Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes, a right-leg drive (RLD) electrode, and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact the patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a preamplifier coupled to the ECG electrodes and the RLD electrode to obtain ECG data from the patient as one or more ECG vectors, a processor to receive ECG data from the preamplifier and an abort signal from a user interface, an isolation barrier to isolate the preamplifier from the processor, and a high voltage subsystem to provide a defibrillation voltage to the patient through the defibrillator electrodes in response to a shock signal received from the processor. A shock is provided when an abort signal is not received within a predetermined time period of a shock criterion being met. Less than one false alarm occurs every ten patient-days.

Abstract: Disclosed are various examples and embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods configured to detect a location of a source of at least one cardiac rhythm disorder in a patient's heart. In some embodiments, electrogram signals am acquired from inside a patient's heart, and subsequently normalized, adjusted and/or filtered, followed by generating a two-dimensional (2D) spatial map, grid or representation of the electrode positions, processing the amplitude-adjusted and filtered electrogram signals to generate a plurality of three-dimensional electrogram surfaces corresponding at least partially to the 2 D grid, one surface being generated for each or selected discrete times, and processing the plurality of three-dimensional electrogram surfaces through time to generate a velocity vector map corresponding at least partially to the 2 D grid.

Abstract: A medical device for treating cardiac rhythm disorders, and a cardiac implantation device and a pacing system. The cardiac implantation device includes: a first connecting member having an end configured to be coupled to a pacemaker; and N support struts, each of the N support struts having a proximal end coupled to the other end of the first connecting member. The support struts are provided thereon with anchor(s) configured to secure during implantation. Distal ends of the support struts are free and are able to radiate outwardly or converge inwardly. The pacing system includes the implantation device and a pacemaker. A leadless pacemaker can be implanted into the superior vena cava in order to achieve atrial sensing and pacing. Moreover, the leadless pacemaker can be more easily retrieved after long-term implantation at a high success rate, promoting the application of leadless pacemakers and enhancing patients' use experience.

Abstract: A heart pump including a housing forming a cavity including at least one inlet and at least one outlet, an impeller provided within the cavity, the impeller including vanes for urging fluid from the inlet to the outlet upon rotation of the impeller, a drive that rotates the impeller within the cavity, a magnetic bearing including at least one bearing coil that controls an axial position of the impeller within the cavity and a controller. The controller includes an electronic processing device that monitors changes in a bearing indicator in response to a perturbation in blood flow, the bearing indicator being at least partially indicative of operation of the magnetic bearing and controls the drive to thereby selectively change a rotational speed of the impeller at least partially in accordance with changes in the bearing indicator.

Abstract: A system comprises a hand-held burr hole device insertion tool having a first end and a second end, the first end configured for simultaneous application of a normal force to two or more attachment points of a burr hole device component is disclosed.

Abstract: A lead impedance stimulation architecture and a dual current source and sink methodology to output a biphasic current pulse and measure a resulting induced voltage across the stimulation electrodes to determine lead impedance. A common mode capacitance on the electrode interface may have little impact on the stimulation architecture of this disclosure allowing for fast voltage rise time and consistent and accurate impedance measurement. In addition, the dual source and sink includes a monitor circuit on each of the source and the sink circuitry. In the event of an open circuit indicating a lead breakage, loose connection, lead migration, insulation leak, and so on, the monitor circuit may provide an output to indicate specifically which electrode is unable to reach the correct current stimulation amplitude. In this manner the techniques of this disclosure, may also detect a lead break in a single lead impedance measurement.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method to alert a user of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is described. The method includes determining when a system issue is resolved and issuing an alert when the system issue is resolved. In some embodiments, the method may detect the system issue and issuing a system alert based at least in part on the system issue. The method may then monitor a status of the system issue. In some instances, the method may detect an abnormality in system operation sand determine a severity rating for the abnormality. The method may determine if the abnormality satisfies a time duration threshold based at least in part on the severity rating.

Abstract: A wearable cardiac monitoring and treatment device includes a garment, a plurality of ECG electrodes, a plurality of therapy electrodes, a therapy delivery circuit, and one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more physiological signals of the patient. The device also includes a controller configured to detect an arrhythmia condition, cause the therapy delivery circuit to deliver one or more therapeutic pulses to the patient on detecting the arrhythmia condition, detect that the garment is no longer worn about the torso of the patient prior to expiration of at least a prescribed duration of wear by detecting a loss of signal for at least a threshold period of time from one or more of the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and/or one or more of the one or more sensors, and issue a notification that the garment is no longer worn about the torso of the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for modulating a nerve of a patient by applying electrical stimulation to the nerve of the patient. The device includes a stimulation module that applies a signal to the nerve of the patient, and a controller that controls a signal to be applied to the stimulation module, wherein the signal to be applied to the stimulation module includes pulse bursts and a direct current (DC) waveform.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an implantable medical electrical lead and an ICD system utilizing the lead. The lead includes a lead body defining a proximal end and a distal portion, wherein at least a part of the distal portion of the lead body defines an undulating configuration. The lead includes a defibrillation electrode that includes a plurality of defibrillation electrode segments disposed along the undulating configuration spaced apart from one another by a distance. The lead also includes at least one electrode disposed between adjacent sections of the plurality of defibrillation sections. The at least one electrode is configured to deliver a pacing pulse to the heart and/or sense cardiac electrical activity of the heart.

Abstract: An electric hearing prosthesis, wherein the electric hearing prosthesis includes an implantable portion configured to electrically stimulate a cochlea to evoke a hearing percept, and an external portion configured to be in wired communication with the implantable portion, wherein the electronic components of the implantable portion are all passive electronic components.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for treating urological and gastrointestinal disorders, including bedwetting, through stimulation of the dorsal or plantar surface of the foot, including the superficial peroneal nerve and branches thereof, such as the dorsal intermediate and medial cutaneous nerves, or the medial and/or and lateral plantar nerves. The device facilitates placement of electrodes on the foot. Also provided herein is a system including the device, a pulse generator, and a controller, and methods of manufacturing and using the same.

Abstract: Epidermal electronics are non-invasive and non-obstructive skin mounted sensors with mechanical properties matching human epidermis. Their manufacturing process includes photolithography and dry and wet etching within cleanroom facilities. The high cost of manpower, materials, photo masks, and facilities greatly hinders the commercialization potential of disposable epidermal electronics. In contrast, an embodiment of the invention includes a low cost, high throughput, bench top “cut-and-paste” method to complete the freeform manufacture of epidermal sensor system (ESS) in minutes. This versatile method works for many types of thin metal and polymeric sheets and is compatible with many tattoo adhesives or medical tapes. The resultant ESS is highly multimaterial and multifunctional and may measure ECG, EMG, skin temperature, skin hydration, as well as respiratory rate.

Abstract: A circuit with low voltage energy storage for use in generating a defibrillation waveform is described. A charging circuit includes a pulse capacitor that stores defibrillation energy, a high voltage generator circuit that includes a transformer and a rectification circuit through which the pulse capacitor is charged with the defibrillation energy, and a discharge and polarity control circuit electrically connected to the pulse capacitor and switchable to receive the defibrillation energy, which is output as a defibrillation waveform. A low voltage energy supplementing circuit is electrically connected to the pulse capacitor in line with the high voltage generator circuit and stores supplemental defibrillation energy. A microcontroller is adapted to enable the low voltage energy supplementing circuit to modulate the delivery of the stored supplemental energy to the pulse capacitor to augment the defibrillation energy derived from\the initial defibrillation waveform.

Abstract: A compact AED with integrated CPR coaching has capability to provide coaching on cardiopulmonary resuscitation for a person in cardiac distress. The compact AED is also capable of delivering an electrical charge to the person. The AED is provided in a device body, which comes in two parts: a front-body housing and a user-separable cartridge, the latter holding disposable AED components. The front-body housing is placed on the chest of a person undergoing CPR. Use of the front-body housing enables the compact AED to coach the rescuer on CPR. One or more CPR sensors are part of the front-body housing. A circuit board within the front-body housing receives data from AED and CPR sensors and enables coaching of the rescuer.

Abstract: Disclosed are nerve stimulation assemblies adapted to apply stimulation signals to a person's nervous system. The assemblies are adapted to apply such signals to nerves terminating on the outer ear of a person, for example, the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. The assemblies comprise an ear canal extension adapted to fit within an ear canal of the person, a housing connected with the extension, and an electrode arm connected with the housing by a connection member. The connection member is adapted to articulate the electrode arm to position the electrode arm relative to the outer ear. An electrode is connected with a distal end of the arm. When the arm is articulated to a selected orientation and the extension is fitted in the ear canal, the electrode is in electrical contact with a portion of the outer ear innervated by a selected peripheral nerve, such as the vagus nerve.

Abstract: A recharging system for recharging batteries or providing power to an implantable device includes an electric coil adapted to be coupled to the implantable device, the electric coil defining a coil interior and a coil exterior. A magnetic component is coupled to the electric coil and adapted to at least partially surround the implantable device. A mechanical actuator is attached to the magnetic component, the mechanical actuator converting compression motion into motion of the magnetic component relative to the electric coil.

Abstract: Ultrasonic energy is used for treating degenerative dementia. A focal point of an ultrasonic transducer beam is directed at a target area of the brain to promote removal of substances that accumulate in the interstitial pathways that are at least partially responsible for the degenerative dementia. In one example, the target area of the brain may comprise the hippocampus and the degenerative dementia may be Alzheimer's disease. The ultrasonic beam may stimulate brain tissue at a frequency that corresponds to a naturally occurring deep sleep burst frequency of neurons and subsequent astrocyte activation patterns that drive a convective process responsible for brain solute disposal. For example, the transducer may generate a burst frequency of between 1-4 hertz to stimulate deep sleep brain functions that help remove amyloid plaque.

Abstract: A device housing for an IMD is suggested, the device housing having: a front side, a flat end face that is arranged perpendicular to the front side and connects to a straight upper edge of the front side, the front side having a maximum width (Bmax) that is measured parallel to the straight upper edge, and a maximum height (Hmax) that is measured perpendicular to the straight edge, wherein the ratio R of maximum width (Bmax) to maximum height (Hmax), i.e., Bmax/Hmax, is between 1.05 and 1.35.

Abstract: A unidirectional electrode and method for sensing and stimulating the subthalamic nucleus of the brain to treat certain disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson's, essential tremors and dystonia.