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.

Abstract: A system for functional electrical stimulation can include a cuff and a stimulation device. The cuff can be attachable to a nerve or a muscle filament. The cuff can include an elastic collar configured to exert a force on the nerve or the muscle filament to reshape the nerve or the muscle filament to the internal configuration of an opening in the elastic collar. The stimulation device can be coupled to the cuff and configured to provide a stimulation waveform to the cuff.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inducing neurogenesis within a human. The invention utilizes an implantable signal generator to deliver high frequency stimulation to deep brain tissue elements. The implanted device delivers treatment therapy to the brain to thereby induce neurogenesis by the human. A sensor may be used to detect various symptoms of nervous system discovery. A microprocessor algorithm may then analyze the output from the sensor to regulate the stimulation and/or drug therapy delivered to the brain.

Abstract: A method for forming a resonating structure within a body lumen, the method including advancing a flexible microwave catheter into a body lumen of a patient, the flexible microwave catheter including a radiating portion at the distal end of the flexible microwave catheter, the radiating portion configured to receive microwave energy, and at least one centering device proximate the radiating portion configured to deploy radially outward from the flexible microwave catheter; positioning the radiating portion near tissue of interest; deploying the at least one centering device radially outward from the flexible microwave catheter within the body lumen such that a longitudinal axis of the radiating portion is substantially parallel with and at a fixed distance from a longitudinal axis of the body lumen near the targeted tissue; and delivering microwave energy to the radiating portion such that a circumferentially balanced resonating structure is formed with the body lumen.

Abstract: A system (100) for monitoring and diagnosing heart conditions includes a sensor array (102) with accelerometers, an electrocardiogram sensor, and a system to synchronously capture and process (103, 105, or 106) composite heart signals. The system performs separation, identification and marking (201-205 or 501-509) of the signals, to extract information in cardiac vibrations. Machine learning, auditory scene analysis, or spare coding approaches can be used to resolve source separation problems. Analysis of the composite signals separates different vibration signals (302, 303, 304, 305), identifies streams for particular valve signal, and marks them with event time information with respect to a synchronous electrocardiogram signal (306). The psychoacoustic analysis mimics human auditory processing to enhance hearing of heart valve sounds by separating valve vibrations from the composite signal, and providing extraction, identification, marking and display of individual valve signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring heart rate. The method includes receiving a digital heart monitoring signal, determining the integrity of said signal with a “hand detect” signal that confirms electrical connection to the subject, dividing the digital heart monitoring signal into at least one frame, generating a folded correlation value for the center sample in the at least one frame, identify the number of peaks folded correlation values based on amplitude and distance parameters of the digital heart monitoring signal in the at least one frame, removing false peaks and collecting peaks corresponding to a length of time, determining the heart rate based on the identified peaks wherein the identified peaks relate to a minimum distance between valid heart beat peaks based on a heart rate estimate, computing the weighted average of heart rate value based on the number of previous heart rate values.

Abstract: A surgical instrument, such as an electrical ablation device, includes an elongate member having therealong disposed a first electrode extending along an axis. A first expandable portion extends along the axis and defines a first perimeter of the first electrode and has an associated first diameter with respect to the axis. The first expandable portion includes a first framework selectively expandable to transition the first expandable portion from a contracted state to an expanded state. The first framework is selectively contractible to transition the first expandable portion from the expanded state to the contracted state. When the first framework is expanded, the first diameter is expanded and the first expandable portion is transitioned from the contracted state to the expanded state. When the first framework is contracted, the first diameter is contracted and the first expandable portion is transitioned from the expanded state to the contracted state.

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: Methods, devices, and systems according to present principles provide ways to diagnose frailty and assess the severity of its clinical status—e.g., non-frail, pre-frail, and frail, especially as measured and quantified during activities of daily living. Systems and methods according to present principles objectively quantify physical activity behaviors and identify specific motor tasks, which indicate clinical frailty syndrome behaviors such as flopping, cautious-sitting, non-uniform walking fluctuations, cognitive decline, slowness, weakness, and exhaustion. Additionally, the systems and methods allow improved sensitivity and specificity of frailty identification by further assessing physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiration rate, and skin temperature in response to, or recovery from, specific activities.

Abstract: Electrical stimulation sources and amplitudes are allocated to implantable electrodes based on impedance values for controlled delivery of electrical stimulation therapy to a patient. Allocation may include assigning implantable electrodes, in a group of active electrodes, to clusters based on impedance values of the electrodes, coupling the electrode clusters to respective stimulation sources, and defining respective stimulation amplitudes delivered by the stimulation sources to the electrode clusters. Each cluster may include electrodes having relatively similar impedance values, such that electrodes in each cluster present less variation in impedance relative to impedance variation across the group of electrodes. With reduced variation in impedance, in some examples, variation in current outflow through electrodes in each cluster may be reduced, promoting more uniform distribution of stimulation current across the group of active electrodes and a more uniform stimulation field.

Abstract: An implantable electrical medical device includes (i) electronics configured to generate or receive an electrical signal and containing a plurality of channels through which the electrical signal may be transmitted; (ii) a first lead receptacle having a defined number of internal contacts, wherein each of the internal contacts are independently operably coupled to a discrete channel of the electronics; and (iii) a second lead receptacle having the same number of internal contacts as the first lead receptacle, and wherein each of the internal contacts of the second receptacle are independently operably coupled to a discrete channel of the electronics. Each channel of the electronics to which a contact of the first receptacle is operably coupled is also operably coupled to a channel of the second receptacle. The first and second lead receptacles are configured to receive leads having contacts with different spacing.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and interfaces are described herein for assisting in noninvasive location selection for an implantable electrode for use in cardiac therapy. Mechanical motion information and surrogate electrical activation times may be used to identify one or more candidate site regions.

Abstract: A cardiac function measurement and evaluation device is provided to measure and evaluate cardiac function in patients with atrial fibrillation, sinus arrhythmia, and the like, using thoracic impedance data and electrocardiogram data. By creating a two-dimensional scatter plot in which (dZ/dt)min values and preceding RR intervals (RR1) corresponding thereto, and the like obtained by thoracic impedance measurement, are plotted, it is possible to visually and easily evaluate the state of cardiac function in patients with atrial fibrillation and sinus arrhythmia. Using the measurement and evaluation device of the present invention makes it possible to perform examinations easily and repeatedly with less burden on patients. Therefore, it is possible to provide very useful information for diagnosing heart disease, selecting drugs, and the like.

Abstract: A system is provided for testing the electrical integrity of an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator lead. The system includes a container holding an electrically conductive solution, such as a saline solution. A voltage source and two electrodes are provided to pass an electrical current through the solution. To use the system, the proximal end of the electrical lead is disconnected from the implanted electronic device, passed through the saline solution and then electrically connected to a device/monitor. During testing, the device/monitor sends a test pulse through the lead and monitors electrical activity in the lead. To test sequential locations along the length of the proximal segment, the segment is drawn through the saline solution and between the electrodes while test pulses are sent and monitored. The monitor detects abnormal electrical activity in the lead indicative of a break in lead insulation.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pump for implantation into a vessel or a heart, with the pump being introduced in a first state into the vessel or heart in order then be functionally changed over to a second state in the vessel or in the heart, having a drive part and a delivery part, where the drive part is not functional in the first state and becomes functional as a result of the changeover to the second state, wherein the drive part has an electric motor, where the electric motor is embodied as a wet rotor, and where, in the first state, the rotor of the electric motor and the stator of the electric motor are arranged so as to be separate from one another, and where the rotor of the electric motor is moved into the stator of the electric motor in the second state, where the rotor can drive the delivery part in the second state.

Abstract: A trocar sleeve that isolates the surgical device or movement thereof to inhibit or prevent an established non-jet streaming condition from becoming a jet streaming condition and a method of inhibiting or preventing a jet streaming condition from occurring due to instrument obstruction.

Abstract: An implantable cardiovascular blood pump system is provided, suitable for use as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system, having an implantable cardiovascular pump, an extracorporeal battery and a controller coupled to the implantable pump, and a programmer selectively periodically coupled to the controller to configure and adjust operating parameters of the implantable cardiovascular pump. The implantable cardiovascular blood pump includes a coaxial inflow cannula and outflow cannula in fluid communication with one another and with a pumping mechanism. The pumping mechanism may be a vibrating membrane pump which may include a flexible membrane coupled to an electromagnetic actuator assembly that causes wavelike undulations to propagate along the flexible membrane to propel blood through the implantable cardiovascular pump.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a data program loading facility configured to pre-load program data representative of a plurality of sound processing programs onto a sound processor during a data transfer session and a fitting facility selectively and communicatively coupled to the data program loading facility and configured to selectively use one or more of the pre-loaded sound processing programs to fit the sound processor to a cochlear implant patient after completion of the data transfer session.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a reusable component and a limited-use component releasably engagable with the reusable component. The reusable component includes a detecting member and is configured to connect to a source of energy. The limited-use component is transitionable from a first state to a second state. The detecting member is configured to detect a response of the limited-use component for determining the state of the limited-use component. Energy is permitted to be supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the first state. Energy is inhibited from being supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the second state.

Abstract: Scientific and medical system circuitry for diagnosis of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead conductor anomalies, in particular conductor migration and externalization within an ICD implantable cardiac lead. The system determines an “imaginary” component of the high frequency transmission line impedance having certain spectral changes that correspond to radially outward movements or local externalization of a conductor within a lead body allowing for the detection of conductor migration and small insulation failures.