Abstract: A protective faceplate (37) for an implantable component of a tissue-stimulating prosthesis, such as a prosthetic hearing implant. The faceplate (37) comprising a first or outer surface and an opposed second or inner surface. The implantable component can be removably or non-removably mountable to the second surface and adapted to extend into a cavity formed in a bone of a recipient.

Abstract: A percutaneous stimulating device 10 comprises a self-contained permanent or long-term unit for neuromodulation in the management of chronic pain and for cosmetic applications in accordance with the invention. It comprises a stimulating zone 12 with one or more electrodes 14, and an integral control unit 16 electrically connected by means of suitable wires 18 to the stimulating zone. The control unit 16 is arranged to supply an electrical stimulating signal to the electrode(s) 14. The device is in the form of a closed cylinder having a diameter of 1.2 to 1.5 mm and is no more than 70 mm in length so that it can be located and inserted into a patient using a stimulating needle, which is subsequently withdrawn from the patient when the device is in place. The invention extends to a method for long term pain management by means of neuromodulation using the percutaneous device in accordance with the invention to supply a stimulating signal at between 2 and 50 Hz.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for prompting emergency medical personnel who are attending to a patient. When the patient presents a heart rhythm that is a non-perfusing and non-shockable rhythm or perfusing but unstable, the attending personnel are prompted to administer therapy, such as reestablishing perfusion by performing CPR. The attending personnel may also be urged to defer taking the pulse of the patient.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and an external system. The ICD includes a plurality of functional modules performing tachyarrhythmia classification and therapy control functions using atrial tachyarrhythmia rate thresholds that are set to a unified value. In one embodiment, the CRM system allows a user to activate and deactivate each of the functional modules and program the unified value using the external system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing disorders, including, for example, disordered breathing, involve sensing one or more of a blood chemistry parameter and/or an expired gas parameter, such as expired respiratory gas concentration, blood gas concentration, and blood pH. Diagnosis of the disorder may be performed by a medical device, such as a respiratory therapy device or a cardiac therapy device, based on implantably detected blood gas/pH concentration/level or externally detected expired respiratory gas concentration. Cardiac and respiratory therapies for addressing the disorder may be adjusted based on the detected parameters.

Abstract: A development system for a cardiac pacemaker control system, the development system comprising: a cardiac pacemaker prototype including an adaptive control system; and a heart simulator in communication with the cardiac pacemaker prototype comprising: a means for receiving pacing stimulations output from the cardiac pacemaker prototype; and a hemodynamic sensor model responsive to the received pacing stimulations, the hemodynamic sensor model being operable to output a signal simulating a hemodynamic sensor in a plurality of heart states, the hemodynamic sensor model being further operative to output the signal simulating the hemodynamic sensor in the plurality of heart states in a plurality of heart conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for an electrical device that employs a feedthrough including a hermetic seal that seals an interior region of the electrical device. The electrical device includes an electrical contact disposed within the interior region of the electrical device, and a wire terminal that includes an encircled portion that is encircled by the feedthrough, and a first end that electrically connects with said electrical contact. When the electrical device is constructed, the first end of the wire terminal is coated with a conductive metal that is more resistant to oxidation than the wire terminal. The first end of the wire terminal is secured to the electrical contact using a mechanical device such as a crimping connector or a spring connector.

Abstract: An apparatus to enhance muscular movement is provided. The apparatus includes at least one muscular movement sensor to sense a result of an attempt to move a muscle, a movement information controller to analyze the sensed muscular movement, and generate muscular movement information based on the analyzed muscular movements, and a muscular movement actuator to enhance the movement of the muscle according to the generated muscular movement information by actively controlling a deformation of the muscle movement actuator over the surface of the muscle.

Abstract: An electrode assembly comprising a low-profile, low-volume elongate electrode carrier and a corresponding guide tube for introducing the carrier into the cochlea to place electrodes disposed at the distal end of the carrier at desired locations along the tonotopically-mapped cochlea. The electrode assembly facilitates intra- and extra-cochlea atraumatic implantation of the unobtrusive electrode carrier of the present invention thereby minimizing adverse impact to natural auditory functioning. For example, the electrode assembly may be utilized to implant the low-profile, low-volume elongate electrode carrier into the scala tympani without damaging the delicate structures of the cochlea and without interfering with the natural hydrodynamic nature of the cochlea such as the natural flow of perilymph in the cochlea canals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying a determined cardiac event in a medical device based on detected variation in hemodynamic status that includes a physiologic sensor sensing physiologic signals to generate a plurality of variation index samples corresponding to the sensed signals, and a microprocessor computing a variation index trend associated with a predetermined number of variation index samples of the plurality of variation index samples, determining whether deviations of the predetermined number of variation index samples over predetermined sampling windows are less than a deviation threshold, and determining, in response to the deviations being less than the deviation threshold, a corrected variation index trend in response to the changes in the variation index trend during the predetermined sampling windows.

Abstract: Circuitry useable to protect and reliably charge a rechargeable battery, even from a zero-volt state, is disclosed, and is particularly useful when employed in an implantable medical device. The circuit includes two charging paths, a first path for trickle charging the battery at a relatively low current when the battery voltage is below a threshold, and a second path for charging the battery at relatively higher currents that the battery voltage is above a certain threshold. A passive diode is used in the first trickle-charging path which allows trickle charging even when the battery voltage is too low for reliable gating, while a gateable switch (preferably a PMOS transistor) is used in the second higher-current charging path when the voltage is higher and the switch can therefore be gated more reliably. A second diode between the two paths ensures no leakage to the substrate through the gateable switch during trickle charging.

Abstract: An external cardiac medical device for delivering Cardiac Potentiation Therapy (CPT). Techniques used with the device include initial diagnosis of the patient, delivery of the CPT, and configuration of the external device, so that CPT can be effectively and efficiently provided. In particular, these techniques include initially determining whether a patient should receive CPT, how to set the coupling interval for delivering CPT, how to configure the external medical device to deliver CPT stimulation pulses while not adversely affecting the device's ability to sense a patient's cardiac parameters and/or signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for applying electrical current to the quadriceps muscle. The apparatus is in the form of a garment (to be worn on a user's thigh) having a integrated programmable stimulation device including integral electronics, LCD display, user controls and a battery. To ensure accurate and repeatable positioning of the garment, it is shaped such that it locates above the patella. Furthermore, reference lines are provided on the skin facing surface of the garment to assist the user in the accurate placement of skin engaging electrodes. In combination, the features of the invention provides a safe and convenient means of electrically stimulating the quadriceps muscle irrespective of patient size whilst minimizing the opportunity for error. Moreover, the invention dispenses with the need to employ a skilled clinician to individually place each electrode.

Abstract: Waveforms are digitally sampled and compressed for storage in memory. The compression of the data includes generating a truncated entropy encoding map and using the values within the map to obtain good compression. An encoder further sub-selects values to be encoded and values to remain unencoded to provide an overall compression of the data.

Abstract: An implantable microstimulator includes a housing, an electronic subassembly, conductive vias, and an electrode arrangement. The housing defines an interior and an exterior with the electronic subassembly disposed in the interior of the housing. The conductive vias extend from the interior to the exterior of the housing. The electrode arrangement is disposed on the housing and includes a film substrate with electrodes disposed on the film substrate and coupled to the electronic subassembly through the plurality of vias.

Abstract: An exemplary includes acquiring an electroneurogram of the right carotid sinus nerve or the left carotid sinus nerve, analyzing the electroneurogram for at least one of chemosensory information and barosensory information and calling for one or more therapeutic actions based at least in part on the analyzing. Therapeutic actions may aim to treat conditions such as sleep apnea, an increase in metabolic demand, hypoglycemia, hypertension, renal failure, and congestive heart failure. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable lead for a medical device with an isolated contact connection for connecting a conductor to a contact reduces the opportunity for conductor material to migrate to a contact or into a patient. The implantable lead comprises a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one conductor, at least one contact carried on the proximal end, at least one contact carried on the distal end, at least one coupling. The lead has an exterior surface. The conductor is contained in the lead body and extends from the lead proximal end to the distal end. The conductor is electrically insulated. The contact carried on the proximal end is electrically connected to the conductor. The coupling has a conductor coupling and a contact coupling. The conductor coupling is placed over the conductor and attached to the conductor. The contact coupling exits the lead body and has a weld to connect the contact coupling to the contact.

Abstract: Waveforms are digitally sampled and compressed for storage in memory. The compression of the data includes generating a truncated entropy encoding map and using the values within the map to obtain good compression. An encoder further sub-selects values to be encoded and values to remain unencoded to provide an overall compression of the data.

Abstract: An RF diathermy coil assembly, including a generally elastically deformable patient conforming garment and a conductive coil secured to the garment. The conductive coil having a woven wire construction such that the coil can deform as the garment elastically deforms. The RF diathermy coil assembly can be used for wound healing in conjunction with muscle stimulation.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker, cardioverter and/ or defibrillator of AAI or AAI/DDD type, with detection of ventricular tachycardiae. This device senses spontaneous ventricular and atrial events; delivers atrial pacing pulses; and is able to apply, after delivery of an atrial pacing pulse, concurrently with sensing ventricular events, a refractory period (PR) and a safety window (FS) of predetermined durations; and determining the beginning of a spontaneous ventricular cycle in response to sensing of a ventricular event out of the safety window (R0, R1, R2, R3).