Abstract: The present application relates to stacked piezoelectric composites comprising piezoelectric structures. Suitably, the composites are useful as tissue-stimulating implants, including spinal fusion implants. The present application also relates to methods of making stacked piezoelectric composites.

Abstract: When a device mounted on a mask pack, and a mask pack and a kit including the device are used, the mask pack may be well attached onto an application site, for example, skin; delivery of a bioactive material via the skin may improve; and itching, pain, burning, and erythema that may occur during a process of delivering the bioactive material to the skin may be prevented by using the device including an electrode.

Abstract: The method of treating benign prostatic hyperplasia comprises trans-perineally introducing at least one energy delivery device through a perineal area of the patient in a first position in a prostate of the patient. Once the energy delivery device has been introduced, energy is delivered through the delivery device to a volume of tissue of the prostate, until the volume is vaporized or sublimated and a cavity is formed in the prostate tissue. The energy delivery device can then be removed from the prostate. Vaporization of adenomatous tissue provides immediate relieve of the urethra compression.

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, an end effector, and a rotational knob operable to rotate the transmission assembly and the 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. The coupling may mechanically and/or electrically couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly via various coupling mechanisms. For instance, a threaded slip nut may couple to threads within the body assembly. In one configuration, the end effector assembly may have locking tabs that rotate into rotational recesses in the body assembly. The locking tabs may include electrical contacts and/or optically perceivable indicators.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods described herein can be used to monitor and treat cardiovascular disease, and more specifically, can be used to determine heart rate (HR), determine respiration rate (RR) and classify cardiac rhythms based on atrial intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) and atrial pressure (AP) signals. The atrial IEGM and AP signals are subject to spectrum transforms to obtain an atrial IEGM frequency spectrum and an AP frequency spectrum. Based on peaks in the atrial IEGM and AP frequency spectrums measures of HR and RR are determined, and arrhythmias are detected and/or arrhythmia discrimination is performed.

Abstract: There is provided a heartbeat detection device. The heartbeat detection device includes a time difference value calculation unit (3) configured to calculate a time difference value of sampling data of an electrocardiographic waveform, FIFO buffers (4-1, 4-2) configured to receive the time difference value, a FIFO buffer (4-3) configured to receive an output from the FIFO buffer (4-2), a FIFO buffer (4-4) configured to receive an output from the FIFO buffer (4-3), a minimum value detection unit (5) configured to detect, for each sampling time, a minimum value M out of the time difference value stored in the FIFO buffer (4-2) and the time difference value stored in the FIFO buffer (4-4), and a heartbeat time determination unit (6) configured to set, when a difference value M?a between the minimum value M and an output value a of the FIFO buffer (4-1) is equal to or greater than a threshold, sampling time of the output value a as heartbeat time.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and systems for monitoring and responding to changes in a patient's physiologic status. A method includes sensing pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and thoracic impedance of a patient at rest. The method also includes detecting, based on the sensed PAP, whenever the patient's PAP at rest is outside an acceptable range of PAP measures for the patient at rest, and detecting, based on the sensed thoracic impedance, whenever the patient's respiration at rest is outside an acceptable range of respiration measures for the patient at rest. Various different actions are triggered depending upon whether the patient's PAP at rest is outside the acceptable range of PAP measures for the patient at rest, and whether the patient's respiration at rest is within the acceptable range of respiration measures for the patient at rest. Other embodiments relate to similar methods performed at other levels of exertion.

Abstract: A physiological parameter system has one or more parameter inputs responsive to one or more physiological sensors. The physiological parameter system may also have quality indicators relating to confidence in the parameter inputs. A processor is adapted to combine the parameter inputs, quality indicators and predetermined limits for the parameters inputs and quality indicators so as to generate alarm outputs or control outputs or both.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite intelligent biological phototherapy device including a base structure, a plurality of white light fluorescent tubes arranged side by side on the base structure, a plurality of LEDs disposed between the white light fluorescent tubes, a housing having an opening and configured to accommodate the base structure and the white light fluorescent tubes and the LEDs thereon, a light-transmittable plate disposed on the housing corresponding to the opening, and an control module configured to respectively control the white light fluorescent tubes and the LEDs. The base structure includes a plurality of sections, and each of the sections has a first surface facing the light-transmittable plate. The white light fluorescent tubes and the LEDs are provided on the first surfaces, and the sections are bent relative to each other so an angle between the first surfaces of adjacent sections is less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: Techniques for determining the location of a physiological midline are disclosed. A first technique evaluates the response to stimulation of spinal electrodes at peripheral electrodes on different sides of the body. In this technique, a spinal electrode's position relative to a physiological midline is determined based on a relationship between responses to its stimulation observed on different sides of the body. A second technique evaluates the response of spinal electrodes to stimulation of peripheral electrodes on different sides of the body. In this technique, a spinal electrode's position relative to a physiological midline is determined based on the different responses that it observes to stimulation on different sides of the body.

Abstract: An electric bed includes: a monitoring module (1), configured to monitor physical conditions of a user, and send monitoring data to a wireless communication module (2); and the wireless communication module (2), configured to send the monitoring data to a server. The server receives a setting signal sent by a terminal device, and determines whether to send an alarm signal based on the setting signal and the monitoring data. The electric bed has an intelligent help seeking function, and can comprehensively reflect a real condition of people in sleep by monitoring a plurality of vital signs, thereby reducing the probability of false alarm.

Abstract: A portable automated external defibrillator includes a body and an accessory. The body includes a sub power source, a main controller, and a cable winding unit inside the body, an operation button on a front surface of the body, a main electrode pad on a rear surface of the body, and a plug on a side of the body and to which a cable wound on the cable winding unit is coupled. The accessory includes a main power source and a sub-controller inside the accessory, a sub-electrode pad on a rear surface of the accessory, and an outlet on a side of the accessory. The portable automated external defibrillator may prevent a cable of the electrode pad from being twisted or broken, and stably perform an electric shock by the main power source kept in an inactive state during carrying and which is activated in use.

Abstract: An atrial fibrillation detecting device includes a processor and a memory that stores a computer-readable command. When the computer-readable command is executed by the processor, the atrial fibrillation detecting device is configured to acquire pulse data representing a plurality of pulses, calculate a pulse rate based on the pulse data, calculate respective pulse amplitude indices of the plurality of pluses based on the pulse data, calculate an amplitude dispersion of the pulse amplitude indices based on the calculated pulse amplitude indices, calculate respective pulse interval indices of the plurality of pluses based on the pulse data, calculate an interval dispersion of the pulse interval indices based on the calculated pulse interval indices, and determine whether the pulse data is atrial fibrillation, based on the calculated pulse rate, the calculated amplitude dispersion, and the calculated interval dispersion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for bilateral renal neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for transmitting signals ultrasonically among a network of implantable and wearable biological devices. The devices includes one or more implantable nodes, which include a sensing and/or actuating unit, at least one gateway node, and at least one access point node. Ultrasonic signals can be transmitted through the body by the implantable nodes to and from the gateway node, for transmission to and from the access point node. The access point node can be connected to the Internet. In this manner, remote instructions can be transmitted to the implantable nodes and data obtained at the implantable nodes can be transmitted to remote sites.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to real-time in vivo spectrophotometric analysis of skin tissue. In some implementations, the spectrophotometry is implemented using a wireless microchip with at least one sensor implanted beneath the skin of an individual. The absorption of light at different wavelengths by the skin tissue is correlated to various skin states, revealing transient conditions or pathologies in real time. An external interrogation device is positioned on or adjacent to the surface of the skin and includes one or more energy sources for emitting light of different wavelengths. The external device may provide signals for wirelessly powering the implanted microchip, as well as have communication capabilities for receiving wireless transmissions from the implanted microchip. The sensors on the implantable microchip can be used to measure light intensity attenuated by the skin tissue between the light sources and the sensors.

Abstract: An enhanced RF switchable filtered feedthrough for real-time identification of the electrical and physical integrity of an implanted AIMD lead includes a DOUBLE POLE RF switch disposed on the device side. Additionally, the RF switchable filtered feedthrough can optionally include transient voltage suppressors (TVS) and an MRI mode. In an embodiment, a DOUBLE POLE RF switch selectively disconnects EMI filter capacitors so that an RF test/interrogation signal is sent from the AIMD down into an implanted lead(s). The reflected RF signal is then analyzed to assess implanted lead integrity including lead body anomalies, lead insulation defects, and/or lead conductor defects. The Double Pole switch is configured to be controlled by an AIMD control signal to switch between FIRST and SECOND THROW positions.

Abstract: Intraocular pressure in an eye is reduced by delivering each of a high resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) beam and a high resolution laser beam through the cornea, and the anterior chamber into the irido-corneal angle along an angled beam path. The OCT beam provides OCT imaging for diagnostic purposes and surgery planning and monitoring, while the laser beam is configured to modify tissue. A volume of ocular tissue within an outflow pathway in the irido-corneal angle is modified to reduce a pathway resistance present in one or more of the trabecular meshwork, the Schlemm's canal, and the one or more collector channels by applying the laser beam to ocular tissue defining the volume to thereby cause photo-disruptive interaction with the ocular tissue to reduce the pathway resistance or create a new outflow pathway.

Abstract: A first optical subsystem includes a window with a refractive index nw and an exit lens having a refractive index nx. The exit lens is configured to couple to the window to define a first optical axis extending through the window and the exit lens. A second optical subsystem is configured to output a light beam. The light beam is directed to be incident at a convex surface of the exit lens along a second optical axis at an angle ? that is offset from the first optical axis. The window is configured to detachably couple to the cornea of the eye such that the first optical axis is generally aligned with a direction of view of the eye. The respective refractive indices nw and nx are configured to direct the light beam incident at the convex surface of the exit lens through the cornea of the eye toward the irido-corneal angle.

Abstract: An EMS stimulation current transmission element for an EMS garment includes a planar current transmission region of an EMS electrode for transmitting EMS stimuli to the living body, which contains a number of two-dimensionally arranged linear current conductor strand sections and is connected, via a further number of linear current conductor strand sections, to a connection point that is in particular spaced apart from the current transmission region, at which connection point the EMS stimulation current transmission element can be connected to an EMS stimulation current production unit, in order to load the current transmission region with an EMS stimulation current shaped by the EMS stimulus current production unit from a current drawn from a current source to form a pulse sequence and/or to form an alternating current. The current transmission region has a single linear current conductor strand section. An EMS garment has an EMS stimulation current transmission element.