Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to determine an indication of contractility of a heart of a patient using received physiologic information, and to determine blood pressure information of the patient using the heart sound information and the determined indication of contractility of the heart. The system can include an assessment circuit configured to determine an indication of contractility of a heart of the patient using first heart sound (S1) information of the patient, and to determine blood pressure information of the patient using second heart sound (S2) information of the patient and the determined indication of contractility of the heart.

Abstract: A low-frequency treatment device and a treatment system with enhanced user convenience. An acquisition unit acquires an atmospheric pressure of a position where the low-frequency treatment device is located (step S102), a determination unit determines whether the atmospheric pressure is less than a threshold (step S104), and a treatment portion increases an intensity of low frequency treatment if the atmospheric pressure is less than the threshold (step S108).

Abstract: A garment worn by the patient is provided. The garment has a first module electrically connected to a second module. The first module has a first sub-control unit electrically connected to a first electrode and a second electrode placed at a first muscle and a third electrode and a fourth electrode placed at a second muscle. The sub-control unit is electrically connected to a master unit. The first muscle is stimulated with a first stimulation signal without shortening the first muscle by sending the first stimulation signal to the first electrode placed. The stimulation of the first muscle relaxes the second muscle.

Abstract: An ECG processing system for identifying noisy ECG data segments is provided. The ECG processing system includes a network interface and a processor. The network interface is configured to receive a first collection of ECG data segments from wearable medical devices associated with a plurality of patients, each wearable medical device of the wearable medical devices being configured to be continuously worn by a patient for an extended period of time. The processor is configured to produce a second collection of ECG data segments from the first collection of ECG data segments that excludes noisy ECG data segments.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing neuromodulation therapy are disclosed. The methods and systems are configured to sense an evoked neural response and use the evoked neural response as feedback for providing neuromodulation therapy. Methods of reducing stimulation artifacts that obscure the sensed evoked neural response are disclosed. The methods of artifact reduction include recording a stimulation artifact in the absence of an evoked neural response, aligning and scaling the stimulation artifact with respect to the obscured signal, and subtracting the aligned and scaled artifact from the obscured signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating comprises one or more fibers, the one or more fibers including fiber portions meeting at an apex and a bottom location to form a three dimensional cage; a detector attached to each of the fiber portions for receiving light and transmitting light along each of the fiber portions, respectively; and an illumination member situated within the cage. A method for illuminating a hollow member includes the steps of inserting one or more fibers into the hollow member, wherein one or more fibers include fiber portions that meet at a location to form a three-dimensional cage; permitting light to emit from within the three-dimensional cage and towards the fiber portions; receiving light at distinct locations on each of said fibers; and allowing each of the fibers to transmit the light received on each of the fiber portions out of the hollow member.

Abstract: This application relates to physiological monitoring typically for health and fitness purposes. Specifically, this application targets health and fitness monitors that require low noise acquisition of low amplitude biopotential signals. The method herein allows measurement and acquisition of biopotential signals that are normally too small to resolve due to the noise floor limitations of modern low noise amplifiers. Examples of applications that this method enables include monitoring devices located in far proximity from the location in which a biopotential signal originates, such as a wrist worn cardiac monitor, or a device that needs to sense low amplitude, fine muscle or nerve activity in a localized region.

Abstract: Electrosurgical devices including a shaft, a handle and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is formed of an electrically conductive material and includes an electrically insulating material covering a substantial portion of the distal end portion and leaving an exposed portion which acts as an active electrode for delivery of electrical energy to tissue. A conduit in the shaft extending to an opening in the distal end portion facilitates aspiration of tissue and may provide suction simultaneous with delivery of electrical energy. Systems include an electrosurgical device, a source of electrical energy and may optionally include a source of suction and/or a source of fluid delivery or irrigation.

Abstract: VfA cardiac therapy uses an implantable medical device or system. The implantable medical device includes a tissue-piercing electrode implanted in the basal and/or septal region of the left ventricular myocardium of the patient's heart from the triangle of Koch region of the right atrium through the right atrial endocardium and central fibrous body. The device may include a right atrial electrode, a right atrial motion detector, or both. The device may be implanted completely within the patient's heart or may use one or more leads to implant electrodes in the patient's heart. The device may be used to provide cardiac therapy, including single or multiple chamber pacing, atrioventricular synchronous pacing, asynchronous pacing, triggered pacing, cardiac resynchronization pacing, or tachycardia-related therapy. A separate medical device may be used to provide some functionality for cardiac therapy, such as sensing, pacing, or shock therapy.

Abstract: A system for detecting a suction condition in an implantable blood pump including a controller in communication with the blood pump. The controller includes a control circuit configured to calculate a present value during a time period, the present value corresponding to a pump speed divided by a pump current, determine a plurality of data values during the time period based on the present value, and determine a suction detection threshold value using the plurality of data values. The control circuit is also configured to compare the present value during the time period to the suction detection threshold value and generate an alert when the present value exceeds the suction detection threshold value on a plurality of instances during the time period, the alert corresponding to a suction condition.

Abstract: A communication platform at least partially implements secure communications between a medical device and a trusted authority (TA) service provider. The secure communications prevent access to the secure communications by the communication platform while permitting access to the secure communications at the medical device and/or at the trusted authority service provider.

Abstract: A light therapy system and method are provided for treating humans or terrestrial or aquatic animal and plant subjects with non-coherent light. The system includes an electrical controller configured with two supplies of voltage, high and low frequency pulse-width-modulators, adjustable high and low frequency duty cycle controllers for controlling the duty cycle outputs of the respective high and low frequency pulse-width-modulators that determine light pulsation intensities, and at least one light source electrically connected to the electrical controller and having at least two distinct light emitting elements. One light emitting element operates at high light pulsation frequencies, and another light emitting element operates at low light pulsation frequencies. The light may include a plurality of the high frequency powered light emitting elements and a plurality of the low frequency powered light emitting elements.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to identifying and measuring bodily states and feedback systems. A computer system initializes a tracking and measuring device to generate patient data related to a bodily state or feedback system of a patient. The computer system gathers the patient data using the initialized tracking and measuring device, and identifies a baseline parameter used to determine a baseline state relative to the gathered patient data. The computer system further gathers additional patient data using the initialized tracking and measuring device and compares the additional gathered patient data to the identified baseline parameter. Then, if the additional gathered patient data differs from the baseline state by a specified threshold amount, the computer system determines that a change in the patient's bodily state or feedback system has occurred and/or determines the amount of change in the bodily state or feedback systems that has occurred.

Abstract: A method for automatically discriminating between a supraventricular tachycardia event and a ventricular tachycardia event is provided.

Abstract: In certain variations, systems and/or methods for electromagnetic induction therapy are provided. One or more ergonomic or body contoured applicators may be included. The applicators include one or more conductive coils configured to generate an electromagnetic or magnetic field focused on a target nerve, muscle or other body tissues positioned in proximity to the coil. One or more sensors may be utilized to detect stimulation and to provide feedback about the efficacy of the applied electromagnetic induction therapy. A controller may be adjustable to vary a current through a coil to adjust the magnetic field focused upon the target nerve, muscle or other body tissues based on the feedback provide by a sensor or by a patient. In certain systems or methods, pulsed magnetic fields may be intermittently applied to a target nerve, muscle or tissue without causing habituation.

Abstract: Medical devices provide metallic connector enclosures. The metallic connector enclosures may be constructed with relatively thin walls in comparison to polymer connector enclosures to aid in miniaturizing the medical device. The metallic connector enclosures may be constructed with interior surfaces that deviate less from an ideal inner surface shape in comparison to polymer connector enclosures to allow for better concentricity of electrical connectors. The metallic connector enclosures may include a panel that allows access to the cavity of the connector enclosure where set screw blocks, lead connectors, spacers, seals, and the like may be located. Furthermore, the lead connectors within the metallic connector enclosures may be separated from the metallic connector enclosure by being positioned within non-conductive seals that reside within features included in cavity walls of the connector enclosure.

Abstract: A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intravascular blood pump comprising a housing region that may be expandable and collapsible, wherein the expandable housing region includes the inlet to the pump and wherein the distal diameter of the expandable housing region, including the inlet, is larger than a proximal diameter of the expandable housing region. A non-expandable region may be provided and disposed between the expandable housing region and the pump assembly of the intravascular blood pump.

Abstract: There is provided a medical support device for holding and positioning a needle. This device is particularly useful for positioning needles in a less invasive puncture treatment. This device comprises two rotational elements and at least one needle guide attached to a rotational element and. The needle guide guides the direction of insertion of a needle-like instrument and includes a guide portion that guides a needle or other needle-like instrument where the puncture point of the needle in a first position is different from the puncture point when the needle guide guides the needle in a second position.

Abstract: A new architecture is disclosed for an IPG having a master and slave electrode driver integrated circuits (ICs). The electrode outputs on the ICs are wired together. Each IC can be programmed to provide pulses with different frequencies. Active timing channels in master and slave ICs are programmed to provide the desired pulses, while shadow timing channels in the master and slave are programmed with the timing data from the active timing channels in the other IC so that each chip knows when the other is providing a pulse, so that each chip can disable its recovery circuitry so as not to defeat those pulses. In the event of pulse overlap at a given electrode, the currents provided by each chip will add at the affected electrode. Compliance voltage generation is dictated by an algorithm to find an optimal compliance voltage even during periods when pulses are overlapping.