Abstract: An ophthalmic laser treatment apparatus for generating plasma by focusing a treatment laser beam to treat a treatment target portion of a patient's eye with the plasma includes: an irradiation optical system configured to irradiate the treatment laser beam to the patient's eye; a position adjusting unit configured to adjust a focusing position of the treatment laser beam in an optical axis direction with respect to a predetermined focusing reference position; an energy adjusting unit configured to adjust irradiation energy of the treatment laser beam; a storage unit configured to store evaluation information to evaluate a permissible combination of the focusing position and the irradiation energy with respect to the focusing position; and an evaluation unit configured to evaluate a combination of the focusing position adjusted by the position adjusting unit and the irradiation energy adjusted by the energy adjusting unit based on the evaluation information.

Abstract: An instrument and related method includes at least one substrate, and conductive layer, and a coating disposed on the conductive layer. The conductive layer is at partially disposed on the at least one substrate. The coating is disposed on the conductive layer and includes first and second materials. The first material and second materials are different from each other.

Abstract: A heart pump includes a rotative impeller partly inserted into the systemic ventricle, this rotative impeller being equipped with a membrane sutured to the outer wall of the heart in such a way as to secure the rotative impeller to the wall of the heart, a housing arranged inside the systemic ventricle in such a way as to draw up then discharge blood, a motor connected to the housing and arranged partly outside the systemic ventricle in such a way as to facilitate maintenance; an integrated management unit in the epigastric region including a power supply and a rotative impeller control unit; and a wired link between the management unit and the rotative impeller.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a respiration sensing circuit configured for coupling electrically to a plurality of electrodes and for sensing a respiration signal representative of respiration of a subject; a signal processing circuit electrically coupled to the respiration sensing circuit and configured to extract a respiration parameter from a sensed respiration signal and determine a signal performance metric for the sensed respiration signal using the respiration parameter; and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to: initiate sensing of a plurality of respiration signals using different electrode combinations of the plurality of electrodes and determining of the signal performance metric for the sensed respiration signals; and enable an electrode combination from the plurality of electrodes and for use in monitoring respiration of the subject according to the signal performance metric.

Abstract: An exemplary method treating a chronic low back pain condition in a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a target tissue location within the patient by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to the target tissue location.

Abstract: An exemplary method treating an erectile dysfunction condition in a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a target tissue location within the patient by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to the target tissue location.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation device provides electrical stimulation therapy to stabilize the ventricular rate of a heart during episodes of atrial fibrillation. The stimulation therapy may be a plurality of sub-threshold stimulation pulses delivered to capture AV node vagal innervations following the detection of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: An irradiation device for insertion into an orifice of the body for providing photodynamic therapy or diagnosis comprises: a housing 1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71 adapted to be fully inserted and secured in the orifice, the housing 1, 21, 31, 51, 61, 71 enclosing an LED lamp system 5, 25, 35, 45, 54, 62, 72 and a power source 41, 68, 78, for powering the LED lamp system 5, 25, 35, 45, 54, 62, 72, wherein the device is independently operational while located within the orifice.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument coupled to an electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical system may include a first sensor and a second sensor, which are configured to detect redundant tissue properties and output a signal corresponding thereto. The electrosurgical system has a signal processing circuit for receiving and modifying the output signal from the second sensor. The electrosurgical generator may include a controller for receiving an output signal from the first sensor and a processed signal from the signal processing circuit. The controller compares the two signals received and shuts down the system based on the comparison of the first sensor and a processed signal.

Abstract: A circuit includes first and second current control sub-circuits connected in series between a DC supply voltage node and a reference voltage node and third and fourth current control sub-circuits connected in series between the DC supply voltage node and the reference voltage node. The circuit also includes a DC/DC converter with a first input terminal coupled to the first load node between the first and second current control sub-circuits, a second input terminal coupled to a second load node between the third and fourth current control sub-circuits, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The circuit further includes output electrodes, a routing sub-circuit for selectively coupling the output electrodes to the output terminals, and a controller configured for operating the routing sub-circuit and the current control sub-circuits to cause the DC/DC converter to supply biphasic pulses for at least one of the pairs of output electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical devices and methods for treating a lesion such as a vascular stenosis using non-thermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE). Embodiments of the present invention provide a balloon catheter type NTIRE device for treating a target lesion comprising a plurality of electrodes positioned along the balloon that are electrically independent from each other so as to be individually selectable in order to more precisely treat an asymmetrical lesion in which the lesion extends only partially around the vessel.

Abstract: A malleable cannula. The malleable cannula includes a polymeric jacket and a malleable member. The malleable member, being surrounded by the jacket, includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween and along a lengthwise axis of the malleable cannula. The malleable member further includes a longitudinal strut that is parallel to the lengthwise axis and a plurality of transverse struts coupled to and extending laterally away from the longitudinal strut and at least a portion of the lumen. The malleable member is configured to assume and maintain a shape of the malleable cannula.

Abstract: An electrode with varying impedances includes a plurality of layers that are compressed together with varying compressions forces. A first compression force is used at the perimeter of the electrode and a second compression force is used towards the center of the electrode. The first compression force at the perimeter is lesser than the second compression force towards the center and creates a greater measured impedance at the perimeter of the electrode than at the center of the electrode.

Abstract: Spinal cord modulation for inducing paresthetic and anesthetic effects, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure includes creating a therapeutic effect and a sensation in a patient by delivering to the patient first pulses having a first set of first signal delivery parameters and second pulses having a second set of second signal delivery parameters, wherein a first value of at least one first parameter of the first set is different than a second value of a corresponding second parameter of the second set, and wherein the first pulses, the second pulses or both the first and second pulses are delivered to the patient's spinal cord.

Abstract: A wireless vibrometer employs an antenna array to significantly boost the signal-to-noise ratio of faint received signals twin small objects vibrating at acoustic frequencies. This technique may be used to provide an improved physiological monitor (such as a pulse detector) or for long-range eavesdropping using the emitted power from a cell phone or the like.

Abstract: An automated external defibrillator (“AED”) (10) employing a self-test circuit (11) and an encoded status indicator. The self-test circuit (11) automatically tests AED (10) and dependent upon the tests, generates both a base status signal (110) indicative of an operational readiness of AED (10) and a test status signal (120) indicative of self-test information of AED (10). The encoded status indicator concurrently visually indicates both the base status signal (110) and the test status signal (120) with the visual indication of the base status signal (110) being perceivable to a human eye and the visual indication of the test status signal (120) being unperceivable to the human eye. The encoded status indicator may employ a light source (14) for emitting a status light (20) and an encoder (13) to intensity modulate the status light (20) as emitted by the light source (14) as a function of an encoding of the base status signal (110) and the test status signal (120) by the encoder (13).

Abstract: Techniques for automatically analyzing neural activity within a target neural region. In one example, electrical stimulation is applied to the target neural region at an initial current level that approximates a typical threshold-Neural Response Telemetry (NRT) level. An NRT measurement of neural activity within the target neural region in response to the stimulation is recorded. A machine-learned expert system, which is configured with a decision tree that includes at least two levels of nodes which consider parameters relating to the NRT measurement, respectively, is utilized to predict, based on one or more features of the neural activity, whether the NRT measurement includes a neural response or does not include a neural response.

Abstract: A manipulator adapted to grasp and draw tissue comprises first and second arms having proximal ends and distal ends separated by a distance. First and second grasping surfaces each connected to and extending from respective distal ends of the first and second arms are biased toward each other by a respective spring force. When the first and second arms are actuated to reduce the distance, the manipulator is configured such that tissue arranged between the first and second grasping surfaces resist actuation of the first and second arms. The first and second arms are further actuatable to overcome the spring force of the first and second grasping surfaces so that the first and second grasping surfaces pivot at respective pivot points such that the distance between the distal ends of the first and second arms is reduced.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) can include a cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Various portions of the IMD, such as a device body, a lead body, or a lead tip, can be provided to reduce or dissipate a current and heat induced by various external environmental factors. According to various embodiments, features can be incorporated into the lead body, the lead tip, or the IMD body to reduce the creation of an induced current, or dissipate the induced current and heat created due to an induced current in the lead. For example, an IMD can include at least one outer conductive member and a first electrode. The first electrode can be in electrical communication with the at least one outer conductive member. The first electrode can dissipate a current induced in the at least one outer conductive member via a first portion of the anatomical structure.

Abstract: A device for delivery of electrical current to an area of the skin includes a first pad shaped in the form of a base having four finger-shaped protrusions; a second pad shaped in the form of a palm having a single thumb-shaped protrusion, where the first pad and the second pad each comprises a conductive layer and preferably has tabs on the edges; a first electrical connection system electrically connected to the conductive layer of the first pad; a second electrical connection system electrically connected to the conductive layer of the second pad; a controller circuit connected to the first electrical connection system and second electrical connection system; and a wearable power source. Alternatively, the device may also have the shape of a foot or other body part.