Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and systems that improve arrhythmia episode detection specificity, such as, but not limited to, atrial fibrillation (AF) episode detection specificity. Such a method can include obtaining an ordered list of R-R intervals within a window leading up to a detection of a potential arrhythmia episode, determining a measure of a dominant repeated R-R interval pattern within the window, and comparing the measure of the dominant repeated R-R interval pattern to a pattern threshold. If the measure of the dominant repeated R-R interval pattern is below the pattern threshold, that is indicative of a regularly irregular pattern being present, and there is a determination that the detection of the potential arrhythmia episode does not correspond to an actual arrhythmia episode. Such embodiments can beneficially be used to significantly reduce the number of false positive arrhythmia detections.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with meditation includes applying, to the user, a distributor at or near a brain portion of the user; operating a signal generator to provide a signal to the brain portion the user, the signal being applied to the brain portion of the user by the distributor; and engaging in one or more meditation practices by the user while the signal is being applied to the brain portion of the user. The signal may correspond to an electrical signal, and the distributor may include an anode and a cathode. The anode may provide the signal to the user, and the cathode may receive the signal from the user to transfer the signal back to the signal generator.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including a blood pump that includes a catheter, a proximal impeller disposed on the catheter inside a proximal impeller housing, and which is configured to pump blood by rotating inside the proximal impeller housing. A distal impeller is disposed on the catheter inside a distal impeller housing, distally to the proximal impeller, and the distal impeller is configured to pump blood by rotating inside the distal impeller housing. A tubular element is disposed between the proximal impeller housing and the distal impeller housing, the tubular element being configured to have a tubular configuration during rotation of the proximal and distal impellers. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An electrode lead comprises an electrically insulative cuff body and at least three axially aligned electrode contacts circumferentially disposed along the inner surface of the cuff body when in the furled state. The electrode contacts may be circumferentially disposed around a nerve, and an electrical pulse train may be delivered to the electrode contacts thereby stimulating the nerve to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The electrical pulse train may be one that pre-conditions peripherally located nerve fascicles to not be stimulated, while stimulating centrally located nerve fascicles. A feedback mechanism can be used to titrate electrode contacts and electrical pulse train to the patient. A sensor that is affixed to the case of a neurostimulator can be used to measure physiological artifacts of respiration, and a motion detector can be used to sense tapping of the neurostimulator to toggle the neurostimulator between an ON position and an OFF position.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing corrected bio-information by using a bio-information sensor includes a communicator configured to receive bio-information from the bio-information sensor; a processor configured to extract metabolic information based on food intake information of a user and correct the received bio-information based on the extracted metabolic information; and an outputter configured to provide a result of correcting the bio-information.

Abstract: Some aspects relate to systems, devices, and methods of assessing heart rate recovery. A heart rate of a patient may be measured during a plurality of heart rate recovery events. Each of the plurality of heart rate recovery events comprises a duration of time after an activity resulting in an elevated heart rate. Heart rate recovery information may be determined based on the measured heart rate during each of the plurality of heart rate recovery events and a cardiac status of the patient may be generated from the determined heart rate recovery information over the plurality of heart rate recovery events.

Abstract: A method, comprising receiving a time series of patient body signal, determining first and second sliding time windows for the time series; applying an autoregression algorithm, comprising: applying an autoregression analysis to each of the first and second windows, yielding autoregression coefficients and a residual variance for each window; estimating a parameter vector for each window based on the autoregression coefficients and residual variances; and determining a difference between the parameter vectors; and determining seizure onset and seizure termination based on the difference between the parameter vectors. A non-transitory computer readable program storage unit encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform the method.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems for detecting arrhythmias in cardiac activity are provided. The method is under control of one or more processors configured with specific executable instructions. The method obtains a far field cardiac activity (CA) data set that includes far field CA signals for beats. The method applies a feature enhancement function to the CA signals to form an enhanced feature in the CA data set. The method calculates an adaptive sensitivity level and sensitivity limit based on the enhanced feature from one or more beats within the CA data set and automatically iteratively analyzes a beat segment of interest by comparing the beat segment of interest to the current sensitivity level to determine whether one or more R-waves are present within the beat segment of interest.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a feedthrough header assembly and a device including such assembly are disclosed. The assembly includes a header having an inner surface and an outer surface; a dielectric substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface, where the second major surface of the dielectric substrate is disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the header; and a patterned conductive layer disposed on the first major surface of the dielectric substrate, where the patterned conductive layer includes a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion electrically isolated from the first conductive portion. The assembly further includes a feedthrough pin electrically connected to the second conductive portion of the patterned conductive layer and disposed within a via that extends through the dielectric substrate and the header. The feedthrough pin extends beyond the outer surface of the header.

Abstract: Vagal nerve stimulation devices and methods are provided for treating medical conditions, such as conditions associated with insufficient dopamine and/or endogenous opioids in the brain. A device includes one or more electrodes having a contact surface for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient and an energy source coupled to the electrodes. The energy source generates one or more electrical impulses and transmits the electrical impulses to the electrodes and transcutaneously through the outer skin surface of the patient at or near a vagus nerve. The one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to modulate the vagus nerve and release dopamine and/or endogenous opioids in a brain of the patient.

Abstract: A method for subcutaneously treating pain in a patient includes first providing a neurostimulator with an IPG body and at least a primary, a secondary, and a tertiary integral lead with electrodes disposed thereon. A primary incision is opened to expose the subcutaneous region below the dermis in a selected portion of the body. A pocket is then opened for the IPG through the primary incision and the integral leads are inserted through the primary incision and routed subcutaneously to desired nerve regions along desired paths. The IPG is disposed in the pocket through the primary incision. The primary incision is then closed and the IPG and the electrodes activated to provide localized stimulation to the desired nerve regions and at least three of the nerves associated therewith to achieve a desired pain reduction response from the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing neural stimulation and recording on a subject using flexible complementary CMOS probes are provided. Disclosed systems can include a flexible probe adapted for insertion into a portion of a brain of the subject, the flexible probe comprising a tail portion and a head portion. The tail portion can include a plurality of electrodes configured to be coupled to the brain and a plurality of front-end amplifiers. Each of the plurality of front-end amplifiers can be configured to amplify a signal received from a corresponding electrode of the plurality of electrodes. The head portion can include one or more inductors configured to enable two-way communication with a wireless reader through a near-field inductive link.

Abstract: An implantable head-mounted unibody peripheral neurostimulation system is provided for implantation in the head for the purpose of treating chronic head pain, including migraine. The system may include an implantable pulse generator (IPG) from which multiple stimulating leads may extend sufficient to allow for adequate stimulation over multiple regions of the head, preferably including the frontal, parietal and occipital regions. A lead may include an extended body, along which may be disposed a plurality of surface metal electrodes, which may be sub-divided into a plurality of electrode arrays. A plurality of internal metal wires may run a portion of its length and connect the IPG's internal circuit to the surface metal electrodes. The IPG may include a rechargeable battery, an antenna, and an application specific integrated circuit. The IPG may be capable of functional connection with an external radiofrequency unit for purposes that may include recharging, diagnostic evaluation, and programming.

Abstract: A fully implanted integrated, wireless, flexible CMOS chip for long-term recording and stimulation of the brain in vivo and methods of manufacturing thereof are provided. The chip is an entire biocompatible system and can include the dense surface electrode array, the underlying CMOS integrated circuit architecture, integrated wireless powering and telemetry. Furthermore, miniaturization through manufacturing, permits implantation of the chip under the skull and other regions of interest with no wires or connections. Furthermore, these devices and systems can operate under a dual modality such as to be able to record and stimulate the surface of the brain and/or tissue in which they have been implanted.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting relative location of a surgical laser fiber tip relative to a surgical laser target during a surgical laser procedure utilizes a spectrophotometer to detect radiation indicative of the relative location. For example, the detected radiation may indicate contact between the fiber tip and a stone being subjected to laser lithotripsy, so as to prompt the surgeon to withdraw the fiber tip from the stone and/or take other action to limit contact-induced erosion of the fiber tip, and to avoid saturation of the endoscope camera resulting from the flash that occurs following contact. In addition, the absence of any detected radiation by the spectrophotometer may be used to indicate that the stone is no longer present, or that the fiber tip is no longer aimed at the stone, prompting the operator to reposition the fiber and/or temporarily cease firing of the laser.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for dynamically adjusting a user interface provided by an external unit of a hearing device. In an example method, the external unit determines whether a state of the external unit is one of (i) a coupled state when the external unit and the stimulation unit are coupled or (ii) a decoupled state when the external and the stimulation unit are decoupled. The external unit then provides one of (i) a first user interface when the determined state is the coupled state or (ii) a second user interface when the determined state is the decoupled state.

Abstract: An example device for detecting one or more parameters of a cardiac signal is disclosed herein. The device includes one or more electrodes and sensing circuitry configured to sense a cardiac signal via the one or more electrodes. The device further includes processing circuitry configured to determine an R-wave of the cardiac signal and determine a previous RR interval of the cardiac signal and a current RR interval of the cardiac signal based on the determined R-wave. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine a search window based on one or more of the current RR interval or the previous RR interval, determine a T-wave of the cardiac signal in the search window, and determine a QT interval based on the determined T-wave and the determined R-wave.

Abstract: A universal low-profile intercranial assembly includes a mounting plate and a low profile intercranial device composed of a static cranial implant and an interdigitating functional neurosurgical implant. The low profile intercranial device is shaped and dimensioned for mounted to the mounting plate.

Abstract: An antenna for an implantable medical device, the antenna being configured for inductive wireless power transfer and/or near-field magnetic induction communication, the antenna comprising at least one coil or at least one set of coils, each coil comprising several windings. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to an implantable medical device (IMD).

Abstract: An implantable medical electrical lead connectable to an electrical header of an implantable medical device includes a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a lead terminal disposed at the proximal end of the lead body and configured to couple the lead to the electrical header, and a lead boot disposed at the lead terminal. The lead boot includes a strain relief portion and a seal portion. The strain relief portion is formed of a first elastic polymer and the seal portion is formed of a second elastic polymer. The first elastic polymer is different from the second elastic polymer.