Abstract: A method (of treating a patient who has tinnitus) includes: providing to the patient a series of tones including at least a single tone which is at least a half-octave outside a tinnitus frequency of the patient; and applying vagus nerve stimulation to the patient to induce a period of plasticity in a cortex of the patient that is transitory and that represents a transitory opportunity for learning to occur; and wherein the at least a single tone occurs during the transitory opportunity for learning.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for driving a medical instrument having an inner body and an outer body. In one aspect, a system includes a medical instrument comprising an outer body and an inner body configured to be driven through a lumen in the outer body. The system may further include a set of one or more instrument manipulators configured to control movement of the outer and inner bodies and a set of one or more processors configured to: receive a change drive mode command, and in response to receiving the change drive mode command, change a drive mode of the medical instrument from a paired drive mode to an unpaired drive mode.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes using an accelerometer of an IMD (e.g., a leadless pacemaker) to produce one or more accelerometer outputs indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The method can also include the IMD using an accelerometer to identify when the orientation of the IMD is such that the IMD will likely be able to successfully communicate with another IMD via one or more communication pulses sent from the IMD to the other IMD. The method also includes the IMD sending of the one or more communication pulses, that are used to communicate with the other IMD, when the orientation of the IMD is such that the IMD will likely be able to successfully communicate with the other IMD via one or more communication pulses sent from the IMD to the other IMD.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac pacemaker, wherein the pacemaker is configured to apply pacing pulses to the heart of a person during operation of the pacemaker, and wherein the pacemaker comprises a motion detection system that comprises a first module and a second module. The first module is configured to continuously run during operation of the pacemaker. The second module is configured to receive a trigger signal to change from an idle state to an active state or to receive a further trigger signal to change from an active state to an idle state. An energy consumption per time unit of the second module in the active state is larger than in the idle state. When the second module is in its active state, the second module is configured to execute a rate adaptation algorithm that adapts a rate of the pacing pulses to meet a metabolic demand of the person.

Abstract: The present disclosure facilitates capture of biosignal such as biopotential signals in microvolts, or sub-microvolts, resolutions that are at, or significantly below, the noise-floor of conventional electrocardiographic and biosignal acquisition instruments. In some embodiments, the exemplified system disclosed herein facilitates the acquisition and recording of wide-band phase gradient signals (e.g., wide-band cardiac phase gradient signals, wide-band cerebral phase gradient signals) that are simultaneously sampled, in some embodiments, having a temporal skew less than about 1 ?s, and in other embodiments, having a temporal skew not more than about 10 femtoseconds. Notably, the exemplified system minimizes non-linear distortions (e.g., those that can be introduced via certain filters) in the acquired wide-band phase gradient signal so as to not affect the information therein.

Abstract: A system for controlled sympathectomy procedures is disclosed. A system for controlled micro ablation procedures is disclosed. Methods for performing a controlled surgical procedure are disclosed. A system for performing controlled surgical procedures in a minimally invasive manner is disclosed. Systems and methods for accessing target tissues as part of a neuromodulation procedure from within a lumen are disclosed.

Abstract: A neuromodulation system includes a conductive element, a magnetic field generator, a power module and a computer processor. The conductive element located internal a patient's body. At least a portion of the conductive element is positioned adjacent to a target tissue. The magnetic field generator is positioned external to the patient's body. The magnetic field generator generates a time varying magnetic field for inducing stimulation of the target tissue in combination with the conductive element to produce stimulation that is larger than that which would occur in the absence of the conductive element. The power module supplies power to the magnetic field generator. The computer processor controls the time varying magnetic field provided by the magnetic field generator according to at least one set of stimulation parameters.

Abstract: Self-directed health screening systems and methods utilizing user navigation and device integration, health analyzing algorithms, and/or self-learning techniques for the detection, quantifying, prevention, and management of health risks and discoverable health conditions. Implementations herein may include components or involve aspects associated with information collection, information processing, display/provision/rendering of professional advice, and/or processing of various associated data and information via network(s). Implementations herein provide for innovatively configured, easily upgradable, efficient, portable, scalable, easy-to-use, usage-encouraging, and/or effective implementations for screening, predicting points of inflection of pending health issues, preventing and/or managing users' health, provided via various and multiple embodiments having numerous advantages over other known techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system, which can be implanted in a human body, for neuromodulation of nerves, having an electronic signal generating or in an implantable signal generating housing (10), a voltage supply connected to the signal generating or, at least one elongated multi-channel wire electrode (12), which is connected to the signal generating housing and which is designed for implantation in the human body on a nerve (DNP), which multi-channel wire electrode forms a plurality of shell segment electrodes (16a-16d) on a nerve contact region (14) and has, on the ends thereof, a fixing (18) for anchoring the wire electrode means to an implantation location, wherein the signal generator housing has a flat fixing unit (20), which is flange-like and/or sits and/or protrudes in the manner of a piece of tissue, which enables the surgical fixation of the signal generating housing to a tissue, muscle or bone region (PB) in the body, in particular to a region of the pubic bone, to a muscle portion and/or to a

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an implantable lead includes forming an elongated lead body core that defines a longitudinal axis. The elongated lead body core has a plurality of axially extending channels that are circumferentially spaced apart from one another around the elongated lead body core. The method also includes positioning an electrode ring around the elongated lead body core and electrical conductors. The method includes positioning a respective electrical conductor in each of the axially extending channels and positioning a dielectric insulator ring around the elongated lead body core and electrical conductors.

Abstract: Described herein are implantable medical systems, and methods for use therewith, that provide a temperature based rate response for a patient within which the implantable medical system is implanted. Such a method can include sensing a blood temperature signal indicative of a core body temperature of the patient, and producing a relative temperature signal based on the blood temperature signal. The method can further include producing a moving baseline temperature signal based on the relative temperature signal, producing a proportional response signal based on the relative temperature signal and the moving baseline temperature signal, and producing a sensor indicated rate response signal based on the proportional response signal and a base rate. The sensor indicated rate response signal can also be based on a dip response signal and/or a slope response signal. Additionally, a pacing rate is controlled based on the sensor indicated rate response signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimization of a stimulation specificity and an energy consumption of implanted electrodes in excitable tissue of a patient. The method may involve electrically stimulating excitable tissue between one or more combinations of electrode pairs in a cluster of electrodes, or electrically stimulating excitable tissue between one or more combinations of electrode pairs in two or more clusters of electrodes. The two electrodes of the electrode pairs may not belong to a same cluster. Each of the electrodes may be located on a physically separated entity, such that the tissue surrounds and separates each electrode from all other electrodes, thereby allowing tissue between the electrodes to be stimulated. An electrode pair or pairs which give rise to a lowest energy consumption while still giving a therapeutic effect may be chosen.

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: 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 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: 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: 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.