Abstract: A method of creating an anastomosis includes steps of advancing a distal tip of a catheter device through a first blood vessel into a second blood vessel, while simultaneously advancing a proximal base of the device into the first vessel, contacting a wall of the first vessel with a distal blunt surface on the proximal base. A further step is to retract the distal tip so that a proximal blunt base of the distal tip contacts a wall of the second vessel, thereby capturing the two vessel walls between the blunt surfaces of the proximal base and the distal tip. A controlled pressure is applied between the two blunt surfaces to compress and stabilize the captured tissue and approximate the vessel walls. A clip is deployed through the captured tissue to hold the tissue in place during the anastomosis procedure. The anastomosis is created by applying cutting energy to the captured tissue.

Abstract: Devices, methods and systems are disclosed for assisting patients in behavioral modification and cessation programs aimed at terminating undesired behaviors such as smoking, alcohol use and others. Patient devices configured to be easily carried or worn including test units such as carbon monoxide blood level sensors with automated patient prompting for self-testing, analysis of test results and data logging are included in a networked system with a specifically designed treatment modality. Devices and methods disclosed are particularly suited to use in smoking cessation treatment and programs.

Abstract: A defibrillation system for the administration of a dual sequential defibrillation and/or simultaneous defibrillation therapy. A first defibrillation device is inductively coupled to a second defibrillation device. An energy delivery of the first defibrillation device generating, or causing to be generated, an artifact that is received by the second defibrillation device. The artifact causing a sync mode, or sync mode circuitry, of the second defibrillation device to administer a second energy delivery. The second energy delivery can be delayed relative to the energy delivery by the first defibrillation device.

Abstract: A medical device control unit is provided. The control unit may include a communications interface, a memory, and at least one processing device. The processing device may be configured to cause application of a control signal to a primary antenna associated with a unit external to a subject's body. The processing device may further be configured to monitor a feedback signal indicative of the subject's breathing and store, in the memory, information associated with the feedback signal. The processing device may also cause transmission of the stored information, via the communications interface, to a location remote from the control unit. The processing device may further be configured to receive an update signal, from the location remote from the control unit, and cause application of an updated control signal to the primary antenna based on the update signal.

Abstract: An electromechanical surgical system is disclosed including a hand-held surgical instrument, an end effector configured to perform at least one function, and a shaft assembly arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the surgical instrument. The shaft assembly includes a linkage having a proximal housing and a distal housing at least partially received within the proximal housing. The distal housing is rotatable relative to the proximal housing and configured to selectively interconnect the end effector to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly further includes a wire extending through the linkage having a central portion disposed within an annular groove defined between the proximal and distal housings. The central portion of the wire is annularly wound within the annular groove to define a coil. The coil is configured to at least one of radially expand and contract upon rotation of the distal housing relative to the proximal housing.

Abstract: A sterilization system uses ultraviolet radiation and ozone to eradicate deadly pathogens to sterilize a surface of an object or wound/incision site at an adjustable intensity level. The sterilization system has ultraviolet emitters that emit ultraviolet light in wavelengths that kill pathogens and in wavelengths that produce ozone at the sites, therefore killing/disabling several hard-to-kill pathogens. The sterilization system has an intensity control and proximity detectors to enable ultraviolet emission only when the system is properly located near or against the surface so as to protect from unwanted radiation from the ultraviolet light.

Abstract: An example device of a patient includes an antenna configured to wirelessly receive communication from a medical device; and processing circuitry coupled to the antenna and configured to: determine that the received communication indicates that a patient is experiencing an acute health event; in response to the determination, determine one or more physical states of the patient based on sensed data from one or more sensors; confirm that the patient is not experiencing the acute health event based on the determined one or more physical states; and output information based on the confirmation that the patient is not experiencing the acute health event.

Abstract: A tip member for inserting into the cochlea, a device comprising: an elongate member including at least one electrode mounted thereon; and a tip member extending distally from a distal end of the elongate member, the tip member comprising a tapered portion tapering distally and a blunt end portion at a distal end of the tapered portion, wherein the tip member is resiliently flexible, and a method for making such a device.

Abstract: A method includes providing one or more instructions to perform a first action associated with administration of a medication; obtaining first data representing a capture of a patient performing the first action based on the one or more instructions; extracting information about movements of the patient from the first data; presenting an image configured to induce an emotional response in the patient; obtaining second data representing capture of the patient performing one or more microexpressions within 250 milliseconds of presentation of the image; obtaining additional data including one or more of demographic information of the patient, information of a disease associated with the patient, or one or more characteristics of the medication; and based on the extracted information about the movements, the one or more microexpressions, and the additional data, determining a medical outcome including a progression of the disease in the patient.

Abstract: In some examples, a system may be used for delivering cardiac therapy or cardiac sensing. The system may include an in implantable medical device including a housing configured to be implanted on or within a heart of a patient, a fixation element configured to attach the housing to the heart; and a sensor configured to produce a signal that indicates motion of the implantable medical device. Processing circuitry may be configured to identify one or more impingements between the housing and another structure, such as a tissue of the heart, based on the signal from the sensor and provide an indication of the one or more impingements to a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hemodynamically characterizing a neurological or fitness state by dynamic scattering light (DLS) is disclosed herein. In particular, a non-pulsatile blood-shear-rate-descriptive (BSRD) signal(s) is optically generated and analyzed. In some embodiments, the BSRD signal is generated dynamically so as to adaptively maximize (i.e. according to a bandpass or frequency-selection profile) a prominence of a predetermined non-pulsatile physiological signal within the BSRD. In some embodiments, the BSRD is subjected to a stochastic or stationary-status analysis. Alternatively or additionally, the neurological or fitness state may be computed from multiple BSRDs, including two or more of: (i) a [sub ?200 Hz, ˜300 Hz] BSRD signal; (ii) a [˜300 Hz, ˜1000 Hz] signal; (iii) a [˜1000 Hz, ˜4000 Hz] signal and (iv) a [˜4000 Hz, z Hz] (z>=7,000) signal.

Abstract: A dichotic pulsatile and analog stimulation system, comprises a first cochlear implant device implanted in one ear of a patient; and a second cochlear implant device implanted in another ear of the patient; wherein the first cochlear implant device comprises a first speech processor configured to provide single channel analog stimulation to a first electrode array mounted to a cochlea of the one ear and the second cochlear implant device comprises a second speech processor configured to provide interleaved pulse stimulation to a second electrode array mounted to a cochlea of the other ear.

Abstract: According to the embodiment, a toilet seat device includes a toilet seat and a biological sensor. The toilet seat that is formed of a resin material and includes a seating part on which a user is seated, and a bottom surface part facing the seating part. The biological sensor that is of an optical type, is positioned inside the toilet seat, and detects biological information of the user seated on the seating part. The seating part includes a thick portion and a thin portion. The thin portion is thinner than the thick portion. The biological sensor is located at a back surface side of the thin portion. The thick portion and the thin portion are formed as a continuous body. The thin portion has a thickness that can transmit irradiated light irradiated from the biological sensor and reflected light reflected from the user seated on the seating part.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an Analytics Engine that receives one more signal files that include neural signal data of a user based on voltages detected by one or more electrodes on a set of headphones worn by a user. The Analytics Engine preprocesses the data, extracts features from the received data, and feeds the extracted features into one or more machine learning models to generate determined output that corresponds to at least one of a current mental state of the user and a type of facial gesture performed by the user. The Analytics Engine sends the determined output to a computing device to perform an action based on the determined output.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and technique selectively eliminates the noxious signal components in a neuronal signal by creating an interfering electrical signal that is tuned to a given frequency corresponding to the oscillatory pattern of the noxious signal, resulting in a modified neuronal signal that substantially reproduces a normal, no-pain neuronal signal. The disclosed system and technique of pain relief is based on the hypothesis that the temporal profile of pain signals encodes particular components that oscillate at unique and quantifiable frequencies, which are responsible for pain processing in the brain.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a sleep parameter of a user includes an adhesive pad configured to conform to a surface of the user and a flexible element coupled to the adhesive pad. The flexible element includes a conductive fabric, and exhibits a modified electrical property in response to an applied force. The apparatus also includes a power source electrically coupled to the flexible element, and an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the power source and the flexible conductive element. The electrical circuit is configured to detect, during use, a change in an electrical property of the flexible element.

Abstract: A neural interface arrangement has multiple probes for subdural implantation into or onto a human brain. Each probe has at least one sensing electrode, a coil for receiving power via inductive coupling, signal processing circuitry coupled to the electrode(s), and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data signals arising from the electrode(s). An array of coils is implanted above the dura beneath the skull, for inductively coupling with the coil of each probe, and for transmitting power to the probes. A primary coil is connected to the coil array, for inductively coupling with an external transmitter device, and for receiving power from the external transmitter device. In use, the primary coil is operable to receive power from the external transmitter device by inductive coupling and to cause the coil array to transmit power to the probes by inductive coupling, and the probes wirelessly transmit data signals arising from the electrodes.

Abstract: A method, including energizing one or more electrodes of a cochlear electrode array to induce a current flow in the cochlea at a plurality of temporal locations, measuring one or more electrical properties at one or more locations in the cochlea resulting from the induced current flow at the plurality of different temporal locations and determining whether or not trauma has occurred based on a change between the measured electrical properties from the first temporal location to the second temporal location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying a paddle neurostimulation lead within a patient. A delivery tool includes a delivery tube including a first linear segment, a second linear segment, and an arcuate segment coupled between the first and second linear segments, the second linear segment defining an elongated opening. The delivery tool further includes a stylet positioned within an interior of the delivery tube, and a handle coupled to the delivery tube and including a stylet actuation mechanism, the stylet actuation mechanism configured to selectively advance and retract the stylet between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein the stylet extends across the elongated opening in the deployed position to engage an engagement member of the paddle neurostimulation lead.

Abstract: A wearable device for facilitating neurophysiological treatment of a patient harboring an implanted neural stimulator is provided. The wearable device includes a transmitting antenna configured to accept one or more input signals and to transmit one or more electromagnetic signals to a neural stimulator that is implanted in a patients body. The wearable device further includes a control circuitry configured to provide the one or more input signals to the transmitting antenna. The wearable device further includes a battery that provides electrical power to at least the control circuitry. The wearable device is configured to be worn outside the patient's body.