Abstract: A process for treating a biological or synthetic object subjected to an electrical field in a surrounding liquid medium for a predetermined pulse time (t1), the electrical field being formed by at least two electrodes including actuating at least once during the pulse time (t1) each of the electrodes as an anode and as a cathode, to cause at each electrode a polarity reversal and alternating electrolytic increases and reductions in pH of at least a portion of the liquid medium, subjecting the object during the pulse time (t1) to a number of electrical partial pulses which have a frequency in the range of 1 kHz to 1 MHz and which possess partial pulse durations, with sequentially reversing polarity or field direction such that the partial pulses possess sequentially varying partial pulse durations (t11, t12), pulse forms, and/or pulse amplitudes, and selecting the partial pulse durations (t11, t12), pulse forms, and/or pulse amplitudes such that, due to the electrolytic increases and reductions in pH value, su

Abstract: The axial-flow pump for introduction through the vascular system of a patient has a flexible compressible tube (1) forming the pump housing. A radially compressible rotor (7) is located within the tube (1). The drive shaft (6) of the rotor (7) extends through a catheter (4). The catheter (4) can be pulled into a cover hose (5) together with the tube (1) and the rotor (7).

Abstract: A system and method for discriminating cardiac rhythms occurring in an antegrade direction from cardiac rhythms occurring in a retrograde direction. Atrial and ventricular contractions are sensed, from which atrial and ventricular cycle lengths are determined. Ventricular contractions are also analyzed to determine the occurrence of a tachycardia episode that has a one-to-one association of atrial contractions to ventricular contractions. During a tachycardia episode having a one-to-one association of atrial contractions to ventricular contractions, the atrial cycle lengths are paired with the ventricular cycle lengths, where for each of the atrial cycle lengths the atrial cycle length is paired with at least one ventricular cycle length started before the first atrial contraction of each of the atrial cycle lengths and paired with at least one ventricular cycle length started after the first atrial contraction of each of the atrial cycle lengths.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods by which the blood pressure, nervous system activity, and neurohormonal activity may be selectively and controllably reduced by activating baroreceptors. By selectively and controllably activating baroreceptors, the present invention reduces excessive blood pressure, sympathetic nervous system activity and neurohormonal activity, thereby minimizing their deleterious effects on the heart, vasculature and other organs and tissues. A baroreceptor activation device is positioned near a baroreceptor, preferably in the carotid sinus and/or the aortic arch. The baroreceptor activation device may comprise a wide variety of devices which utilize mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical or biological means to activate the baroreceptor. A control system may be used to generate a control signal to modulate the baroreceptor activation device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for overdrive pacing the heart using a pacemaker wherein the overdrive pacing rate only increases when at least two intrinsic beats are detected within a determined search period. In one specific technique, an increase in the pacing rate occurs only if two P-waves are detected within X cardiac cycles. In another specific technique, the overdrive pacing rate is increased only if at least two P-waves are detected within a block of N cardiac cycles. In both techniques, the overdrive pacing rate is decreased if no increase has occurred in the last Z cardiac cycles. By increasing the overdrive pacing rate only in response to detection of at least two P-waves within a determined number of cardiac cycles, an excessively high overdrive pacing rate is avoided. Other techniques are described for adaptively adjusting overdrive pacing parameters so as to achieve a determined target degree of pacing of, for example, 95% paced beats.

Abstract: The presence of irregular heartbeat and/or possible atrial fibrillation is determined by analyzing a measured pulse rate pattern or heart rate pattern. The standard deviation and mean of time intervals each corresponding to a respective heartbeat are determined and compared to a threshold value. When quotient formed by dividing the standard deviation by the mean has a value greater than or equal to the threshold value, the shortest one of the time intervals and its succeeding time intervals are determined, and the succeeding time interval is compared to the mean. If the succeeding time interval is less than the mean, then the heartbeat is irregular. Alternatively, if the succeeding time interval is greater than the mean, the shortest time interval and its succeeding time interval are eliminated from the sample values, a new mean and standard deviation are determined, and the quotient of the new standard deviation divided by the new mean are compared to the threshold value.

Abstract: A rate-adaptive cardiac pacemaker (1) comprising sensor means (1a through 4) for detecting a measurement parameter (RR) in the body of a patient, which is related to the circulation function, stimulation means (8, 2) for producing and outputting stimulation pulses to the heart (H) of the patient and rate control means (5) for establishing the rate of the stimulation pulses (SRabs) in dependence on the measurement parameter which is related to the circulation function, wherein the rate control means have an adjusting device (7) which is adapted for absolute value adjustment of a lower limit rate (SRmin) of the stimulation pulses and/or the configuration of a rate control characteristic curve (6a) describing the dependency of the rate of the stimulation pulses on the measurement parameter, in a stable state of low physical load.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead, having an elongated lead body which includes an elongated insulative sheath having proximal and distal ends and which carries spaced first and second electrical components. The first and second electrical components are mechanically and electrically coupled to one another by a coil/core structure extending within the insulative sheath. The coil/core structure is made of lengths of fiber cord twisted around one another, with a metal coiled conductor wound around the lengths of twisted fiber cord. The coil/core structure may include two lengths of a single fiber cord, folded back upon itself to define a loop at one end thereof. The first electrical component may be provided with a longitudinal lumen extending therethrough and the fiber core may be tied into a knot located within the lumen of the first electrical component and the coil wound around the first electrical component.

Abstract: A cardioversion arrangement having an electrode arrangement for the intracardial discharge of electrical pulses in the atrium of a heart, having an electrode line and in the region of its distal end a plurality of electrodes which can be electrically connected by way of the electrode line to an electrical pulse-discharging device and a defibrillator, wherein the electrode-bearing region at the distal end of the electrode line is split into two branches of which one is in the form of a septal branch and the other is in the form of a lateral branch for assuming a septal position and a lateral position in the atrium of a heart, wherein the branches are respectively provided with electrodes in such a way that each electrode of a branch is associated in pair-wise manner with an electrode of the other branch, for the discharge of bipolar pulses, and the cardioversion arrangement is designed to record intra-atrial electrograms by means of the electrodes by receiving electrical signals between a respective two of the

Abstract: An implantable medical device system for detecting cardiac conditions such the long-term ischemic heart disease, an occlusion of a coronary artery by a thrombus or an impending as a myocardial infarction. The implantable medical device (IMD) system includes a sensor that outputs a blood flow rate signal representing a rate of blood flow through a coronary sinus of a patient's heart. An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a microcomputer circuit configured to analyze the blood flow rate signal and detect a cardiac condition as a function of the blood flow rate signal. The system can also includes an implantable lead that senses electrical activity from the patient's heart. The microcomputer circuit monitors an ST segment of the electrical activity signal and detects a cardiac condition as a function of blood flow rate signal in conjunction with the electrical activity signal.

Abstract: An earpiece assembly for use in a stethoscope having a pipe member includes a connector having a distal end coupled to the pipe member and a proximal end, a bushing having a distal end rotatably coupled to the proximal end of the connector and a proximal end, and an earpiece having a sound path and being coupled to the proximal end of the bushing. The earpiece assembly may further include a bearing for rotatably coupling the connector and the bushing. The earpiece assembly provides a stethoscope that produces less undesired noise and prevents an injury to user's ears during the operation of the stethoscope.

Abstract: A totally implantable microphone for use with an implanted hearing aid comprises a cylindrical bio-inert housing having a bio-inert metallic membrane at the acoustic sensing end and a bio-inert plate containing electrical lead-throughs at the other end. The cylindrical housing is implanted in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal, with the thin auditory canal skin overlaying the microphone membrane surface. Surface features on the housing ossiointegrate it to the auditory canal bone, and a flange on the housing posterior end prevents post-operative migration into the auditory canal. A support plate beneath the membrane limits inward flexing and increases the signal-to-noise ratio. A protruding rim around the membrane perimeter acts to protect the membrane from rupturing during outward flexure. Lithographically formed wires laminated in a thin inert polymer and connected to the lead-throughs enable the overall length of the encapsulated microphone to be very short.

Abstract: A medical telemetry system includes a procedure alarm silence feature that enables a clinician to remotely disable a monitoring station alarm in order to perform a patient procedure that might cause inadvertent false alarms. To disable the alarm for a preprogrammed time interval, the clinician presses keys on the telemetry unit according to a predefined key sequence that is selected so as to reduce a likelihood of accidental alarm disablement. The monitoring system responds to the predefined sequence by disabling an audible alarm for all alarm conditions except class 1 arrhythmias. A corresponding visual alarm at the monitoring station is maintained active. While the alarm is disabled, the monitoring station displays an indication of the amount of time until expiration of the preprogrammed time interval.

Abstract: Rate responsive pacing systems that employ a time-dependent AV delay in the pacing hearts in Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) (a CHF/DCM heart) during a post-implant Time-Adaptive period are disclosed. A starting or initial AV delay is set to an intrinsic AV delay time interval exhibited by the patient's heart at the time of implant. A chronic AV delay is then set to a therapeutic AV delay time interval that is shorter than the intrinsic AV delay time interval and alleviates symptoms of the CHF/DCM heart. A Time-Adaptive AV delay (TA-AV delay) is employed during a post-implant Time-Adaptive period that gradually changes the initial AV delay to the chronic AV delay at the end of the post-implant Time-Adaptive period.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac rhythm management device operable in an autothreshold or autocapture verification mode, wherein the rhythm management device is capable of detecting noise that affects signal characteristics of a sensed intracardial evoked response electrogram signal. The device includes a noise detection circuit that determines whether a minimum peak timing occurs during a predetermined time following delivery of a stimulation pulse. If a minimum peak timing occurs during the predetermined time following delivery of the stimulation pulse, then significant amounts of noise affecting the signal characteristics of the electrocardiogram signal is assumed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for minimizing calcification of a heart valve wherein electric energy is supplied to the heart in the region of the aortic valve during the refractory period of the heart.

Abstract: A cardiac transvenous defibrillation lead has a continuous coil conductor within a layer of insulation. A portion of the coil conductor is exposed as a defibrillation electrode. In order to enhance fluoroscopic visualization of the exposed electrode during implant, the end of the exposed electrode is marked with a radiopaque element. The element may be in the form of an adhesive filled with radiopaque material that is used to backfill under the layer of insulation. Alternatively, a tube made of radiopaque material may be installed between the layer of insulation and the coil conductor.

Abstract: An auditory prosthesis includes a sound sensor that senses both ambient sounds and sounds uttered by the patient. The prosthesis includes a monitor that senses a physiological parameter indicative of the intensity of the sounds as perceived by the patient and/or the onset of a prospective speech episode during which the patient utters sounds. For example, the monitor may detect the activity of the stapedius muscle. This muscle contracts in the presence of subjectively perceived high level sounds or just prior to and during a speech episode. This parameter is used dynamically by the prosthesis to process the received sounds, for example, by changing the amplification level of these sounds dependent on the activity.

Abstract: A method of obtaining information that corresponds to the R—R interval of electrocardiogram from the pulse-wave of a human body. The method is comprised of steps of detecting the pulse-wave of a human body in a predetermined period, differentiating the detected pulse-wave to provide a speed-pulse-wave, measuring intervals of peaks of the speed-pulse-wave, and substituting the intervals of peaks of the speed-pulse-wave for the R—R interval of the electrocardiogram.

Abstract: A cutting instrument including a metal blade has a recess formed therein and a semiconductor substrate affixed to the blade in the recess. The semiconductor substrate includes at least one sensor formed thereon. The sensor formed on the semiconductor substrate may comprise at least one or an array of a strain sensors, pressure sensors, nerve sensors, temperature sensors, density sensors, accelerometers, and gyroscopes. The cutting instrument may also further include a handle wherein the blade is affixed to the handle and the semiconductor substrate is electrically coupled to the handle. The handle may then be coupled, either physically or by wireless transmission, to a computer that is adapted to display information to a person using the cutting instrument based on signals generated by one or more of the sensors formed on the semiconductor substrate. The computer or handle may also be adapted to store data based on the signals generated by one or more of the sensors.