Abstract: An apparatus for the diagnosis and/or therapy of neuro-muscular disorders, comprising; a control module for controlling the parameters of an electrical pulse suitable for stimulating a muscle or muscle group, and one or more conductor tools for delivering the electrical pulse to a muscle or muscle group, wherein the control module is configured to enable the adjustment of the parameters of the electrical pulse at levels suitable for stimulating muscles or muscle groups at a micro-level.

Abstract: A vacuum reservoir, for use with an intra-aortic balloon pump or other system, containing a muffling means having a honeycomb-like cell structure or other flow straightening structure.

Abstract: A medical testing system includes an instrument for monitoring the electrical activity of a patient's heart. The instrument includes a work surface and an illuminating component for illuminating the work surface.

Abstract: Method and device for the diagnosis and therapy of chronic heart failure comprising continuous monitoring of the patient and continuous determination of significant decompensation parameters during a sample period of normal patient life, recording the data determined, continuously monitoring these data during therapy, comparing the memorized data with those determined during the same time span of the sample period and comparing the duration of periods in which decompensation is present with the total duration of those periods during which decompensation is absent or conforms to that determined during the sample period.

Abstract: A rechargeable implantable medical device with a magnetic shield placed on the distal side of a secondary recharging coil to improve recharging efficiency is disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a wide variety of medical devices such as neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, and cochlear implants. The implantable medical device has a secondary recharging coil carried over a magnetic shield and coupled to electronics and a rechargeable power source carried inside the housing. The electronics are configured to perform a medical therapy. Additionally a method for enhancing electromagnetic coupling during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed, and a method for reducing temperature rise during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are described for charging an energy storage device, such as the high-voltage energy storage capacitors of an external defibrillation device, using an average current mode control technique. By controlling the average current in a transformer, energy may be stored rapidly and at controlled energy levels.

Abstract: A method of electrotherapy for living matter such as humans, animals and plants is provided. The method involves providing a transmitter for generating a radiofrequency electromagnetic transmission from an antenna in the range of 10 to 50 megahertz, determining empirically the resonant frequency of said human, animal or plant to be treated and placing said human, animal or plant to be treated in the vicinity of the antenna at the resonant frequency for a sufficient period of time to provide the desired benefits.

Abstract: In a system that provides bi-atrial and/or bi-ventricular pacing, the system adjusts an interval between paces delivered to the atria, and/or an interval between paces delivered to the ventricles, as a function of heart rate. By adjusting the interval between paces as a function of heart rate, the atria and/or ventricles may be activated in a more synchronous and more hemodynamically efficient fashion.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting pacing pulses generated by a cardiac pacemaker within an ECG signal. The method involves decomposing the ECG signal into high and low-frequency components that represent the energy of the input signal in high and low-frequency bands. The timing of energy pulses detected within the high and low-frequency bands are then used to determine whether the pulses may represent a pacing pulse.

Abstract: In a cochlear implant system, the implantable stimulator includes a monitor which monitors parameters associated with the stimulation signals and/or the power stored in an energy storage element which stores energy transmitted from the processor. This parameter or parameters is/are analyzed and one or more feedback signals are generated and transmitted back to the processor. The processor uses the feedback signal to insure that power is transmitted to the stimulator optimally and that the stimulation signals are compliant.

Abstract: An electrical lead in which a transitional coil conductor near a proximal end of the lead is electrically connected to a wire conductor distal of the coil conductor. The transitional coil is connected to an electrical connector at the proximal end of the lead. The electrical connector may be a standard ring and pin connector such as an IS-1 standard electrical connector often used in implantable medical devices. A second coil conductor runs substantially the entire length of the lead from its proximal to its distal end. The transitional coil is connected to the wire conductor through a coupling. The coupling includes a channel configured to receive the second coil conductor to allow it to run through the coupling. The coupling further includes a coil receiver configured to receive the distal end of the transitional coil to hold it in electrical contact with the electrically conductive body of the coupling.

Abstract: A hollow tubular element is inserted in the descending aorta. The caudad end contains a pressure sensitive passive or preferably, hydraulically or electrically activated, unidirectional valve. A flexible diaphragm situated in a rigid shell affixed over an opening in the element wall divides the shell interior into first and second variable volume chambers. The first chamber opens to the artery. A continuously operating electrical pump is connected to the second chamber through a closed hydraulic system including a multi-valve chamber. The valves regulate fluid flow to the second chamber in accordance with electrical signals from the heart. Fluid flow is directed to the second chamber during cardiac diastole and away from the second chamber during cardiac systole, causing the device to function in a counterpulsation mode. The work of the heart is decreased and coronary blood flow is increased to promote the formation of new coronary collateral channels and the perfusion of the heart itself.

Abstract: Defibrillators are provided that include a passive airway support device.

Abstract: An implantable system having a left ventricular pacing lead for implantation in the great cardiac vein via the coronary sinus of a patient's heart. The pacing lead includes a sensor for measuring the velocity of blood flowing through the coronary sinus. An implantable medical device (IMD) coupled to the pacing lead monitors the blood flow signal from the sensor and delivers pacing pulses to the patient's heart as a function of the blood flow signal. The IMD integrates the blood flow signal to estimate blood flow volume and adjusts a pacing parameter of the pacing pulses to maximize the blood flow. In a multi-chamber pacing system, the IMD continuously adjusts the atrial and ventricular (AV) delay in order to maximize the integral of the velocity signal received from pacing lead. In a multisite pacing system, where the IMD includes a plurality of ventricular pacing leads, the IMD adjusts the interventricular delay.

Abstract: An improved method and device for performing anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to convert a ventricular tachycardia (VT) to normal sinus rhythm. Pairs of pacing/sensing electrodes are placed in or on each of the left and right ventricles. Each pair of electrodes is shorted together to produce unipolar electrodes that are used for ATP.

Abstract: A system and method, for use in an implantable cardiac stimulation device, monitors progression or regression in heart disease such as congestive heart failure. The system includes a sensing circuit that derives an electrogram signal indicative of the electrical activity of the patient's heart. A processor processes the electrogram signal to determine interchamber conduction delays which are then stored in memory. The stored interchamber conduction delays may be later retrieved by way of a telemetry circuit. Relative changes in the interchamber conduction delays, over time, are indicative of progression or regression in the heart disease. The relative changes in the interchamber conduction delays may be further used to automatically adjust pacing parameters of the implantable cardiac stimulation device.

Abstract: An implantable endocardial lead includes a first elongated tubular component of flexible resilient material with a first face and a first longitudinally extending channel forming a partial lumen in the first face, a similar second elongated tubular component with a second face opposite the first face and a second longitudinally extending channel forming a partial lumen in the second face, the first and second tubular components being integrated by contiguously uniting the first and second faces with the first and second partial lumina being in mutually overlying relationship forming a full lumen within the elongated lead body. Elastic or inelastic rings received in longitudinally spaced annular grooves provided in the outer peripheral surface of the elongated lead body bias together the first and second elongated tubular components. An elongated electrical conductor is received in the full lumen and an overlying sheath is in contiguous engagement with the peripheral outer surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating or preventing neurocardiogenic syncope is disclosed. Upon detection of bradycardia or a drop in blood pressure indicating the onset of syncope, electrostimulation pulses are delivered during the heart's refractory period. The pulses are non-excitatory but increase myocardial contractility and thereby increase cardiac output.

Abstract: A heart therapy device includes a heart rate detector unit for detecting a heart rate, an evaluation and control unit adaptable to evaluate a measured heart rate and output a therapy control signal, and a therapy unit coupled to the output of the evaluation and control means for realizing at least one therapy having a predetermined therapy. The evaluation and control unit includes a three-area memory for storing heart rate value ranges, a heart rate discriminator for allocating a measured heart rate and outputting a first, second or third discriminator output signal, a stability evaluation unit for outputting a stability output signal and evaluating heart rate stability over a predetermined period of time in response to the output of the second heart rate discriminator output signal, and a logical processing unit for processing the second discriminator output.

Abstract: An implantable heart stimulator has an electrode lead adapted to detect electrical heart signals and a cardiac activity sensor connected to the electrode lead for detecting heart signals above a sensitivity level. A heart signal classifier is also connected to the electrode lead, and classifies the incoming heart signals in a histogram with regard to their respective peak amplitude values. The heart signal classifier has a sensitivity level lower than the sensitivity level of the cardiac activity detector so that incoming heart signals are included in the histogram data which are below the level that would be detected by the cardiac activity detector. An analyzer in communication with the classifier and the activity detector analyzes the histogram data and adjusts the sensitivity level of the activity detector dependent on the histogram data.