Abstract: Techniques for generating timing constraints for an integrated circuit including a clock tree network are described. The techniques may be associated with a clock tree synthesis tool that receives a design of the integrated circuit and generates a clock tree network including a plurality of clocked components of the integrated circuit. The constraints may be generated as a function of the duration of propagation of a data signal from a transmitting clocked component coupled to a receiving clocked component.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for configuring an IMD into the exposure operating mode. Prior to a medical procedure that generates a disruptive energy field, such as an MRI scan, an electronic prescription is configured to indicate that the IMD is authorized for the medical procedure that includes a disruptive energy field. The electronic prescription includes one or more designated bits within a storage element of the IMD. When the patient in which the IMD is implanted arrives for the medical procedure, a user (such as an MRI operator) interacts with a telemetry device to determine whether the electronic prescription is configured. Upon determining that the electronic prescription is configured, the IMD transitions into the exposure operating mode designed for operation in the disruptive energy field. In this manner, the electronic prescription confirms to the user that that the IMD has been checked for suitability for operation during the medical procedure.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (“IMD”) as described herein includes adjustable power characteristics such as variable transmitter output power and variable receiver front end gain. These power characteristics can be adjusted in a dynamic manner based upon various operating aspects of the intended or actual IMD telemetry environment. These operating aspects may include the external telemetry device type, the IMD device type, and/or the type, context, or meaning of the telemetry data transmitted by the IMD. The IMD may process information related to these operating aspects to generate power scaling instructions or control signals that are interpreted by the IMD transmitter and/or the IMD receiver. Such adjustability enables the IMD to satisfy minimum telemetry requirements in a manner that does not waste power, thus extending the IMD battery life.

Abstract: A system for the automated coiling of a jelly roll electrode assembly for controlled assembly and tensioning of jelly roll assembly is provided. The system includes: a shuttle, and a mandrel to which electrodes are welded; a base, mateable with the shuttle and on which the battery head assembly is mounted for welding to the mandrel; and a coiling device. The coiling device has an upper spool, a lower spool, holding a separator strip and a platform between the two holding the base. The separator strip is threaded through a passage in the mandrel separating positive and negative portions. Rotating the mandrel coils the positive electrode, the separator strip and the negative electrode to coil around the mandrel. The coiling device may include a feedback loop braking one or both spools and allowing the coiling tension to be programmed to a desired level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing determination of patient position change relative to an imaging device and/or allowing digital subtraction in an operative position. The system can include devices for determining a position of a patient at various times and comparing the various positions of the patient. Further, a digital subtraction may be performed if the patient change is not above a threshold value and/or if motion correction can occur.

Abstract: Percutaneous methods and apparatuses for forming a venous valve from autologous tissue. A catheter having a retractable dissecting system received therein is delivered to a target location where a new venous valve is to be created. A distal balloon or other radially-expandable component mounted on the catheter is expanded against the vein wall, and the dissecting system is proximally retracted to deploy one or more dissecting components that dissect a subintimal layer of the vein wall. Radial expansion of the dissecting component(s) within the vein wall creates one or more leaflets and corresponding pocket/sinuses in the vein that collectively act as a venous valve, and/or the radially-expandable component of the catheter is subsequently collapsed such that the dissecting component(s) each pull a flap of the dissected tissue towards the vein lumen to create one or more leaflet(s) and corresponding pocket/sinuses in the vein.

Abstract: The invention includes systems, apparatuses and methods to evaluate the strength of clotting in addition to or separate from activated clotting time. The strength of clotting may be correlated with the amount of energy employed to move an object within blood. The strength of clotting may be correlated with the amount of time for fibrinolysis to occur. The strength of clotting may be determined by a system in which a ferromagnetic material is moved within blood.

Abstract: A radiopaque marker may include a body formed of a polymer and being adapted to be disposed around a portion of an implantable medical lead and a symbol formed of at least a radiologically dense powder or liquid added to the body and designed to identify the implantable medical lead as being safe application of a medical procedure. In some instances, the symbol may be formed of a polymer mixed with the radiologically dense powder or liquid. The body may also be formed of a polymer mixed with a radiologically dense powder or liquid wherein the mixed polymer forming the symbol is radiologically denser than the mixed polymer forming the body.

Abstract: Rongeur and method for removing intervertebral disk tissue from a spinal column of a patient. A pair of bipolar electrodes on an elongated shaft is placed in proximity to the intervertebral disk tissue. Without withdrawing the instrument from the spinal column, the electrodes are activated with a source of RF energy to stiffen the intervertebral disk tissue, a source of saline solution is supplied to the intervertebral disk tissue and the intervertebral disk tissue is grasped with a grasping tool affixed in conjunction with the distal portion of the elongated shaft biting off a portion of the intervertebral disk tissue having been stiffened. The instrument is withdrawn from the spinal column of the patient to remove the portion of the intervertebral disk tissue. The inserting step, the placing, activating, supplying, grasping, and withdrawing steps are repeated until a desired portion of the intervertebral disk tissue has been removed.

Abstract: A tool for deploying an anchor sleeve onto an implantable device includes handle and base members, which may be fitted together by an operator. The operator may select the handle member from a plurality thereof included in a kit; and the base member, also included in the kit, includes a rail segment with which a gripping portion of the selected handle member may be engaged, for example, via guidance from a marked portion of the base member. Once engaged, a deployment tip of the base member is located to move a mounted anchor sleeve from a tubular member of the handle member and onto a body of the device. The tubular member of some tools has a laterally offset distal end portion, on which the corresponding anchor sleeve is mounted; thus, kits including this type of handle member, may include a converter for the base member to facilitate engagement therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of deploying a stent graft having a proximal anchor stent ring includes restraining proximal apexes of the proximal anchor stent ring between a spindle body of a spindle and a control release sleeve of a tapered tip. The control release sleeve is advanced relative to the spindle to release a first proximal apex through an opening in the control release sleeve while the remaining proximal apexes remain restrained by the control release sleeve. The control release sleeve is further advanced relative to the spindle to release the remaining proximal apexes from the control release sleeve. In another example, a stent capture fitting has variable length stent capture fitting arms. As the stent capture fitting is retracted, the proximal apexes of the proximal anchor stent ring are sequentially exposed from and released by the variable length stent capture fitting arms.

Abstract: Dislodging an anchor sleeve from an implanted device may be accomplished with a tool that includes a support portion and a sleeve dislodging element, wherein a collar of the support portion engages a distal end of the anchor sleeve while the dislodging element, positioned at a proximal end of the sleeve, is moved toward the collar to dislodge the anchor sleeve. The tool preferably includes a handle member held in sliding engagement with a base member, for example, by a snap-fit, wherein the support portion is part of the handle member, and a distal segment of the base member is terminated by the dislodging element. A tool kit may include a plurality of base members, each one including a different type of dislodging element, from which an operator may select for snap-fitting to a handle member of the kit.

Abstract: Apparatus for resecting a diseased heart valve, the apparatus comprising: a body portion; a first handle and a second handle; a cutting blade; a set of retaining arms; a pass-off tool having a first attachment device configured to selectively engage the first handle attached to the body portion so as to allow placement of the second handle of the body portion adjacent to the diseased heart valve, and a controller tool having a second attachment device at the distal end thereof, the second attachment device configured to selectively engage the second handle attached to the body portion so as to allow positioning of the body portion adjacent to the diseased heart valve, a cutting blade actuator configured to cause the cutting blade to selectively rotate, and a retaining arm actuator configured to selectively position the set of retaining arms from the contracted state to the expanded state.

Abstract: A cardiac medical device and associated method control delivery of dual chamber burst pacing pulses in response to detecting tachycardia. A number of cardiac cycles occurring in a first cardiac chamber are identified subsequent to the dual chamber pacing pulses. The number of sensed intrinsic events occurring in a second cardiac chamber during the first chamber cardiac cycles is determined as a number of second chamber events. The tachycardia episode is classified in response to the number of second chamber events.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent.

Abstract: An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.

Abstract: A method and system of post-processing of sensing data generated by a medical device that includes transmitting a plurality of stored sensing data generated by the medical device to an access device, the stored sensing data including sensed atrial events and sensed ventricular events. The access device determines, in response to the transmitted data, instances where the medical device identified a cardiac event being detected in response to the sensing data, and determines a ratio of sensed atrial events to sensed ventricular events in response to the transmitted data.

Abstract: A planar transformer assembly, for use in charging capacitors of an ICD, includes windings arranged to minimize voltage across intervening dielectric layers. Each secondary winding of a preferred plurality of secondary windings is arranged relative to a primary winding, in a hierarchical fashion, such that the DC voltage, with respect to ground, of a first secondary winding, of the plurality of secondary windings, is lower than that of a second secondary winding, with respect to ground, wherein the first secondary winding is in closest proximity to the primary winding. The primary winding and each secondary winding are preferably formed on a corresponding plurality of dielectric layers.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure is directed to signal processing based methods to reject undersensing in a signal indicative of cardiac activity, e.g., ECG. The undersensing may be due to very small signal amplitudes or due to a sudden increase in single peak amplitude resulting in an increased sensing threshold. The undersensing may result in falsely detecting a cardiac event, e.g., asystole or bradycardia. The techniques of this disclosure monitor the behavior of the signal to determine when a detected asystole is false.