Abstract: It has been discovered that pain felt in a given region of the body can be treated, not by motor point stimulation of muscle in the local region where pain is felt, but by stimulating muscle spaced from a “nerve of passage” in a region that is superior (i.e., cranial or upstream toward the spinal column) to the region where pain is felt. Spinal nerves such as the intercostal nerves or nerves passing through a nerve plexus, which comprise trunks that divide by divisions and/or cords into branches, comprise “nerves of passage.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an end effector, a shaft assembly, and an interface assembly. The end effector is coupled with the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly comprises a translating member extending through the shaft assembly. The interface assembly is operable to engage the shaft assembly and comprises a plurality of drive shafts and a rack. One of the drive shafts is operable to drive the rack along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. A plurality of racks may be used to rotate the shaft assembly, articulate the shaft assembly, and/or drive the translating member through the shaft assembly to thereby actuate the end effector.

Abstract: A terminal device, a control method, a treatment system, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium, with the terminal device being configured to wirelessly communicate with an electrical treatment device. A terminal device is configured to wirelessly communicate with electrical treatment devices. Each one of the electrical treatment devices comprises a case and a vibration source that vibrates the case. The terminal device comprises a display control unit that displays image information associated with the each one of the electrical treatment devices on a display of the terminal device; a vibration instruction unit that instructs one of the electrical treatment devices associated with image information selected by a user to vibrate the case; and a treatment content setting unit that sets a treatment content performed by the each one of the electrical treatment devices in accordance with an instruction from the user notified by vibration of the case.

Abstract: This document describes an automated external defibrillator comprising a control configured to switch between a pediatric operating mode and an adult operating mode, wherein each operating mode comprises a mode-specific energy configuration and a mode-specific user configuration; an indicator configured to provide an indication of the operating mode in use during a resuscitation process; one or more processors configured to switch to the mode-specific energy configuration and the mode-specific user configuration upon a change of operating mode between the pediatric operating mode and the adult operating mode such that the automated external defibrillator delivers a defibrillating shock to a patient based on the mode-specific energy configuration; and an interface of the automated external defibrillator provides resuscitation instructions to a user based on the mode-specific user configuration.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to receive physiologic information from a patient during different first and second pacing periods having respective, different first and second atrioventricular (AV) delays, determine first and second physiologic parameters using respective received physiologic information from the first and second pacing periods, and adjust the first AV delay using the determined first and second physiologic parameters, wherein the second AV delay is longer than the first AV delay.

Abstract: In a patient suffering from neural impairment, stimulation is provided to sensory surfaces of the face and/or neck, or more generally to areas of the body that stimulate the trigeminal nerve, while performing an activity intended to stimulate a brain function to be rehabilitated. The simulation may then be continued after the performance of the activity has ceased. It has been found that the patient's performance of the activity is then improved after stimulation has ceased. Moreover, it tends to improve to a greater extent, and/or for a longer time, when the post-activity stimulation is applied, as compared to when post activity stimulation is not applied.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a stimulus circuit, a recharge circuit, a switch circuit, and a control circuit. The stimulus circuit provides electrical cardiac pacing stimulation to multiple combinations of a plurality of electrodes, and the electrical stimulation is selectively applied at the first electrode of the electrode combinations. The recharge circuit includes a recharge capacitor electrically coupled to the second electrode of the electrode combinations, and the switch circuit selectively enables electrode combinations for electrical coupling to the stimulus circuit and the recharge circuit. The control circuit includes a pacing activation sub-circuit that selectively initiates delivery of the electrical stimulation using multiple electrode combinations, and enables simultaneous delivery of pacing recharge energy from the recharge capacitor to the second electrode of multiple electrode combinations.

Abstract: An external wearable medical device includes a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors, at least one accelerometer configured to be disposed on a patient, and at least one processor operatively coupled plurality of ECG sensors and the at least one accelerometer. The at least one processor is configured to receive an ECG signal from the plurality of ECG sensors, receive patient activity data from the at least one accelerometer, and detect, based on the patient activity data from the at least one accelerometer, data indicative of an impending syncope event. The at least one processor is configured to issue a notification of the impending syncope event, and store in a memory during a first time period data comprising the ECG signal in association with information descriptive of impending syncope event, and transmit to a remote server during a second time period the stored data for analysis at the remote server.

Abstract: A variety of electrode pad cartridges are described that are suitable for use with a defibrillator. In one aspect the cartridge includes a sealed tray. The tray takes the form of a drawer box having a foil secured thereto in order to seal the drawer chamber. In some embodiments, the foil is heat sealed to walls of the drawer box. The tray may include an exit feature such as a channel through which electrode pad wires coupled to the electrode pads pass. The pad tray may further include a seal that cooperates with the foil to seal the exit feature. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic resin is used as the filler material.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating ECG recordings and a method for using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a handheld device having four electrodes on an outer surface thereof, the handheld device having an extended configuration and a storage configuration. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to measure signals between the electrodes to provide signals that are used to generate an ECG recording selected from the group consisting of standard lead traces and precordial traces. When the handheld device is in the extended configuration and the first and second electrodes contact a first hand of a patient such that the first and second electrodes contact different locations on the first hand, the third electrode is in contact with a location on the patient's other hand and the fourth electrode contacts a point on the patient's body that depends on the particular trace being measured.

Abstract: A method of providing vagus nerve stimulation to a user is provided. The method includes the step of prompting, via a first audio cue emitted by an earpiece worn by a user, the user to inhale at a first point in time. The method may further include the step of prompting, via a second audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to exhale at a second point in time. The method may further include the step of stimulating a vagus nerve of the user with a first electrical signal generated by the earpiece at the second point in time. The first electrical signal may be applied to a concha of an ear of the user. The first electrical signal may be applied to an ear canal of the user. The first electrical signal may be applied to a tragus of the user.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an end effector, an elongate shaft, and a handle assembly. The shaft includes an articulation section that is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The handle assembly includes a rotary member positioned within an intermediate section of the handle assembly. The rotary member is rotatable about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The rotary member is operable to control the articulation section of the shaft. The rotary member may include opposing thread sections that simultaneously drive lead screws in opposite longitudinal directions, to thereby control the articulation section. The shaft may be rotatable relative to the handle assembly, and the apparatus may selectively lock or resist such rotation based on the articulation state of the articulation section.

Abstract: Systems and methods of limiting activation of a single use automated external defibrillator (AED). The method comprises using an event monitoring module to sense an activation of the AED, monitor the AED's use state, generate a notification and request a deactivation command if the AED's use state satisfies at least one deactivation criterion, and deactivating the AED when a deactivation command is received. The AED device comprises an energy source, a pair of electrodes, an alert module, a wireless communication module, and an event monitoring module.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating arrhythmias are disclosed. In one embodiment an LCP comprises a housing, a plurality of electrodes for sensing electrical signals emanating from outside of the housing, an energy storage module disposed within the housing, and a control module disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The control module may be configured to receive electrical signals via two or more of the plurality of electrodes and determine if the received electrical signals are indicative of a command for the LCP to deliver ATP therapy. If the received electrical signals are indicative of a command for the LCP to deliver ATP therapy, the control module may additionally determine whether a triggered ATP therapy mode of the LCP is enabled. If the triggered ATP therapy mode is enabled, the control module may cause the LCP to deliver ATP therapy via the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A system for monitoring biometric signals of a user comprising: a garment configured to be worn by the user and comprising a mounting module having an array of connection regions; a set of biometric sensors coupled to the garment and configured to communicate with the array of connection regions to receive and transmit biometric signals indicative of muscle activity of the user; and a portable control module configured to couple to the garment in a first configuration and to decouple from the garment in a second configuration and comprising: a housing comprising an array of openings; a set of contacts, each including a first region that seals at least one of the array of openings and couples to at least one of the array of connection regions in the first configuration, and an electronics subsystem coupled to the housing and in communication with a second region of each contact.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques that enable medical devices to integrate and interoperate with one another are provided. In some examples, a wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) advantageously interoperates with an implanted pacemaker to provide a variety of benefits. For instance, in some examples, the WCD oversees execution of an antitachycardia (ATP) protocol by the implanted pacemaker and intervenes as needed. In other examples, the WCD drives an ATP protocol in which internal pacing pulses are provided by the implanted pacemaker under the control of the WCD. In other examples, the WCD monitors the activity of the implanted pacemaker to identify potential maintenance issues affecting the implanted pacemaker. The WCD and the implanted pacemaker may also interoperate to classify and act upon particular arrhythmia conditions.

Abstract: Methods for automatically programming a signal generator in a patient therapy system and associated systems are disclosed. A representative method comprises retrieving data including therapy program parameters, level of efficacy, and medication use corresponding to a plurality of time periods; identifying from the data a target time period having a corresponding level of efficacy; determining from the data if medication was used during the target time period; determining from the data if medication was used during a prior time period immediately before the target time period; calculating a lead position confidence factor; and programming the signal generator to repeat therapy with the therapy program parameters corresponding to the target time period if the confidence factor is greater than a threshold value and medication was used during the prior time period and not during the target time period.

Abstract: A medical delivery device for delivering a medical device includes a navigable elongated member, a deployment bay, and a compression mechanism. The deployment bay may be configured to house the medical device as the medical device is navigated to the target site. The deployment bay may be at a distal end of the delivery device and may include a distal opening through which the medical device may be deployed. The compression mechanism is configured to longitudinally compress in response to a predetermined force such that the elongated member and deployment bay are relatively closer together along a longitudinal axis of the delivery device.

Abstract: A method to provide non-invasive neurostimulation to enhance a subject's attention span, concentration, multitasking ability, or alertness includes (a) engaging a subject in a brain exercise requiring use of the subject's attention span, concentration, multitasking ability, or alertness; (b) providing intraoral cutaneous stimulation of at least one of the subject's trigeminal nerve, facial nerve or lingual nerve by delivering electrical pulses to one or more stimulators situated within the subject's oral cavity, the delivery of electrical pulses occurring contemporaneously with the subject's engagement in the brain exercise; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) on a periodic basis.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention is a pump arrangement (1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50), in particular for use in the body's own vessels, having a pump (11, 41, 51) and a sheath (12, 42, 52) receiving the pump, bounding a flow passage (S) and having a distal intake opening (13, 43, 53) and a proximal outflow opening (14, 29, 39, 44, 54) for producing a driving flow by means of the pump, wherein the pump is arranged in a first fluid-tight section (12a, 42a, 52a) having the distal intake opening and a second fluid-tight section (12b, 42b, 52b) includes the proximal outflow opening. In accordance with the invention, a further inlet opening (15) is present between the first section and the second section and is arranged between the intake opening and the outflow opening, with the first section and the second section being arranged with respect to one another such that the inlet opening opens into the flow proximal to the pump.