Abstract: A method of monitoring cardiac dysfunction, such as pericardial effusion, is disclosed. The method uses an indwelling probe inserted within a coronary sinus or a chamber or vessel of the heart, the probe having motion sensing means configured to sense motion of the probe based on movement of the wall of the coronary sinus or other chamber or vessel. Data is obtained from the motion sensing means and processed to monitor for cardiac dysfunction. The monitoring can be in real-time and can utilise one or more three-axis accelerometers. In some embodiments, two or more three-axis accelerometers are spaced longitudinally along an elongate body of the probe, which can increase accuracy and reliability of monitoring.

Abstract: A method of stimulating nerve tissue, a tissue stimulation system, and an external control device are provided. The method, system, and control device causes an electrical stimulus to be applied to at least one electrode adjacent the nerve tissue of a patient. The applied electrical stimulus comprises a plurality of pulses defined by a pulse width value and an amplitude value. The pulse amplitude value is increased (e.g., manually), and the pulse width value is automatically decreased in response to increasing the pulse amplitude value in a manner that increases the intensity of the applied electrical stimulus. Alternatively, the pulse width value may be decreased (e.g., manually), and the pulse amplitude value automatically increased in response to decreasing the pulse width value in a manner that increases the intensity of the applied electrical stimulus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrode assemblies configured for use with a medical device, such as an implantable medical device. In one aspect, the disclosed electrode assembly includes at least a first electrode and a second electrode, each of which is configured to deliver electrical stimuli to a body part of a recipient. The electrode assembly also includes a first wire that is attached at one end to the first electrode and comprises a conductor that has a first diameter, and a second wire that is attached to the second electrode and comprises a conductor that has a second diameter, with the first diameter being greater than the second diameter. Additionally, each of the first wire and the second wire pass through a proximal end of the assembly is configured to connect the one of the electrodes to a stimulation unit of a medical device.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling the movement of bile and/or gall stones in the biliary duct. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the tissue wall) at least one portion of the tissue wall to influence the movement of bile and/or gallstones in the biliary duct, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the movement of bile and/or gallstones in the biliary duct. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the movement of bile and/or gallstones in the biliary duct, or for actively moving the fluid in the biliary duct, with a low risk of injuring the biliary duct.

Abstract: Cardiac therapy devices in the form of pacemakers and/or defibrillators including one or more leads with electrodes implanted in a vein in a posterior position in combination with one or more leads with electrodes implanted in an anterior position. The posterior position may be chosen from one or more of the azygos, hemiazygos, accessory hemiazygos, or posterior intercostal veins. The anterior position may be chosen from the internal thoracic vein, an anterior intercostal vein, or an anterior subcutaneous location. In other examples, sensors are placed for use by a cardiac monitoring or therapy system in one or more of the internal thoracic vein, the azygos vein, the hemiazygos vein, the accessory hemiazygos vein, and/or an anterior or posterior intercostal vein.

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: A system for providing neurostimulation includes an external device (“external exciter”) and an implanted device. The external exciter includes an energy source which inductively powers the implanted device. Examples of such external exciters include devices having at least one of: ultrasonic transducers, Radio Frequency (RF) transmitters, and solar cells. The implanted device includes circuitry that limits its maximum energy output to a predetermined saturation threshold such that excess stimulation from the external exciter does not raise the output of the implanted device beyond the saturation threshold. The output signal of the external exciter is then pulse-width modulated in order to produce a desired amount of output stimulation from the implanted device to stimulate the bioelectrically excitable tissue at a desired level.

Abstract: Medical devices can perform a plurality of functions, such as sensing, monitoring, deriving and/or calculating various physiological statuses of a patient (e.g., blood pressure, temperature, respiration rate, etc.). Medical devices can also be used to image part or all of a patient's body, to deliver a treatment, or to manage information related to a patient's care. The present disclosure is directed at one or more devices that perform these functions using a plurality of processing circuits, wherein each processing circuit has a timing circuit with a local clock. These processing circuits can be connected via a network, and each timing circuit can communicate with at least one other timing circuit in order to detect and correct time-differences between their local clocks. In this way, multiple processing circuits can be synchronized with each other to facilitate diagnosis or treatment of a patient's condition, or other aspects of a patient's care.

Abstract: Heart condition and function can be quantified using repolarization measures and/or repolarization indices derived from a time-frequency transform of an electrocardiogram, e.g., based on points in time associated with the T wave. The electrocardiograms, time-frequency maps derived therefrom, and/or indices obtained by analysis of the time-frequency maps and electrocardiograms may be assembled into a user interface. Further embodiments are described.

Abstract: Various embodiments of this disclosure concern a lead end containing a slotted member. A slotted member can have a plurality of slots extending along at least a portion of the length of the slotted member, each of the slots having a respective positioning feature, the plurality of slots having a plurality of positioning features at different longitudinal positions along the length of the slotted member. The lead end can further include a plurality of conductors at least partially within the plurality of slots, each slot of the plurality of slots containing at least a respective one of the plurality of conductors, the plurality of conductors electrically connecting exposed electrical elements of both ends of the lead.

Abstract: Information relevant to making clinical decisions for a patient is identified based on electrical activity records of the patient's brain and electrical activity records of other patients' brains. A deep learning algorithm is applied to an electrical activity record of the patient, i.e., an input record, and to a set of electrical activity records of other patients, i.e., a set of search records, to obtain an input feature vector of the patient and a set of search feature vectors, each including features extracted by the deep learning algorithm. A similarities algorithm is applied to the input feature vector and the set of search feature vectors to identify a subset of search records most like the input record. Clinical information associated with one or more search records in the identified subset of search records is extracted from a database and used to make decisions regarding the patient's neuromodulation therapies.

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: Methods, devices, and systems employ cryolysis of oropharyngeal adipose tissues to selectively remove fat cells from the tissues causing obstructive sleep apnea. In various embodiments, a chilled liquid—e.g., a liquid or air—is applied to the target tissue at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to cause cryolysis.

Abstract: A method classifies vibrational data acquired for a swallowing event to identify a possible swallowing impairment in a candidate. The method includes receiving axis-specific vibrational data for an anterior-posterior (A-P) axis and a superior-inferior (S-I) axis and representative of the swallowing event, for example from a sensor operatively coupled to a processing module that is a local or remote computing device. A portion of the axis-specific vibrational data for the A-P axis can be combined with a portion of the axis-specific vibrational data for the S-I axis on the processing module using one or more of linear combination, squared (power) sum, moving window correlation of the two signals, local minimum or local maximum of the two signals, and trigonometric relation. The method can include outputting from the processing module a classification of the swallowing event based on the combined vibrational data.

Abstract: A system for monitoring hemodynamics of a subject is disclosed. The system comprises: a signal generating system configured for providing at least an output electric signal and transmitting the output signal to an organ of the subject. The system also comprises a demodulation system configured for receiving an input electrical signal sensed from the organ responsively to the output electric signal, and for modulating the input signal using the output signal to provide an in-phase component and a quadrature component of the input signal. The system also comprises a processing system configured for monitoring the hemodynamics based on the in-phase and the quadrature components.

Abstract: The implant including an elongated tubular body, having at a first end a releasable device connected to an installation lead, and at a second end a member for anchoring to a heart wall, the tubular body housing a frame supporting an electronic unit. The implant further comprises an accelerometer. This accelerometer comprises a piezoelectric blade extending in cantilever from an embedding section of the frame, in a direction going from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for characterizing wounds, and in particular to the use of Raman spectroscopy to characterize the state of healing of a wound.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for treating epilepsy by stimulating a main trunk of a vagus nerve, or a left vagus nerve, when the patient has had no seizure or a seizure that is not characterized by cardiac changes such as an increase in heart rate, and stimulating a cardiac branch of a vagus nerve, or a right vagus nerve, when the patient has had a seizure characterized by cardiac changes such as a heart rate increase.

Abstract: Provided are an electronic device and a method for controlling the same. An electronic device for providing continuous blood glucose monitoring comprises: a first sensor for measuring a glucose level of an interstitial fluid in order to predict blood glucose; a second sensor disposed on an inner surface of the electronic device to be in contact with a human body, in order to measure at least one of a blood flow and a heart rate of the human body; and a processor for determining a diffusion time during which glucose present in blood diffuses into the interstitial fluid, on the basis of characteristics of a signal generated by the second sensor, and predicting the blood glucose on the basis of the glucose level measured by the first sensor and the determined diffusion time.

Abstract: Methods and devices for stimulating a nerve in a patient include positioning a device adjacent an outer skin surface of the patient and emitting an electrical field near the vagus nerve within the patient. The electric field is varied to create burst periods and constant periods. The charge of the electric field emitted during the burst periods alternates between positive and negative. The charge of the electric field emitted during the constant periods has a magnitude of zero.