Abstract: A method including reducing a stimulation artifact of an implantable stimulator including a plurality of stimulating electrodes by obtaining respective information on respective artifact voltages at a first location resulting from stimulation by one electrode group or respective electrode groups of the implanted stimulator and determining an adjustment regime based on the obtained information that results in a reduction of the stimulation artifact at the first location relative to that which would be the case in the absence of the regime.

Abstract: A cuff for use in nerve stimulation includes a sheet of elastomer having at least one electrode and being pre-stressed so as to allow its spiral self-winding to form a cuff around the nerve. The sheet is delimited by a first width defining an outer edge of the cuff after winding, a second width defining an opposite inner edge, a first length and a second opposite length. The first width is at both ends connected to the two lengths by a respective bevel edge forming an oblique angle relative to the direction of greatest dimension of the sheet.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for predicting lesion quality. Specifically, lesion quality may be predicted based on an assessment of pulmonary vein occlusion using injection of an impedance-modifying agent and evaluation of changes in impedance measurements recorded by an electrode located distal to an occlusion element of the treatment device used to inject the impedance-modifying agent. The quality of the occlusion may be rated based on the changes in impedance over time within the pulmonary vein. For example, the quality of the occlusion may be rated as being good, fair, or poor. This assessment may be quickly and easily communicated to an operator.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for enhanced dielectric properties for electrolytic capacitors to store energy in an implantable medical device. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for manufacturing a capacitor adapted to be disposed in an implantable device housing. An embodiment of the method includes providing a dielectric comprising aluminum oxide and doping the aluminum oxide with an oxide having a dielectric constant greater than aluminum oxide. Doping the aluminum oxide includes using sol-gel based chemistry, electrodeposition or atomic layer deposition (ALD) in various embodiments.

Abstract: Embodiments include an epicardial heart stimulator that includes a housing and electric components arranged in the housing. The electric components include a stimulation unit, a stimulation control unit, and at least one stimulation electrode on the housing. The stimulation electrode is connected to the stimulation unit and to the stimulation control unit. The stimulation unit provides electric energy that corresponds to a stimulation pulse and delivers the stimulation pulse via the stimulation electrode upon a corresponding trigger signal of the stimulation control unit. The epicardial heart stimulator includes a sensing electrode on the housing that senses electric potentials and that is electrically connected to a sensing unit in the housing. The sensing unit is connected to the stimulation control unit. The stimulation control unit, in a corresponding operating mode, controls the delivery of a respective trigger signal in accordance with an output signal of the sensing unit.

Abstract: A method of operating a counterpulsation device (CPD) in a human or animal subject is disclosed, the method including: receiving a heart beat signal indicative of the heart beat of the subject; providing counterpulsation therapy by controlling the pressure supplied to a CPD drive line in pneumatic communication with the CPD to cause the CPD to alternately fill with blood and eject blood with a timing that is determined at least in part based on the heart beat signal; while providing counterpulsation therapy, receiving a CPD drive line pressure signal indicative of the pressure in the CPD drive line; and adjusting the pressure supplied to the drive line based at least in part on the drive line pressure signal.

Abstract: An implant unit configured for implantation into a body of a subject is provided. The implant unit may include a flexible carrier unit including a central portion and two elongated arms extending from the central portion, an antenna, located on the central portion, configured to receive a signal, at least one pair of electrodes arranged on a first elongated arm of the two elongated arms. The at least one pair of electrodes may be adapted to modulate a first nerve. The elongated arms of the flexible carrier may be configured to form an open ended curvature around a muscle with the nerve to be stimulated within an arc of the curvature.

Abstract: Methods and systems for fitting a bone conduction device are provided herein. These methods and systems comprise obtaining dynamic range parameters for a bone conduction device. These dynamic range parameters may include threshold and a maximum comfort levels for the bone conduction device. Once determined, the bone conduction device may use the dynamic range parameters in applying stimulation to a recipient.

Abstract: A neuromodulation system includes modulation output circuitry and control circuitry. The modulation output circuitry may be configured to deliver therapeutic electrical energy including therapeutic sub-threshold electrical energy and therapeutic a super-threshold electrical energy. The sub-threshold electrical energy is below a patient-perception threshold and the super-threshold electrical energy is above the patient-perception threshold. The patient-perception threshold is a boundary below which a patient does not sense delivery of the electrical energy and above which the patient does sense delivery of the electrical energy. The control circuitry is configured to control the modulation output circuitry to deliver the therapeutic electrical energy using alternating cycles of the sub-threshold electrical energy below the patient-perception threshold and the super-threshold electrical energy above the patient-perception-threshold.

Abstract: Methods and devices of treating fungal nail infections are disclosed. A portable device for treating fungal nail infections includes an irradiator configured to irradiate light of at least first and second types, and an attaching element configured to attach the irradiator to a digit having a nail which is infected by a fungal infection, and to position the irradiator at a position suitable to irradiate at least part of the nail.

Abstract: The presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient is determined by evaluating fluctuations in an electrical signal that represents a measurement of the patient's transthoracic impedance. Impedance signal data obtained from the patient is analyzed for a feature indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse. Whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient is determined based on the feature in the impedance signal data. Electrocardiogram (ECG) data may also be obtained in time coordination with the impedance signal data. Various applications for the pulse detection of the invention include detection of PEA and prompting PEA-specific therapy, prompting defibrillation therapy and/or CPR, and prompting rescue breathing depending on detection of respiration.

Abstract: Heart rate monitors are plagued by noisy photoplethysmography (PPG) data, which makes it difficult for the monitors to output a consistently accurate heart rate reading. Noise is often caused by motion. Using known methods for processing accelerometer readings that measure movement to filter out some of this noise may help, but not always. The present disclosure describes an improved front-end technique (time-domain interference removal) based on using adaptive linear prediction on accelerometer data to generate filters for filtering the PPG signal prior to tracking the frequency of the heartbeat (heart rate). The present disclosure also describes an improved back-end technique based on steering the frequency of a resonant filter in order to track the heartbeat. Implementing one or both of these techniques leads to more accurate heart rate measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an IPL apparatus that is used as a hair removing machine or cures skin ailments by periodically irradiating Xenon lamp light on the user's skin, the IPL apparatus comprises: a double-voltage unit which has a double-voltage capacitor, and outputs a high voltage by superposing an inputted supply voltage with a voltage charged in the double-voltage capacitor; a charging capacitor which charges energy for turning on a Xenon lamp by accumulating electric charges supplied from the double-voltage unit; a reference voltage generator which sets a charging voltage level charged in the charging capacitor; and a switch unit which is positioned between the double-voltage unit and the charging capacitor, and switches on and off the movement of the electric charges to the charging capacitor from the double-voltage unit by setting an output of the reference voltage generator to a control signal.

Abstract: A method for delivering energy as a function of degree coupling may utilize an external unit configured for location external to a body of a subject and at least one processor associated with the implant unit and configured for electrical communication with a power source. The method may determine a degree of coupling between the primary antenna and a secondary antenna associated with the implant unit, and regulate delivery of power to the implant unit based on the degree of coupling between the primary antenna and the secondary antenna.

Abstract: A method of controlling a threshold for detecting peaks of physiological signals includes: obtaining a physiological signal measured from a person being examined; determining whether a peak of the physiological signals is detected based on a result of comparing the physiological signals with a threshold; and controlling the threshold based on a minimum threshold and either the threshold or a feature value of the detected peak based on a result of the determining. When a threshold for detecting peaks of physiological signals is controlled, even if an interval between the peaks is irregular or there is a large difference in values of the peaks, the peaks can be accurately detected.

Abstract: The disclosure provides techniques for parameter-directed shifting of electrical stimulation electrode combinations. An external programmer permits a user to shift electrode combinations, e.g., along the length of a lead or leads. The external programmer accepts shift input and causes an electrical stimulator to shift electrode combinations as indicated by the input. Different sets of electrodes may have different electrode counts. For example, an array of electrodes carried by one lead may have a greater number of electrodes than an array of electrodes carried on another lead. The disclosure provides techniques for shifting electrode combinations among leads with different electrode counts. For example, an external programmer may execute shifts in a series of shift operations, where the number of shift operations along the length of a lead having a greater electrode count is greater than the number of shift steps along the length of a lead having a lesser electrode count.

Abstract: A lead is configured and arranged for brain stimulation. The lead includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end includes a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end. The distal end has a non-circular transverse cross-sectional shape and includes a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end. A plurality of conductive wires electrically couple at least one of the plurality of electrodes to at least one of the plurality of terminals.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods plan and control neuro-modulation of a distributed multi-region network in a brain. A location for a deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode that participates in activating a combination of white matter pathways associated with the network is selected. The location is selected based on a pre-implantation image of the brain and a probabilistic activation model of the network. An initial stimulation parameter for DBS to be applied through the DBS electrode is selected based on a post-implantation image of the brain and the probabilistic activation model of the network. A modified stimulation parameter for DBS being applied through the DBS electrode is selected based on the initial stimulation parameter, a local field potential measured in the distributed multi-region network in response to DBS applied using the initial stimulation parameter, the probabilistic activation model of the distributed multi-region network, and the post-implantation image of the brain.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a hearing aid component configured to be arranged at a head of a user, and away from an ear canal of the user, the hearing aid component configured to provide a signal to an earpiece; the earpiece configured to be arranged at the ear of the user, and configured to provide an acoustic output to the user; and a coupling element configured for coupling the hearing aid component and the earpiece, the coupling element having a tube and an electrically conducting element; wherein the electrically conducting element in the coupling element of the hearing aid is configured to operate as a part of an antenna for wireless communication, and wherein the electrically conducting element is configured for electromagnetic signal emission and/or electromagnetic signal reception.

Abstract: A pacing mode is provided, in one embodiment, that permits missed or skipped ventricular beats. The mode monitors a full cardiac cycle (A-A interval) for the presence of intrinsic ventricular activity. If ventricular activity is present, a flag is set that is valid for the next cardiac cycle. At the beginning of the next cardiac cycle, the device determines if the flag is present. So long as the flag is present, the device will not deliver a ventricular pacing pulse in that cycle, even if there is no intrinsic ventricular activity. If there is no flag present at the start of a given cardiac cycle, a ventricular pacing pulse is delivered and this ventricular activity sets a flag for the subsequent cardiac cycle.