Abstract: Methods and systems for testing and treating spinal cord stimulation (SCS) patients are disclosed. Patients are eventually treated with sub-perception (paresthesia free) therapy. However, supra-perception stimulation is used during “sweet spot searching” during which active electrodes are selected for the patient. This allows sweet spot searching to occur much more quickly and without the need to wash in the various electrode combinations that are tried. After selecting electrodes using supra-perception therapy, therapy is titrated to sub-perception levels using the selected electrodes. Such sub-perception therapy has been investigated using pulses at or below 10 kHz, and it has been determined that a statistically significant correlation exists between pulse width (PW) and frequency (F) in this frequency range at which SCS patients experience significant reduction in symptoms such as back pain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device for treating a male impotent patient. There is provided a medical device having a constriction device for exerting a force on at least one portion of a tissue wall of a penile portion of the patient to constrict the tissue wall, and a stimulation device with at least one electrode for stimulating the at least one portion of the tissue wall constricted by the constriction device to restrict blood flow leaving the penis to achieve erection, and an interconnection element arranged on the stimulation device to fixate the at least one electrode to the constriction device.

Abstract: Systems for delivering therapy to an intestinal muscle in a patient may comprise a cardiac sensor, an intestinal sensor, an implantable pulse generator and a signal delivery device. The signal delivery device may be configured to deliver a stimulation signal to the muscle. The implantable pulse generator may comprise a microcontroller configured to receive cardiac data from the cardiac sensor and calculate a heart rate parameter therefrom, receive intestinal activity data from the intestinal sensor and calculate an intestinal activity parameter therefrom, determine a physiological state of a patient based on the parameters, adjust a stimulation parameter of the stimulation signal based on the determined state, and instruct the signal delivery device to deliver an adjusted stimulation signal.

Abstract: A support structure comprises a base joint coupling a proximal link of the support structure to a base. The proximal link is configured to rotate about a first axis associated with the base joint. The support structure further comprises a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism maintains an orientation of an instrument support relative to the base as the support structure is moved from a first configuration to a second configuration. In the second configuration, the support structure is rotated relative to the base about the first axis.

Abstract: A system for detecting strokes includes a sensor device configured to obtain physiological data from a patient, for example brain activity data. The sensor device can include electrodes configured to be disposed at the back of the patient's neck or base of the skull. The electrodes can detect electrical signals corresponding to brain activity in the P3, Pz, and/or P4 brain regions or other brain regions. A computing device communicatively coupled to the sensor device is configured to receive the physiological data and analyze it to indicate whether the patient has suffered a stroke.

Abstract: This document discusses systems, devices, and methods for computer-assisted pain or paresthesia assessment and pain management in a subject. A system includes a programming aid device including a user interface, a transceiver circuit to receive information about pain management for the patient from one or more of a software-based virtual agent (SVA) or a human assistant other than the patient, and a controller circuit to initiate and manage information exchange session between the patient and one or more of the SVA or the human assistant, via the user interface, regarding pain or paresthesia sensation and pain management. Based on the information exchange, the controller determines a stimulation setting, and generate a therapy control signal to the neuromodulation device to initiate delivery of neuromodulation energy according to the determined stimulation setting.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for implementing the techniques for adjusting atrial arrhythmia detection based on analysis of one or more P-wave sensing windows associated with one or more R-waves. An implantable medical device may determine signal characteristics of the cardiac signal within the P-wave sensing window, determine whether the cardiac signal within the sensing window corresponds to a P-wave based on the determined signal characteristics, determine a signal to noise ratio of the cardiac signal within the sensing window, update the arrhythmia score when the P-wave is identified in the sensing window and the determined signal to noise ratio satisfies a signal to noise threshold.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. The disclosure also contemplates guided programming to select electrode combinations and parameter values to support efficacy. The techniques may be applied to a programming interface associated with a clinician programmer, a patient programmer, or both. A user interface permits a user to view electrodes from different perspectives relative to the lead. For example, the user interface provides a side view of a lead and a cross-sectional view of the lead. The user interface may include an axial control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different axial positions along the length of a lead, and a rotational control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different angular positions around a circumference of the lead.

Abstract: A smart patch includes a computing device to monitor user health metrics. The smart patch also includes an adhesive coupled to a cradle with an opening and coupled to at least two electrodes capable of electrically coupling to the user. The computing device contains one or more sensors, a battery and a sensor window. The sensors are configured to interface with the user to generate physiological data associated with the user's health. The battery is configured to power the sensors. The computing device is removably coupled to the cradle. The cradle is configured to engage the computing device securing the computing device to the adhesive. The electrodes electrically couple to the user's skin and conduct electrical signals between the user and the computing device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a phototherapeutic apparatus for focused UVB radiation and vitamin D synthesis and associated systems methods. In one embodiment a phototherapeutic apparatus can include a housing at least partially defining an irradiation zone, and an ultraviolet (UV) radiation source carried by the housing. The irradiation zone can be configured to accommodate at least a portion of a human patient. The phototherapeutic apparatus can further include a filter between the UV radiation source and the irradiation zone. The filter can be configured to at least substantially remove UV radiation outside of a predetermined spectrum centered at about 297 nm and having a bandwidth of at most 10 nm.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes a first electrode, configured to be implanted at a first anatomical site in a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc of a subject, and a second electrode, configured to be implanted at a second anatomical site outside the nucleus pulposus of the disc. A control unit is configured to detect a pressure difference between the first and the second anatomical sites by detecting a streaming voltage between the first and the second electrodes, and, in response to the detected pressure difference, drive fluid between the nucleus pulposus and outside the nucleus pulposus by applying a treatment voltage between the first and the second electrodes. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for aligning an eye with a patient interface of a laser device includes a camera, a display screen, and a computer. The camera records images of the eye through the patient interface of the laser device. A liquid is disposed between and is in contact with the patient interface and the outer surface of the eye. The images include an outline of the liquid. The display screen displays the images of the eye. The computer aligns the eye with the patient interface by: identifying the outline of the liquid in an image received from the camera; determining a misalignment of the eye according to the outline; and instructing the display screen to display a description of the misalignment.

Abstract: An example method is performed by a defibrillator that includes a therapy cable receptacle and an electrocardiogram cable receptacle. The method includes displaying a user interface screen that includes a primary channel for displaying a primary waveform and a secondary channel for displaying secondary data. The method also includes detecting a lack of a patient connection for therapy pads and detecting a patient connection for an ECG lead obtained using an ECG electrode cable. In addition, the method includes displaying a representation of an ECG signal obtained using the ECG electrode cable in the primary channel based on detecting the lack of the patient connection for the therapy pads and detecting the patient connection for the ECG lead.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for generating a cardiac map is disclosed. The method comprises during cardiac mapping in which a mapping catheter is inserted into a heart, receiving a plurality of recordings from the mapping catheter, each recording includes a voltage, and the spatial coordinates of a recording site within the heart indicative of an electrode position of the mapping catheter at the time of acquisition of said voltage, constructing a three-dimensional surface of the heart based on the spatial coordinates of each recording site, performing surface analysis to determine off-surface points in the plurality of recordings where each off-surface point corresponds to a recording from the plurality of recordings which does not lie on the three-dimensional surface, and selectively moving at least some of the off-surface points to the three-dimensional surface based on a predefined threshold.

Abstract: A light radiation device includes a housing, a substrate provided in the housing, and a light source mounted on the substrate. The light source includes a first light source including at least one first light source to emit first light having a blue wavelength band, a second light source including at least one second light source to emit second light having an ultraviolet wavelength band, and a control unit to control the first light source and the second light source such that the second light source sequentially emits the second light after the first light source emits the first light. A dose of the second light source is less than {right arrow over (1)}/10 of a dose of the first light source.

Abstract: A WCD system is configured to detect when a therapy administered to a patient by the WCD system is unsuccessful, and in response determine whether to send notifications to remote non-witness responders. The WCD system may be configured to decide to send such notifications after the WCD system determines it has administered a predetermined number of unsuccessful shocks to the patient. The predetermined number of unsuccessful shocks may be the maximum number of unsuccessful shocks the WCD system will administer to a patient, or every Xth shock (e.g., 3rd shock). The WCD system can be configured to periodically resend the notification. The notifications may be in the form of SMS, voice messages, emails, app notifications, etc. sent to cell phones, smartphones, computers, laptops, tablets, etc. of the responders either directly, via a server, or via a CAD-coupled server.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument includes a housing, a support plate disposed within the housing, and a shaft having a proximal end portion coupled to the support plate within the housing, a proximal segment, a distal segment, and an articulating portion interconnecting the proximal and distal segments. An end effector assembly is coupled to the distal segment of the shaft. A plurality of actuation components extends through the support plate and at least a portion of the shaft to operably couple to at least one of the end effector assembly, the articulating portion, or the distal segment to enable selective actuation of the end effector assembly. A seal configuration establishes seals against an interior annular surface of the shaft, about each actuation component of the plurality of actuation components, and within the proximal end portion of the shaft to inhibit fluid communication from the shaft into the housing.

Abstract: A portable polysomnography apparatus comprises a unitary flexible structured pillow that is embedded with one or more sensors for data collection. The one or more sensors can comprise a tilt sensor that is configured to generate respiratory effort signals based on tilting of the head of the subject on the pillow. The one or more sensors can further be configured to generate ballistocardiogram signals from movement of the head of the subject caused by beating of the heart of the subject. The polysomnography apparatus can be advantageously sized and shaped to cause the sleeping subject to properly orient her head with respect to the sensors for optimal data collection while the subject is asleep.

Abstract: A system and method for treating anorectal and/or genitourinary dysfunction includes implanting, in a minimally invasive manner, an electro-medical device for stimulation of two or more anatomical or histological structures of the anorectal region and/or genitourinary region. Electrodes operably connected to the device are positioned proximate the target anatomical or histological structures. The device provides either the same or different stimulation algorithms to each anatomical or histological structure, which may be the same or different. The varied stimulation parameters, such as pulse width, pulse amplitude, and pulse frequency, are defined such that after an application of the electrical pulses, an abdominal leak pressure, an abdominal leak volume, or a urine volume increases or a number of incontinent episodes or a mean incontinence volume per episode decreases relative to said parameters prior to the application of the electrical pulses.

Abstract: A steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type of applications, such as in surgery, which has an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part with a first actuation flexible zone having a first diameter and a distal end part having a first distal flexible zone having a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. A cylindrical diameter adaptation section is arranged to connect the proximal end part to the distal end part such that a flexion in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal center axis of the longitudinal tubular body of the first actuation flexible zone results in an amplified or attenuated flexion of the first distal flexible zone.