Abstract: A system for measuring at least one fluid characteristic at various stages within a sorbent system that has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer and at least one fluid passageway in at least one location in the sorbent system to provide a diverted sample stream from the various stages. At least one fluid characteristic of the diverted sample stream is measured.

Abstract: A medical device, a method for preparation thereof, and use thereof are provided. The medical device comprises a thermoplastic elastomer that is composed of soft segments and hard segments. The method for preparing a medical device comprising a thermoplastic elastomer, comprises forming the thermoplastic elastomer into tubing or other shapes via extrusion, molding, or coating, assembling the tubing or other shapes with other parts including: cables, coils, coated cables, or coated coils, and bonding the tubing, cables, or coils with other components including: other tubing components, cables, coils, sleeves, electrical pulse generator, defibrillation shock generator, electrodes, sensors, or drug release components. The medical device is used for correcting cardiac rhythm, defibrillating, assisting hearts, sensing, stimulating neurological systems, gastrointestinal system, or skeletomuscular tissues or organs.

Abstract: Techniques are described in this disclosure for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient over multiple channels, with independent rate control for each channel, using a single stimulation generator. In one example, the disclosure describes a method for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient that includes delivering first electrical stimulation pulses at a first programmed rate on a first channel using a stimulation generator, and delivering second electrical stimulation pulses at a second programmed rate on a second channel using the stimulation generator, the second programmed rate being different than the first programmed rate, and the second programmed rate being independent of the first programmed rate.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for high capacity degassing of dissolved gases and gas bubbles from fluid such as a dialysate are provided. The devices, systems, and methods can include a degassing vessel with at least two degassing chambers. The fluid can be degassed in a first degassing chamber and recirculated through a second recirculating degassing chamber to remove a desired amount of gas such as carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Subcutaneous implantation tools and methods of implanting a subcutaneous device using the same. The tool may include a tool body having a longitudinally extending recess having a distal opening and having a tunneler at a distal end of the tool body extending from the distal opening of the recess. The tool may include a plunger slidably fitting within at least a portion of the tool body recess. The recess may be configured to receive an implantable device and the tunneler preferably extends distally from the recess at a position laterally displaced from the device when the device is so located in the recess. Movement of the plunger distally within the recess advances the device distally out of the recess and alongside of and exterior to the tunneler.

Abstract: An indication that a patient event occurred may be used to evaluate the efficacy of at least one therapy program and/or adjust therapy delivery to the patient. In some examples, the patient event indication includes patient input that may be received via an event indication button of a programming device. In some examples, therapy delivery may be adjusted by adjusting at least one therapy parameter value, switching therapy programs or therapy program groups or restarting a therapy cycle of a medical device.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to “wet” transcatheter prosthetic heart valve or other implant packaging and assemblies in which a prosthetic heart valve or other implant is loaded into a first portion of a delivery device and positioned within a container in which sterilizing fluid is retained to sterilize inside of the container as well as provide moisture to prevent the implant from drying out. The disclosure also relates to methods of sterilizing the disclosed assemblies. Some disclosed methods include at least two sterilizing steps and adjustment of a shaft seal or formation of multiple seals maintaining sterilizing fluid within the container so that areas underneath the shaft seal(s) can also be sterilized.

Abstract: In some examples, determining a health status includes using an implantable medical device configured for subcutaneous implantation and comprising at least one optical sensor. Processing circuitry of a system comprising the device may determine, for a patient, a current tissue oxygen saturation value based on a first signal received from the at least one optical sensor and a current pulsatile oxygen saturation value based on a second signal received from the at least one optical sensor. The processing circuitry may further compare the current tissue oxygen saturation and current pulsatile oxygen saturation values to corresponding baseline values, determine corresponding heart failure and pulmonary statuses of the patient based on the comparisons, and determine the health status of the patient based on the statuses.

Abstract: Delivery of peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) in combination with one or more other therapies is described. The other therapy delivered in combination with PNFS may be, for example, a different type of neurostimulation, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS), or a drug. PNFS and the other therapy may be delivered simultaneously, in an alternating fashion, according to a schedule, and/or selectively, e.g., in response to a request received from a patient or clinician. A combination therapy that includes PNFS may be able to more completely address complex or multifocal pain than would be possible through delivery of either PNFS or other therapies alone. Further, the combination of PNFS with one or more other therapies may reduce the likelihood that neural accommodation will impair the perceived effectiveness PNFS or the other therapies.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a speaker and a method of forming such speaker are disclosed. The speaker includes a frame having a first major surface, a second major surface, and an opening disposed between the first and second major surfaces; a cone disposed adjacent the first major surface of the frame; and an adhesive layer disposed on at least a portion of the second major surface of the frame. The adhesive layer occludes the opening of the frame.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, such as a sensor for monitoring a selected internally detectable physiological parameter of a patient, is attached to a fixation assembly that is deployable within the patient to position and orient the sensor to enable it to perform its function. The fixation assembly is formed having at least one flexible asymmetric connector where each fixation member includes a plurality of loops, wherein a first loop of the plurality of loops has a maximum pitch that is different from a maximum pitch of a second loop of the plurality of loops. The attachment of the housing and the fixation assembly includes providing a tubular member that is welded to the housing and crimped over a section of the fixation assembly.

Abstract: A method of non-invasively monitoring hematocrit levels includes monitoring a first emission response to the light provided at the first excitation wavelength, wherein the first emission response is monitored at a first wavelength and monitoring a second emission response to the light provided at the first excitation wavelength, wherein the second emission response is monitored at a second wavelength. A ratiometric value is calculated based on a ratio of the first emission response to the second emission response, wherein the ratiometric value corresponds with hematocrit level of the patient.

Abstract: An implantable segmented electrode structure may be configured to conduct electrical signals between elongated conductors of an implantable medical lead and respective portions of tissue of a patient. The implantable medical lead may extend from an implantable medical device that is implanted within the patient. The segmented electrode structure includes a plurality of separate electrode surfaces. The electrode surfaces are at a plurality of different axial positions and angular positions within the implantable segmented electrode structure. The segmented electrode structure additionally includes a plurality of prongs. The prongs extend axially from a proximal end of the segmented electrode structure through the segmented electrode structure. Each prong may electrically connect to one of the electrode surfaces. The prongs may terminate distally at respective electrode surfaces. Each prong may be configured to electrically connect to one of the elongated conductors.

Abstract: A surgical cutting tool adapted to be rotatably driven by a motor. The surgical cutting tool includes an elongated shaft defining intermediate and coupling portions. A shape of the intermediate portion defines a primary central axis of the shaft. The coupling portion includes a tang having a tapered cylindrical shape that defines a drive axis. The drive axis is slanted with respect to the primary central axis. When coupled to the motor of a powered handpiece, the tang transmits an input or drive force from the motor to the intermediate portion as a torque about the primary central axis. In some embodiments, the drive axis extends through a centroid of first and second spaced apart cross-sectional planes of the tang, the first and second planes each being perpendicular to the primary central axis.

Abstract: A one-piece electrical contact ring for use in a lead receptacle of an implantable medical device includes (i) a tubular body defining a cavity extending through the body and (ii) a plurality of resiliently deflectable elements extending from the tubular body into the cavity. The deflectable elements have a lead contacting portion configured to contact the lead when received by the cavity. The lead contacting portions of the deflectable elements in a relaxed state are located in a plane that intersects the tubular body and are configured to deflect along the plane towards the tubular body as the lead is inserted in the contact ring. The contact ring may further include a plurality of stops, each configured to (i) engage a stop portion of the elements when the elements are sufficiently outwardly deflected and (ii) inhibit further outward deflection of the elements when the stops engage the stop portions.

Abstract: A system for measuring at least one fluid characteristic at various stages within a sorbent system that has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer and at least one fluid passageway in at least one location in the sorbent system to provide a diverted sample stream from the various stages. At least one fluid characteristic of the diverted sample stream is measured.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to delivery devices for transcatheter delivery of a prosthesis. The delivery device includes a hollow shaft on which the prosthesis is supported. A handle assembly maintains the shaft. The delivery device further includes a guide wire that is selectively directed through the handle assembly and shaft. The guide wire directs the shaft to a target site at which the prosthesis is to be deployed. In practice, an operator managing the inner catheter controls the prosthesis positioning. The delivery devices disclosed herein are configured to ergonomically also allow the operator to control the position of the guide wire as the position of the guide wire influences the deployment position of the prosthesis. In this way, a second operator for positioning the guide wire can be omitted. Embodiments of the disclosure are believed to improve positioning predictability and ease of use.

Abstract: A medical device includes an inflatable balloon defining an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a coating including a therapeutic agent disposed on the exterior surface of the inflatable balloon. The coating has a release transition temperature within a range from about 25° C. to about 50° C. When the temperature of the coating is below the release transition temperature, the coating retains at least a portion of the therapeutic agent on the exterior of the inflatable balloon. When the temperature of the coating is above the release transition temperature, the coating releases at least a portion of the therapeutic agent from the exterior of the inflatable balloon.

Abstract: A medicament delivery system configured to reduce the risk of inadvertently injecting medicament directly into a patient during a refill procedure via an external refilling apparatus. The medicament delivery system may include an implantable medical pump having a refillable medicament reservoir accessible via an access port, wherein the refillable medicament reservoir includes a flexible diaphragm having a nonlinear spring rate configured to create a relative vacuum within a medicament chamber when medicament is expelled from the medicament chamber beyond a predefined threshold, so as to spontaneously draw a quantity of medicament into the medicament chamber during the refill procedure to reestablish the predefined threshold, thereby confirming proper placement of a portion of the external refilling apparatus into the access port.

Abstract: A system and apparatus is disclosed to automatically determine the identification and selected information relating to instruments. The identification information may be read or determined by various reader systems and then transferred for various purposes. The identification information may be stored on the instrument with a storage system or printing and/or recalled from a memory once the identification is made.