the retraction element toward the elongate body proximal portion pulls the mapping sleeve away from the treatment element of the ablation device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for renal neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field to effectuate electroporation or electrofusion. It is expected that renal neuromodulation (e.g., denervation) may, among other things, reduce expansion of an acute myocardial infarction, reduce or prevent the onset of morphological changes that are affiliated with congestive heart failure, and/or be efficacious in the treatment of end stage renal disease. Embodiments of the present invention are configured for percutaneous intravascular delivery of pulsed electric fields to achieve such neuromodulation.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing forming an internal cavity, the housing defining a profile with a height and a width and further defining a thickness perpendicular to its profile. The thickness of the housing is shorter than both the height and the width of the profile of the housing. The implantable medical device further includes at least one battery within the internal cavity, at least one capacitor adjacent the battery within the internal cavity, the capacitor and the battery being located along a common plane within the internal cavity, and circuitry within the internal cavity. The circuitry extends over both the battery and the capacitor within the internal cavity such that the circuitry is in a stacked arrangement relative to the battery and the capacitor.

Abstract: A method for forming a wave form for a stent includes moving a first forming portion of a first forming member across an axis along which a formable material is provided in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the axis to engage and deform the formable material while engaging the formable material with a first forming portion of the second forming member. The method includes moving the first forming portion of the first forming member and the first forming portion of the second forming member across the axis in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction to draw and form the formable material over the first forming portion of the second forming member, disengaging the first forming member from the formable material, and rotating the first forming member to position a second forming portion of the first forming member to face the formable material.

Abstract: A welded stent and stent delivery system, with a stent including a first strut having a first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and nickel titanium soluble core, the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around the first strut nickel titanium soluble core; and a second strut having a second strut nickel titanium alloy layer and nickel titanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around the second strut nickel titanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being connected to the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer with a weld. The first and second strut nickel titanium alloy layers are made of a nickel titanium alloy, the first and second strut nickel titanium soluble cores are made of a nickel titanium soluble material, and the weld is made of an alloy of the nickel titanium alloy and the nickel titanium soluble material.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a valve prosthesis. The system includes a catheter assembly including a delivery sheath capsule and a handle having an oscillating device. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the valve prosthesis during implantation. After the valve prosthesis is partially exposed during implantation, the oscillating device can create a vibratory motion to reduce the friction between the valve prosthesis and the delivery sheath capsule in order to recapture the valve prosthesis.

Abstract: A method and implantable medical device for determining noise in response to a cardiac signal that includes sensing the cardiac signal, determining a sensing window in response to the sensed cardiac signal, the sensing window comprising a first portion and a second portion, determining a first derivative signal in response to the sensed cardiac signal within only one of the first portion and the second portion of the sensing window, determining a second derivative signal in response to the sensed cardiac signal within the one of the first portion and the second portion of the sensing window, determining whether an amplitude of the second derivative signal satisfies an amplitude threshold, and determining noise in response to the amplitude of the second derivative signal satisfying the amplitude threshold.

Abstract: A fixation member component, for example, employed by a relatively compact implantable medical device, includes a plurality of fingers; each finger includes a first segment extending from a fixed end of the corresponding finger, and a second segment extending from the corresponding first segment to a free end of the corresponding finger. Each first segment is elastically deformable from a relaxed to an extended condition, and from the relaxed to a compressed condition, and includes a peripheral portion and a central cut-out portion, framed by the peripheral portion. In the compressed condition, a free tip of the cut-out portion of some or all of the fingers may lodge against opposing tissue surfaces, via a spring force of the compressed fingers. Each second segment and cut-out portion is preferably configured to prevent penetration thereof within tissue at the implant site.

Abstract: A method and medical monitoring device for determining the occurrence of a premature ventricular contraction that includes sensing a cardiac signal and determining R-waves in response to the sensed cardiac signal, determining RR intervals between the determined R-waves, determining whether a first interval criteria is satisfied in response to the determined intervals, determining a correlation between the determined R-waves, determining whether a first correlation criteria is satisfied in response to the determined correlation, and determining the premature ventricular contraction is occurring in response to the first interval criteria and the first correlation criteria being satisfied.

Abstract: An implantable medical device that includes an elongated lead body having an outer surface and a first opening along the outer surface, a first sensor positioned along the lead body and configured to receive first acoustic signals through the first opening of the lead body and generate an electrical signal representative of sounds produced at a first targeted location along a patient's cardiovascular system, and a processor configured to determine an intensity of the first acoustic signals, and determine changes in blood pressure in response to the determined intensity.

Abstract: The present invention regards a probe for deep brain stimulation (DBS), with high overall impedance, but low overall resistance. This is achieved since the probe comprises a structure comprising at least two interconnected spirals, wherein said two spirals have different direction of rotation. A system for deep brain stimulation comprising the probe, a power source and an electrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system to assist in selecting and/or suggesting an instrument for a procedure. The suggestion may be based upon or include analysis of image data of a subject. The instrument may be suggested for placement inside a tubular structure.

Abstract: A medical device system is configured to sense physiological events by a first device and control a transducer to emit trigger signals in response to the sensed physiological events. A second device detects the trigger signals and delivers therapeutic stimulation pulses in response to the trigger signals. The therapeutic stimulation pulses have a combined total time duration over the sensed physiological events that is greater than the combined total time duration of the trigger signals.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for cutting bone and other tissue. The surgical instrument is powered by a pressurized fluid and includes a rotatable shaft connected to a dissection tool. The instrument includes a housing member comprising a one-piece base. A rotor housing chamber is defined by the base, and the rotatable shaft is located in the rotor housing chamber. A first hearing housing is defined by the base, located adjacent the rotor housing chamber, and houses a first bearing that engages the rotatable shaft. A second bearing housing is defined by the base, located on an opposite side of the rotor housing chamber from the first bearing housing, and houses a second bearing that engages the rotatable shaft. A passage is defined by the base and operable to direct a pressurized fluid through the base to the rotor housing chamber in order to rotate the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A catheter proximal section is preferably formed from a relatively soft part and a relatively rigid part, and includes a proximal terminal end that defines a perimeter of an opening into a lumen of the catheter. The proximal section may further include a feature for interlocking engagement with an accessory tool. An inner surface of each of the relatively soft and rigid parts may be located opposite one another, on either side of the catheter lumen. The relatively soft and rigid parts may be included in a sealing assembly that further includes an attachment feature for removable connection of the assembly to the proximal section catheter.