Abstract: A catheter including a catheter shaft and a mapping balloon configured for navigation within a body. The mapping balloon can be coupled to the catheter shaft, such as at a distal end of the catheter shaft. The mapping balloon can have an exterior surface including a plurality of predefined fold locations configured to allow the mapping balloon to be adjusted between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the mapping balloon can include a first dimension, and in the expanded configuration the mapping balloon can have a second dimension. The second dimension can be greater than the first dimension. A plurality of electrodes can be located along the exterior surface of the mapping balloon to communicate electrical signals with an electronic control unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using sensed evoked neural responses for informing aspects of neurostimulation therapy are disclosed. Electrical signals may be recorded during the provision of electrical stimulation to a patient's neural tissue. The electrical signals may be processed and analyzed using one or more classification criteria to determine if the electrical signals contain a neural response of interest. Examples of such neural responses include evoked neural responses that are oscillatory and/or resonant in nature. If the electrical signals include such responses of interest, one or more features may be extracted from the signals and used as biomarkers for informing aspects of neurostimulation therapy, such as directing lead placement, optimizing stimulation parameters, closed-loop feedback control of stimulation, and the like. Various methods and systems described herein are particularly relevant in the context of multi-site stimulation paradigms, such as coordinated reset neuromodulation.

Abstract: A surgical tool having an electromagnetic (EM) sensor component is provided. The surgical tool has a flexible shaft portion. Additionally, the surgical tool has a rigid portion attached to the flexible shaft portion. The rigid portion comprises at least one EM sensor within the rigid portion. The at least one EM sensor comprises an extended core portion surrounded by a coil. Additionally, the at least one EM sensor generates a change in voltage when exposed to an electromagnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel system of hardware designed to capture and process in real time clinical observations of patient responses and reactions in different clinical and patient settings and situations, comprising: a patient biometric data recording system in a clinical office, a mobile real time episode or event data recording device system or a wearable device recording system.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an improved system and method for treatment of soft tissue, e.g., for treatment of a snoring condition. The system can include a laser source; a hand piece; and a device for directing radiation emitted by the laser source to a treatment area (e.g., an oral treatment area). In some cases, the handpiece can include an optical element (e.g., a lens) mounted within a replaceable cartridge and adapted to modulate a laser beam such that it is non-ablative, prior to its delivery to a treatment region. In various embodiments, the system includes a CO2 laser capable of performing treatment in a more efficient manner than conventional techniques.

Abstract: Provided is a system (10) for determining a probability of an asthma exacerbation in a subject. The system comprises an inhaler (100) for delivering a rescue medicament to the subject. The inhaler has a use-detection system (12B) configured to determine a rescue inhalation performed by the subject using the first inhaler. A sensor system (12A) is configured to measure a parameter relating to airflow during the rescue inhalation. The system further comprises a processor (14) configured to determine a number of the rescue inhalations during a first time period, and receive the parameter measured for at least some of the rescue inhalations. The processor determines, using a weighted model, the probability of the asthma exacerbation based on the number of rescue inhalations and the parameters. The model is weighted such that the number of rescue inhalations is more significant in the probability determination than the parameters.

Abstract: An electrode pad with a defibrillation circuit and a separate ECG tracing circuit. The electrode pad includes a foam base layer, first and second conductive layers, and a hydrogel layer. The foam base layer has a first side and the first conductive layer is centrally located on the base layer. The first conductive layer has a first circuit configured to provide a defibrillation current. The second conductive layer extends at least partially around the first conductive layer on the first side of the base layer. The second conductive layer has a separate second circuit configured to receive an electrical signal. The hydrogel layer covers the first and second conductive layers on the first side of the base layer. The electrode pad additionally includes an electrical connector attached to the first and second conductive layers. The electrical connector is configured for providing a voltage to the first and second conductive layers.

Abstract: A cardiac device comprises a first anchoring element configured to be attached to a first side of a tissue wall, a second anchoring element configured to be attached to a second side of the tissue wall, and a cinching device. The cinching device is configured to attach to the first anchoring element and the second anchoring element and apply force to the first anchoring element to move the first anchoring element towards the second anchoring element and at least partially compress the tissue wall.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting undiagnosed sleep disordered breathing uses daytime sleepiness and nighttime Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) severity. This involves detecting people with excessive daytime sleepiness (and high likelihood of falling asleep during the day) caused by OSA through objective and subjective daytime and nighttime monitoring. Screening is provided for those who are most likely to be suffering a daytime impact of their sleep apnea and thus most likely to respond positively to a potential diagnosis, and notifying these people is also provided.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed to establish programming of an implantable electrical neurostimulation device for treating pain of a human subject, through the use and adjustment of analgesic stimulation parameters based on trust dynamics and trust measurements. In an example, the system to establish programming of the neurostimulation device performs operations that: determine a trust measurement value that is derived from results of at least one commitment made with a human subject, via observable interactions; determine a modification of at least one neurostimulation programming parameter, based on the trust measurement value; and to cause the implantable neurostimulation device to implement the modification of the at least one neurostimulation programming parameter. Further examples are provided to produce and track the trust measurement value, as well as identify a pain susceptibility value and determine a receptiveness to analgesic effects based on these and other trust dynamics.

Abstract: A method for processing a cardiac signal represented as a function of time includes providing a number n of different threshold levels Ni, with i=1 to n and n being greater than or equal to three; detecting, from a given time T and per threshold level Ni, at least two successive intersections of the cardiac signal with the threshold level Ni, considering a crossing per increasing and/or decreasing value of the cardiac signal with the threshold level Ni; and determining at least one statistical parameter for the cardiac signal from the intersections of the cardiac signal with the at least three different threshold levels Ni. The method may be implemented by a subcutaneous active implantable medical device having a control circuit configured to process a cardiac signal.

Abstract: A compact system for performing laser ophthalmic surgery is disclosed. An embodiment of the system includes a mode-locked fiber oscillator-based ultra-short pulsed laser capable of producing laser pulses in the range of 1 nJ to 5 ?J at a pulse repetition rate of between 5 MHz and 25 MHz, a resonant optical scanner oscillating at a frequency of 200 Hz and 21000 Hz, a scan-line rotator, a movable XY-san device, a z-scan device, and a controller configured to coordinate with the other components of the system to produce one or more desired incision patterns. The system also includes compact visualization optics for in-process monitoring using a beam-splitter inside the cone of a patient interface used to fixate the patient's eye during surgery. The system can be configured such that eye surgery is performed while the patient is either sitting upright, or lying on his or her back.

Abstract: Provided is a method of monitoring a heart rate of an open circulatory system aquatic organism including water fleas, zebrafish, brine shrimp, and the method of evaluating individual response by real time measurement of a heart rate of an aquatic organism and the individual response evaluation apparatus by real time measurement of a heart rate of an aquatic organism according to the present invention may effectively fix the aquatic organism for real time measurement of the heart rate of an aquatic organism, and may measure the heart rate using digital holography to display the heart rate while configuring a data format to allow the corresponding data to be stored for a long time, thereby treating a compound for inducing an individual response, securing a heart rate change in real time by image processing, and then effectively determining the presence or absence of harmfulness due to induction of the individual response.

Abstract: Disclosed is an in-vivo micro-robot for nerve stretching, comprising a channel, and a movable part and a fixed part located at the channel. The movable part is disposed to be movable along the channel, the movable part sleeves the fixed part and is used for driving the fixed part to move along the channel, and the fixed part is connected to a nerve to be stretched. The in-vivo micro-robot is embedded into a patient's body through surgery, so that the extension of the nerve is accelerated and is regular and quantitative, thereby effectively solving the problems of small probability of nerve self-repair and long recovery period in traditional nerve bridging surgery.

Abstract: A modified nerve cuff electrode is designed to enhance the stability of neural recording and/or nerve stimulation. Any nerve cuff electrode includes a nerve cuff and a plurality of electrodes within the nerve cuff. While traditional nerve cuff electrodes have every one of the plurality of electrode contacts on the inner surface of the nerve cuff, in the modified nerve cuff electrode each of an inner surface and an outer surface of the nerve cuff has at least one electrode contact. The at least one electrode contact on the outer surface can be electrically isolated from the peripheral nerve to provide a stable reference or ground during recording or a stable pathway for a return current during stimulation to enhance the stability of the recording or the stimulation.

Abstract: A surgical instrument with improved end-effector gripping force. The instrument comprises a shaft, which may be inserted into a body of a patient. The articulated end-effector is mounted on the distal extremity of the instrument shaft and comprises a plurality of links interconnected by a plurality of joints, whose movements are remotely actuated by the surgeon's hands. This remote actuation is accomplished through mechanical transmission, mainly along flexible elements, which are able to deliver motion from a set of actuation elements, placed at a proximal extremity of the shaft, to the instrument's articulated end-effector. The articulated end-effector further comprises one or more cam-and-follower mechanisms that are able to amplify the force transmitted by the flexible elements so that the actuation force at the instrument jaws is maximized and the tension on the transmission elements minimized, thus increasing the fatigue resistance and life of the instrument.

Abstract: A method for altering an eye color of a patient with a color alteration procedure is disclosed that may include imaging the iris with an image sensor prior to the color alteration procedure to generate an image of the iris. A mapping of the iris may be generated from the image. The mapping may include a number of regions corresponding to varying absorption coefficients of a treatment wavelength in the stromal pigment of the iris. A laser system may be set, based on the mapping, to deliver laser light at a laser power sufficient to cause elimination of at least a portion of stromal pigment in the iris. The laser light may then be delivered with the laser system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implantable nerve stimulation device, which includes: a body part which is formed of a metal that ultrasonic waves can be transmitted, and includes a stimulation surface and a charging surface facing each other; a header part which is made of a non-metal and is located at one end of the body part; a cover which includes a stimulation electrode, a hinge part rotatably coupled to one side of the stimulation surface, and a coupling part detachably coupled to the other side of the stimulation surface, is positioned above the stimulation surface to interpose a nerve between the electrode and the stimulation surface; and power generation elements which are located inside the body part and are electrically connected to the electrode.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for determining hemodynamic stability in a subject. In one example method, an optical signal is transmitted via at least one optical fiber in a set of one or more optical fibers partially disposed in a heart of the subject, wherein the at least one optical fiber in the set is configured to bend with the mechanical movement of the heart. A reflected portion of the optical signal is received via the at least one optical fiber, wherein changes in at least one parameter of the received reflected portion of the optical signal are indicative of the mechanical movement of the heart. A hemodynamic stability of the heart is determined based on the received reflected portion. Hemodynamic stability of the subject may further be determined based on thermal, ultrasound, and/or impedance signals measured in or near the heart.

Abstract: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) can be used to treat tumors (and/or prevent metastases) in or near a person's neck by affixing a first transducer array (i.e., a set of electrode elements) to the person's head and affixing a second transducer array to the person's chest. Subsequently, an AC voltage at a desired frequency (e.g., 100-300 kHz) is applied between the first transducer array and the second transducer array. This induces an electric field that is strong enough to be effective (e.g., greater than 1 V/cm) in most of the person's neck. In some embodiments, the center of the first transducer array is positioned on the vertex of the head or on an upper surface of the person's head. In some embodiments, the second set of electrode elements is positioned immediately below the base of the neck.