Abstract: A slitter for slitting a guide catheter has a handle and a blade assembly coupled to the handle. The blade assembly includes a shroud for receiving an elongated body of a medical device and a slitting blade having an exposed cutting edge to slit the guide catheter. The blade assembly includes a user-deflectable portion coupled to the shroud for causing the shroud to flex in response to deflection of the user-deflectable portion. The handle and the blade assembly may be assembled from piece parts in a manufacturing method.

Abstract: In some examples, determining a heart failure status of a patient using a medical device comprising a plurality of electrodes includes determining an estimated arterial pressure waveform of the patient based on an arterial impedance signal received from at least two of the plurality of electrodes. The estimated arterial pressure waveform may comprise a plurality of arterial pressure cycles. Each of the plurality of arterial pressure cycles may correspond to a different cardiac cycle of a plurality of cardiac cycles of the patient. At least one value of an intrinsic frequency of the corresponding arterial pressure cycle may be determined for at least some of the plurality of cardiac cycles and the heart failure status of the patient may be determined based on the at least one value of the intrinsic frequency.

Abstract: Techniques are described for magnetic field detection using a plurality of Hall sensors and chopper-amplifier circuit. Determination that a magnetic field is present from measurement from one of the Hall sensors may trigger confirmation or confirmation and reconfirmation of the presence of the magnetic field from measurements from one or more of the other Hall sensors.

Abstract: A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached, includes a shaft assembly including a distal end and a coupling structure disposed near the distal end and configured to be coupled to a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve. The system includes a sheath assembly defining a lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve. The coupling structure is configured to provide a controlled expansion or contraction of the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve based on longitudinal movement of the distal end of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A stacked sorbent assembly for use in sorbent dialysis. The stacked sorbent assembly contains two or more interchangeable sorbent pouches that allow for fluid to freely pass into and through the sorbent materials, while keeping the sorbent materials inside the sorbent pouches. Any of the pouches in the sorbent cartridge can be reused and/or recharged.

Abstract: A device includes a tissue conduction communication (TCC) transmitter that generates a TCC signal including a carrier signal having a peak-to-peak amplitude and a carrier frequency cycle length including a first polarity pulse for a first half of the carrier frequency cycle length and a second polarity pulse opposite the first polarity pulse for a second half of the carrier frequency cycle length. Each of the first polarity pulse and the second polarity pulse inject a half cycle charge into a TCC pathway. The TCC transmitter starts transmitting the TCC signal with a starting pulse having a net charge that is half of the half cycle charge and transmits alternating polarity pulses of the carrier signal consecutively following the starting pulse.

Abstract: An implantable active medical device system includes an active medical device and a lead extending between a proximal portion electrically coupled to the active medical device and a distal end portion configured to emit light. The distal end portion includes a solid state light source disposed within a light transmissive ring element. The light transmissive ring element forms an exterior segment of the distal end portion. The light transmissive ring element defines at least a portion of a hermetic cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles includes an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface, and a tube coating applied to the exterior surface via spraying of a homogeneous solution onto the endotracheal tube or immersion of the endotracheal tube in the homogeneous solution. A conductive electrode is formed on the tube coating. The conductive electrode is configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a degasser manifold and a vent manifold for use with a degasser in a dialysis system. The degasser manifold and vent manifold include a plurality of fluid passageways that convey dialysate or gases into and out of the degasser. The degasser manifold and vent manifold can also include components such as valves and sensors for control over the degassing of dialysate.

Abstract: A medical device lead connection assembly includes an end connector element including a plurality of fixed connection element tabs extending from the end connector element to a tab distal end. A lead body includes a plurality of lead filars extending through the lead body and coupled to a corresponding fixed connection tab. A tubular guide hub extends from a hub proximal end to a hub distal end. The tubular guide hub includes a plurality of guide elements circumferentially disposed about an outer surface of the guide hub. The hub distal end is disposed within the lead body and the hub proximal end received within connection element tabs, and selected guide elements contact selected lead filars.

Abstract: A tool has an outer assembly, which includes a deployment tube, extending around, and moveable with respect to an inner assembly of the tool; the inner assembly includes a single pull wire and a distal member configured to engage an end of an implantable medical device. The deployment tube includes an articulating segment located just proximal to an enlarged distal-most portion, which contains the device and the distal member. Relatively soft and stiff sections of a composite sidewall define the articulating segment and extend alongside one another, such that, when the pull wire is actuated, the composite sidewall causes bending of the segment in two directions. A handle assembly of the tool includes a control member for the pull wire, and may further include a flushing subassembly that has a connector port located at an end of the handle assembly that is opposite a proximal port of the handle.

Abstract: In some examples, an implantable medical device includes an implantable housing, a neurostimulator within the housing, a plurality of electrodes, an implantable lead coupled to the housing, and an actuator formed with the housing. The implantable lead includes at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes and one or more conductors coupling the at least one electrode to the neurostimulator. The actuator is configured to cause at least a portion of the implantable lead to deflect.

Abstract: The invention relates to an infusate holder for use in dialysis. The infusate holder can include one or more interior compartments for holding infusate containers or infusates. The interior compartments are aligned to cooperate with fluid connectors of a dialysis system, ensuring that the proper infusates are added to the dialysis system at a proper location.

Abstract: A stimulation probe includes a proximal end connector and a flexible wire coupled to the end connector. A handle is coupled to the wire and a needle extends from the handle and terminates at a conductive tip.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system includes a pacemaker and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The pacemaker is configured to confirm a hemodynamically unstable rhythm based on an activity metric determined from an activity sensor signal after detecting a ventricular tachyarrhythmia and withhold anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) pulses in response to confirming the hemodynamically unstable rhythm. The pacemaker may deliver ATP when a hemodynamically unstable rhythm is not confirmed based on the activity metric. The ICD is configured to detect the ATP and withhold a shock therapy in response to detecting the ATP in some examples.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a sealed package and a method of forming the package are disclosed. The package can include a housing extending along a housing axis between a first end and a second end, and an electronic device disposed within the housing that includes a device contact. The package can also include an external contact hermetically sealed to the housing at the first end of the housing, and a conductive member electrically connected to the external contact and the device contact such that the conductive member electrically connects the electronic device to the external contact. The conductive member is compressed between the external contact and the device contact.

Abstract: A medical device and method conserve electrical power used in monitoring cardiac arrhythmias. The device includes a sensing circuit configured to sense a cardiac signal, a power source and a control circuit having a processor powered by the power source. The control circuit is configured to operate in a normal state by waking up the processor to analyze the cardiac electrical signal for determining a state of an arrhythmia. The control circuit switches from the normal state to a power saving state that includes waking up the processor at a lower rate than during the normal state.

Abstract: In various specific embodiments, a localizer can include a plurality of coil groups, where each coil group includes three coils that are formed around a single center. Each of the three coils can be formed around separate jigs and the jigs can be interconnected to form the coil group. The jigs need not be annular, but may be formed in any appropriate configuration of shape or geometry for forming the final coil group.

Abstract: A device determines values for one or more metrics that indicate the quality of a patient's sleep based on sensed physiological parameter values. Sleep efficiency, sleep latency, and time spent in deeper sleep states are example sleep quality metrics for which values may be determined. The sleep quality metric values may be used, for example, to evaluate the effectiveness of a therapy delivered to the patient by a medical device. In some embodiments, determined sleep quality metric values are automatically associated with the therapy parameter sets according to which the medical device delivered the therapy when the physiological parameter values were sensed, and used to evaluate the effectiveness of the various therapy parameter sets. The medical device may deliver the therapy to treat a non-respiratory neurological disorder, such as epilepsy, a movement disorder, or a psychological disorder. The therapy may be, for example, deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy.