Abstract: Tumors in portions of a subject's body that have a longitudinal axis (e.g., the torso, head, and arm) can be treated with TTFields by affixing first and second sets of electrodes at respective positions that are longitudinally prior to and subsequent to a target region. An AC voltage with a frequency of 100-500 kHz is applied between these sets of electrodes. This imposes an AC electric field with field lines that run through the target region longitudinally. The field strength is at least 1 V/cm in at least a portion of the target region. In some embodiments, this approach is combined with the application of AC electric fields through the target region in a lateral direction (e.g., front to back and/or side to side) in order to apply AC electric fields with different orientations to the target region.

Abstract: A system includes processing circuitry configured to determine, for each respective electrode of a plurality of electrodes, a score based on a ratio of an electrical efficiency for the respective electrode to a therapeutic window for the respective electrodes. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the score of each respective electrode, a ranking of the plurality of electrodes, and to select, based on the ranking, a subset of the plurality of electrodes for delivery of electrical stimulation therapy.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs), systems, and methods for use therewith are disclosed. One such method is for use by a leadless pacemaker (LP) configured to perform conductive communication with another implantable medical device (IMD). The method includes the LP storing information that specifies when, within a cardiac cycle, the LP and the other IMD implanted in a patient are likely oriented relative to one another such that conductive communication therebetween should be successful. The method also includes the LP sensing a signal indicative of cardiac activity of the patient over a plurality of cardiac cycles, and outputting one or more conductive communication pulses, during a portion of at least one of the cardiac cycles, wherein the portion of the at least one of the cardiac cycles is identified based on the signal that is sensed and the information that is stored.

Abstract: A connection pin of a feedthrough of an implantable medical electronic device has a primarily cylindrical pin body and at least one flattened end section. The flattened end section has at least one planar connecting surface formed on it, especially for connection by material bonding of a band-shaped conductor.

Abstract: An epicardial pacer wire management device can include a spool defining a recessed region that encompasses the spool. The recessed region can receive a portion of a pacer wire. The device can further include a connector attached to the spool, and the connector can be electrically coupled with an exposed tip of the pacer wire. The device can further include an electrical port attached to the spool that can communicate with a pacing control unit. The device may include an electrical communication line electrically coupled between the connector and the electrical port.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting leadwire stimulation parameters includes a processor iteratively performing, for each of a plurality of values for a particular stimulation parameter, each value corresponding to a respective current field: (a) shifting the current field longitudinally and/or rotationally to a respective plurality of locations about the leadwire; and (b) for each of the respective plurality of locations, obtaining clinical effect information regarding a respective stimulation of the patient tissue produced by the respective current field at the respective location; and displaying a graph plotting the clinical effect information against values for the particular stimulation parameter and locations about the leadwire, and/or based on the obtained clinical effect information, identifying an optimal combination of a selected value for the particular stimulation parameter and selected location about the leadwire at which to perform a stimulation using the selected value.

Abstract: Improved devices, circuits and methods of operation in implantable stimulus systems. An implantable defibrillator may comprise an H-bridge output circuit having low and high sides, with a current controlling circuit coupled to the high side of the H-bridge output circuit and a current monitoring circuit coupled to the low side of the H-bridge output circuit. Alternate current paths to the output of the H-bridge, or to the H-Bridge itself, are used for delivering different therapies to the patient.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for obtaining at least one bodily function measurement are presented. A mobile device includes an outer body sized to be portable for user, a processor contained within the outer body, and a plurality of sensors physically coupled to the outer body. The sensors are configured to obtain a first measurement indicative of blood volume and a second measurement indicative of heart electrical activity in response to a user action. A blood pressure measurement is determined based on the first measurement and the second measurement. The sensors also include electrodes where a portion of a user's body positioned between the electrodes completes a circuit and a measurement to provide at least one measure of impedance associated with the user's body. A hydration level measurement is determined based on the measure of impedance.

Abstract: A system for assessing and monitoring the hemodynamic condition of a patient includes a signal processor and optionally a premise processing system. Additionally, the system can include a biosignal detection device, memory, a display, and any other suitable component. A method for assessing and monitoring the hemodynamic condition of a patient includes: receiving input data; determining a set of windows based on the input data; preprocessing each of the set of windows; processing each of the set of windows; determining a set of features for each of the set of windows; determining a hemodynamic condition for each window based on the set of features; and presenting the hemodynamic condition to a user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for obtaining at least one bodily function measurement are presented. A mobile device includes an outer body sized to be portable for user, a processor contained within the outer body, and a plurality of sensors physically coupled to the outer body. The sensors are configured to obtain a first measurement indicative of blood volume and a second measurement indicative of heart electrical activity in response to a user action. A blood pressure measurement is determined based on the first measurement and the second measurement. The sensors also include electrodes where a portion of a user's body positioned between the electrodes completes a circuit and a measurement to provide at least one measure of impedance associated with the user's body. A hydration level measurement is determined based on the measure of impedance.

Abstract: A surgical tool comprising a drive housing having a first end, a spline extending from the first end and having a spline pinion gear mounted to the spline, a drive input that rotatably couples the spline to the first end and provides an input pinion gear; a clutch interposing the spline and input pinion gears and defining an internal gear, and an armature. The armature may be operatively coupled to the clutch and operable to shift the clutch from a first position, where the internal gear simultaneously mates with the spline and input pinion gears such that rotation of the drive input correspondingly rotates the spline, to a second position, where the internal gear is disengaged from the input pinion gear such that the spline is rotatable independent of the drive input.

Abstract: A system for treating atrial fibrillation includes a memory configured to store a baseline measurement of an atrial fibrillation characteristic of a patient and a post administration measurement of the atrial fibrillation characteristic of the patient. The post administration measurement is obtained subsequent to administration of a reactive oxygens species (ROS) scavenger to the patient. The system also includes a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to determine a change between the baseline measurement and the post administration measurement of the atrial fibrillation characteristic. The processor is further configured to identify, based on the determined change, one or more hot spots of atrial fibrillation, where the one or more hot spots comprise target areas for treatment of the atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: An example of a system for programming neurostimulation according to a stimulation configuration may include stimulation configuration circuitry, volume definition circuitry, stimulation effect circuitry, and recording circuitry. The stimulation configuration circuitry may be configured to determine the stimulation configuration. The volume definition circuitry may be configured to determine stimulation field model(s) (SFM(s)) each representing a volume of tissue activated by the neurostimulation. The stimulation effect circuitry may be configured to determine a stimulation effect type for each tagging point specified for the SFM(s) and to tag the SFM(s) at each tagging point with the stimulation effect type determined for that tagging point. The stimulation effect type for each tagging point is a type of stimulation resulting from the neurostimulation as measured at that tagging point.

Abstract: An intravascular heart pump assembly can include a rotor with at least one impeller blade, and a cannula. The present application describes various cannulas that can be manufactured from multiple layers of material to improve flexibility, manufacturability, and durability without increasing an outer diameter of the cannula. In one embodiment, the cannula includes an inflow section having a sheet formed of a shape memory material embedded within a polymer and having at least one lateral hole or aperture in the inflow section. The at least one lateral hole is defined by a first hole in the sheet and a second hole in the outer polymer layer of the cannula. The first hole and the second hole overlap so that blood can enter the cannula through the holes.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided method for measuring wound healing, comprising, measuring a wound impedance by a first tetrapolar arrangement of electrodes arranged on both sides of a wound, measuring a reference impedance by a second tetrapolar arrangement of electrodes arranged on one side of the wound, determining, by a controller, wound healing on the basis of the wound impedance and the reference impedance measured over a frequency range.

Abstract: An implantable medical device has a therapy module configured to generate a composite pacing pulse including a series of at least two individual pulses. The therapy module is configured to generate the composite pacing pulse by generating a first pulse of the at least two individual pulses by selectively coupling a first portion of a plurality of capacitors to an output signal line and generate a second pulse of the at least two individual pulses by selectively coupling a second portion of the plurality of capacitors to the output signal line.

Abstract: An implantable medical device comprises a sensing module configured to obtain electrical signals from one or more electrodes and a control module configured to process the electrical signals from the sensing module in accordance with a tachyarrhythmia detection algorithm to monitor for a tachyarrhythmia. The control module detects initiation of a pacing train delivered by a second implantable medical device, determines a type of the detected pacing train, and modifies the tachyarrhythmia detection algorithm based on the type of the detected pacing train.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for imposing electric fields through a target region in a body of a patient are described. The apparatus includes a sensor array having a plurality of temperature sensors with a plurality of first temperature sensors of the sensor array connected to a first conductor, and a plurality of second temperature sensors connected to a second conductor. A circuit is configured to provide a known amount of electricity via the first conductor and the second conductor to a third temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor within the plurality of first temperature sensors, and within the plurality of second temperature sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed are various examples and embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods configured to treat mood disorders in a patient using a compact implantable neurostimulator and corresponding lead(s) that are shaped, sized and configured to be implanted beneath a patient's skin in the head or neck, and to stimulate one or more target cranial nerves. The one or more medical electrical leads comprising electrode(s) are positioned adjacent to, in contact with, or in operative positional relationship to, the one or more target cranial nerves of the patient. In some embodiments, electrical stimulation is provided to the one or more target cranial nerve(s) of the patient for periods of time ranging between 30 and 60 minutes, once or twice per day. In some embodiments, power is provided to the implantable neurostimulator transcutaneously by inductive, wireless, RF, acoustic, microwave, or other suitable non-invasive means.

Abstract: Described is a low voltage, pulsed electrical stimulation device for controlling expression of Collagen Type XVII Alpha 1 chain (COL17A1), a useful protein, by tissues. Also described are methods of COL17A1 in cells.