Abstract: An implantable system for the diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment of a human or animal patient contains a processor, a memory, a treatment unit and a remote data transmission unit. The system is characterized in that the memory includes a computer-readable program which prompts the processor to carry out the following steps when the program is being executed on the processor: a) ascertaining whether a treatment functionality of the treatment unit could jeopardize a patient in whom the system was implanted if a diagnostic and/or therapeutic treatment of the patient corresponding to the treatment functionality were to be carried out; b) deactivating the treatment functionality when a potential risk for the patient was ascertained; c) receiving reactivation data by way of the remote data transmission unit; and d) reactivating the deactivated treatment functionality based on the received reactivation data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pump, in particular a blood pump having a proximal and a distal end and a pump housing arranged therebetween, a driveshaft arranged in an interior of the pump housing along the longitudinal direction, a conveying element arranged on the driveshaft, and a cannula. Here, the pump housing, the shaft arrangement and the conveying element are coordinated with one another in such a way that these guarantee the best possible efficiency and longevity of the pump.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving vision of a subject implanted with an intraocular lens (IOL). In some embodiments, a method of treating an ocular disease of a subject having an implanted intraocular lens (IOL) includes determining visual needs of a subject that are associated with an ocular disease of the subject determining a pattern of a plurality of pulses of radiation to apply, by refractive index writing, and applying the plurality of pulses of radiation to the one or more selected areas of the IOL.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing muscle function of skeletal muscles in connection with a planned spine surgery intervention in a patient's back are provided. The method includes implanting one or more electrodes in or adjacent to tissue associated with one or more skeletal muscles within a back of a patient, the one or more electrodes in electrical communication with a pulse generator programmed for enhancing muscle function of the one or more skeletal muscles. Electrical stimulation is delivered, according to the programming during a time period associated with the planned spine surgery intervention, from the pulse generator to the tissue associated with the one or more skeletal muscles via the one or more electrodes, thereby improving neuromuscular control system performance of the one or more spine stabilizing muscles in connection with the planned spine surgery intervention to reduce the patient's recovery time associated with the planned spine surgery intervention.

Abstract: A system for restoring muscle function to the lumbar spine to treat low back pain is provided. The system may include electrodes coupled to an implantable pulse generator (IPG), a handheld activator configured to transfer a stimulation command to the IPG, and an external programmer configured to transfer programming data to the IPG. The stimulation command directs the programmable controller to stimulate the tissue in accordance with the programming data. The system may include a software-based programming system run on a computer such that the treating physician may program and adjust stimulation parameters.

Abstract: A system includes a biometric device, a biometric data collection device, and a spatial categorization system. The biometric device includes a biometric sensor to measure a biometric trait of a user. The biometric data collection device includes a positioning system and a biometric data storage system, and a third wireless transceiver. The positioning system is configured to provide spatial location values specifying a geographic location of the biometric data collection device. The biometric data storage system is configured to assign time stamp values to each of the spatial location values and biometric trait measurements. The spatial categorization system is configured to identify a biometric trait measurement indicating that a condition of the user has a value that exceeds a threshold, and to assign, based on the identified biometric trait measurement, a category identification value to a spatial region corresponding to the spatial location value.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating biometric information is provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus may include a sensor comprising an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor configured to measure an ECG signal of a user and a pulse wave sensor configured to measure two or more pulse wave signals at two or more measurement sites of the user; and a processor configured to obtain biometric information based on the ECG signal and the two or more pulse wave signals measured by the sensor.

Abstract: A system (20) includes a plurality of electrodes (28), one or more radiofrequency (RF) generators (30), and a controller (36). The controller is configured to treat skin of a user (22), using one or more decision rules, responsively to multiple ascertained values of at least one parameter, by iteratively ascertaining at least one respective value of the ascertained values, by applying at least one of the decision rules to the ascertained value, identifying a treatment setting from among multiple treatment settings, and causing the RF generators to cause one or more RF currents to pass, through the skin, between at least some of the electrodes in accordance with the identified treatment setting. The controller is further configured to modify at least one of the decision rules in response to the ascertained values. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An improved emergency response system includes a set of databases which relates to volunteer responders and patients, which is controlled by a central system computer. The system interacts with patients and volunteer responders through a wireless network to patient and volunteer communicator devices. The emergency response system calculates and provides a compensation to the volunteer responders based upon their on-duty time, proximity to enrolled patients, and optionally based upon their performance during training and cardiac rescue events.

Abstract: A sinus treatment device and methods of operating the sinus treatment device that include an enhanced conductive tip and at least one return electrode are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for treating an eye includes a laser light source providing photoactivating light. The system includes a scanning system to receive the photoactivating light as a laser beam and to move the laser beam over a cornea treated with a cross-linking agent. The system includes a controller that provides control signal(s) to programmatically control the laser light source and the scanning system. The control signal(s) cause the laser beam to visit region(s) of the cornea more than once according to a scan pattern and expose the region(s) to the photoactivating light. The photoactivating light causes the cross-linking agent in the exposed region(s) to react with oxygen to generate cross-linking activity in the exposed region(s). The scan pattern causes a predetermined period of time to pass between visits by the laser beam to the exposed region(s), the predetermined period of time allowing oxygen in the exposed region(s) to replenish.

Abstract: A method and apparatus generate electrical currents and/or voltage in tissue using particles composed of liquid crystals and magnetic particles.

Abstract: An ophthalmic device for treating eye tissue using laser pulses comprises a projection optical unit for focused projection of the laser pulses and a scanning device, with a movable mirror, arranged downstream from the projection optical unit, for deflecting the laser pulses projected by the projection optical unit in at least one deflection direction. The ophthalmic device moreover comprises an optical correction element arranged downstream of the scanning device, which correction element is configured to image, in a focused manner, the laser pulses deflected by the scanning device on an intended treatment area in the eye tissue. The optical correction element renders it possible to therefore correct image field curvatures caused by the scanning device arranged downstream from the projection optical unit and, for example, image the deflected laser pulses in focus onto a plane.

Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus configured to be worn by a patient for cardiac defibrillation comprises sensing electrodes configured to sense a cardiac signal of the patient, defibrillation electrodes, therapy delivery circuitry configured to deliver defibrillation therapy to the patient via the defibrillation electrodes, communication circuitry configured to receive data of at least one physiological signal of the patient from at least one sensing device separate from the apparatus, a memory configured to store the data, the cardiac signal, and a machine learning algorithm, and processing circuitry configured to apply the machine learning algorithm to the data and the cardiac signal to probabilistically-determine at least one state of the patient and determine whether to control delivery of the defibrillation therapy based on the at least one probabilistically-determined patient state.

Abstract: A medical skin wrinkle reduction device using an RRSS laser irradiation method is proposed to reduce skin wrinkles and minimize tissue damage. The device includes: a main body having a mounting groove provided in an upper portion thereof, a tablet computer being attached to and detached from the mounting groove, and comprising signal transmission and reception parts exchanging signals with the tablet computer, and a microcomputer controlling an output of a laser beam; a handpiece comprising: a laser oscillation part generating the laser beam; an optical part emitting the laser beam as parallel light; a laser scanner controlling an irradiation position of the laser beam transmitted from the optical part; a laser pattern part having movement coordinate values set therein such that moving direction of the laser beam has a regular pattern; a tablet computer having functions of inputting data in a touch screen method and displaying a screen.

Abstract: A device for influencing a patient's gait, comprising at least one foot lifter stimulation electrode for activating a foot lifter muscle, at least one sensor unit, at least one hip flexor stimulation electrode for activating a hip flexor muscle, and at least one control unit which is coupled to the sensor unit and the stimulation electrodes, processes sensor values from the sensor unit and, depending on the sensor values, activates at least one of the stimulation electrodes.

Abstract: A medical device is configured to sense a cardiac electrical signal and determine from the cardiac electrical signal at least one of a maximum peak amplitude of a positive slope of the cardiac electrical signal and a maximum peak time interval from a pacing pulse to the maximum peak amplitude. The device is configured to determine a capture type of the pacing pulse based on at least one or both of the maximum peak amplitude and the maximum peak time interval.

Abstract: The present invention improves control of currents in a multi-site direct current neurostimulation system. Precise control incorporates three constant current sources in a system consisting of spinal, polarizing and peripheral circuits. Constant current sources (sinks) are placed on the high side of the peripheral circuit and one sink in series on the low side of the spinal circuit in a four electrode configuration, for maintaining both predetermined currents, and current ratios, as the electrode/skin impedance and body impedance vary over the course of a treatment. Resistive steering is also implemented.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an end effector, a shaft assembly, and an interface assembly. The end effector is operable to manipulate tissue, the shaft assembly is in communication with the end effector and a portion of the shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector. The interface assembly is in communication with the shaft assembly. The interface assembly comprises a housing portion, a shaft cartridge, and a base portion. The housing portion can engage the shaft cartridge. The shaft cartridge is able to rotate and articulate the end effector, and the shaft assembly extends from the shaft cartridge. The base portion and the housing portion are able to enclose the shaft cartridge.

Abstract: Stimulation of nervous system components by electrodes can be used in many applications, including in the operation of brain-machine interfaces, bidirectional neural interfaces, and neuroprosthetics. The optimal operation of such systems requires a means of accurately measuring neural responses to such stimulations. However, currently the measurement of neural responses is difficult due to heavy stimulation artifacts arising from stimulatory pulses. The invention encompasses novel methods of estimating stimulation artifacts in measurements attained by recording electrodes and the effective removal of these artifacts. This provides improved neural recording systems and enables the deployment of closed-loop neural stimulation systems.