Abstract: A gait management apparatus applies stimulation to a user suffering from a neurological disease (such as Parkinson's Disease) gait dysfunction. Motion sensors are arranged to be worn by a patient, and electrical stimulation electrodes are on the legs for stimulation. A controller receives motion sensing signals, and processes these signals to generate stimulation signals for operation of the electrodes to stimulate limb movement upon detection of a gait abnormality. There may be a user actuator for user actuation of electrical stimulation, and the inputs may be a series of taps. The controller may provide signals to prevent occurrence of freezing of gait when it senses that a patient is walking or has an intention to walk. Also, it may apply stimulation at an intensity level which is insufficient for functional muscle stimulation but sufficiently high to trigger activation of efferent nerves.

Abstract: In some examples, an ambulatory medical device is provided. The ambulatory medical device includes at least one sensor configured to acquire data descriptive of the patient, one or more processors in communication with the at least one sensor, a patient care component executable by the one or more processors, and a limited functionality component executable by the one or more processors. The patient care component is configured to perform one or more primary operations of the ambulatory medical device at least in part by accessing the data descriptive of the patient. The limited functionality component is configured to exchange information with a communication device and to not affect the one or more primary operations of the ambulatory medical device.

Abstract: A method for a minimally invasive, cell-selective laser therapy on the eye. The method, based on a short-pulse laser system, allows for different selective types of therapy on the eye. The method is based on a frequency-doubled, continuously working solid-state laser including a pump source and a control unit. The control unit regulates the pump source such that the solid-state laser emits individual pulses with pulse lengths ranging from 50 ns to continuous, wherein pulse lengths ranging from 50 ns to 50 ?s are provided for selective therapies and pulse lengths ranging from 50 ?s to continuous are provided for coagulative or stimulating therapies, in particular in the range from 1 ms to 500 ms. The proposed method enables a selective treatment of melanin-containing cells in the different areas of the eye via the targeted control of the pump source.

Abstract: A subcutaneously implantable device is implantable into a body of a patient, and includes a prong and an electrode. The prong has a contact portion at or adjacent to a distal end thereof that is configured to contact an organ, a nerve, and/or a tissue of the patient. The prong is constructed to apply pressure to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue so as to maintain contact between the contact portion and the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue without fixing the contact portion to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue. The electrode is provided at the contact portion of the prong, is configured to contact the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue, and is electrically coupled or couplable with circuitry that is configured to provide monitoring, therapeutic, and/or diagnostic capabilities with respect to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for display of subcutaneous cardiac monitoring data are provided. Cutaneous action potentials of a patient and other sensed data associated with the patient are recorded as electrocardiogram (EGC) data over a set time period using a subcutaneous insertable cardiac monitor. A set of R-wave peaks is identified within the ECG data and an R-R interval plot is constructed. A difference between recording times of successive pairs of the R-wave peaks in the set is determined. A heart rate associated with each difference is also determined. The pairs of the R-wave peaks and associated heart rate are plotted as the R-R interval plot. A diagnosis of cardiac disorder is facilitated based on patterns of the plotted pairs of the R-wave peaks, the associated heart rates in the R-R interval plot, and background data based on the other sensed data.

Abstract: The proposed technology relates to a method for indicating a risk for coronary artery disease. A sound recording is obtained (100) covering a plurality of heartbeats, a plurality of heart sounds are identified (200) in the sound recording, and a plurality of segments are obtained (300) from the sound recording. A frequency power measure is determined (400) based on the signal strength of a first frequency window of a period in the diastole, an amplitude of the fourth heart sound is determined (500) based on the plurality of heart sounds and the plurality of segments, and an indication of a heart rate variability is determined (600) based on the plurality of heart sounds. The indication of the risk for coronary artery disease is then determined (700) based on the frequency power measure, the amplitude of the fourth heart sound, and the indication of the heart rate variability.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a clinician programmer device for controlling a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system is adapted to assist a clinician to conduct an electrode screening review for the DBS system including screening of segmented electrodes. The clinician programmer stores software code for conducting a screening review in memory. The software code may comprise: code for providing one or more interface screens for guiding the user of the device through testing of electrode configurations of the implantable stimulation lead, wherein the code for providing applies at least one testing progression for guiding the user of the device through a defined testing order.

Abstract: A pacemaker system includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC) operably coupled to a pacemaker lead. The DSC generates a pace signal including electrical impulses based on a reference signal. The DSC provides the pace signal via the pacemaker lead to an electrically responsive portion of a cardiac conductive system of a subject to facilitate cardiac operation of a cardiovascular system of the subject. The DSC senses, via the pacemaker lead, cardiac electrical activity of the cardiovascular system of the subject that is generated in response to the pace signal and electrically coupled into the pacemaker lead and generates a digital signal that is representative of the cardiac electrical activity of the cardiovascular system of the subject that is sensed via the pacemaker lead. The DSC provides digital information to one or more processing modules that includes and/or is coupled to memory and that provide the reference signal to the DSC.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) including an insulating frame defining a drop-in coil channel adjacent a perimeter of the insulating frame, a rechargeable power source configured to supply power for the implantable medical device, a secondary coil including a first and a second wire end, where the secondary coil is received within the drop-in coil channel and is configured to inductively couple with a primary coil of an external charging device to transcutaneously charge the rechargeable power source. The IMD also includes a circuit board attached to the insulating frame and a pair of electrical connectors each having a respective first arm that is electrically coupled to the respective first and second wire ends of the secondary coil and respective second arm that is electrically coupled to the circuit board.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue generate stimulation trains with temporal patterns of stimulation, in which the interval between electrical pulses (the inter-pulse intervals) changes or varies over time. Compared to conventional continuous, high rate pulse trains having regular (i.e., constant) inter-pulse intervals, the non-regular (i.e., not constant) pulse patterns or trains that embody features of the invention provide a lower average frequency.

Abstract: A subcutaneously implantable device is implantable into a body of a patient, and includes a prong and an electrode. The prong has a contact portion at or adjacent to a distal end thereof that is configured to contact an organ, a nerve, and/or a tissue of the patient. The prong is constructed to apply pressure to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue so as to maintain contact between the contact portion and the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue without fixing the contact portion to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue. The electrode is provided at the contact portion of the prong, is configured to contact the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue, and is electrically coupled or couplable with circuitry that is configured to provide monitoring, therapeutic, and/or diagnostic capabilities with respect to the organ, the nerve, and/or the tissue.

Abstract: An Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) is disclosed that is capable of sensing a degree to which recruited neurons in a patient's tissue are firing synchronously, and of modifying a stimulation program to promote desynchronicity and to reduce paresthesia. An evoked compound action potential (ECAP) of the recruited neurons is sensed as a measure of synchronicity by at least one non-active electrode. An ECAP algorithm operable in the IPG assesses the shape of the ECAP and determines one or more ECAP shape parameters that indicate whether the recruited neurons are firing synchronously or desynchronously. If the shape parameters indicate significant synchronicity, the ECAP algorithm can adjust the stimulation program to promote desynchronous firing.

Abstract: A system for stimulating a tissues to obtain therapeutic effects, such as pain relief. The system can include stimulating leads that are operably coupled to a control unit. The control unit can include processors for generating desired waveform pattern of electrical pulses. The system can further include magnetic sensors to measure the magnetic fields generated by action potentials in the excited tissue and using the measured magnetic field to optimize the neurostimulation pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed are medical devices for sensing bioelectrical potential including an electroencephalography (EEG) headset, electrodes compatible therewith, and methods of operation thereof. The headset can comprise a left junction and a right junction, a plurality of length-adjustable bands connecting the left junction and the right junction, and a number of electrodes. Each of the electrodes can comprise an electrode body coupled to one of the plurality of length-adjustable bands and a detachable electrode tip configured to be detachably coupled to the electrode body. The electrode tip can comprise an electrode tip body, one or more deflectable electrode legs coupled to the electrode tip body, and a conductive cushioning material coupled to a segment of at least one of the one or more electrode legs. The conductive cushioning material can retain or be saturated with one or more conductors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a neuromodulation apparatus and methods of using the neuromodulation apparatus for treating bladder dysfunction.

Abstract: A supportive clothing article for a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD), including a belt, the belt including a first end with a first portion of a fastener and a second end with a second portion of the fastener, wherein the belt is structured to fasten around the torso of patient below the chest area of the patient, the belt including a first conductive mesh portion adjacent the first end of the belt or the second end of the belt, two straps, a back portion extending from the belt at an intermediary position on the belt to each of the two straps, the back portion including a conductive mesh, a first support receptacle attached to and extending from the belt and attachable to one of the two straps, and a second support receptacle attached to and extending from the belt and attachable to the other of the two straps.

Abstract: A detection circuit includes an open circuit detection branch and a current detection branch. The open circuit detection branch includes a comparator and a digital logic branch. A positive input terminal of the comparator is connected to one end of the sampling resistor adjacent to the stimulation source, a negative input terminal of the comparator is connected to one end of the sampling resistor facing away from the stimulation source, and an output terminal of the comparator is connected to the digital logic branch. The current detection branch includes an amplifier and a first switch. A negative input terminal of the amplifier is connected to the one end of the sampling resistor facing away from the stimulation source, an output terminal of the amplifier is connected to a control terminal of the first switch.

Abstract: A peripheral nerve stimulator can be used to stimulate a peripheral nerve to treat essential tremor, Parkinsonian tremor, and other forms of tremor. The stimulator can have electrodes that are placed circumferentially around the patient's wrist or arm. Specific nerves in the wrist or arm can be targeted by appropriate spacing of the electrodes. Positioning the electrodes on generally opposing sides of the target nerve can result in improved stimulation of the nerve. The stimulation pattern may alternate between the nerves. Improved stimulation algorithms can incorporate tremor feedback, external data, predictive adaptation, and long-term monitoring data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a patient's pain using ramped therapeutic signals for modulating inhibitory interneurons, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method for treating a patient includes positioning an implantable signal delivery device proximate to a target location at or near the patient's spinal cord, and delivering an electrical therapy signal to the target location via the implantable signal delivery device, wherein the electrical therapy signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1 kHz to about 100 kHz, and wherein the frequency is increased or decreased from a first value to a second value during delivery.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for treating a tissue with an electric treatment by rotating a pattern of electrodes partway through a treatment is disclosed. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses to treat tissue, including treating skin disorders, by selectively de-nucleating epidermal cells without provoking a significant inflammatory response, e.g., without increasing the density of leukocytes in the treated skin, and without affecting the non-cellular components of the dermis.