Abstract: A heat transfer device particularly structured for application of thermal therapy from a contact surface to internal structures of a human ear. A device may be passive (pre-cooled), active (thermoelectrically active), or include elements of both. A device may be structured to apply thermal treatment from a contact surface of a contact cavity only to a localized posterior area relative to the circumference of an ear. A device may include both of a contact cavity and a bulk cavity, with heat transfer media disposed in each cavity. Typically, a bulk cavity holds at least twice the media volume contained in a contact cavity. The cavities may be disposed in fluid communication, or separated by a barrier to permit only thermal communication there-between. When a barrier between cavities is present, a device may include different heat transfer media in each cavity.

Abstract: A device to change the temperature of a localized volume of material. A workable device includes at least one heat transfer mechanism having an external surface for direct contact with an exposed surface of the material. A working fluid is directed by input and output conduits to contact an internal surface of the heat transfer mechanism. The heat transfer mechanism exchanges heat between the working fluid and the material. Temperature of the working fluid may be regulated by a thermal system disposed at a remote location. An optional temperature sensing element may monitor a local temperature of the heat transfer mechanism or otherwise infer a temperature of a portion of the material. Sometimes, a device includes a cooperating anchoring arrangement to facilitate holding the heat transfer mechanism in a desired spot. Certain devices may be plastically deformed to a desired device shape.

Abstract: A heat transfer device particularly structured for application of thermal therapy from a contact surface to a human ear. A device may be passive (pre-cooled), active (thermoelectrically active), or include elements of both. A device may be structured to apply thermal treatment from a contact surface of a contact cavity only to a localized posterior area relative to the circumference of an ear. Preferably, a device provides an uninterrupted opening extending in a line-of-sight between an ear canal and the local environment. A device may include both of a contact cavity and a bulk cavity, with heat transfer media disposed in each cavity. Typically, a bulk cavity holds at least twice the media volume contained in a contact cavity. The cavities may be disposed in fluid communication, or separated by a barrier to permit only thermal communication there-between. When a barrier is present, a device may include different heat transfer media in each cavity.

Abstract: Some medical procedures may be assisted by an electromagnetic fiducial element assembly that is affixed to the body of a patient. The electromagnetic fiducial element assembly has a flexible substrate and an affixation mechanism such as an adhesive arranged to removably affix the electromagnetic fiducial element assembly to the body of a patient. The assembly also includes a housing coupled to the flexible substrate that partially or fully contains a first trackable electromagnetic element. A medically imagable structure is integrated with the electromagnetic fiducial element assembly. In the medical procedures, a medical image of a portion of the patient's body is captured, and a representation of the medically imagable structure is visually apparent in the medical image.

Abstract: A medical system tracks the position of a portion of a medical instrument within a body of a patient. In some embodiments, the medical instrument includes a needle, a syringe, and a needle-position-tracking element positioned between the needle and the syringe and in fluid communication with both. The needle-position-tracking element includes an electromagnet structure that includes a core, a conductive coil wrapped around the core, and ancillary circuitry configured to pass a current through the conductive coil to thereby generate a magnetic field. A sensor device senses the magnetic field and generates corresponding sensor signals. A control circuit calculates the position of a portion of the medical instrument based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: A device to change the temperature of a localized volume of material. A workable device includes at least one heat transfer mechanism having an external surface for direct contact with an exposed surface of the material. A working fluid is directed by input and output conduits to contact an internal surface of the heat transfer mechanism. The heat transfer mechanism exchanges heat between the working fluid and the material. Temperature of the working fluid may be regulated by a thermal system disposed at a remote location. An optional temperature sensing element may monitor a local temperature of the heat transfer mechanism or otherwise infer a temperature of a portion of the material. Sometimes, a device includes a cooperating anchoring arrangement to facilitate holding the heat transfer mechanism in a desired spot. Certain devices may be plastically deformed to a desired device shape.

Abstract: A medical system tracks the position of a medical instrument within a body of a patient. The medical instrument includes an elongated flexible printed circuit and an electromagnet structure having a conductive coil wound around a core. A control circuit applies an excitation signal across the conductive coil. Electrical current running through the conductive coil (wound around the core) generates a magnetic field. A plurality of sensors sense parameters of the magnetic field and output sensor signals. The control circuit calculates the position of the medical instrument based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: A heat transfer device particularly structured for application of thermal therapy from a contact surface to internal structures of a human ear. A device may be passive (pre-cooled), active (thermoelectrically active), or include elements of both. A device may be structured to apply thermal treatment from a contact surface of a contact cavity only to a localized posterior area relative to the circumference of an ear. A device may include both of a contact cavity and a bulk cavity, with heat transfer media disposed in each cavity. Typically, a bulk cavity holds at least twice the media volume contained in a contact cavity. The cavities may be disposed in fluid communication, or separated by a barrier to permit only thermal communication there-between. When a barrier between cavities is present, a device may include different heat transfer media in each cavity.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coil device includes a non-ferrous core having a substantially cylindrical shape and an insulated conductive medium such as piano wire arranged as a plurality of windings coiled around the non-ferrous core. The insulated conductive medium includes a conductive medium encased within an insulating medium. The plurality of windings include a first portion of windings and a second portion of windings separated by a third portion of windings. The insulating medium has at least one breakdown characteristic that permits shorting between individual conductors of the conductive medium in the first and second portions of windings thereby creating a first conductor region and a second conductor region electrically separated by the third portion of windings.

Abstract: A heat transfer device particularly structured for application of thermal therapy from a contact surface to internal structures of a human ear. A device may be passive (pre-cooled), active (thermoelectrically active), or include elements of both. A device may be structured to apply thermal treatment from a contact surface of a contact cavity only to a localized posterior area relative to the circumference of an ear. A device may include both of a contact cavity and a bulk cavity, with heat transfer media disposed in each cavity. Typically, a bulk cavity holds at least twice the media volume contained in a contact cavity. The cavities may be disposed in fluid communication, or separated by a barrier to permit only thermal communication therebetween. When a barrier is present, a device may include different heat transfer media in each cavity. One or more device may be associated with a pair of auditory headphones to dispose a contact surface in contact with desired portion(s) of a head.

Abstract: Some medical procedures may be assisted by an electromagnetic fiducial element assembly that is affixed to the body of a patient. The electromagnetic fiducial element assembly has a flexible substrate and an affixation mechanism such as an adhesive arranged to removably affix the electromagnetic fiducial element assembly to the body of a patient. The assembly also includes a housing coupled to the flexible substrate that partially or fully contains a first trackable electromagnetic element. A medically imagable structure is integrated with the electromagnetic fiducial element assembly. In the medical procedures, a medical image of a portion of the patient's body is captured, and a representation of the medically imagable structure is visually apparent in the medical image.

Abstract: A medical system tracks the position of a portion of a medical instrument within a body of a patient. In some embodiments, the medical instrument includes a needle, a syringe, and a needle-position-tracking element positioned between the needle and the syringe and in fluid communication with both. The needle-position-tracking element includes an electromagnet structure that includes a core, a conductive coil wrapped around the core, and ancillary circuitry configured to pass a current through the conductive coil to thereby generate a magnetic field. A sensor device senses the magnetic field and generates corresponding sensor signals. A control circuit calculates the position of a portion of the medical instrument based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: A medical guidewire includes an electrically conductive core, a polymer tubing that encloses at least a portion of the electrically conductive core, and a trackable electromagnetic element formed in a distal end of the medical guidewire. The trackable electromagnetic element includes a coil. A first end of the coil is electrically coupled to an electrically conductive structure such as a metallic braid in the polymer tubing, and a second end of the coil is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive core.

Abstract: A support structure device with an optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure is configured to assist a human patient to rise. The support structure with the optional anti-skid/anti-tip structure includes a tube bent into a shape described by way of a reference frustum such as a four-sided truncated pyramid. Each side of a top rectangular perimeter of the frustum is shorter than a corresponding side of the bottom rectangular perimeter, and each parallel side of a first trapezoidal perimeter of the frustum is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of a second trapezoidal perimeter. The anti-skid/anti-tip structure optionally includes a plurality of first coupling locations, an enclosure region, and anti-skid/anti-tip wings having anti-skid/anti-tip components.

Abstract: A support structure device is configured to assist a human patient to rise. The support structure includes a tube bent into a shape described by way of a reference frustum such as a four-sided truncated pyramid. Each side of a top rectangular perimeter of the frustum is shorter than a corresponding side of the bottom rectangular perimeter, and each parallel side of a first trapezoidal perimeter of the frustum is shorter than a corresponding parallel side of a second trapezoidal perimeter. The reference frustum has a height between 10 and 18 inches, the top rectangular perimeter has a length between 10 and 16 inches and a width between 6 and 14 inches, and the bottom rectangular perimeter has a length between 12 and 18 inches and a width between 8 and 16 inches.

Abstract: Therapeutic application of mild to moderate hypothermia in a medical procedure has been found to provide benefits to patients. For example, application of mild hypothermia in the auditory pathway can prevent functional hearing loss post cochlear implant surgery. Devices have been conceived and reduced to practice that apply localized cooling to a small area such as the basal or middle turn of the cochlea. The devices include a cooling tip with at least one thermo-conductive surface. A heat-transporting fluid is circulated through the cooling tip. After absorbing heat, the heat-transporting fluid may be controllably cooled with a thermoelectric cooling device.

Abstract: A heat transfer device particularly structured for application of thermal therapy from a contact surface to a human ear. A device may be passive (pre-cooled), active (thermoelectrically active), or include elements of both. A device may be structured to apply thermal treatment from a contact surface of a contact cavity only to a localized posterior area relative to the circumference of an ear. Preferably, a device provides an uninterrupted opening extending in a line-of-sight between an ear canal and the local environment. A device may include both of a contact cavity and a bulk cavity, with heat transfer media disposed in each cavity. Typically, a bulk cavity holds at least twice the media volume contained in a contact cavity. The cavities may be disposed in fluid communication, or separated by a barrier to permit only thermal communication there-between. When a barrier is present, a device may include different heat transfer media in each cavity.