Abstract: A lead for brain applications, comprises at least one distal section and at least one electrode, whereby the at least one electrode is arranged in the distal section and whereby the at least one electrode is connected directly and/or indirectly with at least one first connecting trace and at least one second connecting trace. Furthermore, in some examples, the lead relates to a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system.

Abstract: Methods and devices for managing establishment of a communications link between an external instrument (EI) and an implantable medical device (IMD) are provided. The methods and devices comprise storing, in memory in at least one of the IMD or the EI an advertising schedule defining a pattern for advertisement notices. The advertisement notices are distributed un-evenly and separated by unequal advertisement intervals. The method transmits, from a transmitter in at least one of the IMD or the EI the advertisement notices. The advertisement notices are distributed as defined by the advertising schedule. The method establishes a communication session between the IMD and the EI.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including devices and systems, for remote and detection and/or diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In particular, described herein are handheld devices having an electrode configuration capable of recording three orthogonal ECG lead signals in an orientation-specific manner, and transmitting these signals to a processor. The processor may be remote or local, and it may automatically or semi-automatically detect AMI, atrial fibrillation or other heart disorders based on the analyses of the deviation of the recorded 3 cardiac signals with respect to previously stored baseline recordings.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring vital signs and motion from a patient. The system features: (i) first and second sensors configured to independently generate time-dependent waveforms indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart; and (ii) at least three motion-detecting sensors positioned on the forearm, upper arm, and another different body location of the patient. Each motion-detecting sensor generates at least one time-dependent motion waveform indicative of motion of the location on the patient's body to which it is affixed. A processing component, worn on the patient's body and featuring a microprocessor, receives the waveforms generated by the different sensors and processes them to determine: (i) a pulse transit time calculated using a time difference between features in two separate time-dependent waveforms, (ii) a blood pressure value calculated from the time difference, and (iii) a motion parameter calculated from at least one motion waveform.

Abstract: Systems and methods for programming and logging medical device and patient data are provided. The systems include a handheld device, which is capable of communicating with a medical device, and a base station, which provides connectivity for the handheld device to accomplish various functions such as recharging, programming, data back-up and data entry. The methods comprise the steps of detecting a medical device, obtaining and recording information from the medical device. Additionally, medical device parameters may be modified and the recorded information may be archived for future reference.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to cardiac assist devices that comprise a jacket that wraps the exterior of the heart, where the jacket comprises one or more pneumatic or hydraulic bladders. The pneumatic or hydraulic bladders are linked to a pump, and the pump fills the bladders with fluid and withdraws the fluid in a cycle to match beats of the heart to assist contraction and pumping of the heart in systole or to assist expansion and filling of the heart in diastole.

Abstract: In a system and method for identifying a driver of a source associated with a heart rhythm disorder, data are accessed from a plurality of sensors representing biological activity in the heart. A first region and a second region of the heart, which comprise the source of the heart rhythm disorder, are identified. If the first region of the heart has repeating centrifugal activation and controls the second region of the heart for at least a predetermined number of beats, the first region is identified as controlling the source of the heart rhythm disorder.

Abstract: A method for controlling a waveform shape of a motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of a surgical device. The method may comprise generating a transducer drive signal by selectively recalling, using a direct digital synthesis (DDS) algorithm, drive signal waveform samples stored in a look-up table (LUT), generating samples of current and voltage of the transducer drive signal when the transducer drive signal is communicated to the surgical device, determining samples of the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and a frequency of the transducer drive signal, comparing each sample of the motional branch current to a respective target sample of a target waveform to determine an error amplitude, and modifying the drive signal waveform samples stored in the LUT such that an amplitude error between subsequent samples of the motional branch current and respective target samples is reduced.

Abstract: A patient controls the delivery of therapy through volitional inputs that are detected by a biosignal within the brain. The volitional patient input may be directed towards performing a specific physical or mental activity, such as moving a muscle or performing a mathematical calculation. In one embodiment, a biosignal detection module monitors an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal from within the brain of the patient and determines whether the EEG signal includes the biosignal. In one embodiment, the biosignal detection module analyzes one or more frequency components of the EEG signal. In this manner, the patient may adjust therapy delivery by providing a volitional input that is detected by brain signals, wherein the volitional input may not require the interaction with another device, thereby eliminating the need for an external programmer to adjust therapy delivery. Example therapies include electrical stimulation, drug delivery, and delivery of sensory cues.

Abstract: A method and medical device for determining sensing vectors that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes forming a plurality of sensing vectors, determining a sensing vector metric in response to the sensed cardiac signals, determining a morphology metric associated with a morphology of the sensed cardiac signals, determining vector selection metrics in response to the determined sensing vector metric and the determined morphology setting, and selecting a sensing vector of the plurality of sensing vectors in response to the determined vector selection metrics.

Abstract: A neuromodulation system comprises electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to electrodes. The system further comprises modulation output circuitry configured for respectively outputting individual electrical pulse trains in timing channels to the electrical terminals, wherein each of the pulse trains has a modulation pulse, and at least one of the pulse trains has a charge recovery pulse associated with the modulation pulse of the respective pulse train. The neuromodulation system further comprises control circuitry configured for controlling the modulation output circuitry in a manner that sequentially outputs the modulation pulses of the respective pulse trains to a common set of the electrical terminals without an intervening charge recovery pulse, and outputting the charge recovery pulse(s) to the common set of the electrical terminals subsequent to the sequential modulation pulses, thereby creating a combined electrical pulse train at the common set of electrical terminals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing electricity are provided for non-human animals. Electrodes are used to deliver an electrical current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, reducing oral biofilm, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral malodor, and other systemic diseases correlated with oral pathogens.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium can have instructions executable by a processor. The instructions can include an electrogram reconstruction method to generate reconstructed electrogram signals for each of a multitude of points residing on or near a predetermined cardiac envelope based on geometry data and non-invasively measured body surface electrical signals. The instructions can include a phase calculator to compute phase signals for the multitude of points based on the reconstructed electrogram signals and a visualization engine to generate an output based on the computed phase signals.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements for transmitting an electrical signal from a sensor to a medical device is described, wherein the electrically conductive elements are moveable between a first stored position and a second in use position. In this manner the apparatus provides an interface between the sensor and the medical device such that the length of each of the electrically conductive elements can be varied and adjusted such that the excess amount of the elements is minimized and the functionality of the sensors and/or medical device maximized.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to define a driver of a source associated with a cardiac rhythm disorder of a human heart. A plurality of cardiac signals associated with sensors arranged spatially in relation to an area of the heart are processed to determine a sequence of arcs of rotation in relation to the sensors over a time interval. Rotational directions of the arcs of rotation in the sequence are determined. The area of the heart is identified as controlling the source when the rotational directions of the arcs of rotation in the sequence continue in a same rotational direction in excess of a threshold.

Abstract: There is provided a hypermotor activity detection system, including: a video capture device configured to monitor a patient and obtain a video input; and a processing system configured to process the video input. The processing system includes: an optical flow module configured to carry out an optical flow analysis on a video input region determined from the video input, and further determine a flow field magnitude of the video input region; and a local motion reference module configured to obtain a local motion reference value. The local reference module includes: a division module; a sub-window flow module; a local motion magnitude module; and a local motion comparison module. Further, a corresponding method for detecting hypermotor activity is provided.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for identifying a driver of a source associated with a heart rhythm disorder. Data are accessed from a plurality of sensors representing biological activity in the heart. A local first region of the heart that has repeating activation and determine whether the first region controls a second distant region of the heart for at least a predetermined number of beats is identified. The first local region is assigned as a driver of a source of the heart rhythm disorder, the source including the first local region and the second distant region.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes operational circuitry, such as a therapy circuit. The implantable medical device also includes a power source configured to deliver energy to the operational circuitry, and a deactivation element configured to disable the therapy circuit. A power manager is configured to detect an end-of-life condition of the power source and, in response to detecting the end-of-life condition, cause the deactivation element to reversibly disable the therapy circuit.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a method of producing an electrode structure, including producing a longitudinal body having a core and at least one layer made of an electrode material surrounding the core. A part of the layer made of electrode material is removed while forming a plurality of electrodes that are arranged such as to be distributed in the longitudinal direction and which are separated from each other, and contact paths that extend in the longitudinal direction and adjoin the electrodes, each, as the same part. A layer made of a polymeric material is applied while embedding, at least in part, the electrodes and/or contact paths.

Abstract: Some embodiments of pacing systems employ wireless electrode assemblies to provide pacing therapy. The wireless electrode assemblies may wirelessly receive energy via an inductive coupling so as to provide electrical stimulation to the surrounding heart tissue. In certain embodiments, the wireless electrode assembly may include one or more biased tines that shift from a first position to a second position to secure the wireless electrode assembly into the inner wall of the heart chamber.