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: In specific embodiments, a method to monitor left atrial pressure and/or intra-thoracic fluid volume of a patient, comprises (a) monitoring posture of the patient using a posture sensor implanted within the patient, and (b) using portions of an impedance signal, obtained using implanted electrodes, to monitor the left atrial pressure and/or intra-thoracic fluid volume of the patient. Each portion of the impedance signal used to monitor the left atrial pressure and/or intra-thoracic fluid volume of the patient corresponds to a period after which the patient has maintained a predetermined posture for at least a predetermined period of time, and during which the patient has remained in the predetermined posture.

Abstract: A method and system for supplying energy to an electrically operable, medical device (100) implanted in ? a patient. Wireless energy is transferred from an external energy source (104) located outside the patient to an internal energy receiver (102) located inside the patient and connected to the medical device. An internal control unit (108) determines an amount of energy currently required for the operation of said medical device. A control signal is transmitted to the external energy source, reflecting the required amount of energy. An external control unit (106) controls the amount of transferred energy in response to the control signal, by adjusting the energy transfer efficiency from the external energy source to the internal energy receiver. The energy transfer efficiency is adjusted by adjusting the position of a primary coil, serving as the external energy source, relative to an implanted secondary coil, serving as the internal energy source.

Abstract: An implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) treats Parkinson's disease or Essential Tremor through application of stimulation pulses applied at at least one of acupoints GB34 and GV20. The IEAD includes an hermetically-sealed implantable electroacupuncture (EA) device having at least two electrodes located outside of its housing. The housing contains a primary power source, pulse generation circuitry, and a sensor that wirelessly senses externally-generated operating commands. The pulse generation circuitry generates stimulation pulses as controlled, at least in part, by the operating commands sensed through the sensor. The stimulation pulses are applied to the specified acupoint or nerve through the electrodes in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen. Such stimulation regimen requires that the stimulation session be applied at a very low duty cycle not greater than 0.05.

Abstract: An extendable medical lead comprises a lead body and a sheath defining a cavity that encloses a length of the lead body. The length of the lead body enclosed within the sheath may be coiled or otherwise gathered such that when extended, the length of the enclosed section of the lead body is greater than the length of the sheath. The sheath may include a seal to help prevent contaminant entry into the cavity in order to help reduce tissue in growth around the length of the lead body disposed within the sheath. A portion of the length of the lead body enclosed within the sheath exits the cavity through an aperture defined by the seal when a tensile force is applied to the lead body.

Abstract: Removal of damaged tissue itself can enable biosynthetic activity in vivo as an unburdened homeostatic or repair response. By removing a biologic and mechanical irritant, the lesion site can be altered to a more favorable perturbation-specific mechanotransductive environment supportive of differentiated gene expression. One aspect of one embodiment of the present invention provides an engineered irrigant that produces ion exchanges in tissues for example deliver of protons which interact with biology tissues.

Abstract: A connecting system includes an implantable base unit having an implantable housing with an externally accessible magnetic portion and an implantable unit connecting member. The implantable base unit is configured to be at least partially implanted in a subject such that the externally accessible magnetic portion is accessible from an external region of the subject. An interface unit is releasably coupled to the implantable base unit. The interface unit has an interface housing with an interface magnetic portion and an interface unit connecting member. The interface magnetic portion is configured to engage the externally accessible magnetic portion of the implantable base unit to mechanically couple the implantable unit connecting member and the interface unit connecting member.

Abstract: A method, including inserting a flexible probe into a living subject and positioning a distal end of the probe in a heart of the subject, the distal end including a position sensor configured to generate position signals indicative of a position of the distal end, and an electrode configured to convey electrical signals from the heart. The method further includes formulating, in response to the position signals, a first indication of a change in a mean position of the heart within the living subject and deriving a second indication of a change in the electrical signals. The method also includes determining, in response to the first and second indications, a new mean position of the heart.

Abstract: A pacemaker programming apparatus for programming a pacemaker in an individual. The apparatus comprises means for determining the sensed-paced difference of the pacemaker in the individual: first testing means for determining the optimum AV delay while the pacemaker is atrially pacing at a raised at a heart rate; and calculation means for calculating the optimum AV delay determined by the first testing means minus the sensed-paced difference.

Abstract: In some aspects, a method includes measuring unipolar signals at one or more electrodes in response to electrical activity in a heart cavity. The method also includes determining, based at least in part on Laplace's equation, bipolar physiological information at multiple locations of an surface based on the measured unipolar signals and positions of the one or more electrodes with respect to the surface.

Abstract: An implantable device includes at least one electrode comprising a conductive base and polyoxometalate anions disposed on or within the conductive base; and at least one conductor attached to the at least one electrode for conducting electrical energy to the at least one electrode.

Abstract: A surgical instrument operable to sever tissue includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly and an end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing having a distal aperture configured to receive a portion of the end effector assembly. First and second coupling mechanism portions cooperatively couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly for use. A cartridge positionable between the instrument and a generator includes information regarding operating parameters unique to the selectively coupleable end effector assembly and/or the desired surgical procedure, such as information regarding setting a maximum current set point within an ultrasonic transducer. The instrument is programmable with operating parameter information while within a sealed and sterilized packaging unit.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) a headpiece module configured to be affixed to a head of a patient and comprising a primary sound processor configured to generate stimulation parameters used to direct an auditory prosthesis implanted within the patient to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient and 2) a sound processor module separate from the headpiece module and configured to be selectively and communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. The sound processor module includes a secondary sound processor configured to detect a communicative coupling of the sound processor module to the headpiece module and contribute to the generation of one or more of the stimulation parameters while the sound processor module is communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electro-stimulation device for the stimulation of the musculature of the pelvic floor complex e.g. for the treatment of anterior and posterior pelvic floor muscle dysfunction is fully self-contained. The device requires no external power sources or control and may be inserted into the vagina or anus through the use of an applicator. The device uses a pre-programmed treatment cycle of stimulating pulses. The cycle comprises either a waveform with an initial phase where the current of the device is ramped from an initial level to a higher level, a second phase where the current is ramped from the higher level from the first phase to a second higher level and a third phase where the current is maintained at the second higher level, or a waveform comprising two or more components each component being a train of regularly spaced pulses or a combination of these two waveforms.

Abstract: Implantable medical device having a feedthrough, a feedthrough and method for making such feedthrough. The feedthrough has a ferrule, an electrically conductive pin, a preform having a preform liquidus temperature, a capacitor, positioned within the ferrule abutting the preform, having a coating having a coating liquidus temperature and being configured to electrically couple with the preform, and an insulative assembly configured, at least in part, to seal against passage of a liquid through the ferrule, and having an insulative assembly liquidus temperature. The coating liquidus temperature is greater than the preform liquidus temperature and the coating liquidus temperature being greater than the insulative assembly liquidus temperature.

Abstract: A catheter including a proximal end and a distal end. An expandable element coupled to the distal end is included, the expandable element including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the expandable element defining an exterior surface. A first plurality of electrodes coupled to the exterior surface of the distal portion of the expandable element are included, each of the first plurality of electrodes being selectively operable to transmit unipolar radiofrequency energy. A second plurality of electrodes coupled to the exterior surface of the proximal portion of the expandable element are included, each of the second plurality of electrodes being selectively operable to transmit bipolar radiofrequency energy.

Abstract: Techniques are described for selectively enabling and disabling a pre-stimulation passive recharge pacing mode for an implantable medical device (IMD) depending on whether the IMD is operating in an electromagnetic interference (EMI)-safe mode. In some examples, the IMD may enable the pre-stimulation passive recharge pacing mode when the IMD is operating in the EMI-safe mode, and disable the pre-stimulation passive recharge pacing mode when the IMD is not operating in the EMI-safe mode. The EMI-safe mode may be, in some examples, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-safe mode.

Abstract: A system provides cardiac arrhythmia detection and performs blood pressure analysis of multiple catheter channels of blood pressure signals to characterize heart hemodynamic activity. A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes a repository, data processor and output processor. The repository of data comprises, first distribution data representing a probability distribution of a first patient parameter over a first time period and acquired on a first occasion and second distribution data representing a probability distribution of the first patient parameter over a second time period and acquired on a second occasion subsequent to the first occasion. The data processor calculates an overlap indicator indicating degree of overlap of the first distribution data and the second distribution data in a predetermined interval of the distributions. The output processor provides the calculated overlap indicator to a destination device.

Abstract: A method for treating an impaired body function in a patient, including the steps of (a) laparoscopically implanting at least one neuroprothesis electrode on a least one endopelvic nerve root of a patient; (b) electrostimulating the nerve root with the electrode for a predetermined time period to induce a body function of the patient; and (c) during the predetermined time period, instructing the patient to mentally concentrate on performing the body function.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a tachyarrhythmia detection and classification system that classifies tachyarrhythmias based on a morphological analysis of template and arrhythmic waveforms. The morphological analysis takes effect of heart rate on the morphological characteristics of the template and arrhythmic waveforms into consideration. Correlation between morphological features of the template waveform and corresponding morphological features of an arrhythmic waveform provides for the basis for classifying the tachyarrhythmia. In one embodiment, corresponding morphological features are extracted from the template and arrhythmic waveforms at locations determined by the heart rate associated with a detected arrhythmia episode. In another embodiment, weighting factors each being a function of the heart rate are applied to the template and arrhythmic morphological features before a correlation coefficient is calculated.