Abstract: An external programmer module adapted for physical and electrical connection to existing clinical monitoring and/or therapy instrumentation is provided for achieving bi-directional communication with an implantable medical device (IMD). The programmer module includes telemetry circuitry necessary for communicating with an IMD and a connector that allows electrical connection to a clinical instrument such as a patient monitor or external defibrillator. The connector is adapted to connect the programmer module with the power supply of the clinical instrument and may connect the programmer module with one or more features or subsystems of the clinical instrument, such as, a central processing system, a printer, an electronic storage medium, a user interface, a communications interface, or graphical display.

Abstract: An external programmer module adapted for physical and electrical connection to existing clinical monitoring and/or therapy instrumentation is provided for achieving bi-directional communication with an implantable medical device (IMD). The programmer module includes telemetry circuitry necessary for communicating with an IMD and a connector that allows electrical connection to a clinical instrument such as a patient monitor or external defibrillator. The connector is adapted to connect the programmer module with the power supply of the clinical instrument and may connect the programmer module with one or more features or subsystems of the clinical instrument, such as, a central processing system, a printer, an electronic storage medium, a user interface, a communications interface, or graphical display.

Abstract: A modular system including hardware and software in combination or separately is used to adopt instruments for remote connectivity and programming of one or more medical devices in one or more patients. The modular system is implemented via an interface and is adaptable to a variety of medical devices, irrespective of origin of manufacture. The modular unit includes communication and other functional hardware in combination with Jini technology and Bluetooth implemented to effect wireless communication between various devices, patients and health providers.

Abstract: In accordance with the apparatus and method of the present invention, a biopotential lesion sensor is placed directly over a lesion in a symptomatic breast and a reference sensor is located away from the symptomatic breast. A plurality of electropotential test measurements are taken during a test period with the lesion sensor and averaged to obtain a primary test potential. This primary test potential can be weighted to compensate for one or more biologic variables such as patient age, time in the patient menstrual cycle, and the time of day during which the measurement is taken. To provide noise enhancement of the primary test potential average measurement, the symptomatic breast is divided into four equal quadrants with one quadrant containing the lesion.

Abstract: A capture detection circuit for an implantable cardiac stimulator. A signal detected by an electrode in the heart following delivery of a stimulating pulse is amplified, bandpass and highpass filtered, rectified, integrated over a selected window of time starting at a selected delay after delivery of the stimulating pulse, and applied to two comparators having different reference values. If the integrated signal exceeds the first reference value, the first comparator output goes high. If the integrated signal exceeds the second reference value, the second comparator goes high. If both comparators remain low, non-capture is indicated. If the first comparator goes high and the second comparator remains low, capture is indicated. If the second comparator goes high, an intrinsic contraction is indicated. The window of integration can be extended to distinguish capture from intrinsic contraction.

Abstract: A programmable power supply having a plurality of channels wherein each channel is adapted to output a selectable DC voltage, AC voltage, DC current or AC current. Each channel is adapted to select a DC reference signal or an AC reference signal and to scale the selected DC reference or the AC reference to output the selected signal. The outputted selected signals are monitored to provide a monitored channel signal indicating the value of the selected signal. The programmable power supply outputs monitored channel signals for each of the channels in a human perceivable format such as a display or printed format. At least some of the channels are adapted to be connectable to a temperature probe which outputs temperature signals and, in this embodiment, the temperature signals are monitored to provide monitored channel temperature signals, the monitored channel temperature signals being outputted in a human perceivable format such as a display or printed format or both.

Abstract: A surgical retractor instrument which incorporates therein a blood flow monitor. A surgical retractor system is disclosed for manipulation of living tissues and/or organs during diagnostic and/or surgical procedures, providing for the monitoring of the presence or absence of blood flow in the tissue adjacent thereto. The surgical retractor incorporates a surgical retractor blade, which can be of any conventional or desired design or physical shape, depending upon the intended use thereof. The pressure end of the retractor blade is designed with fiber optics for directing light (specifically IR) having predetermined spectral characteristics related to blood onto the adjacent tissues and/or organs. The retractor blade is also designed with receiving fiber optics for receiving light which is directed at and reflected from the tissues and/or organs.