Abstract: Described herein are implantable systems and devices, and methods for use therewith, that can be used to monitor and treat heart failure (HF). Such implantable systems preferably includes a lead having at least two electrodes implantable in a patient's left ventricular (LV) chamber. A plurality of different sensing vectors are used to obtain a plurality of IEGMs each of which is indicative of an evoked response at a corresponding different region of the LV chamber. For each of the IEGMs, there is a determination of one or more evoked response metrics indicative of a localized cardiac function at the corresponding region of the LV chamber. The evoke response metrics can be, e.g., paced depolarization integral (PDI) and/or maximum upward slope of an R-wave, but are not limited thereto.

Abstract: A diabetes care system for detection of an analyte and method for selective data transmission are disclosed. The diabetes care system has a mobile component and a base station, wherein a data transmission occurring between the mobile component and the base station within a time interval in which a wireless communication link exists, wherein is selectively performed in such a manner that within the time interval, a first partial set of the data is transmitted from the mobile component to the base station. The first partial set is selected using a processor-controlled selection algorithm in such a manner that the data transmitted in the time interval is representative of the entirety of the data stored in the mobile component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brain dysfunction and seizure detector monitor and system, and a method of detecting brain dysfunction and/or seizure of a subject. The various embodiments of the system of the present invention were developed for the brain activity and preferably EEG monitoring of a single patient or multiple patients. Preferably, the system or monitor of the present invention also includes one or more seizure detection algorithms. The analysis method is specifically optimized to amplify abnormal brain activity and minimize normal background activity. This analysis yields a seizure index whose value is directly related to the current presence of ictal activity in the signal. In addition, a seizure probability index based on historical values of the aforementioned seizure index, is derived for diagnostic purposes. The seizure probability index quantifies the probability that the patient has exhibited abnormal brain activity since the beginning of the recording.

Abstract: In some examples, a device applies an electrical potential difference across a blood sample. The device measures an electrical signal that passes through the blood sample over a duration of time to obtain a plurality of measurements representing a measurement function of time. An accumulative property of the measurement function may be determined such that the accumulative property correlates to a blood coagulation characteristic.

Abstract: Provided is a scanning jig capable of improving replacement accuracy of three-dimensional data. Provided is a scanning jig 10 for attaching to an analog 20 embedded in a model or to an artificial tooth root 30 embedded inside an oral cavity, the scanning jig including: a main body 11 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape provided with a bottom to one end portion; a fixation member 12 of which one end side is inserted inside the cylindrical shape of the main body and the other end side is fixated to the analog or the artificial tooth root; and a magnet 13 arranged inside the cylindrical shape of the main body, wherein the main body is not provided with a hole or a groove on one end surface on a bottom side of the bottomed cylindrical shape, and the end surface is provided with an inclined surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods that help to optimize the sound quality produced when a sound processing mode is enabled in an audio device, such as a hearing prosthesis. When the sound processing mode is enabled, a sound processor in the audio device will create a candidate transformed signal based on a default set of parameters associated with the sound processing mode (i.e. a candidate signal processing function). Further, the sound processor will create a reference transformed signal based on the same enabled sound processing mode, but with a varied set of parameters (i.e. a modified signal processing function). The sound processor will then compare the candidate transformed signal to the reference transformed signal to determine which signal has a higher quality. The device then creates an output based on the higher quality signal.

Abstract: Featured are methods and systems for assessing cardiac filing pressure non-invasively. Such methods include, inter alia, arranging a photoplethysmography (PPG) transducer on a finger of a patient and fluidly coupling a pressure transducer to the patient's mouth so that the pressure transducer measures expiratory pressure. The PPG transducer provides an output of a pulse volume signal of cardiac circulatory flow. Such methods also including determining a pulse amplitude ratio, using the pulse volume near the end of the expiratory effort and a baseline pulse volume, and assessing the pulse amplitude ratio so as to determine a filing pressure condition for the heart of the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for screening a patient for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using recordings of tracheal breathing sounds of both nose and mouth breathing in the upright and supine positions to compute characteristic features of the patient, the characteristic features being compared to the mean values of similar features of OSA and non-OSA training groups to classify a patient as OSA or non-OSA.

Abstract: A lead fixation device for securing a medical lead in a human patient includes: a single-piece structure comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; an outer perimeter; and an inner perimeter, the inner perimeter comprising: a diameter approximately equal to or smaller than a diameter of a burr hole into which the lead fixation device is designed to be deployed; a central bore extending longitudinally from the top surface through to the bottom surface, a portion of the central bore being located in approximately a center of the lead fixation device and comprising a central bore diameter; and at least one retention tract formed in the top surface of a cap of the lead fixation device, the retention tract configured for retaining, with an interference fit, a portion of a body of the medical lead in the lead fixation device.

Abstract: A probe, including an insertion tube and an electrode mounted on a distal end of the insertion tube. A force sensor is mounted in the distal end of the insertion tube. The force sensor has a central opening and is configured to measure a force on the distal end. The probe also includes tubing, passing through the central opening, which is configured to supply irrigation fluid through apertures in the electrode.

Abstract: The invention provides methods related to improving heart function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brain dysfunction and seizure detector monitor and system, and a method of detecting brain dysfunction and/or seizure of a subject. Preferably, the present invention also includes one or more seizure detection algorithms. The analysis method is specifically optimized to amplify abnormal brain activity and minimize normal background activity yielding a seizure index directly related to the current presence of ictal activity in the signal. Additionally, a seizure probability index based on historical values of the aforementioned seizure index, is derived for diagnostic purposes. The seizure probability index quantifies the probability that the patient has exhibited abnormal brain activity since the beginning of the recording. These indexes can be used in the context of emergency and/or clinical situations to assess the status and well-being of a patient's brain, or can be used to automatically administer treatment to stop the seizure before clinical signs appear.

Abstract: Disclosed is an implantable wireless electrocardiogram sensor device, including: a cylindrical capsule provided with four recesses on a lateral surface thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof at equal intervals; electrodes installed on upper and lower surfaces of the cylindrical capsule and configured to measure electrocardiogram; a wireless electrocardiogram sensor module installed inside the capsule; a data transceiving antenna wound around two recesses symmetrical at a center; and a coil for charging wound around the remaining two recesses in a direction vertical to the antenna.

Abstract: A method for reducing left ventricular volume, which comprises identifying infarcted tissue during open chest surgery; reducing left ventricle volume while preserving the ventricular apex; and realigning the ventricular apex, such that the realigning step comprises closing the lower or apical portion of said ventricle to achieve appropriate functional contractile geometry of said ventricle in a dyskinetic ventricle of a heart.

Abstract: A detection apparatus (400, 1100) detects the presence of a substance (116) on a surface (31, 33) based on measurement of a signal of obstructing the passage of second fluid (30) through a first stream probe and confirmation that the substance is not the gums of a subject or a user of the detection apparatus and not the generation of a false alarm signal that the substance is the gums of the subject or of the user of the detection apparatus by comparing to a signal of at least partial obstruction to a signal correlating to an object not obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through a second stream probe (402). The signals may include pressure, flow rate and strain.

Abstract: Stimulation of the central nervous system can be useful for treating neurological disorders. Wireless neurostimulating devices have the benefit that they can float in tissue and do not experience the sheering caused by tethering tension that connecting wires impose on the stimulators. An optically powered, logic controlled, CMOS microdevice that can decode telemetry data from an optical packet is a way of implementing wireless, addressable, microstimulators. Through the use of an optical packet, different devices can be addressed for stimulation, allowing spatially selective activation of neural tissue. The present invention, involves such a neural stimulation device, specifically an optically powered CMOS circuit that decodes telemetry data and determines whether it has been addressed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises: (A) receiving first acoustic data representing a first cough train of a first human subject, wherein the first cough train comprises at least one first cough of the first human subject; (B) identifying at least one first value of at one first acoustic property of the first acoustic data; and (C) determining, based on the at least one first value of the at least one first acoustic property, whether the first acoustic data indicates that the first human subject has a severe respiratory illness.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing stimulation of a heart of a patient are disclosed. The method comprises: determining recommended pacing settings including recommended AV delays and/or recommended VV delays based on IEGM data. Further, at least one hemodynamical parameter is determined based on measured at least one hemodynamical signal. Reference pacing settings are determined including reference AV delays and/or reference VV delays based on said hemodynamical parameters. An AV delay correction value and a VV delay correction value are calculated as a difference between recommended AV and/or VV delays and reference AV and/or VV delays, respectively. The correction values are used for updating recommended AV and/or VV delays, respectively.

Abstract: A fixation member of an electrode assembly for an implantable medical device includes a tissue engaging portion extending along a circular path, between a piercing distal tip thereof and a fixed end of the member. The circular path extends around a longitudinal axis of the assembly. A helical structure of the assembly, which includes an electrode surface formed thereon and a piercing distal tip, also extends around the longitudinal axis and is located within a perimeter of the circular path. The tissue engaging portion of the fixation member extends from the distal tip thereof in a direction along the circular path that is the same as that in which the helical structure extends from the distal tip thereof. The electrode assembly may include a pair of the fixation members, wherein each tissue engaging portion may extend approximately one half turn along the circular path.

Abstract: A blood coagulation system analysis device capable of analyzing a blood coagulation system with high accuracy, and a method and a program for analysis of a blood coagulation system are proposed. The blood coagulation system is observed as a temporal change in permittivity before the viscoelasticity manifestation timing (timing at which blood starts to clot from the viewpoint of viscoelasticity (in greater detail, timing at which active polymerization of fibrin monomers starts)). A permittivity of blood which is positioned between a pair of electrodes is measured at predetermined time intervals after the anticoagulant effect acting on the blood is ended, and from the measurement result, a degree of the action of the blood coagulation system is analyzed.