Abstract: The disclosure is directed to securing electrodes of a medical lead adjacent to a target tissue site. The medical lead may include at least one adhesive element disposed along a longitudinal outer surface of the lead body to adhere the adjacent tissue to the lead. Adhesive elements may be disposed proximal to, distal to, or in-between the electrodes of the lead. Each adhesive element may be inactive during lead implantation and activated by removing a covering sheath to expose the adhesive elements to moisture in the tissue or presenting an energy, e.g. ultraviolet light, to the adhesive elements. Once active, the adhesive elements secure the lead to surrounding tissue to prevent migration of the electrodes from the target tissue.

Abstract: Provided herewith are methods and apparatus for optimizing an atrioventricular (AV) pacing delay interval. One manner described involves dynamically programming an AV interval in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device having a rate-adaptive AV (RAAV) feature in such a way that not less than a minimum AV interval is maintained. That is, the AV interval is not allowed to be reduced so much that the P-wave is truncated by the QRS complex. In this form of the invention, the AV interval is reduced by one millisecond per one bpm increase in heart rate (and vice versa for reducing heart rate) but maintained at a value calculated from the end of the P-wave (PWend) and the beginning of the QRS complex (QRSbeg) or delivery of a ventricular pacing stimulus or to the end of the end of the QRS complex (QRSend).

Abstract: An implantable pacemaker detects delivery of an anti-tachyarrhythmia shock by another device. The implantable pacemaker delivers cardiac stimulation therapy within a patient. The implantable pacemaker senses, via the electrode pair, an electrical signal. The implantable pacemaker detects the anti-tachyarrhythmia shock based on the sensed electrical signal by detecting DC voltage polarization across the electrode pair within the patient. The implantable pacemaker alters the cardiac stimulation therapy based on the detected anti-tachyarrhythmia shock.

Abstract: A catheter system configured to deploy a valve prosthesis can include a catheter tip at a distal end of the catheter system. The catheter tip can include a device holder releasably connected to and retaining the prosthesis. The catheter tip can also include a first housing portion that accommodates the first portion of the prosthesis, and a second housing portion that accommodates the second portion of the prosthesis. The first housing portion and the second housing portion are configured to move relative to one another such that the catheter system sequentially releases the prosthesis to an expanded state by uncovering the second portion of the prosthesis allowing the second portion of the prosthesis to expand.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a low-power circuit and a multi-cell power source. The cells of the power source are coupled to a transformer in a parallel configuration. The transformer includes multiple secondary windings and each of the windings is coupled to a capacitor that stores energy for delivery of a therapy to a patient. In accordance with embodiments of this disclosure, the low power circuit is configured to control simultaneous delivery of energy from each of the cells to a plurality of capacitors through the transformer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making flexible bioresorbable foam having hemostatic properties and a preselectable in-vivo residence time. A blend of crosslinked collagen blended and a hyaluronic acid component is prepared. The blend is mixed with water to form a suspension. The blend is freezed and lyophilized at less than about 0° C. Next, the blend is crosslinked. The product is then sterilized and chain scission is performed by bombardment with gamma rays or a beam of electrons.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for treating hypertension, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed that allow for generation of a model or reconstruction of a model of a subject based upon acquired image data. The image data can be acquired in a substantially mobile system that can be moved relative to a subject to allow for image acquisition from a plurality of orientations relative to the subject. The plurality of orientations can include a first and final orientation and a predetermined path along which an image data collector or detector can move to acquire an appropriate image data set to allow for the model of construction.

Abstract: A cutting device for use with a powered surgical tool includes an outer blade and an inner blade. The outer blade includes a tubular body, an end cap, and a cutting window defined by a beveled edge on the tubular body and the end cap. The inner blade includes a cutting tip. The inner blade co-axially disposed within the outer blade such that the cutting tip is rotatably exposed at the cutting window. The cutting tip has castellations extending toward the end cap of the outer blade and opposing teeth extending radially toward one another across an opening of the cutting tip.

Abstract: A medical device for sensing cardiac events that includes a plurality of light sources capable of emitting light at a plurality of wavelengths, and a detector to detect the emitted light. A processor determines a plurality of light measurements in response to the emitted light detected by the detector, updates, for each of the plurality of wavelengths, a first normalization coefficient and a second normalization coefficient in response to the detected emitted light, and adjusts the determined plurality of light measurements in response to the first normalization coefficient and the second normalization coefficient.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting and classifying atrial fibrillations (AFs) monitors an electro-cardiogram (ECG) signal of the patient. Based on the monitored ECG signals, AF episodes are detected. Monitored physiological parameters are utilized to determine an activity level of the patient at the time of the detected AF episode, wherein the activity level is associated with the detected AF episode. The etiology of the detected AF episodes is classified as adrenergic if the AF episodes occur while the patient is active, and classified as vagal if the AF episodes occur while the patient is at rest.

Abstract: A system and method for occluding a pulmonary vein. The device includes a treatment device comprising an inner balloon, an outer balloon, and a space therebetween. Delivery of fluid to the inner balloon inflates the treatment element to a first diameter. If a greater treatment element diameter is required to completely occlude a pulmonary vein, fluid is delivered to the space between the first and second balloons, which expands the second balloon and causes the treatment element to have a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The fluid delivered to the inner balloon and fluid delivered to the space between the balloons may be from different sources and may be delivered and exhausted independently. Once the treatment element is caused to have a diameter sufficient to completely occlude the pulmonary vein, the treatment element is activated to cool or heat ostial tissue.

Abstract: An implantable medical device detects conditions such as a lead failure which may result in oversensing a physiologic condition. In response, the IMD automatically adjusts sensing thresholds, such as the number of intervals to detection in order to mitigate the effect of oversensing in the delivery of extraneous therapy.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an extravascular ICD system and method for defibrillating a heart of a patient. The extravascular ICD system includes multiple extravascular electrical stimulation leads or lead segments located in close proximity to one another and having respective defibrillation electrodes. The ICD system utilizes the multiple defibrillation electrodes to form an extravascular electrode vector that may result a reduction in the shock impedance and/or a reduction in the DFT compared to extravascular ICD systems that include only a single extravascular defibrillation electrode. An ICD of the system may, for example, deliver a defibrillation shock using an electrode vector in which a first polarity of the electrode vector is formed by electrically coupling first and second defibrillation electrodes of first and second leads, respectively, to the therapy circuitry and a second polarity of the electrode vector is formed by electrically coupling a housing of the ICD to the therapy circuitry.

Abstract: High voltage charging is aborted when it is detected that a transformer providing the high voltage charge is impaired and is providing an impedance that is too low. In one instance, a voltage for a battery that provides power to the transformer is measured when the battery is substantially unloaded and a voltage is later measured when the battery is loaded during the high voltage charge. A dynamic threshold voltage is computed based on a chosen threshold impedance representing the impedance of the transformer and based the substantially unloaded voltage and on an internal resistance of the battery. When the loaded voltage is less than the threshold voltage, then the high voltage charging is aborted.

Abstract: A method and device for the treatment of an aneurysm are provided. Different therapeutic agents are delivered to the aneurysmal site by a reservoir and delivery means in a localized, and, in some embodiments, time-released regimen, to treat, limit and reduce the severity of the aneurysm.

Abstract: Techniques for retrieving information from an implantable medical device (IMD) having a depleted internal energy source such as a non-rechargeable battery are disclosed. The IMD is powered by and communicates with an external interrogation device to access a memory location of the IMD and for transfer of the information in the memory location to the external interrogation device subsequent to depletion of the internal energy source. In an embodiment, the memory location is included in a non-volatile memory component of the IMD to maintain the information stored in the memory component.

Abstract: Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a catheter treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver an energy delivery element to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Thermal or electrical renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal and/or electrical energy to heat or cool, or otherwise electrically modulate, neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.

Abstract: Infusion systems, infusion devices, and related operating methods are provided. An exemplary method of operating an infusion device to deliver fluid to a user in accordance with an operating mode involves obtaining operational information pertaining to one or more prior instances of the operating mode, obtaining status information pertaining to the infusion device, and determining a diagnosis time based at least in part on the operational information. The diagnosis time is prior to a subsequent instance of the operating mode. At the diagnosis time, the method automatically determines the viability of the subsequent instance of the operating mode based at least in part on the status information and automatically generates a notification indicative of a recommended action for the user based at least in part on the viability.

Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) configured to transmit a tissue conduction communication (TCC) signal includes a TCC transmitter module configured to generate the TCC signal and transmit the TCC signal via a plurality of electrodes. The TCC signal comprises a biphasic signal having an amplitude and a frequency, wherein at least one of the amplitude and the frequency are configured to avoid stimulation of tissue of the patient. The TCC transmitter module comprises protection circuitry coupled between a current source and the plurality of electrodes, wherein the protection circuitry is configured to protect the signal generator from an external anti-tachyarrhythmia shock delivered to the patient.