Abstract: A system and method can increase confidence or other factors of a tract identified in a selected image data. The system can use various confidence determining factors to identify confidence in the identified tract. The identified tract can be used for various purposes, such as diagnosis or treatment.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided for infusion devices and related operating methods. An exemplary infusion device includes a housing to receive a shaft coupled to a plunger disposed in a reservoir and a gear assembly including a first gear to engage the shaft, wherein the first gear exhibits rotational freedom in a direction opposite a delivery direction. One exemplary method of operating the infusion device comprises identifying a reset condition and in response to the reset condition, operating a motor having a rotor coupled to the gear assembly to provide the rotational freedom for the first gear.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying loss of capture in a pacing device. While pacing pulses are being delivered, the device checks for emergence of a stable asynchronous underlying intrinsic rhythm in the presence of the delivered pacing pulses. The device determines that loss of capture has occurred responsive to emergence of the underlying rhythm. In response to determining that loss of capture has occurred, pacing provided by device is modified, for example by performing a threshold test and adjusting the energy levels of delivered pacing pulses in response thereto.

Abstract: A device for crimping an collapsible device and loading the collapsible device into a delivery system, includes a crimping tool configured to radially crimp at least a portion of the collapsible device, a loading tool configured to load at least a portion of the collapsible device into a delivery system, and a housing that houses at least one of the crimping tool and loading tool, wherein the device is configured to crimp and load the collapsible device without requiring manual repositioning of the collapsible device. Methods of crimping an collapsible device and loading the collapsible device into a delivery system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide analyte sensors having nanostructured electrodes as well as methods for making and using such sensors. In certain embodiments of the invention, the sensor includes a carbon nanotube electrode and a analyte limiting membrane that modulates the ability of a analyte to contact the carbon nanotube electrode.

Abstract: A package includes a box having an interior volume and a first pocket disposed at a first corner of the box. The first pocket includes a lip configured for a finger of a user to be inserted therein for removal of the package from a storage unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatuses, etc. for providing a visual expression of the performance of one or more blood glucose sensors. In one particular example, a relative comparison of a rate of change sensor blood glucose and a rate of change in reference blood glucose may be expressed in a polar plot or graph. The polar plot or graph may then be generated onto a visual medium.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for monopolar neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field. Such monopolar 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, monopolar neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such monopolar neuromodulation is performed bilaterally.

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 device for crimping an expandable medical device and loading the expandable medical device into a delivery system includes an actuator, a compression assembly, and a pusher. The compression assembly is disposed in a compression chamber of the actuator and includes a plurality of compression elements coupled to each other to form a central cavity. The compression elements are coupled to the actuator such that rotation of the actuator causes the compression elements to rotate such that the central cavity radially compresses from an expanded configuration to a compressed configuration. The pusher includes a pusher rod and is configured to translate relative to the actuator towards the compression chamber when the cavity is in the compressed configuration such that the pusher rod may enter the cavity and push the medical device out of the cavity into delivery system.

Abstract: A prosthesis is provided for implantation at a native semilunar valve of a native valve complex, the native valve complex having three semilunar sinuses and three native commissures. The prosthesis includes a valve prosthesis support, which comprises a support structure comprising exactly three engagement arms that meet one another at three respective junctures. The engagement arms are shaped so as define three peak complexes at the three respective junctures, and three trough complexes, each of which is between two of the peak complexes. Upon implantation of the prosthesis, each of the engagement arms is at least partially disposed within a respective one of the semilunar sinuses, such that each of the peak complexes is disposed distal to and in rotational alignment with a respective one of the native commissures, and each of the trough complexes is disposed at least partially within the respective one of the semilunar sinuses.

Abstract: A self-expanding prosthesis delivery system having an outer tubular structure and an inner tubular structure adapted for tracking over a guidewire and disposed in the outer tubular structure where the outer tubular structure and inner tubular structure form a fluid fillable space, which when filled with a fluid forms a fluid column that provides column strength from the delivery system handle to the stop of the delivery system.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is disclosed that includes a valve seat and a valve member movable with respect to the valve seat. An adjustment circuit assembly includes a resistive element that is coupled to the valve member and operable to position the valve member relative to the valve seat so as to alter the pressure setting in response to a current applied to the resistive element.

Abstract: Systems for gaining access into a body of a patient around an implanted body of an elongate medical device include a sheath having a deformable wall that allows insertion of the device body into a lumen surrounded by the sheath wall. The sheath wall may include first and second edges that extend from a proximal end to a distal end of the lumen, or just extend along a distal portion of the lumen. A tool, which includes a groove sized to grasp about a circumference of the device body, may facilitate insertion of the device body into the lumen of those sheath embodiments that include the first and second edges, by spreading at least one of the first and second edges of the wall apart from the other of the first and second edges while the device body is grasped within the tool.

Abstract: A method and device for updating a frequency of determining whether a lead condition is occurring in a medical device that includes sensing a cardiac signal, determining whether a lead condition is occurring in response to the sensed cardiac signal, determining whether a first patient characteristic is satisfied during a plurality of predetermined update periods, performing a first update of a virtual lead days value associated with a number of days since implant of the lead in response to the first patient characteristic being satisfied, determining whether a patient characteristic update is satisfied in response to a second patient characteristic, different than the first patient characteristic, being satisfied, performing a second update of the virtual lead days value in response to the patient characteristic update being satisfied, and updating a frequency of determining whether the lead condition is occurring in response to the updated virtual lead days value.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method of detecting ischemia with a pressure sensor. The method can include obtaining a pressure signal and determining a pressure rate of change. The method can also include identifying at least one of impaired relaxation and impaired contractility in order to detect ischemia.

Abstract: Anchors for securing a medical device relative to a body portal, wherein the anchors may accommodate most any implantation trajectory through the portal. Such anchors may further secure the device along any such trajectory without imparting undesirable biasing forces that may shift the device from its intended implanted location. In some embodiments, the anchor is configured as a burr hole anchor including a spherical member contained in a socket of the anchor wherein the socket may be collapsed to lock the spherical member along a particular trajectory.

Abstract: Monitoring of the performance of a blood fluid removal medium of a blood fluid removal device includes monitoring of condition, such as fluid flow rate or concentration of blood waste product, downstream of the medium. Upstream monitoring of the condition may also be performed to enhance the ability to determine whether the blood fluid removal medium is performing within predetermined ranges.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously delivering and deploying a stented prosthetic heart valve. The delivery device includes a delivery sheath slidably disposed over an inner shaft, and a capture assembly. The capture assembly includes at least one release feature for releasing the stented prosthetic heart valve from the delivery device.

Abstract: A prosthesis having first and second prosthetic sections is disclosed. The first prosthetic section includes a stent structure that may contain a first prosthetic valve secured therein and the second prosthetic section includes an annular frame that may contain a second prosthetic valve secured therein. When the prosthesis is in an expanded configuration, the annular frame extends from the stent structure such that the first and second prosthetic sections are laterally offset from each other. In a method in accordance herewith, the first and second prosthetic sections may include prosthetic aortic and mitral valves, respectively, and the heart valve prosthesis is configured to replace one or both of the native aortic and mitral valves of the heart in a single transcatheter heart valve implantation procedure.