Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring a heart. According to one embodiment, the system includes an implantable registering unit for registering an electrical signal from the heart. The system includes a local data unit in operable communication with registering unit. The local data unit may be placed in communication with a computer, which may be at a location remote from the local data unit. The computer is adapted to receive the data from the local data unit corresponding to the registered electrical signal and to compare the registered electrical signal to a reference electrical signal to determine whether the heart is functioning properly.

Abstract: Non-invasive electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches), irrespective of whether those symptoms arise from an allergy that is co-morbid with the headache. The disclosed methods may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine headaches, such as anxiety disorders. In preferred embodiments of the disclosed methods, one or both of the patient's vagus nerves are stimulated non-invasively. In other embodiments, parts of the sympathetic nervous system and/or the adrenal glands are stimulated.

Abstract: Treatment of cardiac tissue via an implantable heart treatment device is described. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a substrate configured for implantation within a body; an electromagnetic signal generator coupled to the substrate and configured to generate one or more electric signals configured to stimulate one or more tissues of a heart within the body; and an energy-carrier molecule delivery device coupled to the substrate and configured to supply one or more non-oxygen cellular energy sources to one or more tissues of the heart within the body.

Abstract: A defibrillator (100) and method (300) are described having an improved automatic activation feature. The improvement comprises sensing a pattern of events which indicates that repeated activations are inadvertent, and thus are unnecessarily depleting the battery. The defibrillator then disables the automatic activation circuit (210) feature. Then, the sensing of a manual defibrillator operation may trigger a re-enablement of the automatic activation feature.

Abstract: Treatment of cardiac tissue via an implantable heart treatment device is described. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a substrate configured for implantation within a body; an electromagnetic signal generator coupled to the substrate and configured to generate one or more electric signals configured to stimulate one or more tissues of a heart; and an oxygenator coupled to the substrate and configured to supply one or more oxygenated molecules to one or more tissues of the heart, the oxygenator including a blood inlet portion, a blood outlet portion, and an oxygen exchange portion positioned between the blood inlet portion and the blood outlet portion, the oxygen exchange portion including a high surface area oxygen exchanger configured to transfer one or more oxygenated molecules from the high surface area oxygen exchanger to blood passing from the blood inlet portion to the blood outlet portion.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for electrical stimulation. A waveform generator can be configured to generate an electrical waveform. An electrode can be electrically coupled to the waveform generator and configured to deliver the electrical waveform to a nerve to reduce at least one reflex that affects a bodily function.

Abstract: An extravascular nerve cuff that is configured to hold a leadless, integral, implantable microstimulator. The nerve cuff may include a cuff body having a pocket or pouch for removably receiving the implantable device within. The nerve cuff can be secured around the nerve such that the electrodes of the device are stably positioned relative to the nerve. Furthermore, the nerve cuff drives the majority of the current from the stimulation device into the nerve, while shielding surrounding tissues from unwanted stimulation.

Abstract: A plain bearing assembly for a cardiac pump, the plain bearing assembly comprising; a rotational portion which, in use, rotates with a cardiac pump rotor, the rotational portion configured to engage a stationary portion of a cardiac pump housing, the stationary portion comprising one or more first bearing surfaces and the rotational portion comprising one or more second bearing surfaces, the one or more second bearing surfaces configured so as to be in contact with the one or more first bearing surfaces, therein defining a bearing interface between the one or more first bearing surfaces and the one or more second bearing surfaces during rotation of the rotational portion, wherein the rotational portion comprises one or more first flow channels configured to interrupt the bearing interface and permit blood to flow between an outside of the plain bearing assembly and a center of the plain bearing assembly.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present disclosure, methods of treating a neurological disorder comprise providing reconditioning electrical stimulation. The methods may comprise applying electrical stimulation that provides positive reinforcement by activation within the reward network of the brain of the patient when an appropriate external stimulus is provided to the patient. The external stimulus is selected in accordance with the specific neurological disorder being treated in the patient. The methods may comprise applying electrical stimulation that provides negative reinforcement by stimulation of aversion-related locations of the brain of the patient when a different external stimulus is provided to the patient.

Abstract: A system for determining T wave bifurcation that includes three or more ECG leads configured to receive an ECG signal and a first computing device including a processor coupled to a memory, the processor and the memory configured to perform operations including: generating at least two orthogonal ECG vectors based on the ECG signal of a patient, processing the at least two orthogonal ECG vectors to determine a loop trajectory of at least a portion of the ECG signal, identifying a trajectory bifurcation by comparing the loop trajectory to a control loop trajectory for a plurality of cardiac cycles, and determining an indicator of a cardiac event based on the trajectory bifurcation.

Abstract: Electrosurgical instruments and associated methods are provided. An electrosurgical instrument may include one or more light emitters that comprise a light source in operative communication with a power supply supportably interconnected to a handle portion. The instrument may have a toggle member with one or more selectable positions that may selectively activate any of one or more operational states of an electrosurgical electrode comprising the instrument. The toggle member may selectively activate the light emitter(s) provided on the instrument alone and/or in conjunction with the activation of one or more operational state. The handle portion may include an elastomeric handle portion that extends continuously along the handle portion and over the toggle member to seal the handle portion.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes cochlear implant circuitry, which is disposed within a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient, performing the following: 1) detecting that an implantable antenna is connected to a modular connector coupled to the cochlear implant module, 2) operating in accordance with a radio frequency (“RF”) inductive link communication protocol while the implantable antenna is connected to the modular connector, 3) detecting a disconnection of the implantable antenna from the modular connector and a connection of an implantable sound processor to the modular connector, and 4) dynamically switching from operating in accordance with the RF inductive link communication protocol to operating in accordance with a hard wired baseband link communication protocol in response to the connection of the implantable sound processor to the modular connector.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for detecting and/or validating a detection of a state change by matching the shape of one or more of an cardiac data series, a heart rate variability data series, or at least a portion of a heart beat complex, derived from cardiac data, to an appropriate template.

Abstract: A monitoring system has biomechanical sensors, physiological sensors and a controller which receive sensory inputs from the sensors to provide output signals for the output device, and it detects from the sensory inputs risk of a syncopal event The bio-mechanical sensors include sensors arranged to allow the processor to detect a user postures and posture transitions. The processor operates a finite state machine, in which there is a state corresponding to each of a plurality of user physical postures and to each of a plurality of transitions between said postures, and the processor determines a relevant state depending on the sensory inputs. A device output may be muscle stimulation to prevent syncope, and there are stimulation permissions associated with the finite state machine states.

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: An insulative body of a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes a pre-formed channel having a section extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body. An electrode portion of a conductive component has an electrode contact surface facing outward from a first side of the body and a coupling portion embedded in the body. A conductor, which is coupled to the coupling portion of the component, is disposed in the channel.

Abstract: Treatment of cardiac tissue via an implantable heart treatment device is described. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a substrate; an electromagnetic signal generator configured to generate one or more electric signals configured to stimulate one or more tissues of a heart; a metabolic molecule supply device configured to supply one or more metabolic molecules to one or more tissues of the heart; and control circuitry operably coupled to the electromagnetic signal generator and the metabolic molecule supply device, the control circuitry configured to generate one or more control signals according to at least a first control protocol and a second control protocol, dependent upon a status of a ventricular fibrillation event of the heart.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead and a method of its use. The lead has an elongated lead body having an outer circumference and provided with an electrode. A push tube is mounted circumferentially around the lead body and the lead body is longitudinally movable with respect thereto. A fixation helix is mounted to the push tube, extending along a generally helical axis around the outer circumference of the lead body. The lead may be employed by advancing the lead to a desired location for the fixation helix and then rotating the push tube to secure the helix to tissue. The lead body may then be moved longitudinally with respect to the push tube to place the electrode in a desirable location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a neural prosthesis. In its most general form, the neural prosthesis comprises an electrode array including a stimulating electrode (801) and a bipolar return electrode (802). The neural prosthesis also comprises a monopolar return electrode (806), a first electrical return path (812) associated with the bipolar return electrode (802) and a second electrical return path (814) associated with the monopolar return electrode (806) wherein, in use, the stimulating electrode (801) provides a stimulating current to the tissue of a recipient and a total return current is divided between a first current in the first electrical return path (812) and a second current in the second electrical return path (814).

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for digital to analog conversion and reconstruction of multichannel electrocardiograms. The method may include receiving digital information representative of a plurality of independent signals, producing a plurality of analog outputs from said digital information wherein a first analog output is designated as a common reference, and imposing a predetermined voltage on a second analog output with respect to said common reference, which provides for a substantial recreation of the original independent signals. The apparatus may comprise a processor operable for receiving digital information representative of independent lead signals from a first ECG machine and digital to analog circuitry for substantially reproducing the original lead signals for analysis on a second ECG machine for convenient and efficient second opinions of cardiac data.