Abstract: A multilayer helical wave filter having a primary resonance at a selected RF diagnostic or therapeutic frequency or frequency range, includes an elongated conductor forming at least a portion of an implantable medical lead. The elongated conductor includes a first helically wound segment having at least one planar surface, a first end and a second end, which forms a first inductive component, and a second helically wound segment having at least one planar surface, a first end and a second end, which forms a second inductive element. The first and second helically wound segments are wound in the same longitudinal direction and share a common longitudinal axis. Planar surfaces of the helically wound segments face one another, and a dielectric material is disposed between the facing planar surfaces of the helically wound segments and between adjacent coils of the helically wound segments, thereby forming a capacitance.

Abstract: A multilayer helical wave filter having a primary resonance at a selected RF diagnostic or therapeutic frequency or frequency range, includes an elongated conductor forming at least a portion of an implantable medical lead. The elongated conductor includes a first helically wound segment having at least one planar surface, a first end and a second end, which forms a first inductive component, and a second helically wound segment having at least one planar surface, a first end and a second end, which forms a second inductive element. The first and second helically wound segments are wound in the same longitudinal direction and share a common longitudinal axis. Planar surfaces of the helically wound segments face one another, and a dielectric material is disposed between the facing planar surfaces of the helically wound segments and between adjacent coils of the helically wound segments, thereby forming a capacitance.

Abstract: A system and method for outputting historical stimulation information includes a processor configured to assign individual display regions, e.g., pixels or voxels, (or a larger region) a score based on those volumes of activations (VOA) in which the individual display region had been included and the scores assigned to those VOAs, and display in a display device a map of varying graphical indicia based on the different scores assigned to the elemental display regions.

Abstract: A patient suffering from congestive heart failure is at increased risk of cardiac arrhythmogenesis during sleep, particularly if experiencing central sleep apnea as a co-morbidity. Low intensity peripheral neurostimulation therapies that target imbalance of the autonomic nervous system have been shown to improve clinical outcomes. Thus, bi-directional autonomic regulation therapy is delivered to the cervical vagus nerve at an intensity that is insufficient to elicit pathological or acute physiological side effects and without the requirement of an enabling physiological feature or triggering physiological marker. The patient's physiology is monitored to identify periods of sleep. In one embodiment, upon sensing a condition indicative of tachyarrhythmia following a period of bradycardia, as naturally occurs during sleep, an enhanced “boost” dose of bi-directional neural stimulation intended to “break” the tachyarrhythmic condition is delivered.

Abstract: A characteristic of a washout period following the delivery of therapy to a patient according to a therapy program may be determined based on a physiological parameter of the patient. A washout period includes the period of time during which a carryover effect from the therapy dissipates. The washout period characteristic may include, for example, a duration of the washout period, an amplitude or a trend in a physiological signal during the washout period or a power level or a ratio of power levels in frequency bands of the physiological signal. In some embodiments, washout period characteristics associated with a plurality of therapy programs may be used to compare the programs. In other embodiments, a washout period characteristic may be used to determine a mood state of the patient and, in some cases, modify a therapy program. Monitoring a washout period may also be useful for timing therapy program trials.

Abstract: An automated external defibrillator (AED) (10) having a treatment decision processor (28) is described which follows a “shock first” or a “CPR first” rescue protocol after identification of a treatable arrhythmia, depending upon an estimate of the probability of successful resuscitation made from an analysis of a patient parameter measured at the beginning of the rescue. The invention may also follow different CPR protocols depending on the estimate. The invention also may use the trend of the measured patient parameter to adjust the CPR protocol either during a CPR pause or after the initial CPR pause. The AED (10) thus enables an improved rescue protocol.

Abstract: A total implantable hearing aid system is described. The system includes a single transformer that acts as an insulator between simulation circuitry and associated electrodes, and other system elements residing in the tissue. These other system elements include an RF receiver coil, a microphone system, a battery, and a digital signal processor. The transformer also increases the battery output voltage to a level needed by the simulation circuitry with electrodes.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed towards posture-responsive therapy. To avoid interruptions in effective therapy, an implantable medical device may include a posture state module that detects the posture state of the patient and automatically adjusts therapy parameter values according to the detected posture state. A system may include a memory that stores a set of pre-established posture state definitions for delivery of posture state-responsive therapy to a patient, an external programmer comprising a user interface that receives a request from a user to update the set of pre-established posture state definitions, and a processor that updates the set of pre-established posture state definitions in response to the request.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern implanting a lead to directly stimulate the bundle of His. Various embodiments can include introducing a curve of an outer guide catheter into the right ventricle, extending a curve of an inner guide catheter from a lumen of the outer guide catheter, extending a fixation element on a distal tip of an anchor wire from a lumen the inner guide catheter, and anchoring the anchor wire to target tissue within the right ventricle, the target tissue along the septal wall and proximate the tricuspid valve and the bundle of His. A distal tip of an implantable lead with a lumen can then be advanced over the anchor wire to the target tissue as the anchor wire guides the distal tip of the lead to the target tissue.

Abstract: The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for controlling one or more functions of a device utilizing one or more tags. In one example, a method for controlling one or more functions of a medical device includes scanning a data interface of the medical device for signals induced wirelessly by one or more gestures made with one or more tags associated with a recipient of the medical device and controlling one or more functions of the medical device based on the wirelessly induced signals.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for establishing a blood flow conduit between a chamber in a heart of a patient and a remote location. A blood inflow cannula having an outer surface and proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion is configured for insertion into the chamber of the heart. First and second anchor elements have respective maximum width dimensions extending outwardly from the outer surface of the cannula. The first anchor element is positioned more distally than the second anchor element defining a tissue receiving space therebetween. The maximum width dimension of the first anchor element may be larger than the maximum width dimension of the second anchor element in use. The first anchor element is configured to be positioned inside the heart chamber and the second anchor element is configured to be positioned outside the heart chamber with heart tissue held in the tissue receiving space therebetween.

Abstract: A system for reducing proarrhythmic effects of neural stimulation is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an implantable medical device (IMD) for reducing proarrhythmic effects of neural stimulation. The IMD includes a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through at least one electrode to provide vagal stimulation. The IMD also includes a controller adapted to receive atrial arrhythmia vulnerability data and to control a therapeutic stimulator to limit atrial proarrhythmia using the atrial arrhythmia vulnerability data. The controller is further adapted to receive atrial arrhythmic history data and to control a therapeutic stimulator to limit atrial proarrhythmia using the atrial arrhythmic history data, according to various embodiments. According to one embodiment, the therapeutic stimulator includes the neural stimulator. The therapeutic stimulator includes a cardiac stimulator adapted to provide cardiac rhythm management therapy, according to various embodiments.

Abstract: System, implantable medical device and method for communicating between an implantable medical device and an external communication device. The implantable medical device has a physical connector, a medical module and a communication module. The medical module is configured to at least one of deliver a therapeutic output by way of the physical connector and/or sense data indicative of a physiologic condition of a patient by way of the physical connector. The external communication device is configured to communicate with the communication module by way of the physical connector. In an embodiment, electronic communication may be by way of a differential pair of connectors.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes generating, by an external control device selectively and communicatively coupled to an implantable stimulator, a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator, determining, by the external control device, a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame, determining, by the external control device, an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level, and selecting, by the external control device in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at substantially the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame.

Abstract: A first fluid status indicator of a pulmonary fluid status associated with pulmonary edema and a second fluid status indicator of a non-pulmonary fluid status can be used to provide an alert or to control a therapy for pulmonary edema. Additionally, intermittent cardiac blood volume redistribution therapy can be used to provide cardiac conditioning in heart failure patients.

Abstract: A spindle assembly of a surgical instrument is provided which includes a body and a cutter pin. The body has at least one wall forming first and second channels therein. The cutter pin is disposed within the second channel and operably coupled to a knife rod extending therethrough and is operatively coupled at its distal end to a knife. When the knife rod is moved between a retracted position and a deployed position, the spindle assembly is moved between a first and a second position along the shaft. The cutter pin is configured to deform and exit the body when the knife is deployed and disposed in a trapped condition and in response to an applied force, thereby decoupling the knife from the spindle assembly.

Abstract: A cannula for moving fluids between a pump and the circulatory system of a patient. The cannula includes a liner having an intermediate portion between a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal portions. At least the intermediate portion of the liner is constructed from a tissue in-growth material for supporting the growth of endothelial cells. A jacket surrounds at least part of the liner.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises a method of monitoring cardiac electrical activity with two or more ECG devices and computing an enhanced cardiac electrical signal from the cardiac electrical signals obtained from the two or more ECG devices. Electrodes of the two or more ECG devices are positioned in a manner to provide an electrical potential difference that is large enough to give useful information about a given ECG signal. The method further includes recommending addition of a supplemental ECG device when it is determined that the one or more of the existing ECG devices are inadequate for providing cardiac electrical data that identifies a specific cardiac event.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure comprises introducing a medical device through a cranial burr hole into the brain tissue, mounting a plug base around a cranial burr hole, securing the medical device within the aperture of the plug base, seating a proximal end of the medical device within a first groove of the plug base, such that the proximal end exits the aperture of the plug base through the first groove, looping the proximal end from the first groove to a second groove in the plug base, seating the proximal end within the second groove, such that the proximal end extends across the aperture of the plug base from the second groove, and seating the proximal end within a third groove of the plug base, such that the proximal end exits the plug base aperture through the third groove.

Abstract: A defibrillator is described which executes a resuscitation protocol having a CPR pause period. The CPR pause period may be interrupted for the acquisition of ECG signal data which is not contaminated by chest compression artifacts. Following the acquisition of ECG signal data, the CPR period resumes and continues for its full period. The ECG signal data acquired during the interruption of the CPR period is analyzed and, if a shockable rhythm is identified, a shock sequence is initiated immediately upon conclusion of the CPR period.