Abstract: Loading systems for prosthetic heart valve devices are disclosed. A loading funnel is provided within a watertight interior space that is at least partially filled or fillable with biocompatible fluid. Funnel may have a cylindrical end to which is connected a delivery catheter having a lumen that will receive the collapsed prosthetic heart valve device. An expanded prosthetic heart valve device may be placed within the funnel and pushed or pulled into the funnel which provides a predictable, reliable and repeatable surface for collapsing the prosthetic heart valve device. Ultimately the prosthetic heart valve device is collapsed and translated into the lumen of the delivery catheter for further translation therealong and release into the heart chamber of interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prosthetic heart valve device with improved fit and/or apposition between the device frame and left atrial tissue and/or the device base and the annular tissue of the left atrium to improve shifting of the implanted device and/or mitigate paravalvular leakage. The improved fit and/or apposition arises in various embodiments by providing or allowing an asymmetrical frame and/or frame base and/or providing a lower lip to aid in conforming to the asymmetrical shape of the atrium and/or ensure firm positioning therein. An additional benefit of these arrangement(s) is mitigation of paravalvular leakage as a result of improved fit and seal. In certain embodiments, the asymmetry of the frame assists with delivery of the device into the atrium.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable prosthetic mitral valve stent is provided with improved recapture into a distal lumen of a delivery sheath. Various embodiments comprise a valve support within the interior of a stent frame and defining a flow channel therethrough, wherein the top or upstream of the valve support comprises a row, or a plurality, of stent cells that are bent radially inward at least partially over the flow channel. Some embodiments may comprise a recapture assist mechanism, such as an open paddle, attached to one or more of the inwardly bent stent cells and adapted to receive and/or engage a wire to aid in positioning, expansion, recapture and/or implanting the device in a patient's heart chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to logging user activities during a subset of a recurring time period. In some embodiments, based on received physiological data, a computer system enables logging of one or more user activities to be performed during a subset of a recurring time period. In some embodiments, based on performance of the one or more user activities during a subset of a recurring time period, a computer system enables logging of one or more user activities to be performed during a subset of a recurring time period for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An expandable and collapsible stent comprising prosthetic leaflets attached to an inner valve support section that extends radially upward into an outer stent section. A transition stent section is disposed between the inner valve support section and the outer stent section. Each of the outer stent section, the inner valve support section and the transition stent section may comprise struts or the equivalent that form and define cells having a pattern, wherein each section may comprise a different cell pattern. Transition stent section preferably comprises struts that are of equal curvature, with adjacent struts equally spaced from each other to allow nested collapsing of the transition stent section struts. A boss section extending downstream away from the inner valve support section may be provided to aid in alignment and retention of the expanded stent and may comprise a shape that is complementary to a heart chamber annulus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prosthetic heart valve device with improved fit and/or apposition between the device frame and left atrial tissue and/or the device base and the annular tissue of the left atrium to improve shifting of the implanted device and/or mitigate paravalvular leakage. The improved fit and/or apposition arises in various embodiments by providing or allowing an asymmetrical frame and/or frame base and/or providing a lower lip to aid in conforming to the asymmetrical shape of the atrium and/or ensure firm positioning therein. An additional benefit of these arrangement(s) is mitigation of paravalvular leakage as a result of improved fit and seal. In certain embodiments, the asymmetry of the frame assists with delivery of the device into the atrium.

Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to logging health-related events and for health-related coaching. In some embodiments, an event is logged by associating an action with a specific time and a user sentiment. In some embodiments, an event challenge, associated with a log entry, is transmitted to an external electronic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to prosthetic heart valves comprising a stent frame with valve support disposed or inverted at least partially within the stent frame, wherein the valve support is at least partially within the interior of the stent frame. The inverted configuration comprises a maximum number of layers of material in cross section where the stent frame and valve support overlap. The maximum number of cross-sectional layers of material structure may be reduced to, e.g., two layers of material to reduce outer diameter during delivery by everting the valve portion to a position located outside of the stent portion, followed by inverted reconfiguration back to the inverted anchoring structure after delivery from the lumen of the delivery catheter to the heart chamber.

Abstract: Devices and methods for supplementing and/or replacing native cardiac valve functionality, e.g., the mitral valve with a single prosthetic leaflet. An exemplary device is directed to dysfunctional mitral valves. In some cases, the entire device, including the single prosthetic leaflet, will be arranged entirely above the dysfunctional mitral valves and, therefore, disposed entirely within the left atrium. In other cases, the valve support and/or single prosthetic leaflet may extend a distance into the annulus between the left atrium and left ventricle. In some cases, the device will not physically interact with the native leaflets. In other cases, the device may physically interact with the native leaflets.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to logging user activities during a subset of a recurring time period. In some embodiments, based on received physiological data, a computer system enables logging of one or more user activities to be performed during a subset of a recurring time period. In some embodiments, based on performance of the one or more user activities during a subset of a recurring time period, a computer system enables logging of one or more user activities to be performed during a subset of a recurring time period for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to logging health-related events and for health-related coaching. In some embodiments, an event is logged by associating an action with a specific time and a user sentiment. In some embodiments, an event challenge, associated with a log entry, is transmitted to an external electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of maternal and fetal monitoring include acquiring ultrasound physiological data with an ultrasound transducer. A plurality of electrodes acquire biopotential physiological data from the skin of a patient. A controller receives the ultrasound and biopotential physiological data and calculates fetal heart rate (fHR) values, maternal heart rate (mHR) values, and uterine activity (UA) values from the ultrasound and biopotential physiological data.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a transducer array including a flexible substrate, ultrasound transducer elements disposed on the flexible substrate and configured to transmit and acquire ultrasound signals that propagate in a body of a patient, and strain sensors coupled to or integrated into the flexible substrate and configured to measure a strain in the flexible substrate generated by flexing the flexible substrate. The ultrasound system also includes a processor coupled to the ultrasound transducer elements and the strain sensors, wherein the processor is configured to process the signals acquired by the ultrasound transducer elements based at least in part on the strain measured by the strain sensors.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for a prosthetic heart valve are provided. The apparatus may include a prosthetic heart-valve fitting. The fitting may be seated in a valve annulus of the heart. The fitting may be a fitting that does not include a tissue-penetrating anchor. The fitting may be a fitting that does not include a tissue-penetrating barb. The apparatus may include a brace. The brace may be urged by an atrial tissue of the heart to maintain a position of the fitting in the annulus.

Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to logging user activities during a subset of a recurring time period. In some embodiments, based on received physiological data, a computer system enables logging of one or more user activities to be performed during a subset of a recurring time period. In some embodiments, based on performance of the one or more user activities during a subset of a recurring time period, a computer system enables logging of one or more user activities to be performed during a subset of a recurring time period for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: In a segmented ball valve for low noise and anti-cavitation applications, a replaceable cartridge is fixed inside and retained by stem and end post. The segment has a machined cylindrical bore with a slide-fit noise cartridge, enabling field replaceability with minor effort & without need of welding or fasteners. The replaceable cartridge also enables use of a fully cylindrical cartridge with greater pressure reduction stages compared to welded-on noise plates on the segment. The segment has a flattened front face resulting in lower Fd enabled by dual flow path in lower openings values thereby attaining higher noise attenuation where the cartridge is not required. The curved plates of the low noise and anti-cavitation cartridge enable: expanding flow resulting in non-impinging jet streams thereby achieving higher noise attenuation in one direction; and converging flow in the opposite direction resulting in reduction of flow energy, and the potential for cavitation for liquids.

Abstract: A device and method for predictably and controlling the collapsing of a collapsible and expandable stent for subsequent translation through a delivery sheath lumen to an anatomical target such as a heart valve or intravascular location for expansion and implantation. The loading device defines in inner lumen comprising a successively decreasing, from the proximal to the distal direction, inner diameter to a region of constant inner diameter wherein the stent is in a collapsed configuration. The device and method may provide for an at least partially collapsed configuration of the stent that may be further collapsed as a part of the implantation procedure and may comprise a stent that is pre-loaded for future use.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve stent is provided that may be adapted to provide a one-way blood flow therethrough that targets blood flow at the posterior lateral side of a ventricle to enable a natural blood flow to persist post-implant.