Abstract: A laryngeal pacemaker is configured for external placement on skin of a patient to produce respiration stimulation signals. An implantable stimulation electrode delivers the respiration stimulation signals to adjacent target neural tissue for vocal fold abduction during respiration of the recipient patient. A triaxial accelerometer produces a body motion signal reflecting energy expenditure of the recipient patient. A respiration sensor includes a flexible skin-transferrable printed tattoo electrode having a tetrapolar configuration for impedance pneumography measurement to produce a sensed respiration signal for the laryngeal pacemaker. The respiration sensor is configured for transfer and release by guided placement from a sensor applicator to the skin at the angulus sterni of the recipient patient.

Abstract: A method and a device (10) for welding at least two profiled sections (1) for window or door frames or leaves uses a heating unit (4) introduced between the profiled sections (2, 3) to be joined. At least two heating elements (5, 6) of the heating unit melt the profiled section ends (2, 3) at the end surfaces to be joined. In order to chamfer, in particular remove, a profiled section edge layer (20) of the profiled section ends (2, 3) along the layer surfaces (12, 13) thereof, at least one tool, in particular at least one cutting blade (7, 8), is arranged on the heating elements (5, 6) and is moved such that the material (9) to be melted is displaced into the profiled section interior (11) or into the interior (12) of the profiled section chambers (13). A compression device compresses the profiled section ends (2, 3).

Abstract: A printed tattoo electrode includes an interconnection unit with a stiff magnetic contact component including one or more attachment magnets configured to magnetically attach the electrode sensor to an external device. A stiff electrical contact component is electrically connected to output interface contacts for coupling electrical signals to the external device. And at least one bridge component is configured to mechanically connect the electrical contact component and the magnetic contact component to the output interface contacts. The bridge component is characterized by a connecting length with gradually varying stiffness so as to distribute mechanical stresses between the electrode sensor and the external device and avoid motion artifacts in the electrical signals.

Abstract: A respiration sensor is described of a respiration implant system for an implanted patient with impaired breathing. A sensor body is made of electrically insulating material and is configured to fit between two adjacent ribs and between the pectoralis muscle and the parasternal muscle of the implanted patient, with the bottom surface adjacent to an superficial surface of the parasternal muscle and the top surface adjacent to a profound surface of the pectoralis muscle. At least one parasternal sensor electrode is located on the bottom surface of the sensor body and is configured to cooperate with the electrically insulating material of the sensor body to sense a parasternal electromyography (EMG) signal representing electrical activity of the adjacent parasternal muscle with minimal influence by electrical activity of the nearby pectoralis muscle.

Abstract: A laryngeal pacemaker is configured for external placement on skin of a patient to produce respiration stimulation signals. An implantable stimulation electrode delivers the respiration stimulation signals to adjacent target neural tissue for vocal fold abduction during respiration of the recipient patient. A triaxial accelerometer produces a body motion signal reflecting energy expenditure of the recipient patient. A respiration sensor includes a flexible skin-transferrable printed tattoo electrode having a tetrapolar configuration for impedance pneumography measurement to produce a sensed respiration signal for the laryngeal pacemaker. The respiration sensor is configured for transfer and release by guided placement from a sensor applicator to the skin at the angulus sterni of the recipient patient.

Abstract: A method for connecting plastic profile parts (2) brings into contact at least one profile part (2) and a heating surface (34) of a heating, element (36) so that the profile part (2) begins to melt in its welding area before it is joined together with the other profile part (2). A delimiting element (7) regulates the flow and deformation of the melt material. The delimiting element (7) has at least one contact element (21) and a molded part (22), which are movable both in relation to one another and in relation to the profile part (2). During the melting of the at least one profile part (2), the contact element (21) is moved—together with the molded part (22)—relative to the at least one profile part (2) and relative to the heating element (36) out of, a resting position in the direction of a working position, whereby at least the molded part (22) is kept in contact with the heating surface (34) and the contact element element (21) is, kept in contact with a profile surface (9).

Abstract: A laryngeal pacemaker is configured for external placement on skin of a patient to produce respiration stimulation signals. An implantable stimulation electrode delivers the respiration stimulation signals to adjacent target neural tissue for vocal fold abduction during respiration of the recipient patient. A triaxial accelerometer produces a body motion signal reflecting energy expenditure of the recipient patient. A respiration sensor includes a flexible skin-transferrable printed tattoo electrode having a tetrapolar configuration for impedance pneumography measurement to produce a sensed respiration signal for the laryngeal pacemaker. The respiration sensor is configured for transfer and release by guided placement from a sensor applicator to the skin at the angulus sterni of the recipient patient.

Abstract: A respiration sensor is described of a respiration implant system for an implanted patient with impaired breathing. A sensor body is made of electrically insulating material and is configured to fit between two adjacent ribs and between the pectoralis muscle and the parasternal muscle of the implanted patient, with the bottom surface adjacent to an superficial surface of the parasternal muscle and the top surface adjacent to a profound surface of the pectoralis muscle. At least one parasternal sensor electrode is located on the bottom surface of the sensor body and is configured to cooperate with the electrically insulating material of the sensor body to sense a parasternal electromyography (EMG) signal representing electrical activity of the adjacent parasternal muscle with minimal influence by electrical activity of the nearby pectoralis muscle.

Abstract: A method for connecting plastic profile parts (2) brings into contact at least one profile part (2) and a heating surface (34) of a heating, element (36) so that the profile part (2) begins to melt in its welding area before it is joined together with the other profile part (2). A delimiting element (7) regulates the flow and deformation of the melt material. The delimiting element (7) has at least one contact element (21) and a molded part (22), which are movable both in relation to one another and in relation to the profile part (2). During the melting of the at least one profile part (2), the contact element (21) is moved—together with the molded part (22)—relative to the at least one profile part (2) and relative to the heating element (36) out of, a resting position in the direction of a working position, whereby at least the molded part (22) is kept in contact with the heating surface (34) and the contact element element (21) is, kept in contact with a profile surface (9).

Abstract: A method of developing a respiration pacing signal includes detecting respiration and movement activity in an implanted patient and developing corresponding respiration and movement signals. A respiration pacing signal is synchronized with the detected respiration activity and delivered to respiration neural tissue of the implanted patient to promote breathing of the implanted patient. A plurality of respiration sensing modes are used that reflect activity of the movement signal over time to optimize system power consumption over time, including: i. an active respiration mode when the movement signal is either actively changing or remains unchanged for a brief period less than some reduced activity period, wherein the respiration signal is measured continuously, and ii. a plurality of reduced activity respiration modes when the movement signal has remained unchanged for the reduced activity period, wherein the respiration signal is measured only during a limited respiration sampling period.

Abstract: A method of developing a respiration pacing signal includes detecting respiration and movement activity in an implanted patient and developing corresponding respiration and movement signals. A respiration pacing signal is synchronized with the detected respiration activity and delivered to respiration neural tissue of the implanted patient to promote breathing of the implanted patient. A plurality of respiration sensing modes are used that reflect activity of the movement signal over time to optimize system power consumption over time, including: i. an active respiration mode when the movement signal is either actively changing or remains unchanged for a brief period less than some reduced activity period, wherein the respiration signal is measured continuously, and ii. a plurality of reduced activity respiration modes when the movement signal has remained unchanged for the reduced activity period, wherein the respiration signal is measured only during a limited respiration sampling period.

Abstract: A respiration implant system for a patient with impaired breathing includes one or more temperature sensors configured for placement into an inner wall tissue along an airway passage of the patient and configured to measure temperature in the inner wall tissue in order to produce a temperature signal based on the measured temperature. The system further includes a pacing processor configured to receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensor and to generate a respiration pacing signal based on the temperature signal that is synchronized with a breathing cycle of the patient and a stimulating electrode configured to deliver the respiration pacing signal from the pacing processor to respiration neural tissue of the patient to facilitate breathing in the patient. The respiration implant system may be used as a laryngeal pacemaker system.

Abstract: A method of placing a stapedius activity sensor in a stapedius muscle of a patient is described. The stapedius muscle has a tendon end connecting to the stapes bone, and an opposing muscle belly end where the facial nerve innervates the stapedius muscle. A mastoidectomy is performed to create an opening through mastoid bone of the patient. A lead groove is drilled in temporal bone of the patient following a route along the facial nerve to the muscle belly end of the stapedius muscle. The stapedius activity sensor is then introduced along the lead groove to insert a distal end of the stapedius activity sensor into the muscle belly end of the stapedius muscle.

Abstract: A respiration implant system for a patient with impaired breathing includes one or more temperature sensors configured for placement into an inner wall tissue along an airway passage of the patient and configured to measure temperature in the inner wall tissue in order to produce a temperature signal based on the measured temperature. The system further includes a pacing processor configured to receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensor and to generate a respiration pacing signal based on the temperature signal that is synchronized with a breathing cycle of the patient and a stimulating electrode configured to deliver the respiration pacing signal from the pacing processor to respiration neural tissue of the patient to facilitate breathing in the patient. The respiration implant system may be used as a laryngeal pacemaker system.

Abstract: A respiration implant system includes a parasternal respiration sensor is configured for intramuscular placement into parasternal muscle of the implanted patient to develop a respiration signal representing respiration activity of the implanted patient. A movement sensor develops a patient movement signal representing movement of the implanted patient. A pacing processor receives the respiration signal from the respiration sensor and the movement signal from the movement sensor to generate a respiration pacing signal synchronized with the respiration activity of the implanted patient. A stimulating electrode delivers the respiration pacing signal from the pacing processor to respiration neural tissue of the implanted patient to promote the breathing effort of the implanted patient.

Abstract: A respiration implant system includes a pacing processor configured to receive a respiration signal and a movement signal to generate a respiration pacing signal that is synchronized with the detected respiration activity. The pacing processor is configured to optimize system power consumption over time by using multiple respiration sensing modes that reflect activity of the movement signal over time.