Abstract: A medical device lead includes a thin profile conductor assembly. A proximal connector includes a proximal end that is configured to couple the lead to a pulse generator. An insulative lead body extends distally from the proximal connector. The conductor assembly extends distally from the proximal end within the lead body and includes a non-conductive tubular core member that defines a lumen, an outer insulative layer, and a multilayer conductor between the tubular core member and the outer insulative layer. The multilayer conductor is electrically connected to the proximal connector and includes a first conductive layer adjacent to the tubular core member and a second conductive layer adjacent to the first conductive layer opposite the tubular core member. A conductivity of the second conductive layer is greater than a conductivity of the first conductive layer.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting the onset of heart arrhythmias more accurately observes trends in abnormal or pathologic morphology of the electrocardiogram (ECG). A first set of ECG signals is monitored from a patient. A baseline measurement is generated from the monitored first set of ECG signals to contain nonpathologic ECG morphologies in each lead. A second set of ECG signals is monitored from the patient and the baseline measurement is subtracted from the second set of ECG signals on a beat-to-beat basis. Afterwards, a residuum signal is generated for each lead based on the subtraction. R-wave heterogeneity, T-wave heterogeneity, P-wave heterogeneity, or ST-segment heterogeneity or other indicators of arrhythmia risk or myocardial ischemia are quantified based on the generated residuum signals.

Abstract: A system, a method and a recording medium for calculating a physiological index are provided. The method includes: dividing a physiological data sequence into a plurality of windows; analyzing a data segment in each window to obtain metadata that represents data characteristics of the data segment; updating the metadata including the data characteristics of all data segments in the windows up to a previous window by using the metadata corresponding to one of the windows to obtain the metadata including the data characteristics of all data segments in the windows up to a current window; and finally, calculating the physiological index by using the updated metadata.

Abstract: The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to combination heart assist systems, methods, and devices that include both an electrical therapy device and a mechanical heart assist device. Various operational modes can be implemented using these embodiments, including a synchronized pacing mode, an internal CPR mode, and an internal workout mode.

Abstract: A signal processing method and system combines multi-scale decomposition, such as wavelet, pre-processing together with a compression technique, such as an auto-associative artificial neural network, operating in the multi-scale decomposition domain for signal denoising and extraction. All compressions are performed in the decomposed domain. A reverse decomposition such as an inverse discrete wavelet transform is performed on the combined outputs from all the compression modules to recover a clean signal back in the time domain. A low-cost, non-drug, non-invasive, on-demand therapy braincap system and method are pharmaceutically non-intrusive to the body for the purpose of disease diagnosis, treatment therapy, and direct mind control of external devices and systems. It is based on recognizing abnormal brainwave signatures and intervenes at the earliest moment, using magnetic and/or electric stimulations to reset the brainwaves back to normality.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery includes an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, and an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions. The jaw members are adapted to releasably engage an engagement feature of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: An implantable device, including a first electrically non-conductive substrate with a plurality of electrically conductive vias. The device also includes a flip-chip multiplexer circuit attached to the electrically non-conductive substrate using conductive bumps, the circuit being electrically connected to at a subset of the plurality of electrically conductive vias. Another a flip-chip driver circuit is attached to the flip-chip multiplexer circuit using conductive bumps while a second electrically non-conductive substrate attached to the flip-chip driver circuit using conductive bumps. Discrete passives are attached to the second electrically non-conductive substrate and a cover is bonded to the first electrically non-conductive substrate. The cover, the first electrically non-conductive substrate and the electrically conductive vias form a hermetic package.

Abstract: A patient monitor comprises: an electrocardiograph (14, 20) monitoring an electrocardiographic signal (40) of a patient (10); a secondary physiological signal monitor (16, 20) monitoring a second physiological signal (50) of the patient concurrently with the electrocardiograph monitoring the electrocardiographic signal of the patient; an alarm condition detector (42, 44) configured to detect an alarm condition based on the electrocardiographic signal of the patient; an alarm condition validator (52, 54, 56) configured to validate the alarm condition based on pulse regularity of a pulsatile component of the concurrently monitored second physiological signal of the patient; and an alarm indicator (24, 26, 58) configured to generate a human perceptible alarm conditional upon both the alarm condition detector detecting an alarm condition and the alarm condition validator validating the alarm condition.

Abstract: A cochlear implant system includes: an electrode array implanted within a cochlea; an internal processor in communication with the electrode array; an implanted antenna which is electrically coupled to the internal processor; and a modular external headpiece which is removably positioned over the implanted antenna, the modular external headpiece including a core containing a sound processor for processing sound and providing a corresponding signal to the implanted antenna; and a modular component configured to releasably engage the core and supply electrical power to the core.

Abstract: Among other things, a stimulation strategy can be customized for a cochlear implant implanted in an individual by testing at least a pair of electrodes selected from an array of electrodes associated with the cochlear implant. Testing the at least a pair of electrodes includes applying a first stimulation to the at least a pair of electrodes using a first pair of pulse trains that are out of phase, and applying a second stimulation to the at least a pair of electrodes using a second pair of pulse trains that are out of phase. A determination is made on whether the at least a pair of electrodes stimulate the same neural population based on a sensitivity of the individual to detect a perceived difference between the two pairs of pulse trains. The one or more electrodes of the array of electrodes are selectively stimulated based on the determination.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a patient for predicting a cardiovascular anomaly and a method for operating a monitoring device is provided. Furthermore, an implantable electrotherapy device, such as an implantable cardiac pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter, or an implantable defibrillator, having a monitoring device are also provided. In an embodiment, the monitoring device acquires a value change of a hemodynamic parameter, which occurs as a result of a detected value change of a state parameter, for example, as a result of an activation or deactivation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy. By suitable evaluation of the value change of the hemodynamic parameter, the monitoring device can output an evaluation result signal which is indicative of an imminence of a cardiovascular anomaly, such as a cardiac decompensation, long beforehand and with high specificity.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to assist in programming of a neurostimulator based on a collection of pre-existing therapy profiles. The method and system access a collection of pre-existing therapy profiles derived from prior actual patients or patient models. The pre-existing therapy profiles include stimulation programs mapped to pre-existing patient profiles. The pre-existing patient profiles have at least one of i) prior lead attribute, ii) prior pain maps, and iii) prior stimulation maps for prior patients or models of patients. The method and system further compare the new patient profile with at least a portion of the collection of pre-existing patient profiles to generate profile matching scores indicating an amount of similarity between the pre-existing patient and the new therapy profile.

Abstract: The flow rate of blood out of a blood pump is determined at least in part based on an acceleration of the pump's rotor and on the blood's viscosity. Considering the rotor acceleration when determining blood flow rate, increases the accuracy of the blood flow measurement thereby permitting the determination of a parameter related to the contractility of a patient's heart. The parameter may include a rate of pressure change of blood across the pump, a ratio of the rate of pressure change and a peak-to-peak value of the blood flow rate, or any other contractility index.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for analyzing data sensed from a device implanted in a patient, such as a cardiac pacing system. The system detects and evaluates electric signals within the patient that share a common event marker. By using algorithms and graphical presentation of the collected signals having common event markers, deviations in signals over time can be identified and evaluated in consideration of taking further action related to the patient and the implanted device. The system can also be used in conjunction with an advanced patient management system that includes a programmer or repeater capable of gathering information from the implanted device and transmitting the data to a host via a communications network for evaluation at a remote location.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for regulating neurotrophin levels within a human body. The invention utilizes an implantable signal generator to deliver stimulation to neural tissue elements. Alternatively, an implantable pump may be utilized to delivery one or more drugs. The implanted device delivers treatment therapy to the neural tissue to thereby alter the level of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF expressed by the influenced neural tissue. A sensor may be used to detect various symptoms of a nervous system disorder. A microprocessor algorithm may then analyze the output from the sensor to regulate the treatment therapy delivered to the body. The invention describes a novel method to regulate the intrinsic levels of neurotrophins and may be used to treat patients with neurological and cognitive disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a region of the brain by measuring neuronal firing and/or local field potentials by recording discharges from at least one implanted electrode and analyzing the recording of the discharges within the beta frequency band range to determine an area of beta oscillatory activity. Once the region of the brain is identified, this region may be stimulated to disrupt the beta oscillatory activity thereby treating a movement disorder.

Abstract: A volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.

Abstract: An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.

Abstract: The invention is directed to controlling therapy delivery based on a relative motion between a first and second activity sensor. The relative motion between the activity sensors is representative of the relative motion between the locations of the body of the patient at which the respective activity sensors are located. The use of relative motion, however, may substantially remove motion experienced by both the activity sensors, e.g., motion caused by the environment in which patient is located, thus providing a new reference frame from which to analyze the motion measurements. The relative motion may be used to detect a condition of a movement disorder and/or control delivery of the therapy delivered to patient to treat or reduce the condition.

Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (“ICD”) comprises a battery, control circuitry and a capacitor assembly. The capacitor assembly includes at least one capacitor, a flex circuit for connection to the control circuitry of the ICD and a first and second support portions. The flex circuit is arranged between the first and second support portions and includes a plurality of tangs for connecting to the anode and cathode of the capacitor(s), as well as to the control circuitry of the ICD.