Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling blood pressure via electrical stimulation of the heart are disclosed. Embodiments may include at least two different stimulation patterns, each configured to reduce blood pressure to a different degree, and may alternate between stimulation patterns based on the need of a patient, for example, alternating between day and night or between periods of strenuous and light activity. Some embodiments may take advantage of a slow baroreflex response that occurs after treatment is stopped, suspending treatment for extended periods, and then resuming treatment before blood pressure levels reach pretreatment values. Embodiments may control blood pressure by controlling atrial pressure and atrial stretch.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to implantable neuromodulation devices, and in particular to a wireless power coil in a low profile environment such as with a neurostimulator. Particularly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a medical device that comprises a lossy housing surrounding a power supply, and a receiving coil configured to exchange power wirelessly via a wireless power transfer signal and deliver the power to the power supply. The receiving coil is adjacent the lossy housing. The receiving coil is a helical structure with a total rise that is less than or equal to a height of the lossy housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with electrophysiological signal detecting electrodes, and a transcranial magnetic stimulation device. A computer processor drives the transcranial stimulation device to apply one or more pulses of transcranial magnetic stimulation to a subject. Within a given time period of applying one of the one or more pulses of transcranial magnetic stimulation to the subject, the computer processor detects an electrophysiological signal of the subject, using the electrophysiological signal detecting electrodes. At least partially in response thereto, the computer processor predicts an outcome of treating the subject for a neuropsychiatric condition, using a given therapy, and generates an output on an output device in response to the predicted outcome. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An example of a neurostimulation system may include one or more sensing devices and a patient assistance device. The sensing device(s) may be configured to sense one or more signals from a patient and may include one or more non-invasive sensing devices. The patient assistance device may be configured to assist the patient in use of a stimulation device and may include a communication circuit configured to receive the sensed signal(s), a user interface configured to allow for interactions with the patient, and a processing circuit which may be configured to receive patient-specific information including the sensed signal(s), to analyze the patient-specific information with neurostimulation algorithm information representative of available therapeutic options, to produce one or more recommendations related to use of the stimulation device for treating the patient based on the analysis, and to present at least one recommendation using the user interface.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention takes advantage of the laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR), previously thought to be repressed during general anesthesia, for CIONM without placement of an electrode on the vagus nerve.

Abstract: A method for modulating a nerve within a body of a patient includes generating a single signal comprising an electrical impulse, contacting an interface with an outer skin surface of a patient and delivering the electrical impulse from an electrode through the interface and the outer skin surface of the patient to a vagus nerve, thereby modulating the vagus nerve. The electrical impulse may comprise bursts of pulses with a silent intra-burst interval between each of the bursts based on the single signal, wherein each of the bursts has a frequency of about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz and each of the pulses has a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds. The electrode may be spaced from the interface by a distance of about 0.25 to about 4 times an outer dimension of the interface.

Abstract: A method for repairing a heart includes identifying a heart of a patient as having a reduced ejection fraction. In response to the identifying, wall stress of a ventricle of the heart is reduced by implanting apparatus that facilitates cyclical moving of fluid that is not blood of the patient into and out of the ventricle of the heart. During ventricular diastole, a volume of the fluid is moved into the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of blood that fills the ventricle during diastole. During ventricular systole, the volume of the fluid is moved out of the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of the ventricle during isovolumetric contraction of the ventricle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein determine metrics of cardiac performance via a mechanical circulatory support device and use the cardiac performance to calibrate, control and deliver mechanical circulatory support for the heart. The systems include a controller configured to operate the device, receive inputs indicative of device operating conditions and hemodynamic parameters, and determine vascular performance, including vascular resistance and compliance, and native cardiac output. The systems and methods operate by using the mechanical circulatory support device (e.g., a heart pump) to introduce controlled perturbations of the vascular system and, in response, determine heart parameters such as stroke volume, vascular resistance and compliance, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and ultimately determine native cardiac output.

Abstract: A communications radio includes an array of electrodes configured to be disposed on a body part, a radio transceiver, an electrical stimulation transmitter, electromyography (EMG) receive circuitry, and a data processing sub-module which configured to perform radio communication. The communication includes, using the electrical stimulation transmitter and the array of electrodes, presenting semantic messages received via the radio transceiver as electrical stimulation patterns. The communication further includes, via the radio transmitter, transmitting semantic messages determined from EMG signals measured using the array of electrodes and the EMG receive circuitry. The communications radio may further include a garment wearable on the body part with the array of electrodes in electrical contact with skin of the body part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for determining body's readiness to respond to physical exercise and for providing feedback to a user. In the method the user starts to perform an exercise, an earlier performance level is determined before starting a performance check having steps of: an instant performance level of the user is determined, the earlier performance level is compared to the instant performance level, a readiness index is determined according to the said comparison and optionally with background and/or training history of the user, a feedback is given according to the determined readiness index.

Abstract: A device for delivery of TENS current or electrostimulation has a first skin contact electrode mounted on a first non-conductive fingertip base and having at least one contact area for current-bearing contact with skin and a connection to a TENS current source and has a second skin contact electrode, mounted on a non-conductive fingertip base that is the same as the first non-conductive fingertip base or is a second non-conductive fingertip base and having at least one contact area for current-bearing contact with skin and a connection to TENS current source. A control and power unit that supplies TENS current to flow through skin contacting and positioned between the first and second electrodes, and enables selecting the level of the current or energy supplied.

Abstract: A system for determining reference signatures for use in assisting identification of a body state in a biological subject, the system including at least one processing device that obtains reference data for each of a plurality of reference individuals, the reference data including at least one reference impedance indicator obtained by performing at least one impedance measurement on the reference individual, a body state indication indicative of any body states associated with the reference individual and characteristic data indicative of one or more physical characteristics of the reference individual and analyses the reference data to establish one or more reference signatures, each reference signature being indicative of at least one reference impedance indicator associated with a respective body state for respective physical characteristics.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed that allow a patient to self-treat a medical condition, such as migraine headache, by electrical noninvasive stimulation of a vagus nerve. The system comprises a stimulator that applies an electrical impulse transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of the patient. The electrical impulse includes pulses having a frequency of about 1 kHz to about 20 kHz. The device housing may transmit data to or from a patient interface device, such as a mobile phone or computer, relating to the stimulation parameters. The interface device in turn may communicate with a database contained within other computers, via a network or the internet.

Abstract: There is provided a method of assessing the reliability of a measurement of blood pressure of a subject, the method in a control unit of an apparatus comprising obtaining a first measurement of at least one physiological characteristic of the subject that is indicative of the level of pain and/or stress of the subject, wherein the first measurement is made prior to a measurement of blood pressure being made; obtaining the measurement of blood pressure of the subject; obtaining a second measurement of the at least one physiological characteristic of the subject, wherein the second measurement is made after the measurement of blood pressure is made and prior to a subsequent measurement of blood pressure being made; and determining if the measurement of blood pressure is reliable based on the first measurement and the second measurement, wherein the measurement of blood pressure is determined to be reliable if the first measurement and the second measurement indicate a low level of pain and/or stress.

Abstract: An electrostimulator implant includes an implant body, and at least two electrodes disposed on the implant body. The implant is percutaneously injectable into tissue of a subject with a distal portion of a flexible longitudinal member coupled to the implant. The apparatus is configured to be left, for at least 1 day after injection of the implant into the tissue, in a state in which (i) the implant is disposed within the tissue, (ii) the distal portion of the longitudinal member remains coupled to the implant within the tissue, (iii) a proximal portion of the longitudinal member is disposed outside of the tissue, secured to a skin surface of the subject, and (iv) the implant is movable within the tissue by moving the proximal portion of the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member is decouplable from the implant from outside of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An end-effector for a surgical robot system may include an end-effector body and an optical sub-assembly. The optical sub-assembly may include a housing coupled to the end-effector body, the housing including a threaded portion. The optical sub-assembly may further include a window that is transparent to a predetermined range of light radiation wavelengths. The optical sub-assembly may further include a gasket disposed between the housing and the window. The optical sub-assembly may further include a threaded ring disposed over the window and threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the housing, the threaded ring compressing the gasket between the window and the housing to form a seal between the window and the housing. The optical sub-assembly may further include a light emitter configured to emit light in the predetermined range of light radiation wavelengths through the window.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus which comprises: a current source to generate a current having AC and DC components; a current-to-voltage converter to convert the current or a copy of the current to a voltage proportional to a resistance, the voltage having AC and DC components that correspond to the AC and DC components of the current; a first sample-and-hold circuit to sample and filter the AC component from the voltage and to provide an output voltage with the DC component; a second sample-and-hold circuit to sample the output voltage; a voltage-to-current converter to convert the sampled output voltage to a corresponding current; and an amplifier to receive the output voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phototherapy apparatus, to a method for operating same, and to a treatment method using same. The phototherapy apparatus includes a body including a first resonator generating a first wavelength of light, a first module connected to the body and radiating the first wavelength of light generated from the first resonator to the outside, and a second module generating a second wavelength of light using the first wavelength of light transmitted from the body and radiating the second wavelength light to the outside.

Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes, a right-leg drive (RLD) electrode, and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact the patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a preamplifier coupled to the ECG electrodes and the RLD electrode to obtain ECG data from the patient as one or more ECG vectors, a high voltage subsystem to provide a defibrillation voltage to the patient through the plurality of defibrillator electrodes, and an impedance measurement circuit to measure an impedance across a first pair of ECG electrodes, wherein the impedance measurement circuit is to apply a balancing impedance across a second pair of ECG electrodes when an impedance of the second pair of ECG electrodes is not being measured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the medical field, in particular to the enhancement of brain performances and to the treatment of pathological stress. More specifically the present invention relates to a nanoparticle or nanoparticles' aggregate for use in enhancing brain performances or in prevention or treatment of pathological stress in a subject when the nanoparticle and/or nanoparticles' aggregate is exposed to an electric field, wherein the nanoparticle's or nanoparticles' aggregate's material is selected from a conductor material, a semiconductor material, an insulator material with a dielectric constant ?ijk equal to or above 200, and an insulator material with a dielectric constant ?ijk equal to or below 100. It further relates to compositions and kits comprising such nanoparticles and/or nanoparticles' aggregates as well as to uses thereof.