Abstract: Catheter blood pumps that include an expandable pump portion, which include an expandable impeller housing. The housings include an expandable blood conduit that defines a blood lumen, and one or more pluralities of expandable struts extending axially from an end region of the expandable blood conduit. At least one of the pluralities of struts are non-unitary with a blood conduit at the end region.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides methods of implanting an implantable device in contact with a brain of a subject. Also provided are kits and systems for the implantation of one or more implantable devices.

Abstract: A method of optimally placing spinal cord stimulator (SCS) leads includes acquiring components of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), compound action potentials and triggered EMG; analyzing the waveforms; and quantifying waveform features in a single display such that a surgeon can quickly and easily determine optimal placement (as it relates to laterality and level of placement on the spinal cord) of SCS leads in a patient under general anesthesia without additional expert help.

Abstract: A system controller can predict, when a first operation is performed on one device of a plurality of devices including a medical instrument, a subsequent operation that is the operation that occurs most frequently after the first operation based on an operation history information table in which past operation information is recorded for each procedure performed on the plurality of devices. This information can be displayed on an operation screen of an operation panel apparatus.

Abstract: An external power transmitter of an implanted medical device system such as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) system and a method therefore are provided. According to one aspect, a method includes transitioning from applying a first external coil current limit to applying a second external coil current limit to limit current of an external coil coupled to the external power transmitter, the transitioning being based on at least one of an intent to enter a free mode of operation of the implanted medical device system, an existence of an alarm condition, and an existence of transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS) power transfer.

Abstract: A temporary pacing lead has an atraumatic curled distal region with multiple cathodes and distal pressure measurement to allow positioning and repositioning within the heart chamber without fluoroscopic or echo guidance. The curled distal region provides definite contact with two opposing walls of the ventricular chamber to ensure electrical signal capture without trauma to the endocardial surface. A stylet located in the pacing lead lumen assists in introducing, placing, and removing the pacing lead from the heart. The flexible distal region provides safe removal of the temporary lead following completion of use.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve measuring a prostate or other object. In some embodiments, a finger clip having a roller ring or wheel rotatably mounted thereto is disposed within an inflatable membrane. The roller ring can include a measurement pattern positioned opposite to optical fibers configured to receive light reflected from the measurement pattern. A user can put on the finger clip, position the membrane in proximity to a rectal wall overlying a prostate, and inflate the membrane. As the user slides their finger across the inside of the membrane, which is pressed against the rectal wall, the roller ring can rotate with respect to the fibers such that the fibers move relative to the measurement pattern. A controller can sense light reflected through the fibers from the reference pattern and calculate or estimate various attributes of the prostate based on the reflected light.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to a self-positioning, quick-deployment low profile transvenous electrode system for sequentially pacing both the atrium and ventricle of the heart in the “dual chamber” mode, and methods for deploying the same.

Abstract: Sense amplifier circuits particularly useful in sensing neural responses in an Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) are disclosed. The IPG includes a plurality of electrodes, with one selected as a sensing electrode and another selected as a reference to differentially sense the neural response in a manner that subtracts a common mode voltage (e.g., stimulation artifact) from the measurement. The circuits include a differential amplifier which receives the selected electrodes at its inputs, and comparator circuitries to assess each differential amplifier input to determine whether it is of a magnitude that is consistent with the differential amplifier's input requirements. Based on these determinations, an enable signal is generated which informs whether the output of the differential amplifier validly provides the neural response at any point in time.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating improved power management for an implantable device are provided. In one example, an implantable device includes a telemetry circuit and a power management circuit. The telemetry circuit is configured to facilitate a telemetry session between the implantable device and an external device. The power management circuit is configured to connect a power supply to the telemetry circuit via a first current-limiting device based on a determination that the telemetry circuit satisfies a defined criterion. The power management circuit is also configured to connect the telemetry circuit to a second current-limiting device based on a determination that the telemetry circuit is connected to the first current-limiting device for a defined period of time.

Abstract: A medical device may receive sensor data from sensing sources, and determine confidence levels for sensor data received from each of the plurality of sensing sources. Each of the confidence levels of the sensor data from each of the sensing sources is a measure of accuracy of the sensor data received from respective sensing sources. The medical device may also determine one or more therapy parameter values based on the determined confidence levels, and cause delivery of therapy based on the determined one or more therapy parameter values.

Abstract: In general, implantation of neurostimulation systems or device includes subcutaneous or percutaneous placement of at least the electrodes. Preferred are minimally invasive implantation procedures, systems and devices that can reliably operate for extended periods, and systems and devices providing a high degree of comfort for the subject. The implantation specialist may need to address adequate placement of the electrodes with respect to the nerve tissue to be stimulated, and to choose between one or more convenient locations for the elements of the system or device. Methods are provided comprising forming a first 1250 and second 1260 incision on opposite sides of a target location, and introducing a first introducer sheath 3050a under the skin with a maximum internal transverse cross-section less than the further maximum transverse cross-section 710 of an implantable stimulator. Such a method is advantageous if the maximum transverse cross-section 710 of the further portion is at least 1.

Abstract: A temporary, removable mechanical circulatory support heart-assist device has at least two propellers or impellers. Each propeller or impeller has a number of blades arranged around an axis of rotation. The blades are configured to pump blood. The two propellers or impellers rotate in opposite directions from each other. The device can be configured to be implanted and removed with minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: The disclosure describes devices and methods for providing transdermal electrical stimulation therapy to a subject including positioning a stimulator electrode over a glabrous skin surface overlying a palm of the subject and delivering electrical stimulation via a pulse generator transdermally through the glabrous skin surface and to a target nerve or tissue within the hand to stimulate the target nerve or tissue within the hand so that pain felt by the subject is mitigated. The pulses generated during the electrical stimulation therapy may include pulses of two different magnitudes.

Abstract: Various methods and embodiments of the present technology generally relate to neural spike sorting in real-time. More specifically, some embodiments relate to a real-time neural spike sorting process using distributed nodes and edges to form clusters in the vector space to learn the neural spike data distribution adaptively for neural spike classification in real-time. The state of the brain or the onset of a neurological disorder can be determined by analyzing the neural spike firing pattern, and the first stage of the neural data analysis is to sort the recorded neural spikes to their originating neurons. Methods that can sort the recorded neural spikes in real-time with low system latency and can be implemented with resource limited digital electronic hardware, including a Field-Programming Gate Array (FPGA), an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit and an embedded microprocessor, are beneficial in understanding neuronal networks and controlling neurological disorders.

Abstract: Provided are methods for collecting saliva from the oral cavity of a mammal comprising: placing a mouthpiece of a device comprising the mouthpiece in the oral cavity of a mammal, the mouthpiece comprising a chamber defined by front and rear inner walls and a base inner wall of the mouthpiece, each of the front and rear inner walls of the chamber comprising a plurality of openings, and a switch disposed in the mouthpiece; and the device further comprising a saliva collection reservoir, a fluid supply reservoir, a pump, and means for directing fluid through said device; activating the switch disposed in the mouthpiece to pump saliva from the oral cavity to the saliva collection reservoir for collection; deactivating the pumping of saliva to the saliva collection reservoir; and subsequently pumping fluid from the fluid supply reservoir to the mouthpiece for cleaning or treatment of the oral cavity.

Abstract: A controller for an implantable blood pump including processing circuitry configured to operate the implantable blood pump and a piezoelectric element in communication with the implantable blood pump.

Abstract: A method of determining a cumulative presence of suction in a patient having an implanted blood pump including determining whether at least one suction event occurred during a predetermined time interval for a predetermined number of time intervals and determining the cumulative presence of suction by dividing a sum of a number of predetermined time intervals in which at least one suction event occurred by the predetermined number of time intervals.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, electrodes, systems, methods, and other implementations, including a system that includes a subdural sound comprising an elongated structure configured to be placed within a subdural space of a brain area of a patient, and an electrode comprising an elongated body, a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a substantially flat first side of the elongated body, and a soundage channel defined along a longitudinal axis of the electrode and open at opposite ends. The soundage channel at the leading end of the electrode is fitted on the trailing end of the elongated structure of the subdural sound so as to be advanced, when the subdural sound is placed within the subdural space, to a target site in the subdural space for tangential placement on target tissue in the subdural space of the brain area.