Abstract: A method for assessing ergonomics of a human user in an environment is disclosed. The method includes generating a visual skeletal signal by using a visual sensor. The method further includes determining a first posture sample based on the skeletal signal, by using an electronic controller. The posture sample includes skeletal information including one or both of joint information and positioning information. The method further includes comparing the posture sample with an ergonomically ideal posture sample and determining an ergonomic report based on the comparing of the posture sample and the ergonomically ideal posture sample. The method further includes providing the ergonomic report via an output device.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for cardiac monitoring. In particular, the systems, devices, and methods described herein may be used to conveniently sense the presence of an intermittent arrhythmia in an individual. The systems, devices, and methods described herein may be further configured to sense an electrocardiogram.

Abstract: A laser beam treatment system that delivers laser beam pulses to a dental treatment area according to a particular pattern is described. In various instances, the spacing of the pattern (e.g., locations at which pulses are delivered and the distances therebetween) and/or the timing of the pattern (e.g., amount of time between the delivery of pulses to a first location and a later location that abuts the first location) can have a demonstrable effect on ablation performance. The effects can include, for example: improved ablation efficiency, improved surface smoothness, improved material removal rate, and/or the absence of melt, carbonization or other negative surface features.

Abstract: An electrophysiology map, for example a map of arrhythmic substrate, can be generated by acquiring both geometry information and electrophysiology information pertaining to an anatomical region, and associating the acquired geometry and electrophysiology information as a plurality of electrophysiology data points. A user can select two (or more) electrophysiological characteristics for display, and can further elect to apply various filters to the selected electrophysiological characteristics. The user can also define various relationships (e.g., Boolean ANDS, ORs, and the like) between the selected and/or filtered characteristics. The user-selected filtering criteria can be applied to the electrophysiology data points to output various subsets thereof. These subsets can then be graphically rendered using various combinations of colorscale, monochrome scale, and iconography, for example as a three-dimensional cardiac electrophysiology model.

Abstract: A method, consisting of presenting on a display screen a graphical image of a heart of a patient, including icons representing a catheter that is positioned within the heart and an electrode on the catheter, while the electrode is in contact with tissue at a location in the heart. The method further includes acquiring, using the electrode, electrical signals from the tissue at the location, and processing the acquired signals so as to detect an occurrence of a predefined signal feature in the acquired signals. The method also includes, upon detecting the occurrence of the predefined signal feature, modifying a visual feature of at least one of the icon representing the electrode and the icon representing the catheter on the display screen.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for adapting/adjusting the end-of-charge (termination) voltage of a rechargeable battery integrated in an auditory prosthesis or other electronic device based on an estimated power consumption of the auditory prosthesis or other electronic device. In particular, the estimated power consumption of an auditory prosthesis or other electronic device is used to set an end-of-charge voltage that is customized to the power consumption needs of the auditory prosthesis or other electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a trial neurostimulation to a patient for assessing suitability of a permanently implanted neurostimulation are provided herein. In one aspect, a trial neurostimulation system includes an EPG patch adhered to a skin surface of a patient and connected to a lead extending through a percutaneous incision to a target tissue location. The EPG may be a modified version of the IPG used in the permanent system, the EPG may be smaller and/or lighter than the corresponding IPG device. The EPG and a lead extension may be sealed to allow improved patient mobility and reduced risk of infection. The EPG may be compatible with wireless systems used to control and monitor the IPG such that operation and control of the EPG is substantially the same in each system to allow seamless conversion to the permanently implanted system.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for the treatment of injured peripheral nerves or other tissue using electrical stimulation. The systems can be used either in intraoperative or peri-operative settings and incorporate the use of either a plurality of monopolar electrodes with a patch used as return or a plurality of bipolar electrodes such as a cuff. The systems can provide hands-free delivery of electrical stimulation therapy over a predetermined set of time.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for a leadless implantable medical device (LIMD) comprising a housing. An electrode is disposed on the housing. An electronics circuit is disposed in the housing and is configured to sense cardiac signals, and/or generate and deliver pacing signals to the electrode. A transceiver circuit is disposed in the housing, and is configured to communicate wirelessly with an external device. A fixation antenna electrically separate from the electrode is disposed on a distal portion of the housing and is electrically coupled to the transceiver circuit, and configured to operate as an antenna for communication between the transceiver circuit and the external device.

Abstract: A medical device is configured to detect an atrial tachyarrhythmia episode. The device senses a cardiac signal, identifies R-waves in the cardiac signal attendant ventricular depolarizations and determines classification factors from the R-waves identified over a predetermined time period. The device classifies the predetermined time period as one of unclassified, atrial tachyarrhythmia and non-atrial tachyarrhythmia by comparing the determined classification factors to classification criteria. A classification criterion is adjusted from a first classification criterion to a second classification criterion after at least one time period being classified as atrial tachyarrhythmia. An atrial tachyarrhythmia episode is detected by the device in response to at least one subsequent time period being classified as atrial tachyarrhythmia based on the adjusted classification criterion.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for optimizing patient-specific stimulation parameters for spinal cord stimulation. A patient-specific anatomical model is developed based on a pre-operative image, and a patient-specific electrical model is developed based on the anatomical model. The inputs to the electric model are chosen, and the model is used to calculate a distribution of electrical potentials within the modeled domain. Models of neural elements are stimulated with the electric potentials and used to determine which elements are directly activated by the stimulus. Information about the models inputs and which neural elements are active is applied to a cost function. Based on the value of the cost function, the inputs to the optimization process may be adjusted. Inputs to the optimization process include lead/electrode array geometry, lead configuration, lead positions, and lead signal characteristics, such as pulse width, amplitude, frequency and polarity.

Abstract: Some embodiments described herein relate to receiving lactate concentration data from a non-invasive sensor. A ratio of aerobic to anaerobic exertion can be determined based on the concentration of lactate, and real-time feedback can be provided based on the ratio of aerobic to anaerobic exertion. For example, the user can be encouraged to maintain a level of intensity in which he or she approaches (but does not exceed) maximal oxygen consumption.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for modulating the growth, development and repair of bone, cartilage or other connective tissue. Devices and stimulus waveforms are provided to differentially modulate the behavior of osteoblasts, chondrocytes and other connective tissue cells to promote proliferation, differentiation, matrix formation or mineralization for in vitro or in vivo applications. Continuous-mode and pulse-burst-mode stimulation of cells with charge-balanced signals may be used. Bone, cartilage and other connective tissue growth is stimulated in part by nitric oxide release through electrical stimulation and may be modulated through co-administration of NO donors and NO synthase inhibitors. Bone, cartilage and other connective tissue growth is stimulated in part by release of BMP-2 and BMP-7 in response to electrical stimulation to promote differentiation of cells.

Abstract: Several defibrillators, defibrillator architectures, defibrillator components and methods of operating defibrillators are described. In one aspect, a defibrillator (as for example an automated external defibrillator) that can be powered by a mobile communication device such as a smart cellular phone or a tablet computer is described. Utilizing a phone (or other mobile communication device) as the power supply for an external defibrillator allows the external defibrillator to be smaller and, in some circumstance, removes the need for a battery that stores sufficient energy for shock delivery—which would need to be checked and/or replaced on a regular basis. Additionally, when desired, certain control functionality, computation, data processing, and user instructions can be handled/presented by the mobile communications device thereby further simplifying the defibrillator design and improving the user experience.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for cardiac monitoring. In particular, the systems, devices, and methods described herein may be used to conveniently sense the presence of an intermittent arrhythmia in an individual. The systems, devices, and methods described herein may be further configured to sense an electrocardiogram.

Abstract: A method for treating hydrocephalus is provided, including disposing midplane treatment electrodes over a superior sagittal sinus of a brain, outside and in electrical contact with a skull of a head of a subject identified as suffering from hydrocephalus, and disposing lateral treatment electrodes between 1 and 12 cm of a sagittal midplane of the skull. The subject is treated by electroosmotically driving cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) out of a ventricular system of the brain via a subarachnoid space of the brain to the superior sagittal sinus, by activating control circuitry to apply one or more treatment currents between (a) one or more of the midplane treatment electrodes and (b) one or more of the lateral treatment electrodes. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: This relates to a monitoring system capable of measuring a plurality of vital signs. The monitoring system can include a plurality of sensors including, but not limited to, electrodes, piezoelectric sensors, temperature sensors, and accelerometers. The monitoring system can be capable of operating in one or more operation modes such as, for example: capacitance measurement mode, electrical measurement mode, piezoelectric measurement mode, temperature measurement mode, acceleration measurement mode, impedance measurement mode, and standby mode. Based on the measured values, the monitoring system can analyze the user's sleep, provide feedback and suggestions to the user, and/or can adjust or control the environmental conditions to improve the user's sleep. The monitoring system can further be capable of analyzing the sleep of the user(s) without directly contacting or attaching uncomfortable probes to the user(s) and without having to analyze the sleep in an unknown environment (e.g., a medical facility).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for managing pain uses separate varying electromagnetic fields, with a variety of temporal and amplitude characteristics, which are applied to a particular neural structure to modulate glial and neuronal interactions as a mechanism for relieving chronic pain. In another embodiment, a single composite modulation/stimulation signal which has rhythmically varying characteristics is used to achieve the same results as separate varying electromagnetic fields. Also, disclosed is an apparatus and method for modulating the expression of genes involved in diverse pathways including inflammatory/immune system mediators, ion channels and neurotransmitters, in both the Spinal Cord (SC) and Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) where such expression modulation is caused by spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation using the disclosed apparatus and techniques.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the respiratory activity of a subject, which comprises two or more signal generating elements being inertial sensors, or light emitting elements, applied to the thorax of a subject, for generating signals that are indicative of displacement of the thorax of the subject throughout a predetermined time period; a receiver for receiving the generated signals during breathing motions of the subject; and one or more computing devices in data communication with the receiver, for analyzing the breathing motions. The one or more computing devices is operable to generate, by the two or more signal generating elements, signals that are indicative of displacement of the thorax of the subject, throughout the predetermined time period; calculate the current displacements and relative phases of the signal generating elements throughout the predetermined time period; and calculate, throughout the predetermined time period, the breathing volume from the displacements and the relative phases.

Abstract: Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus including a supporting unit configured to be capable of holding a liquid acoustic matching member, a plurality of receiving elements each supported on the supporting unit to receive an acoustic wave propagated from an object via the acoustic matching member and output an electrical signal, a scanning unit that changes a relative position of each of the receiving elements and the object by moving the supporting unit, a controlling unit that controls a velocity of movement of the supporting unit performed by the scanning unit, and a processing unit that acquires specific information of an inside of the object based on the electrical signal. The scanning unit moves the supporting unit on a path having portions of different curvatures.