Abstract: An optical output device for skin care, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises: a substrate disposed such that at least one light source is oriented toward a user's skin; a front cover covering one surface of the substrate; a rear cover covering the other surface of the substrate; a wearing device coupled to the rear cover so as to make contact with a part of the user's body such that the optical output device for skin care is worn by the user; and a wearing detection sensor for detecting whether the user is wearing the device.

Abstract: Embodiments of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system are configured to monitor a patient's ECG for shockable arrhythmias and deliver a shock to the patient in response to such a detection. To monitor the patient's ECG with reduced signal noise to improve the system's performance, the system includes a cable assembly having: a signal line; an inner shield and an outer shield; an ECG electrode electrically connected to the signal line of the cable assembly; and an amplifier having first and second input nodes respectively connected to the signal line and the outer shield of the cable assembly. The amplifier's output node is electrically connected to the inner shield of the cable assembly to reduce the reactive load seen by the patient's heart in driving the ECG sensing circuitry, which reduces the noise on the ECG signal outputted by the amplifier.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for time interleaving the sampling of input signals with the delivery of stimulation signals to a recipient of an implantable electrically-stimulating hearing prosthesis. The input signals, which are received via one or more input channels and sampled by a sound processing unit, are susceptible to electrical feedback from the stimulation signals. As such, in accordance with embodiments presented herein, the sampling of the input signals by the sound processing unit, and the delivery of the stimulation signals to the recipient, are synchronized with one another so as to avoid stimulation-evoked electrical feedback within the input signals.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an electrical stimulation system can include one or more of an electrode assembly including one or more electrodes and an electronics subsystem. In some variations, each of the one or more electrodes can include a hydrophilic layer and a conductive layer. In some variations, the electronics subsystem can include one or more of a control module, power module, and a stimulus generator. In some variations, the electrical stimulation can further include one or more of an electrical attachment system, mechanical attachment system, head apparel assembly, flexible housing, and/or any other suitable component. The electrical stimulation system functions to apply electrical stimulation but can additionally or alternatively function to measure/and or record one or more biosignals from a user.

Abstract: A system for deploying an electrode array at a target location through a hole formed in the patient's cranium. The system includes an array of electrodes attached to a substrate and an inserter attached to the substrate and/or the array of electrodes. The inserter, substrate and array of electrodes are configured into a first compressed state and are positioned within the lumen of a cannula. Using the cannula, the system is inserted through the hole, the cannula is then removed, and the inserter is used to transition the substrate and electrode array from the first compressed state to a second uncompressed state, thereby deploying the array of electrodes at the target location.

Abstract: A system for stimulating tissue generally comprises a resorbable implant. The resorbable implant includes a substrate, at least one contact, and a transceiver, wherein the substrate, the at least one contact, and the transceiver are resorbable. The system also includes a controller configured to communicate with the transceiver of the resorbable implant and a power supply connected to the controller. The controller delivers power to the resorbable implant from the power supply. The resorbable implant delivers electrical stimulation to tissue when the resorbable implant receives power.

Abstract: A method (100) for monitoring an individual's (710) cardiac activity, the method including the steps of: (i) obtaining (110), during a calibration phase, ECG data for the individual from a ECG monitor; (ii) obtaining (120), during the calibration phase, cardiac activity data for the individual from a wearable device including a plethysmographic sensor; (iii) obtaining (130), during a monitoring phase, cardiac activity data for the individual from the wearable device including the plethysmographic sensor; (iii) generating (140) calibration data from the ECG data and cardiac activity data obtained during the calibration phase; and (iv) calibrating (150), using the calibration data, the cardiac activity data obtained by the wearable device during the monitoring phase.

Abstract: An example of a system and method for protecting a patient diagnosed of cancer from cardiac injury resulting from a chemotherapy treating the cancer. A sequence of cardioprotective pacing sessions may be initiated based on timing of the chemotherapy. Cardiac pacing pulses may be delivered to the patient during each session of the cardioprotective pacing sessions according to a cardioprotective pacing mode for controlling delivery of the cardiac pacing pulses to effect cardioprotection against potential myocardial injury resulting from the chemotherapy. The cardioprotective pacing mode may specifying alternating non-pacing and pacing periods.

Abstract: A defibrillator for guiding a rescuer based on a probability of defibrillation success includes at least one output device and a processor and associated memory, the processor being configured to receive at least two ECG signals over time for a cardiac arrest victim, the at least two ECG signals including at least a first ECG signal at a first point in time and a second ECG signal at a second point in time, process the at least two ECG signals to determine at least two parameters related to the at least two ECG signals, the at least two parameters forming a sequence of parameter sets, analyze a trajectory of the sequence of parameter sets, determine the probability of defibrillation success based on the analysis of the trajectory, and control the at least one output device to provide one or more caregiver prompts based on the probability of defibrillation success.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the state of health of a patient suffering from respiratory disease including a portable medical device, the device including: a) a flow measurement device performing a spirometry measurement, and b) a reflecting photometric sensor performing an oxygen measurement or a measurement of blood oxygen saturation and heart rate. The system includes storage and comparison units in which a personalised plan of action for the patient is stored against which the spirometry and/or oxygen measurement data found are compared, displaying the result of such comparison on the display of a device connected to the internet so as to define the patient's state of health and identify exacerbation of the disease on the basis of data obtained from both such spirometry and oxygen measurements. A method for monitoring the health of a patient suffering from respiratory disease implemented through the system indicated above is also claimed.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and evaluating the ventricular contractility of a heart muscle includes a device for electrically stimulating the heart muscle of a patient, and an extracorporeal blood pressure sensor. A record, responsive to stimulated ventricular contractions, is created by the pressure sensor. The response record is then evaluated to identify a pressure/time, rate-change in arterial pressure (dp/dt) that results within the time duration of a ventricular contraction in a cardiac cycle. In turn, dp/dt is evaluated as an indicator of ventricular contractility and the health of the patient's heart muscle.

Abstract: A method and device for dynamic device based AV delay adjustment are provided. The method provides electrodes that are configured to be located proximate to an atrial (A) site and a right ventricular (RV) site. The method utilizes one or more processors, in an implantable medical device (IMD), for detecting an atrial paced (Ap) event or atrial sensed (As) event. The method determines a measured AV interval corresponding to an interval between the Ap event or the As event and a ventricular sensed event and calculates a percentage-based (PB) offset based on the measured AV interval. The method automatically dynamically adjusting an AV delay, utilized by the IMD, based on the measured AV interval and the PB offset and manages a pacing therapy, utilized by the IMD, based on the AV delay after the adjusting operation.

Abstract: Transducer-based systems and methods may be configured to display a graphical representation of a transducer-based device, the graphical representation including graphical elements corresponding to transducers of the transducer-based device, and also including between graphical elements respectively associated with a set of the transducers and respectively associated with a region of space between the transducers of the transducer-based device. Selection of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause activation of the set of transducers associated with the selected elements. Transducer activation characteristics, such as initiation time, activation duration, activation sequence, and energy delivery characteristics, can vary based on numerous factors. Visual characteristics of graphical elements and between graphical elements can change based on an activation-status of the corresponding transducers.

Abstract: Various embodiments of medical detector systems as well as their methods of operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more detectors are coupled to wearable structures for detecting at least a first tracer within a body portion. In another embodiment, one or more detectors are coupled to a wearable structure, where the detector corresponds to a CMOS chip that directly detects a first radioactive tracer.

Abstract: Outer jacket embodiments for reinforcing liquid core laser ablation catheter embodiments discussed herein may be used to improve the robustness of the laser ablation catheter embodiments. Method embodiments for making reinforced laser ablation catheters having outer jackets are also discussed.

Abstract: A drive device is provided comprising a working pump, the working pump connected to a membrane fluid pump, and the working pump having a working piston able to oscillate axially between two reversal points for contracting and expanding a working chamber, and a control unit for controlling a movement of the working piston between the two reversal points. The controlled movement of the working piston comprises three temporally successive phases, in a first phase the working piston is accelerated to a speed that is greater than a speed at the end of the first phase, in a second phase the working piston is moved such that a specified speed of the working piston, a specified relative pressure in the working chamber, or a specified force of the working piston is substantially kept constant, and in a third phase the working piston is moved at a negative acceleration.

Abstract: A leadless biostimulator including an attachment feature to facilitate precise manipulation during delivery or retrieval is described. The attachment feature can be monolithically formed from a rigid material, and includes a base, a button, and a stem interconnecting the base to the button. The stem is a single post having a transverse profile extending around a central axis. The transverse profile can be annular and can surround the central axis. The leadless biostimulator includes a battery assembly having a cell can that includes an end boss. A tether recess in the end boss is axially aligned with a face port in the button to receive tethers of a delivery or retrieval system through an inner lumen of the stem. The attachment feature can be mounted on and welded to the cell can at a thickened transition region around the end boss. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) includes multiple stimulation engines for independently stimulating respective electrode sets of a lead system while avoiding collisions and/or channel contention during stimulation delivery. A first voltage multiplier is configured to generate an adjustable target voltage having sufficient headroom at an output node that is commonly coupled to anodic nodes of respective stimulation engines. Each stimulation engine includes a secondary voltage multiplier to drive the respective anode and a current regulator powered by a floating voltage supply, wherein the current regulator is coupled to a cathodic node and configured to control how much stimulation current is pulled from the patient tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes one or more intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and a support structure along which the one or more intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces are disposed. The support structure is configured to be implanted within a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc of a subject, and to be shaped as a partial ring or a complete ring after implantation. The apparatus further includes one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the disc. Control circuitry is provided, which is configured to: configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more anodes, and drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A catheter assembly or other elongate tubular device for use in establishing vascular or other access within the body of a patient is disclosed. The catheter assembly is equipped with one or more sensors that enable monitoring of one or more physiological aspects of the patient or physical aspect of the catheter assembly itself when the catheter assembly is disposed within the patient. Such aspects include central venous pressure, body temperature, ECG heart signals, oxygen levels, ultrasound data, glucose, etc. The catheter assembly includes the ability to wirelessly transmit or otherwise forward data relating to the detected physiological parameters to another location, such as a patient electronic medical record, smartphone or other mobile device, nurse station, etc. Catheter assemblies configured to detect the frequency of catheter flushing, flushing quality, etc., are also disclosed.