Abstract: In one embodiment, a stimulation system for generating and delivering electrical stimulation pulse to tissue of a patient, comprises: a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses, the pulse generator comprising a housing portion and a header portion with feedthroughs extending from the housing portion into the header portion; and a stimulation lead comprising a flex film component enclosed in a lead body of insulative material, the flex film component including a plurality of electrically isolated conductors extending along a substantial length of the stimulation lead, the stimulation lead further comprising a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the conductors, the flex film component comprising a proximal portion that is exposed out of the insulative material of the lead body and includes a plurality of terminal bond bands, the terminal bond bands being electrically coupled to the conductors; and wherein the header portion of the pulse generator comprises a lid component to compress the ter

Abstract: An exemplary method of providing a pre-stimulation visual cue representative of a cochlear implant stimulation level includes a fitting subsystem 1) determining one or more control parameters to be used by a cochlear implant system to apply electrical stimulation to a patient, 2) determining, based on the one or more control parameters, a target stimulation level to be used by the cochlear implant system to apply the electrical stimulation to the patient, and 3) displaying a pre-stimulation visual cue indicative of the determined target stimulation level in a graphical user interface prior to the cochlear implant system using the one or more control parameters to apply the electrical stimulation to the patient. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a cochlear implant fitting subsystem maintaining patient data associated with a cochlear implant patient, maintaining registration data for a cochlear implant emulation device registered with the fitting subsystem and configured to emulate an implanted cochlear device, detecting a coupling of a cochlear implant device to the fitting subsystem, automatically determining, based on the registration data, that the coupled cochlear implant device is the cochlear implant emulation device registered with the fitting subsystem, performing one or more operations while the cochlear implant emulation device is coupled to the fitting subsystem, and preventing data acquired by the fitting subsystem during the performance of the one or more operations while the cochlear implant emulation device is coupled to the fitting subsystem from being included in the patient data. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection comprises an input processor and a signal processor. The input processor receives first sampled data representing a first signal portion of a heart activity related signal and second sampled data representing a second signal portion of a heart activity related signal. The signal processor determines distribution data associated with degree of similarity between the first and second signal portions by determining a difference between (a) values derived by applying a first function to mean adjusted sampled values of the first signal portion and (b) values derived by applying a second function to mean adjusted sampled values of the second signal portion. In response to the determined distribution data, the signal processor initiates generation of a message associated with the degree of similarity between the first and second signal portions.

Abstract: A suture anchor for securing a therapy delivery element in a desired location within a living body using a suture material. The suture anchor includes an inner sleeve with a primary lumen sized to receive the therapy delivery element. The inner sleeve includes a compliant material having a first durometer. An anchor body extends around at least a portion of the inner sleeve and includes a portion of the primary lumen. The anchor body includes a compliant material having a second durometer less than the first durometer. At least one exterior suture groove is located on the anchor body to receive the suture material. The exterior suture groove extends substantially to the inner sleeve so the suture material engages directly with the inner sleeve.

Abstract: Suture anchors for securing therapy delivery elements, such as stimulation leads or catheters, within a living body. The suture anchor includes an inner sleeve constructed with an inner layer of a softer, more pliable material that easily conforms to the therapy delivery element to reduce slippage and an outer layer constructed from a harder, stiffer durometer material that protects the therapy delivery elements from damage due to over-tightening the tie down sutures. A suture material located in the suture groove is tensioned to apply a radial compressive force. The reinforcing structure spreads the radial compressive force along a greater surface area of the therapy delivery element.

Abstract: Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for automated parameter selection are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes receiving a first input corresponding to a location of a signal delivery device implanted in a patient, establishing a positional relationship between the signal delivery device and an anatomical feature of the patient, receiving a second input corresponding to a medical indication of the patient, and, based at least in part on the positional relationship and the indication, automatically identifying a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which a pulsed electrical signal is delivered to the patient via the signal delivery device.

Abstract: A medical implant includes a hermetically sealed hollow housing having a hermetically sealed feedthrough suitable for conducting electrical signals to and from the hollow housing without impairing the hermetic seal thereof. The hollow housing includes a circuit suitable for measuring signals from the human body, sending signals to the human body, and transmitting signals to a receiver located outside the body. The implant also includes a connection housing having an insulating connection body, an externally accessible cavity for connecting an implantable electrode line, an insulating substrate having at least one electrically conductive strip conductor structure, and contacts that are securely electrically connected to a strip conductor structure present in or on the substrate material. The substrate may be embedded in the connection body in such a way that the contacts are present in the externally accessible cavity.

Abstract: A device according to some embodiments may include an implantable flexible carrier and a pair of electrodes located on the carrier. The electrodes may be spaced from each other by a distance greater than 3 mm, and may be configured to cause, when supplied with an electrical signal, a unidirectional electric field sufficient to modulate at least one nerve.

Abstract: An electronic stimulation system to be worn in, behind or on a human ear having a casing; a detection device to sense breathing activity from a human being and to generate a detection signal; electronics within the casing and having a controller connected to the detection device to process the detection signal and generate a control signal when the controller has determined that the human being is in a state of developing apnoea; a stimulation device to receive the control signal from the electronics and to provide stimuli to one or more points of the human ear; wherein when the electronic stimulation system is worn in, behind or on the human ear, the stimulation device is pushed against a predetermined portion of the human ear.

Abstract: Medical leads include a lumen body at an end of the lead, and the lumen body includes multiple filar lumens. The lumen body is joined to a lead body, and electrical connectors are longitudinally spaced along the lumen body. Filars within the filar lumens are directed through filar passageways within the lumen body to attach to the electrical connectors on the lumen body. The filar passageways may be aligned with the filar lumens, and slots within the electrical connectors may be aligned with the filar passageways to facilitate assembly. The lumen body may provide additional stiffness to the end of the lead where the lumen body is located to facilitate lead insertion into the medical device. The filar lumens of the lumen body may have a longitudinally straight configuration so that the portions of filars within the filar lumens are held in a longitudinally straight configuration.

Abstract: A medical implant, comprising: a hermetically sealed housing; and a hermeticity failure sensor configured to detect a failure in the hermeticity of the housing, and, following a failure detection, trigger one or more additional operations.

Abstract: In the present disclosure, conservation of an implantable medical device power supply of is facilitated by controlling the power consumption of the device's processing component. The power supplied to the processing component is controlled to enable processing of received events as a function of predetermined criteria rather than the actual occurrence of the events which is frequent, but irregular. Accordingly, the need for the processing component to start and stop (and thereby be fully powered on each start) with receipt of each event is obviated thereby maintaining the power consumption of the processing component and increasing longevity of the device. Event data associated with received events is stored in an event queue and subsequently retrieved and transmitted for processing based on predetermined criteria. The power supplied during an idle state of the processing component may be reduced in relation to the power supplied during a wake up state.

Abstract: A medical implant, including a first power storage device, a first switching circuit for receiving power and transferring the received power from an implant connector electrically connected to the medical implant to the first power storage device in a first power transfer stage, a second power storage device, and a second switching circuit for transferring power from the first power storage device to the second power storage device in a second power transfer stage.

Abstract: A wearable medical device and method of detecting clipping of ECG signals is disclosed. In one embodiment, the wearable medical device comprises a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to sense an ECG of a patient and an ECG acquisition circuit electrically coupled to a pair of the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and configured to provide an amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal, a programmable attenuation/gain stage electrically coupled between a first gain stage and a second gain stage, an ADC electrically coupled to the ECG acquisition circuit to receive and digitize the amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal and provide a digitized ECG signal, and a signal conditioning and control unit electrically coupled to the ECG acquisition circuit and the ADC to receive and monitor the digitized ECG signal and to detect clipping of the amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal based upon the digitized ECG signal.

Abstract: A prediction and stimulation system or method is provided for neurological disorders characterized by a local dysfunction in neuronal activity regulation. An array of electrodes detects neuronal electrical activity of selected brain region. A detection module detects in each electrode changes in electric field and neuronal activity. A prediction module predicts for each electrode abnormal regimes determined by neurological disorder. A neuromodulation module interfaced with the electrodes selects one or more electrodes in the array where a predefined threshold has been exceeded and stimulates the brain region through each of these selected electrodes using an intermittent therapeutic stimulation pattern with a frequency between 150 and 200 Hz. The provided therapy allows for seizure prediction and detection with high accuracy, potential low risk and increased battery life.

Abstract: An exemplary method of fitting a cochlear implant patient includes a fitting station detecting a user input associated with a sound processor of a cochlear implant system, wherein the sound processor is communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant fitting station by way of a communication path, and transmitting a signal to the sound processor by way of the communication path in response to the detecting of the user input, the signal configured to direct the sound processor to display a visual cue. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A device according to some embodiments may include a housing configured for location external to a body of a subject. The device may also include at least one processor associated with the housing and configured for electrical communication with a power source, and an antenna associated with the at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to communicate with an implant circuit located within the body of the subject, cause the implant circuit to receive power in a first power mode and in a second power mode, wherein a first level of power delivered in the first power mode is less than a second level of power delivered in the second power mode, and wherein during a therapy period, power delivery in the first mode occurs over a total time that is greater than about 50% of the therapy period.

Abstract: A device according to some embodiments may include a housing configured for location external to a body of a subject. The device may also include at least one processor associated with the housing and configured to communicate with a circuit implanted in the subject within proximity to a tongue of the subject, wherein the circuit is in electrical communication with at least one electrode, receive a physiological signal from the subject via the circuit, and send a control signal to the implanted circuit in response to the physiological signal, wherein the control signal is predetermined to activate neuromuscular tissue within the tongue.

Abstract: A device for delivering energy as a function of degree coupling may include an external unit configured for location external to a body of a subject and at least one processor associated with the implant unit and configured for electrical communication with a power source. The device may further include a primary antenna associated with the at least one processor. The processor may be configured to determine a degree of coupling between the primary antenna and a secondary antenna associated with the implant unit, and regulate delivery of power to the implant unit based on the degree of coupling between the primary antenna and the secondary antenna.