Abstract: Physiological stress in a human subject is treated by generating a weak electromagnetic field about a grounded electrode by the application of pulses of between 5 and 50 microseconds each at a pulse rate of between 0.5K and 10K pulses per second to a power electrode, the power electrode and grounded electrode being coupled to high voltage pulse generation means. A subject is positioned within the weak electromagnetic field for a period of time sufficient to cause an increase in his or her alpha or theta brain wave levels.

Abstract: A pacemaker is provided in which ventricular rate instability is detected and automatically corrected by gradually increasing the ventricular pacing rate. Once the ventricle is stabilized, its pacing rate is gradually decreased as much as possible without losing ventricular stability. Ventricular instability can be a result of an atrial tachyrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. Therefore, if the pacemaker is a dual chamber pacemaker, its operation is switched to a single chamber pacing mode thereby decoupling the ventricular pacing signals from the atrial pacing signals and atrial triggered ventricular pacing is inhibited until the atrial fibrillation terminates.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a physical condition in a living subject by determining peripheral resistance to flow is wherein peripheral resistance to flow is determined by measuring changes in the pressure drop characteristic in an artery during diastole. The pressure drop characteristic can be determined by measuring absolute pressure, relative pressure or dimensional changes in the artery during diastole. The apparatus can advantageously be used in a rate-responsive heart stimulator.

Abstract: In an electrode system for implantation in a heart, both the atrium and ventricle electrically interact with a medical apparatus. The electrode system has a single electrode lead having an atrial electrode at a distal end for implantation in the atrium before the electrode lead is advanced deeper into the heart so that a ventricular electrode in-line with and preceding the atrial electrode along the lead, is connectable in the ventricle of the heart. The electrode lead has a first curvature near the ventricular electrode and a second curvature near the atrial electrode in order to facilitate implantation of the electrode system and reduce mechanical loads on the heart after implantation. The electrode system can also be equipped with defibrillation electrodes and/or physiological sensors, thereby becoming multi-functional.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining electrical heart activity of an individual in a form capable of producing a twelve-lead electrocardiogram of an individual, said apparatus including: a right arm electrode; a left arm electrode; at least one leg electrode; a portable electrode support having a plurality of at least seven precordial electrodes fixed thereon. The at least seven precordial electrodes extend laterally across the support so as to assume different lateral positions across the human chest when the support is positioned over the chest. Circuitry is carried by the support in electrically connected relation to the electrodes and is capable of selectively operating a selected six of the plurality of precordial electrodes at positions which correspond to the six Wilson precordial leads for the individual. The circuitry is constructed and arranged to convert the electrical heart activity of the individual obtained by the electrodes into a form capable of producing a twelve-lead electrocardiogram.

Abstract: A method of transdermal molecular delivery comprises the steps of encapsulating molecules to be delivered in a vesicle, contacting a selected area of a tissue surface with a solution of the vesicles, and applying a pulsed electric field of sufficient amplitude to induce dielectric breakdown of the stratum corneum and to induce transport of the intact vesicle through the pores in the stratum corneum into the underlying tissue to enable diffusion of molecules into the tissue.

Abstract: A method of transtissue molecular delivery comprises encapsulating molecules to be delivered in a microbubble carrier, contacting a selected area of a tissue surface with a solution of the encapsulated molecules, and applying an electric field of sufficient amplitude to induce electrofusion between the tissue and the membrane of the microbubble.

Abstract: A medical communication system including (A) a sensor worn on a living body to obtain physical information of the body, and generating a signal representing the physical information; (B) a first device disposed on a side of the living body, receiving the physical information signal from (A) the sensor, and including (b1) a first transmitter which transmits the physical information signal via a communication channel, (b2) a first receiver which receives, via the communication channel, an instruction signal representing an instruction of a medical worker directed to the living body and/or an attendant person, and (b3) an output device which outputs the instruction of the medical worker so that the living body and/or attendant person receives the instruction; and (C) a second device disposed on a side of the medical worker, and including (c1) a second receiver which receives, via the communication channel, the physical information signal from (b1) the first transmitter, (c2) an output device which outputs the ph

Abstract: A tissue/organ retraction or displacement sponge comprising a rigid dry absorbent shaped sponge body constructed of laminated layers of sponge material with differing pore size density causing differing swelling rates and expansion. The sponge when hydrated substantially expands protecting an organ or moving the same to be a different area.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for harvesting bone marrow and biopsy sections of bone. A hollow screw is attached to the bone and then a negative pressure is applied to the screw to withdraw the bone marrow through the hollow portion of the screw. One system and method includes inserting a pin into the bone and then positioning the screw on the pin. A guide cannula may be used to insert the pin. The screw is inserted into the bone and then the pin withdrawn, leaving the screw in the bone to withdraw the bone marrow. Another system and method includes using a screw with a head end and an opposing threaded end, with the threaded end being provided with cutting flutes or partial or full missing threads, or both, and then withdrawing the bone marrow from voids created by the flutes or the missing threads.

Abstract: A compact, power-sparing detector for detecting heart polarizations is described. The detector has a first operational amplifier which uses sensed heart signals from a heart as an input signal. By means of feedback coupling via a second operational amplifier, a resistor and a capacitor, the system strives to achieve a minimum voltage gradient across the input terminals of the first operational amplifier. When an electrical signal with a signal slope corresponding to a heart depolarization arrives at the input terminal of the first operational amplifier, the second operational amplifier is no longer able to damp the input signal, and a peak output signal is sent from the first operational amplifier to each of a first comparator and a second comparator, respectively.

Abstract: An organ securing sponge device comprising a rigid dry absorbent linear compressed sponge body, sheet, net or pouch constructed of sponge material of polyvinyl acetal of a specific pore size density. The sponge when hydrated forming a wedge shaped sponge with a center cut out and an inclined surface which resists movement when engaging an organ, said sponge body when hydrated expands to position an organ which it has been laid adjacent to and having an absorbency of about times its weight.

Abstract: A method of locating infarcted myocardial tissue in a beating heart includes the step of inserting an impedance measuring tip of a catheter into the chamber of the beating heart, particularly the left or right ventricle, and measuring the impedance of the endocardium at various locations within the chamber of the beating heart. The values measured are compared to impedance values with a predetermined range of values to identify an infarcted area of myocardium and distinguish such area from normal myocardium. The measurements are also compared to a range of values for an infarction border zone. In accordance with the invention, the infarction border zone may be located. The infarction border zone is a significant source of arrhythmia, and particularly of ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract: Tachycardial arrhythmias are located and ablated by a combination of first and second catheters which are mutually attracted by magnetized regions at their distal ends. One of the catheters contains mapping electrodes and is initially used to ascertain the locus of the arrhythmia by conventional mapping. Once this is accomplished, the catheter is allowed to remain in position while the second catheter is inserted in such a manner that mutual magnetic attraction between the two occurs across cardiac tissue. One or the other of the two catheters also contains an ablation component at its tip, such that when the two catheter tips are held in position by virtue of their mutual magnetic attraction, ablation can be performed.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical procedure to improve snoring and OSAS. The procedure is based on the progressive enlargement of the airspace in the oropharynx to eliminate or reduce obstructions that can occur during sleep, by electrosurgical stripping of layers of the vibrating soft palate, the wide posterior tonsil pillars, and redundant posterior pharyngeal mucosa. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active wire portion suspended between wire supports on an electrode shaft. The tissue stripping is effected with the bare wire, and the adjacent portions of the wire supports and electrode shaft are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active wire portion during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A method of ocular refractive surgery which employs heat application to reshape and enhance the refractive power of the central cornea of a surgical subject. Radio frequency energy is employed to coagulate segments of corneal stroma in the perilimbal area at the pole of the corneal meridian having the lowest keratometric reading, causing the radius of curvature of the central cornea to increase in that meridian, whereby astigmatism can be safely and permanently corrected.

Abstract: An electro-surgical instrument for excision of a tissue specimen from the transformation zone of the uterine cervix includes an elongated body member with an endocervical portion at one end, a contact portion at the other end, and a vaginal portion therebetween. A stop arm extends at a right angle to the body member at the juncture of the endocervical and vaginal portions, and a wire electrode extends diagonally between the stop arm and endocervical portion. In using the instrument, the endocervical portion is inserted through the vaginal canal and into the endocervical canal of the uterine cervix until the electrode contacts an area of the ectocervix without colposcopically evident pathology.