Abstract: Anchoring devices and methods for affixing an implanted lead of a neurostimulation system at a target location in a patient are provided herein. Such anchoring devices includes a helical body having a plurality of tines extending laterally outward from the lead when deployed that engage tissue to inhibit axial movement of the implanted lead. The plurality of tines are biased towards the laterally extended deployed configuration and fold inward towards the lead to a delivery configuration to facilitate delivery of the lead through a sheath. The tines may be angled in a proximal direction or in both proximal and distal directions and may include various features to assist in visualization and delivery of the lead. The anchor may be formed according to various methods, including laser cutting of a tubular section along with heat or reflow to set the material with the anchor in the deployed configuration and injection molding.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing non-transcranial electrical stimuli to a biological subject may employ a support structure, at least one waveform generator, and at least a first electrode and a second electrode. The system can be sized and dimensioned to be worn on a head of the biological subject and operable to deliver non-transcranial electrical stimuli to at least one of the temporomandibular joints of the biological subject.

Abstract: A device for detecting cardiac ischemia is disclosed. The device includes a processor that is configured to distinguish between ventricularly paced beats and supraventricular beats. The processor applies different ischemia tests to the two different beat types, and generates alert when it detects ischemia. The processor collects and counts the ST segment deviation values for ventricularly paced beats for a pre-set time period. The processor then determines if the number of ventricularly paced beats is insufficient to perform ischemia detection. If so, then the processor collects ST deviation values for additional paced beats. When the processor determines that a sufficient number of ventricularly paced beats have been acquired, it identifies ischemic beats by the application of ischemia detection criteria to the ST deviation values of the collected ventricularly paced beats.

Abstract: A gait modulation system including: (a) a sensor device including a sensor adapted for associating with at least one lower limb of the patient, the sensor for transducing at least one parameter related to a gait of the patient, so as to obtain gait data related to the gait, and (b) a muscle stimulator including: (i) an electrical stimulation circuit, the circuit adapted to supply an electrical stimulation output to an electrode array for performing functional electrical stimulation of at least one muscle of the lower limb, and (ii) a microprocessor, operatively connected to the at least one sensor, the microprocessor adapted for: receiving a stream of gait information based on the gait data; processing the gait information, and controlling the stimulation output based on the processing of the gait information, and wherein the microprocessor is further adapted to identify a failure in the stream of gait information, and to consequently control the electrical stimulation circuit to deliver a fail-safe stimulati

Abstract: Methods and/or devices are disclosed herein for monitoring cardiac impedance signal and delivering therapy to a patient's heart based upon the monitored cardiac impedance.

Abstract: A device for detecting a cardiac event is disclosed. Detection of an event is based on a test applied to a parameter whose value varies according to heart rate. Both the parameter value and heart rate (RR interval) values are filtered with an exponential average filter. The filtered parameter value and heart rate values are stored as separate datasets corresponding to particular body postures. Upper and lower boundary values and detection thresholds of the parameter are computed for each of the datasets. The test to detect the cardiac event depends on the heart rate and the difference between the parameter's value and a corresponding detection threshold.

Abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other anxiety disorders, are diagnosed via clinical interviews in which subjective self-reports of traumatic events and associated experiences are discussed with a mental health professional. The system and methods described herein classify and diagnose patients as suffering from anxiety disorders by measuring objective physiological measures, such as inter-heartbeat interval and skin conductance. The system measures various physiological measures and then extracts features from the physiological measures. A diagnosis is then made by classifying the extracted features using one of a neural network, Bayesian network, or a support vector machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering neurostimulation therapies to patients for treating chronic heart failure. A neural fulcrum zone is identified and ongoing neurostimulation therapy is delivered within the neural fulcrum zone. This neural fulcrum zone corresponds to a combination of stimulation parameters at which autonomic engagement is achieved, while the tachycardia-inducing stimulation effects are offset by the bradycardia-inducing effects, thereby minimizing side effects such as significant heart rate changes while providing a therapeutic level of stimulation.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example method may include a method for treating a patient having congestive heart failure. The method may include positioning an expandable balloon in a renal artery of the patient. The expandable balloon may include a plurality of electrode assemblies. At least some of the electrode assemblies each may include at least two bipolar electrode pairs. The two bipolar electrode pairs may be longitudinally and circumferentially offset from one another. The method may also include expanding the balloon in the renal artery such that at least some of the bipolar electrode pairs are electrically coupled to a wall of the renal artery and energizing at least some of the bipolar electrode pairs so as to therapeutically alter at least one nerve proximate the renal artery to treat the patient's congestive heart failure.

Abstract: A microcircuit integrated cochlear electrode array and a process for the manufacture thereof, the electrode array comprising a multiconductor tail portion with longitudinally spaced outwardly exposed electrode receiving pads and a flat multiconductor head portion connected to the tail portion and having spaced outwardly exposed circuit attachment pads, the tail and head portions being laminated between a nonconductive film substrate and an insulating cover and the tail portion being helically wrapped into a helix with the electrode receiving circuit attachment pads exposed and carrying ring electrodes overmolded with a suitable polymeric material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for implanting and securing an implanted medical device in a recipient. The implantable medical device of the generally includes an electrode assembly that comprises an elongate carrier member having at least one stimulating electrode positioned thereon. The carrier member further has a fixation structure positioned thereon configured to interact with a portion of the rigid structure to longitudinally secure the carrier member in the recipient.

Abstract: A device (1) for the medical care of a patient in an emergency which comprises an item of clothing (2) which may be worn by the patient on the body and monitoring devices (8, 9) arranged on the item of clothing (2), which may monitor at least one physiological function of the patient, in order to detect an emergency. The device further comprises a cardiac compression device (3, 4) arranged on the item of clothing (2), which is operatively connected to the monitoring device (8, 9), in order to treat the patient with a cardiac resuscitation when the monitoring device (3, 4) determines an emergency, and a defibrillator (5, 6, 7) as well as the intraosseous delivery of drugs into the bone marrow cavity of the breast bone. Moreover, a device (1) for the medical care of a patient in an emergency, which comprises as a therapeutic device a respiratory therapeutic device (10, 11, 12, 13) which is able to supply oxygen and/or a drug for pulmonary resuscitation into the respiratory system of the patient.

Abstract: An electronic stimulator device comprises a battery, first and second output ports, and an energy discharge circuit. The energy discharge circuit is coupled to the battery and configured to receive an electrical charge from the battery and deliver the electrical charge through an energy output port. A first switch is connected between the energy output and the first output port. A second switch is connected between the second output port and electrical ground. A third switch is connected between the second output port and the energy output. A fourth switch is connected between the first output port and electrical ground. A controller comprising a processor is configured to actuate the first, second, third and fourth switches between open and close states to deliver a biphasic current pulse between the first and second output ports.

Abstract: A wearable defibrillator consists of a vest (or belt) which is worn by the patient. The device monitors the patient's ECG with sensing electrodes and can monitor other patient conditions and in appropriate cases can treat certain conditions. An accelerometer(s) in the wearable defibrillator can allow for the device to determine the position, movements, forces applied to the patient, and/or the device. The device can use a least one patient motion detector generating a signal indicative of patient activity. Analysis of the signal can be indicative of patient activity appropriate for treatment or indication of device condition.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for monitoring the wellbeing of a fetus by the non-invasive detection and analysis of fetal cardiac electrical activity data.

Abstract: A wireless electrostimulation system can comprise a wireless energy transmission source, and an implantable cardiovascular wireless electrostimulation node. A receiver circuit comprising an inductive antenna can be configured to capture magnetic energy to generate a tissue electrostimulation. A tissue electrostimulation circuit, coupled to the receiver circuit, can be configured to deliver energy captured by the receiver circuit as a tissue electrostimulation waveform. Delivery of tissue electrostimulation can be initiated by a therapy control unit.

Abstract: A system for measuring heart rate variability (HRV) comprising 3 sub-systems: a data collection sub-system, a data analysis sub-system, and an output sub-system. A patient is connected to a heart monitoring device such as an ECG and the data collection sub-system records the patients heart beats, and an ECG chart is produced from which the patient's HRV value is derived by the data analysis sub-system. The present invention obtains the HRV value through calculation of a new parameter called relative density (RD). In accordance with the inventive method, data points are generated from the peak interval data of measured heart beats and the HRV relative density parameter (RD) is calculated by correlation between two subsets of data points.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward devices, methods and systems for controlling depolarization in cardiac cells. One such device includes one or more circuits that are configured and arranged to generate an electrical stimulus at a high frequency. The circuit is configured to provide electrical stimulus over a period of time sufficient to depolarize the cardiac cells. An electrode arrangement is configured and arranged to deliver the high frequency electrical stimulus to cardiac cells and depolarize the cardiac cells.

Abstract: The present invention is a new configuration for the external portion of a visual prosthesis in the form of a visor or glasses, including a frame supported by a user's nose and ears. The video processing unit is adapted to be connected by temple portions of the visor and rest on the user's upper back behind the user's neck, or behind the user's head. Controls for the video processor are on one or both temple portions of the visor.

Abstract: To protect an airway of a patient, it is important for the patient to be able to swallow and cough effectively. To promote an effective cough or swallow, electrodes are positioned upon skin of the neck of the patient, the electrodes configured for both capturing electromyographic (EMG) information, and for transmitting a stimulating electrical signal to the body. A microphone is positioned upon or near the neck to capture audio information emanating from the body of the patient. Software analyzes the EMG and audio information to identify an attempted or needed cough or swallow, and causes the electrodes to apply an electrical stimulus to the neck of the patient to produce a more efficacious cough or swallow. An additional microphone can be positioned to capture ambient noise, so that such noise can be reduced in the audio information of the first microphone.