Abstract: The power source in a portable defibrillator includes a replaceable first power pack and a rechargeable second power pack. The first power pack charges the second power pack. The second power pack supplies most of the energy needed to administer a defibrillation shock. The first power pack may include one or more lithium thionyl chloride batteries. The second power pack may include one or more lithium ion batteries and/or ultracapacitors.

Abstract: The efficiency of a hollow fiber wound oxygenator is improved by varying the packing density of the fiber bundle in a direction longitudinal and/or circumferential of the core.

Abstract: A biosensor including an external surface, and an accessory material in close proximity to the external surface. The accessory material includes a coating containing a hydrophilic material and/or a fiber modified to deliver a therapeutic agent. The biosensor modifies a biological response to the biosensor upon contact with a tissue, such as upon implantation into the skin of a subject, thereby reducing biofouling, inflammation and other undesirable tissue responses that interfere with biosensor performance. The biosensor can be any biocompatible sensor, suitable for short- or long-term use. Preferably, the biosensor is an enzymatic or electrochemical sensor, such as a glucose sensor. Also provided are a method of producing a biosensor and a method of delivering a biologically active substance to a subject.

Abstract: A method of applying a universal coating for a medical device comprising a medical device component, the medical device component having an outer surface and an inner surface, the universal coating applied to at least the outer surface or the inner surface of the medical device component, wherein the coating is made from a material selected from the group consisting of diamond, diamond-like, borosilicate glass, carbides and nitrides. The medical device can further be a smart medical device by incorporating a sensor placed capable of measuring chemical and/or electrical conditions. A method of applying the coating inside complicated 3D structures without the need for bonding diamond to diamond or DLC to DLC layers is also provided.

Abstract: Curves and dynamic shapes are imparted in distal segments of medical instruments e.g., catheters, through use of a temperature-activated actuator coupled to distal segment of the instrument body. The actuator comprises includes members extending side-by-side in substantially a common plane and configured to move in opposite directions when independently activated. A first heating device is coupled to a first actuator member and configured to deliver thermal energy to the first actuator member to activate the first actuator member and cause the first actuator member to move the distal segment in a first direction. A second heating device is coupled to a second actuator member and configured to deliver thermal energy to the second actuator member to activate the second actuator member and cause the second actuator member to move the distal segment in a second direction opposed to the first direction.

Abstract: The power source in a portable defibrillator includes a replaceable first power pack and a rechargeable second power pack. The first power pack charges the second power pack. The second power pack supplies most of the energy needed to administer a defibrillation shock. The first power pack may include one or more lithium thionyl chloride batteries. The second power pack may include one or more lithium ion batteries and/or ultracapacitors.

Abstract: An implantable medical catheter comprising at least one fluid passageway and a cured elastomer composition is disclosed. The cured elastomer composition is obtained by cross-linking an uncured blend composition that comprises an intimately admixed mixture that comprises the following components: (A) silica that had been silyliated by treatment and contains trialkylsilyl groups; (B) a polysiloxane copolymer; (C) a catalyst, and (D) an organohydrogen polysiloxane cross-linker, the catalyst and the cross-linker being present in the uncured blend composition in sufficient amount to cause the cross-linking reaction to occur.

Abstract: A connector and method of medical tubing is disclosed. The connector defines a fluid passageway, and the connector includes a first end, a first intermediate portion, a middle portion, a second intermediate portion, and a second end. The middle portion is located between the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion, and the first end is adapted to fit inside a proximal connector-receiving portion, and the second end is adapted to fit inside a distal connector-receiving portion. The connector includes at least a first protrusion and a second protrusion projecting from the connector, wherein a first protrusion is located between the first end and the first intermediate portion, and the second protrusion is located between the second intermediate portion and the second end.

Abstract: A generic treatment protocol is disclosed for therapeutically treating a patient via an implantable treatment device. Treatment steps can be defined to start and end at absolute times, or can be programmed via telemetry to start a certain amount of time after termination of a previously executed treatment step. Treatment steps have a treatment rate or dose attribute and a duration attribute. Treatment steps may optionally enable patient-activated bolus overlays. Patient-activated rate or dosage adjustments can also optionally be enabled. Repeated-execution treatment-step groups are also provided. Such treatment-step groups can have start and end times, a group duration, and a group total dose, each defined in a manner similar to that for a treatment step. Treatment-step groups include a repetition count, which could be set to a value that causes the group to repeat forever.

Abstract: A method of monitoring heart failure is provided. A baseline heart rate change value is determined, wherein the baseline heart rate change value comprises a speed at which a first initial heart rate changes to a second initial heart rate. At least one subsequent heart rate change value is also determined, wherein the subsequent heart rate change value comprises a subsequent speed at which a first subsequent heart rate changes to a second subsequent heart rate. The subsequent heart rate change value is compared to the baseline heart rate change value to obtain at least one heart failure value. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Abstract: A powered surgical handpiece for use with a micro-cutting instrument, includes a motor contained within a housing. The housing includes a motor enclosure surrounding the motor and a sleeve placed about the motor enclosure. An internal passage is formed entirely between the sleeve and the motor enclosure. Finally, the sleeve defines a handling region and forms inlet and outlet ports proximal the handling region which are fluidly connected to the internal passage. During use, a cooling fluid, flows through the internal passage as the cooling fluid circulates from the inlet port to the outlet port. The motor is sealed relative to the cooling fluid by the motor enclosure. Thus, the cooling fluid does not directly contact the motor, but instead serves as a heat exchange medium through which heat generated by the motor is thermally transferred to the cooling fluid via the motor enclosure.

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: An bolus delivery system includes an implantable pump, a sensor for sensing an adverse patient condition, such as atrial fibrillation, and a catheter for delivery of a bolus of drug to a target area of a living body. The pump is provided with a bolus metering assembly which includes, in a preferred embodiment, an auxiliary bellows defining a bolus reservoir in addition to the main reservoir of the pump. The auxiliary bellows is selectively placed in fluid communication with the pressurized main supply of drug via an inlet valve to refill the bolus reservoir. An outlet valve is provided to permit egress of the bolus to the catheter from the bolus reservoir. A drive train including a stepper motor and a face cam selectively opens and closes the inlet and outlet valves to effect accumulation or metering and delivery of the bolus.

Abstract: A catheter assembly and method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, for example, atrial fibrillation, by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and at least one electrode. The catheter body includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal portion extends from the intermediate portion and forms a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis. The at least one electrode is disposed along the loop. With this configuration, the loop is axially directed into contact with the chamber wall about the vessel ostium. Upon energization, the electrode ablates a continuous lesion pattern about the vessel ostium, thereby electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.

Abstract: An automated external defibrillator automatically determines the type of patient to which it is attached based on patient-specific information entered by the user. The defibrillator includes electrodes that are adapted for placement on a patient, a pulse generator connected to the electrodes, and processing circuitry that controls the defibrillation pulse delivery from the pulse generator. The automated external defibrillator causes a defibrillation pulse to be delivered to the patient in accordance with the determined patient type. A user interface having a user input connected to the processing circuitry enables the user of the defibrillator to enter patient-specific information. The user may enter the patient-specific information by interacting with the user input during a time period in relation to a prompt from the defibrillator. In another aspect, data pertaining to identification of the type of patient connected to the electrodes may be recorded with event data in a memory.

Abstract: A catheter assembly and method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, for example, atrial fibrillation, by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and at least one electrode. The catheter body includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal portion extends from the intermediate portion and forms a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis. The at least one electrode is disposed along the loop. With this configuration, the loop is axially directed into contact with the chamber wall about the vessel ostium. Upon energization, the electrode ablates a continuous lesion pattern about the vessel ostium, thereby electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.

Abstract: An anode-limited battery and method of assembly are provided in which a lithium anode subassembly is constructed from two pieces of lithium foil. An elongated thicker piece of lithium foil is cohesively bonded at one end to a shorter, thinner piece of lithium foil. An optional current collector stabilizes the area of the cohesive bond. The thicker lithium foil forms the inner windings of a coiled electrode, which face reactive cathode material on both sides. The thinner foil forms the outermost winding, which faces reactive cathode material on only one side. Thus, an appropriate amount of lithium is available for cathode discharge. The method of electrode assembly allows a narrow tolerance of the lithium anode such that the benefits of an anode-limited cell may be realized.

Abstract: A catheter assembly and method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, for example, atrial fibrillation, by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and at least one electrode. The catheter body includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal portion extends from the intermediate portion and forms a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis. The at least one electrode is disposed along the loop. With this configuration, the loop is axially directed into contact with the chamber wall about the vessel ostium. Upon energization, the electrode ablates a continuous lesion pattern about the vessel ostium, thereby electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.

Abstract: A method of performing minimally invasive cardiac surgery includes the step of creating an access aperture into a patient's chest cavity, the access aperture being considerably smaller than a traditional cardiac surgery incision. A cannula is provided that has an oval portion with a longer major axis and a shorter minor axis and the cannula is inserted into the chest cavity through the access aperture.

Abstract: The present invention provides delivery systems for and methods of delivering ion channel protein genetic material to cardiac cells in areas adjacent to where an electrode is to be positioned in a patient's heart to improve or correct the signal to noise ratio of cardiac signals, such as the P-wave. More specifically, there is provided a system and method for delivering sodium ion channel proteins or nucleic acid molecules encoding sodium ion channel proteins to a site in the heart adjacent to an electrode to increase the expression of the same, thereby enhancing the cardiac signal amplitude and enabling improved sensing of cardiac signals by an implanted pacemaker.