Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. A symmetrical drive system including a drive element associated with and engaging the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient's body organ or duct is further provided. In accordance with an alternate embodiment an apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct including an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member.

Abstract: An incubator or thermotherapy device is provided with a reclining surface and with one or more limiting walls and with openings or removed side walls and with a foot side opening or removed foot-side side wall. Air discharge channels (7, 8, 9), on sides, contain guide elements of a guide device (11) with angles in the range of about 15° to 100° and spoilers of a deflecting device (13) with deflection angles of about 15° to 110°. The air discharge velocity is in the range of about 0.1 m/sec to 1.0 m/sec. The guide elements discharge angle in the front-side discharge channel corresponds to the deflection angle of the spoilers in the discharge channels. The air discharge velocity from the front-side discharge channel has a maximum in the middle of the discharge channel and changes continuously towards the sides to the air discharge velocity from the discharge channels.

Abstract: An intravaginal device has a working portion (e.g., intravaginal urinary incontinence device suppository, tampon) and an anchoring portion comprising at least one member extending beyond at least one end of the working portion to maintain the working portion in place during use.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing and using a highly precise and low level driver. In one described embodiment, a driver for a magnetic field generating device is provided, the driver including a first digital to analog converter and a second digital to analog converter; a differential amplifier configured to receive a first signal from the first digital to analog converter and receive a second signal from the second digital to analog converter and output a third signal; and an attenuator to configured to receive the third signal from the differential amplifier.

Abstract: An intravaginal device has a working portion (e.g., intravaginal urinary incontinence device suppository, tampon) and an anchoring portion comprising at least one member extending beyond at least one end of the working portion to maintain the working portion in place during use.

Abstract: A first apparatus applies magnetic field pulses to a subject, a second apparatus records electric signals of the subject, wherein the electric signals are received as analog signals from the subject while the magnetic field pulses are being applied to the subject. The first apparatus has a generating unit for generating the magnetic field pulses, a first clock generator for generating a first clock, and a first control unit for triggering generation of the magnetic field pulses by the generating unit with a fixed repetition rate based on the first clock. The second apparatus has an analog-to-digital conversion unit for converting the analog signals to corresponding digital signals by sampling each of the analog signals with a sampling rate, a second clock generator for generating a second clock, and a second control unit for causing the analog-to-digital conversion unit to set the sampling rate based on the second clock. A synchronizing unit synchronizes the second clock with the first clock.

Abstract: Articles and procedures for preventing or treating vaginal prolapse, urinary incontinence, and other disorders of the pelvic floor.

Abstract: An environmentally sensitive hydrogel material swells or collapses in response to a parameter such as pH level associated with consumption of food by a patient. This swelling or collapsing is harnessed to treat morbid obesity or some other condition of the patient. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may be used to tighten a gastric band or gastric valve when the patient starts eating; then loosen the band or valve when the patient is between meals. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may also be used to increase the size of a space occupying device in the patient's stomach when the patient starts eating; then decrease the size of the space occupying device when the patient is between meals. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may also be used to selectively restrict the absorption of nutrients within a patient's gastrointestinal tract, such as in the duodenum.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treating tinnitus are provided. Some embodiments include a method of providing a primary audio signal having a primary peak portion substantially centered at about a tinnitus frequency of a patient. The method may also include combining the primary audio signal with a general audio signal to generate a combined sound. The method may also include exposing the patient to the combined sound so that the patient hears the combined sound, to diminish a perception by the patient of tinnitus.

Abstract: A magnetoelectric element of a surgical tool positioned in the body of a subject is controllably bent or elongated under the influence of an applied magnetic field. A piezoelectric layer in the magnetoelectric element provides output that can be used to determine the actual amount of bending or elongation of the magnetoelectric element, and this actual amount is compared to a theoretical amount of bending or elongation which would result from the applied magnetic field. Any differences between the actual and theoretical amounts provide feedback to the surgeon for performing the surgical procedure. Preferably, tactile feedback is provided to the surgeon.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (100) suitable, for example, in hearing aid applications is disclosed. Certain embodiments of the actuator comprise a hermetic titanium housing (1), a mechanical output structure (110) emulating the long process of incus (8), and means for efficiently generating movement in the audible frequency range. The electromechanical actuator (100) may be configured to be coupled to the inner ear fluids via a conventional stapes prosthesis. The implantable actuator (100), which may be considered to be operably equivalent to a loudspeaker of a conventional hearing aid, may bypass the outer and the middle ear in order to directly drive the inner ear fluids. As such, embodiments of the electromechanical actuator of the present invention may be used to remedy any source of conductive hearing loss.

Abstract: Implant delivery systems are disclosed. In general overview, an exemplary system includes any number of the following: a delivery device, a sling assembly, guide members, and connectors that interconnect the above. Embodiments of all the above components and their combinations are disclosed. Methods of using the above system in suprapubic, prepubic, transvaginal, trans-obturator and other approaches are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing patient access in a warming therapy device (e.g., incubator, warmer, etc.) is described. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a hood with a retractable top member, which permits access to a patient disposed within the warming therapy device without lowering or removal of one or more sidewalls of the hood.

Abstract: A therapeutic glove specifically adapted to simultaneously apply a combination of acupressure and magnetic therapy to specific acupoint sites on the hand resulting in therapeutic benefits, including providing an effective headache remedy is disclosed. A fingerless glove incorporates an inflatable bladder disposed formed on the palm of the glove for application of acupressure to HT-8 and PC-8 acupoints. A hand-pump is in pneumatic communication with the bladder and functions to allow the user to inflate the bladder to a desired pressure. First and second permanent magnets are disposed on the dorsal portion of the glove and disposed so as to be in covering relation with the TH-3 and LI-4 acupoints. An adjustable dorsal strap is configured to wrap over the first and second permanent magnets as well as the bladder thereby providing a compressive force.

Abstract: A sound and light machine (SLM) produces sound and light that pulses at brain wave frequencies. The SLM is programmed to induce a particular state of consciousness in a user. The SLM includes a left and a right light emitting diode (LED) (3). The LEDs (3) are configured to be placed in front of the user's left and right eyes, respectively, and are programmed to pulse light at a frequency that helps induce the particular state of consciousness in the user. The SLM has a left and a right headphone speaker (4). The speakers (4) are configured to play different tones into right and left ears to produce binaural beats that match the LED pulse frequencies. The SLM also has a microcontroller (5) on circuit board that runs firmware to control the LEDs and headphone speakers.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for handling data in an implantable restriction system. In general, the methods and devices allow collection, analysis, storage, and transmission of pressure measurements. Pressure measurement data can be compressed before storing it. Additionally, not all pressure data need be recorded or retained, such as data substantially equaling a resting or nominal pressure of an implantable restriction device indicative of little to no pressure variation and data indicative of isolated, non-recurring events. Any pressure measurement data that is recorded can be transmitted to an external device using power telemetrically provided by the external device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for neurological treatment. The system of the invention includes a neurological stimulation (NS) modality that delivers neurological stimulation to a first brain region and a cognitive training (CT) that delivers CT to a second brain region, where activation of the CT modality occurs at a predetermined time relative to the activation period of the NS modality. In one embodiment, the NS and CT are interlaced. The first and second brain regions may be the same brain regions or different brain regions. The invention may be used, for example, in the treatment of dementia, neurological conditions or psychiatric conditions.

Abstract: A magnetic gastric reduction device includes magnetic elements adapted to couple to a stomach and a sensor adapted to detect stomach properties. The device also includes a control device operably coupled to the magnetic elements. The control device is adapted to operably communicate with the sensor and is configured to control the magnetic elements based on a property of the stomach detected by the sensor to cause the magnetic elements to selectively compress or decompress the stomach.

Abstract: Improved methods for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse are provided. Mesh implants are placed in the appropriate locations to effect multi-level support. The method is accomplished via a transgluteal approach.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering the charge distribution upon living membranes with functional stabilizational of the membrane physical electrical integrity further comprising a method for using submicroscopic, quadripolar, circular, center charged, energy balanced magnetic device in a four (4) magnet array of alternating polarity in which the magnetic poles are separated only by a distance which will allow a magnetic sphere of influence on all adjacent poles to suppress the firing of action potentials of mammalian sensory neurons. The method and apparatus further provides a static magnetic device for production of a magnetic field for treatment of various disorders.