Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including a left-ventricular assist device that includes an impeller, and a frame disposed around the impeller, the frame having a length of more than 25 mm when disposed in a non-radially constrained configuration. A rigid axial shaft extends from a proximal end of the frame to a distal end of the frame. A motor is disposed outside a body of a subject, and drives the impeller to pump blood within the subject's body, by rotating. A drive cable extends from outside the subject's body to the axial shaft. The drive cable imparts rotational motion from the motor to the impeller by rotating. The drive cable is a flexible cable comprising a plurality of coiled wires. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: The present invention consists of an implantable device with at least one package that houses electronics that receives input data or signals, and optionally, power, from an external system through at least one coil attached to the at least one package, processes the input data and delivers electrical pulses to neural tissue through at least one array of multiple electrodes that is/are attached to the at least one package. The invention, or components thereof, is/are intended to be installed in the head, or on or in the cranium, or on the dura, or on or in the brain.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for digital image analysis for device navigation in tissue are disclosed. The disclosed system uses real-time angiography and artificial intelligence to navigate an end effector of a surgical robot through a patient's vasculature to provide a surgical intervention. Digital imaging is performed that enables three-dimensional mapping of the patient's vasculature. Locations and movement of the end effector of the surgical robot are determined. The end effector is used to perform an intervention such as the removal of a blood clot or delivery of a drug for dissolving a blood clot.

Abstract: Disclosed examples generally include methods and apparatuses related to microphone units, such as may be found in implantable medical devices (e.g., cochlear implants). Microphone units generally include a microphone element connected to a chamber having a concave floor with the chamber covered by a membrane. Microphone units can be configured to produce an output based on pressure waves (e.g., sound waves) that reach the membrane. In an example, a microphone unit has a pressurized gas within the chamber below the membrane such that, while in a static state, the membrane deflects away from the chamber floor.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for accurate heart rate measurement. In one example, a method includes determining a respiratory rate (RR) and respiration displacement from radar-measured cardiorespiratory motion data; adjusting notch depths of a harmonics comb notch digital filter (HCNDF) based upon the respiration displacement; generating filtered cardiorespiratory data by filtering the radar-measured cardiorespiratory motion data with the HCNDF; and identifying a heart rate (HR) from the filtered cardiorespiratory data. In another example, a system includes radar circuitry configured to receive a cardiorespiratory motion signal reflected from a monitored subject; and signal processing circuitry configured to determine a respiration displacement based upon the cardiorespiratory motion signal; adjust notch depths of a HCNDF based upon the respiration displacement; filter the cardiorespiratory motion data with the HCNDF; and identifying a heart rate (HR) from the filtered cardiorespiratory data.

Abstract: A catheter has a composite and segmented construction in a distal section that includes deflectable members and support member arranged in alternating sequence, with each support member carrying a ring electrode and the deflectable members being flexible to allow deflection of the distal section as a whole. Carried on an outer surface of the support member is a coil location sensor. The distal section is configured with a distal irrigation fluid path extending axially through the deflectable members and the support members to deliver irrigation fluid to the ring electrode and the tip electrode. A method of constructing a catheter includes building a section of the catheter from the inside out by mounting the support members on a tubing at predetermined locations and filling gaps in between with a more flexible material to form the deflectable members by extrusion segments or injection molding over assembled components internal to the catheter.

Abstract: An example of a method embodiment may include receiving a user programmable neural stimulation (NS) dose for an intermittent neural stimulation (INS) therapy, and delivering the INS therapy with the user programmable NS dose to an autonomic neural target of a patient. Delivering the INS therapy may include delivering NS bursts, and delivering the NS bursts may include delivering a number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle during a portion of the cardiac cycles and not delivering NS pulses during a remaining portion of the cardiac cycles. The method may further include sensing cardiac events within the cardiac cycles, and controlling delivery of the user programmable NS dose of INS therapy using the sensed cardiac events to time delivery of the number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle to provide the user programmable NS dose. The user programmable NS dose may determine the number of NS pulses per cardiac cycle.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques for establishing communication between two medical devices are described. In one example, an implantable medical device comprises communication circuitry, therapy delivery circuitry, and processing circuitry configured to initiate a communication window during which the implantable second medical device is capable of receiving the information related to a cardiac event detected by a first medical device, the communication window being one of a plurality of communication windows defined by a communication schedule that corresponds to a transmission schedule in which the first medical device is configured to transmit the information, control the communication circuitry to receive, from the first medical device, the information related to the cardiac event that is indicative of a timing of the cardiac event with respect to a timing of the communication window, schedule and control delivery of a therapy according to the information related to the cardiac event.

Abstract: High-voltage pulses ablation systems and methods are used to ablate tissue and form lesions. A variety of different electrophysiology devices, such as catheters, surgical probes, and clamps, may be used to position one or more electrodes at a target location. Electrodes can be connected to power supply lines and, in some instances, the power to the electrodes can be controlled on an electrode-by-electrode basis. High-voltage pulse sequences provide a total amount of heating that is typically less than that which is observed with thermally-based radiofrequency energy ablation protocols.

Abstract: A method for radiographic imaging of a body cavity includes imaging the body cavity using computerized tomography (CT) to form a CT image, registering a tracking system with the CT image, inserting into the body cavity a guidewire, including a position sensor, operating in the tracking system, attached to a distal end of the guidewire, in response to signals from the position sensor acquired by the tracking system, displaying a position of the distal end of the guidewire on the CT image. The method further includes assigning voxels within a predefined imaging volume relative to the distal end and having a radiodensity less than a predetermined threshold to have a uniform radiodensity of a predefined default value, incorporating the voxels with the assigned predefined default value into the CT image so as to form an updated CT image, and displaying the updated CT image.

Abstract: A neuromodulation lead that is biased towards a substantially omega shape when fully deployed is provided. The neuromodulation lead includes a left set of electrodes disposed on a left portion of the lead body of the neuromodulation lead and a right set of electrodes disposed on a right portion of the lead body of the neuromodulation lead. The neuromodulation lead can be positioned in the plane between the genioglossus muscle and the geniohyoid muscle.

Abstract: A system for the optical measurement of pH includes a light emitter to emit an excitation light, and a detector coupled to receive florescence light produced by a compound in a mouth of a patient in response to the excitation light. A controller is coupled to the detector, and the controller includes logic that when executed by the controller, causes the system to perform operations. The operations may include emitting the excitation light from the light emitter; measuring an intensity of the florescence light emitted from a surface of individual teeth in a plurality of teeth in the mouth; and determining, based on the intensity of the florescence light, one or more locations on the individual teeth likely to develop demineralization.

Abstract: A cochlear implant hearing aid system is disclosed. The cochlear implant hearing aid system comprises an external part. The external part includes a sound pickup unit configured to pick up sound from the environment and a sound processing unit configured to process said sound. The cochlear implant hearing aid system further comprises an implant part. The implant part includes an implant processing unit and a plurality of cochlea stimulation electrodes for stimulation of a cochlea of a user. The cochlear implant hearing aid system further comprises a near-infrared transmitter configured to transmit a near-infrared wave. The cochlear implant hearing aid system further comprises a near-infrared receiver configured to receive said near-infrared wave.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for analysing physico-chemical properties of a skin surface, comprising: at least one contact sensor for applying to said skin surface to be analysed in order to determine specific information, once or twice a day, about a particular area of the skin surface; at least one environment sensor designed to accompany a user throughout the day and to measure, throughout the day, at least one external parameter acting on said skin surface; and a processing unit interfaced with the contact and environment sensors, said unit being fitted with analysis means allowing the determination of physico-chemical properties of the skin surface to be analysed, from signals generated by the contact and environment sensors.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for automatically determining which type of resuscitation treatment is most appropriate for a patient. Methods are provided that include the following. One or more time domain signal measurements are transformed into frequency domain data representative of a frequency content of the one or more time domain signal measurements. The frequency domain data is processed to identify peaks. For each of the peaks, for each of multiple points in time, multiple parameters of the peak are determined. Based on the multiple parameters of the peaks for each of the multiple points in time, a trajectory is determined. The determined trajectory is analyzed in determining a recommended type of resuscitation treatment. An output indication is provided of the recommended type of resuscitation treatment.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for generating and displaying large bowel information. In at least one embodiment of a method of generating a gastrointestinal model, comprising the steps of obtaining size data within a mammalian gastrointestinal tract using a device configured to fit within the mammalian gastrointestinal tract, and modifying a model colon using the obtained size data to generate a patient-specific colon model.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for increasing sensitivity of sensory nerves of a portion of a subject's body. A plurality of electrodes (22) are placed at respective locations upon a surface of the body portion. A computer processor (24) applies sets of electrical stimulation pulses to the respective locations upon the surface, via the electrodes. The computer processor receives respective inputs from the subject, via a user interface (26), each of the inputs corresponding to a respective one of the sets of electrical stimulation pulses, and being indicative of a location at which the subject sensed the set of electrical stimulation pulse as having been applied. In response to the inputs from the subject, the computer processor modulates parameters of the sets of electrical stimulation pulses that are applied to respective locations upon the surface of the body portion. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a tube configured to traverse a subject's aortic valve. A frame is disposed within a portion of the tube, and a plurality of winged projections are coupled to the frame. An impeller is disposed inside the tube, the impeller including proximal and distal bushings, a helical elongate element, and a spring disposed inside of the helical elongate element, the spring defining a lumen therethrough. A film of material is supported between the helical elongate element and the spring. A rigid shaft extends from the proximal bushing to the distal bushing via the lumen defined by the spring. The impeller is rotated, such as to pump blood from the subject's left ventricle to the subject's aorta. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods to evaluate auditory efferent function by exposing a patient to short-duration acoustic click stimuli to generate a click-evoked otoacoustic emission (CEOAE) occurring in each ear of the patient, and in response to exposing the patient to click stimuli, concurrently sampling outer hair cell activity (OHC) and medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR; efferents) in each ear of the patient, monitoring the middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR) in each ear of the patient, and measuring a change in cochlear activity in the patient based on the CEOAE, MOCR, and MEMR of each ear of the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting an arrhythmic event and storing physiological information associated with the detected arrhythmic event are described. A system may include a first detector to detect an arrhythmic event from a physiological signal sensed from a subject, and generate a confidence indicator indicating a confidence level of the detection of the arrhythmic event. If the confidence indicator indicates a relatively high confidence of arrhythmia detection, the system may provide the detected arrhythmic event to a first process for storing the detected arrhythmic event or generating an alert. If the confidence indicator indicates a relatively low confidence of arrhythmia detection, the system may provide the detected arrhythmic event to at least a second process including confirming or rejecting the detected arrhythmic event.