Abstract: A lead anchor includes a body defining a lead lumen having a first opening and a second opening through which a lead can pass. The body further defines a transverse lumen that intersects the lead lumen. An exterior member is disposed around at least a portion of the body. The exterior member is formed of a biocompatible material. A fastener anchors the lead to the body through the transverse lumen by deforming a portion of the lead. The transverse lumen is configured and arranged to receive the fastener. At least at least two suture tabs extend from the exterior member and are configured and arranged for receiving a suture to suture the lead anchor to patient tissue.

Abstract: An EMI/energy dissipating filter for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) is described. The filter comprises a first gold braze hermetically sealing the insulator to a ferrule that is configured to be mounted in an opening in a housing for the AIMD. A lead wire is hermetically sealed in a passageway through the insulator by a second gold braze. A circuit board substrate is disposed adjacent the insulator. A two-terminal chip capacitor disposed adjacent to the circuit board has an active end metallization that is electrically connected to the active electrode plates and a ground end metallization that is electrically connected to the at least one ground electrode plates of the capacitor. A ground path electrically extends between the ground end metallization of the chip capacitor and the ferrule. The ground path comprises a conductive pin electrically and mechanically connected to the ferrule by a third gold braze.

Abstract: A method includes determining a measurement indicative of a synchrony between one or more regions of a patient's autonomic nervous system (e.g., the NTS) and one or more regions of the patient's central nervous system (e.g., the thalamus, the cortex) based on body parameter data. The method also includes adjusting a cranial nerve stimulation parameter based on the measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting abnormal masses such as breast cancer includes a measurement sensor configured to obtain a voltage at a first area of a first breast of a subject; a reference sensor configured to obtain a voltage at a second area of a second breast of the subject, a position of the first area corresponding to a position of the second area; and a detector, wherein the detector includes a differential amplifier configured to amplify a voltage input from the at least one of the measurement sensor and the reference sensor; an active low pass filter configured to pass a signal frequency of a low frequency band among signals transmitted from the differential amplifier; a driver amplifier configured to amplify a signal passed through the active low pass filter; and an analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to convert the signal amplified by the driver amplifier into a digital signal.

Abstract: A neuromodulation system and method of providing sub-threshold therapy to a patient. An anodic perception threshold of super-threshold electrical energy and a cathodic perception threshold of super-threshold electrical energy are determined for a plurality of electrode sets. A ratio between the anodic perception threshold and the cathodic perception threshold is calculated for each of the electrode sets. An effective electrode set is selected based on the ratio between the anodic perception threshold and the cathodic perception threshold.

Abstract: Methods and devices for addressing difficulty with cardiac event sensing that can arise if the starting point of the cardiac cycle is not well aligned to the intended starting point of a detection profile used for sensing. As an improvement, illustrative methods and devices provide an addition to cardiac sensing operations by adjusting the starting point of a detection profile to align with a desired point in the cardiac signal.

Abstract: A stimulator lead is herein disclosed. The stimulator lead includes a proximal portion that is configured for placement external the epidural space through a first opening, wherein said proximal portion is operatively connected to an IPG unit, a distal portion that is configured for placement external the epidural space through a second opening, and a third portion between the proximal and distal portions that is configured for percutaneous placement in an epidural space, wherein said middle portion includes at least one stimulator electrode for placement adjacent to target dura.

Abstract: A wireless ECG sensor system includes a sensor patch configured to attach to a user. The sensor patch may include a substrate having a positive and a negative electrode, and a passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder carried by the substrate. The RFID may include a first antenna, a non-transitory and non-volatile storage medium in electrical communication with the first antenna, a load modulation switch in electrical communication with the first antenna, and a microcontroller in electrical communication with the first antenna and in data communication with both the storage medium and the load modulation switch. The system may also include an interrogator device having a second antenna configured to wirelessly transmit electromagnetic radiation having a resonant frequency of the first antenna of the sensor patch, and a demodulator configured to measure a voltage amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation wirelessly transmitted by the second antenna.

Abstract: An EMI/energy dissipating filter for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) is described. The filter comprises a first gold braze hermetically sealing the insulator to a ferrule that is configured to be mounted in an opening in a housing for the AIMD. A lead wire is hermetically sealed in a passageway through the insulator by a second gold braze. A circuit board substrate is disposed adjacent the insulator. A two-terminal chip capacitor disposed adjacent to the circuit board has an active end metallization that is electrically connected to the active electrode plates and a ground end metallization that is electrically connected to the at least one ground electrode plates of the capacitor. A ground path electrically extends between the ground end metallization of the chip capacitor and the ferrule. There is also an active path electrically extending between the active end metallization of the chip capacitor and the lead wire.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough includes a chip capacitor disposed on a circuit board on a device side. A first low impedance electrical connection is between a capacitor first end metallization and a conductor which is disposed through an insulator. A second low impedance electrical connection is between the capacitor second end metallization and a ferrule or housing. The second low impedance electrical connection may include an oxide-resistant electrical connection forming the hermetic seal between the insulator and the ferrule or housing and an electrical connection between and to the second end metallization and directly to the oxide-resistant electrical connection. Alternatively, the second low impedance electrical connection may include an oxide-resistant metal addition attached directly to the ferrule or housing and an electrical connection between and to the second end metallization and directly to the oxide-resistant metal addition.

Abstract: A sleep monitoring device (100) is disclosed for measuring a biophysical variable (131) of a living-being (150), comprising at least two pressure sensors (101-103) spatially arranged in a predefined planar geometry. The living-being rests on the supporting layer (199) contacted by the sensors that generate sensor signals in response to pressure caused by the living being via the supporting layer. A processing unit (110) determines the position of the living-being on the supporting layer based on differences between the sensor signals; a magnitude attenuation factor is determined based on the position of the living-being and a position of a sensor; the biophysical variable is determined from a sensor signal generated by that sensor, including a magnitude correction based on the magnitude attenuation factor. The effect of the invention is that only few sensors are needed to measure a biophysical variable accurately, irrespective of the living-being's position on the supporting layer.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector coupled to an elongate tube and a rod that passes through the elongate tube. A control mechanism coupled to the elongate tube includes an input axle having a first axis of rotation, an idler pulley having a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis, and a lever coupled to the rod and having a third axis of rotation parallel to the second axis. First and second capstans are fixed to the input axle. Cables pass over the idler pulley and are coupled to the lever. Rotating the input axle in a first direction winds a first cable onto the first capstan, rotates the lever, and moves the rod in a second direction. Rotating the input axle opposite the first direction winds a second cable onto the second capstan, rotates the lever, and moves the rod opposite the second direction.

Abstract: A method for monitoring physiological status of a vehicle driver is performed by a monitoring device connected to a physiological sensor and comprises steps of: (a) establishing a personal physiological database comprising steps of: periodically sensing the vehicle driver via the physiological sensor to obtain the physiological signals within an initial duration; obtaining a mean value and a standard deviation based on the physiological signals; and obtaining a tolerance range based on the mean value and the standard deviation, such that the personal physiological database stores the tolerance range; (b) sensing the vehicle driver via the physiological sensor to obtain at least one instant physiological signal after the initial duration; and (c) determining whether the at least one instant physiological signal is out of the tolerance range, such that an alarm is outputted when the at least one instant physiological signal is out of the tolerance range.

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 method for knitting a garment having a tubular form, including knitting at least one vertical conductive textile trace on a machine having N participating feeders and M needles. The method includes the steps of continuously knitting the tubular form with one or more flexible non-conductive base yarns, and knitting the vertical conductive textile trace integrally within the tubular form, using a conductive yarn, in addition to spandex yarns, but not the base yarns. The conductive yarn is knitted in a float-loop form by knitting a stitch and skipping over y needles, as follows: repeatably knitting a line segment Lk, using feeder Fi and starting at needle D1; and knitting line segment Lk+1, using the next feeder and start stitching the first float-loop at needle D1+s where 0<s<y.

Abstract: A surgical device for operating on tissue comprises an end effector, a shaft, and an interface assembly. The shaft comprises an articulation section operable to provide deflection of the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The interface assembly comprises a plurality of pulleys associated with drive shafts driven by an external system. The pulleys are operable to cause rotation of one or both of the shaft or end effector. The pulleys are further operable to cause articulation of the articulation section. The interface assembly further comprises drive components operable to cause movement of components of the end effector.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for determining the occurrence of a QRS complex in ECG data. According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is proposed for determining the occurrence of a QRS complex in ECG data by utilizing a first, second and third set of ECG data that are acquired by respectively electrode leads II, V4 and V5 and by determining whether a QRS complex has been detected within the predefined temporal window in at least two of the first, second and third sets of ECG data. According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is proposed for determining the occurrence of a QRS complex in ECG data by utilizing three sets of ECG data whose signal quality values V are the smallest three of the first to twelfth sets of ECG data that are acquired by respectively the standard 12 electrode leads and by determining whether a QRS complex has been detected within the predefined temporal window in at least two of the three sets of ECG data.

Abstract: Dream stage enhancement uses a headband with EEG-EOG sensors, onboard processors, memory, coarse and fine time REM waveform detection modules, LEDs and an audio playback unit. After normalization to the user's EEG waveforms, the user's EEG-EOG signals are processed, REM and NREM stages detected and light, sound or AV stimuli are presented to the user based upon user-supplied light-sound-AV stimuli commands. To provide a reality check control (“RCC”), the head unit has a user actuatable RC interface whereby during sleep, RC stimuli are presented when the user depresses the RCC control which plays back the user supplied stimulus. In a “learning mode,” the user selects “Recall” or “No Recall” (“NR”) after the sleep period. If NR, then the system changes the color of light stimuli, light intensity, flash, audio sound type, audio intensity, and AV. If “Recall” the user supplied stimuli commands are carried out.

Abstract: A visual prosthesis apparatus and a method for providing artificial vision are disclosed in the present disclosure. The visual prosthesis apparatus comprises a camera for capturing a video image, a video processing unit configured to convert the video image to stimulation patterns, and a retinal stimulation system configured stimulate neural tissue in a subjects eye based on the stimulation patterns. An artificial vision may be provided by capturing a video image, converting the video image to stimulation patterns, and stimulating neural tissue in a subjects eye based on the stimulation patterns.

Abstract: An HF surgical appliance comprising an HF generator having an output circuit, which contains an output transformer and has an output impedance. Output terminals, to which an HF surgical instrument can be connected, are provided, said instrument supplying a high-frequency current with a specific frequency into tissue to treat the same. An additional output circuit containing an additional transformer, which is connected between the output circuit and the output terminals to reduce the output impedance is also provided. In this way, the HF surgical appliance can be operated with a high power output even on loads having low impedance.