Abstract: A medical ventilation tube for placement in an opening formed in an anatomical structure, such as the tympanic membrane of the ear, includes a hollow tubular shaft made of a first material having a hardness or durometer to maintain a passage through the shaft when the medical ventilation tube is placed in the opening, and a flange made of a second material having a hardness or durometer less than that of the first material to permit the flange to deform in response to contact with the anatomical structure during removal of the medical ventilation tube from the opening.

Abstract: Coating an implantable device, such as micro electromechanical devices, is highly desirable to protect the implantable device from corrosion. A coating method includes depositing, preferably by plasma glow discharge, a reactant monomer on at least one surface of an implantable device, preferably at ambient temperature. The method will likely decrease the manufacturing time required for assembling such devices because completely assembled devices can be coated.

Abstract: A method and system of adapting heart rate in cardiac tissue based on two types of sensed information is provided. A pulse is transmitted to the cardiac tissue. An activity signal is received. A first interval signal is also received and the pacing rate is adapted based on the first interval signal. A second interval signal is then received and the adapted pacing rate is verified using the second interval signal.

Abstract: A focused ultrasound ablation device includes an ultrasound emitting member having a plurality of individual ultrasound emitting elements arranged in an array. The ultrasound emitting elements are selectively, independently actuatable to emit ultrasound energy and focus the emitted ultrasound energy a predetermined distance from the ultrasound emitting member such that the ultrasound energy is focused within anatomical tissue adjacent which the ultrasound emitting member is positioned. The anatomical tissue is heated by the focused ultrasound energy to form a lesion in the tissue of desired size and/or surface configuration.

Abstract: In a medical treatment device implanted within the body of a patient, a system and method using volatile and non-volatile memory devices within an implanted drug infusion pump to provide a safe and robust programmable system, able to back-up and restore the device's hardware and software operating parameters in the event of RAM corruption and as an alternative to hardware trim techniques. The pump includes a processor, a ROM, a RAM, and an EEPROM. The RAM serves as a main memory and the EEPROM serves a back-up memory in the event of RAM corruption. The ROM serves as an additional layer of back-up memory in the event of RAM and EEPROM corruption.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. The spinal cord is stimulated in order to control at least one physiological function. The medical procedure is performed and stimulation of the spinal cord is stopped.

Abstract: Epidermally mountable device includes terminus structures to enable positive connection with conductive tissue. The device includes nano spikes shaped to penetrate the epidermis of the skin to collect electrical biopotentials such as cardiac depolarization waveforms (ECGs) and various signals transmitted by implanted devices. Generally, the nano spikes are integrated on a substrate comprising, preferably, a flexible metalized conductive plate attachable to an adhesive backing. The device could be mounted on any external body of the patient to collect ECG, EEG or other signals. Further, the device is adaptable to include a programmable microprocessor, including memory and an antenna to store, receive and transmit data as needed. In one embodiment, in addition to collecting physiologic data through direct contact, the device may also be used as a smart patch to download, store and transfer data from implanted medical devices or other data sources using wireless data transmission medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.

Abstract: An antimicrobial tympanostomy tube used to alleviate bacteriostatic infections following myringotomy which is compatible with otologic tissue associated with the middle ear. The tube is formed from a microporous thermoplastic or thermoset resin having incorporated therein 0.5 to about 15% by weight of a silver compound capable of migrating to the surface of tube sidewalls to impart a therapeutically effective level of antibacterial activity throughout the sidewall surface so as to provide long-term prevention of infections which may otherwise result during or after surgery or implantation of the tube.

Abstract: The invention automatically adjusts the parameters that map pressures at a monitoring site, such as blood pressures in the chamber of a heart, to digital values. Adjusting the mapping parameters keeps the data in range while preserving sensitivity. A histogram of the digital pressure data is generated and the contents of the lowest and highest bins of the histogram are checked. Depending on whether the boundary bins of the histogram are full or empty, the mapping parameters are adjusted. A new histogram is generated using digital values generated with the adjusted mapping parameters.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve system including a prosthetic heart valve and a deflection device. The deflection device includes a line and a connector assembly including a tensioning component. The line interconnects and passes through free ends of stent posts associated with the heart valve, and is further connected to the tensioning component. The tensioning component is transitionable to a tensioning state in which the line is tensioned to inwardly deflect the stent posts. In this regard, the tensioning component is self-locking relative to the line in the tensioning state, and an entirety of the line extending distal the tensioning device does not extend beyond a stent portion of the heart valve opposite the stent posts. In a preferred embodiment, a holder body is further included, coupled to the heart valve apart from the deflection device.

Abstract: A medical device known as a trial neuro stimulator with a diagnostics module to determine whether the therapy lead is operational for delivering stimulation therapy to improve operation in areas such as reliability and patient comfort is disclosed. The trial neuro stimulator is typically used to test the efficacy of neuro stimulation before implanting an implantable neuro stimulator in a patient. The trial neuro stimulator has a processor, memory, system reset, telemetry module, recharge module, power management module, power source, therapy module, therapy measurement module, and diagnostics module. The diagnostics module can be a lead sensor, a software detector using therapy lead measurements from the therapy measurement module, or a combination of both the lead sensor and software detector to detect whether the therapy lead is operation. A method for diagnosing whether a therapy lead is operational is also disclosed.

Abstract: Uplink and downlink telemetry between an implantable medical device (IMD) telemetry transceiver and an external medical device (EMD) telemetry transceiver used by a patient or health care provider is facilitated by the communications system of the present invention. The IMD provides a therapy and/or measures physiologic conditions of the patient for use in formulating a therapy and/or for storage in IMD memory for later uplink telemetry transmission. The patient causes the EMD to emit encoded dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones that are detected by an audio receiver of the IMD to enable uplink and downlink telemetry transmissions in a telemetry or communication session. Then, the patient formulates a message via a message entry mechanism of the EMD that communicates an instruction or query to the IMD. The downlink message is optionally displayed by an EMD display as it is composed by the user and is then downlink telemetered to the IMD.

Abstract: An implanted medical device (e.g. infusion pump) and external device communicate with one another via telemetry wherein messages are transmitted under a robust communication protocol. The communication protocol gives enhanced assurance concerning the integrity of messages that impact medical operations of the implantable device. Messages are transmitted using a multipart format that includes a preamble, a frame sync, a telemetry ID, data, and a validation code. The data portion of the message includes an op-code that dictates various other elements that form part of the message. The data portion may also include additional elements such as sequence numbers, bolus numbers, and duplicate data elements. A telemetry ID for the transmitting device may be implicitly embedded in the message as part of the validation code that is sent with the message and that must be pre-known by the receiver to confirm the integrity of the received message.

Abstract: Suturing rings and methods of use thereof facilitating initial implantation of new and replacement of dysfunctional tissue or mechanical heart valve mechanisms supported by the suturing ring are disclosed. The suturing ring annulus is adjustable to receive and engage the valve frame of the heart valve mechanism within the annulus. An interlocking mechanism applies restraint to fix the adjusted suturing ring annulus engaged against the valve frame to support the heart valve mechanism during chronic implantation. Sutures affixing the suturing ring to the valvar rim can be routed and entrapped between the suturing ring annulus and the valve frame when the suturing ring is restraint is applied. The restraint is released to replace a dysfunctional heart valve mechanism and reapplied when a new heart valve mechanism is fitted into the annulus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing heat flow in sealed devices. The apparatus includes a casing adapted to enclose a volume. The apparatus further includes at least one sacrificial member positioned in the casing, wherein the at least one sacrificial member is adapted to absorb at least a portion of a heat flow in the volume.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically identifying various types of cardiac and non-cardiac oversensing and automatically performing a corrective action to reduce the likelihood of oversensing is provided. EGM data, including time intervals between sensed and paced events and signal morphologies, are analyzed for patterns indicative of various types of oversensing, including oversensing of far-field R-waves, R-waves, T-waves, or noise associated with electromagnetic interference, non-cardiac myopotentials, a lead fracture, or a poor lead connection. Identification of oversensing and its suspected cause are reported so that corrective action may be taken. The corrective action may include, for example, adjusting sensing parameters such as blanking periods, decay constants, decay delays, threshold values, sensitivity values, electrode configurations and the like.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs) having RF telemetry capabilities for uplink transmitting patient data and downlink receiving programming commands to and from an external programmer having an improved RF module configured to occupy small spaces within the IMD housing to further effect the miniaturization thereof An RF module formed of an RF module substrate and at least one IC chip and discrete components has a volume and dimensions that are optimally minimized to reduce its volumetric form factor. Miniaturization techniques include: (1) integrating inductors into one or more IC chips mounted to the RF module substrate; (2) mounting each IC chip into a well of the RF module substrate and using short bonding wires to electrically connect bond pads of the RF module substrate and the IC chip; and (3) surface mounting discrete capacitors over IC chips to reduce space taken up on the RF module substrate.

Abstract: A medical implantable device that includes a temperature sensor circuit and a control circuit coupled to the temperature sensor circuit to control non-therapy operation of the medical implantable device in response to temperature measurements obtained by the temperature sensor circuit.

Abstract: The invention is an intraluminal therapy catheter having a least two treatment members disposed near the distal end of the catheter, the members being independently inflatable to perform angioplasty and/or fluid-sourced brachytherapy. A first treatment member is helically mounted about the shaft of the catheter, and forms a helical perfusion channel when inflated into contact with the vessel being treated. In a first embodiment of the invention, the second treatment member is also helically mounted about the catheter shaft and capable of forming a helical perfusion channel when inflated into contact with the vessel. The first and second treatment members are intertwined to form a double helix configuration wherein each member is capable of being inflated to generally fill the helical perfusion channel created by simultaneous inflation of the other member.