Abstract: Provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a class of calcium channel blockers and at least one chelating agent. More specifically, the pharmaceutical compositions comprise at least one 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) compound and at least one chelating agent. The chelating agents used in this disclosure can decrease the degradation of the constituent DHPs of the DHP compositions. The DHP compositions can be used to treat cardiovascular disorders and are more stable for prolonged periods of time.

Abstract: Provided herein is an intra-aortic balloon catheter including a tube; and a sheath seal including an elastomeric housing having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen arranged between the proximal end of the housing and the distal end of the housing, wherein the housing includes an impingement device, wherein the lumen is configured to slidably receive the tube therein and the impingement device is configured to engage the outer surface of the tube and apply a force thereto in order to prevent the tube from sliding relative to the sheath seal when the impingement device is in a first state.

Abstract: An installation device for tension clamps for attaching a rail to a railroad tie or another rail substructure, a method for attaching at least two tension clamps in their installation position by such an installation device, and a system made of an installation device with a drive device connected to it are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for monitoring AF episodes, delivering ATP pulses, and/or achieving electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) of a patient's heart and/or preventing thrombus formation after electrical isolation. For example, devices are provided that may implanted from within the left atrium, e.g., to isolate the LAA, prevent thrombus formation within the LAA, facilitate endothelialization, and/or deliver pacing.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for optimizing radiation therapy to a patient to treat cardiac arrhythmias. The system generally includes an ultrasound device placed within the esophagus to image and map cardiac structures in real-time. The system may also control the ventilation of the patient to optimize ultrasound monitoring and radiation delivery. The device in the esophagus is designed to position and monitor the esophagus and/or nearby structures to optimize radiation delivery to targets while minimizing radiation to other key structures. In addition, different ablation technologies may be delivered from within the esophagus to ablate certain tissues that cannot be safely ablated with radiation therapy. Finally, the esophageal device may have electrical or magnetic properties that can be used to guide the radiation therapy.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting occlusion of a roller pump is described, wherein the mechanism is provided with: an elongated rod member oriented on a central axis of a pump head of the roller pump; and a drive member attached to the elongated rod member so as to move along the elongated rod member between a first position and a second position, wherein the drive member is connected to each roller block of a pump rotor of the pump head so that movement of the drive member by constant increments along the elongated rod member causes non-uniform and/or non-linear incremental movement of each roller block in a direction radial to the central axis of the pump head.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for prevention and/or remediation of cardiac arrhythmias, e.g. optimizing anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) algorithms. More particularly, implantable devices are provided that measure and treat cardiac arrhythmias. By monitoring the ATP attempt from additional electrodes, far-field morphology analyses, and/or measuring the return interval from a failed ATP attempt; the devices may estimate when entrainment has occurred, the amount of delay within the reentrant tachycardia, and/or tachycardia termination/acceleration. These variables and occurrences can be used to optimize the first and/or subsequent ATP attempts. Furthermore, other exemplary embodiments describe methods to integrate electrical restitution properties into the design of ATP pacing algorithms to facilitate tachycardia termination.

Abstract: A system for determining retention risk comprises a grouper, a filter, a normalizer, a feature vector extractor, a model builder, and a predictor. The grouper is for determining a set of time series of transactions where each is associated with one employee. The filter is for filtering the set of time series of transactions based on an employee transition characteristic to determine a subset of time series. The normalizer is for determining a model set of time series by normalizing the subset of time series. The feature vector extractor is for determining a set of feature vectors determined from a time series of the model set of time series. The model builder is for determining one or more models based at least in part on the set of feature vectors. The predictor is for predicting retention risk for a given employee using the one or more models.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optimizing hemodynamics within a patient's heart, e.g., to improve the patient's exercise capacity. In one embodiment, a system is configured to be implanted in a patient's body to monitor and/or treat the patient that includes at least one sensor configured to provide sensor data that corresponds to a blood pressure within or near the patient's heart; at least one adjustable component designed to cause blood to flow in a direction opposite to the normal direction (regurgitation) within the patient's heart; and a controller configured for adjusting the function of the at least one adjustable component based at least in part on sensor data from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A system and a computer-implemented method are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: receiving, from a golfer mobile device, a request to conduct a round of golf, the request comprising round information and identification of a validator mobile device, receiving, from the validator mobile device, confirmation of validator status, receiving, from the golfer mobile device, score data and location data of the golfer mobile device. The method further comprises receiving, from the validator mobile device, location data of the validator mobile device, determining whether the received score data is valid by comparing the location data of the golfer mobile device to the location data of the validator mobile device, and determining and recording a score based on the score data for the golfer if the received score data is determined to be valid.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for prevention and/or remediation of cardiac arrhythmias, e.g. optimizing anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) algorithms. More particularly, implantable devices are provided that measure and treat cardiac arrhythmias. By monitoring the ATP attempt from additional electrodes, far-field morphology analyzes, and/or measuring the return interval from a failed ATP attempt; the devices may estimate when entrainment has occurred, the amount of delay within the reentrant tachycardia, and/or tachycardia termination/acceleration. These variables and occurrences can be used to optimize the first and/or subsequent ATP attempts. Furthermore, other exemplary embodiments describe methods to integrate electrical restitution properties into the design of ATP pacing algorithms to facilitate tachycardia termination.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are heart pumps that can include a catheter body and an impeller coupled with a distal end of the catheter body. The impeller can include a tip that is resealable or that includes a resealable member. The heart pump can also include a diffuser disposed between the distal end of the catheter body and the impeller, wherein the diffuser includes a flow directing surface.

Abstract: An intravascular device for pumping blood includes a catheter comprising a membrane chamber located between a proximal end and a distal end of the catheter. An inflatable membrane is disposed within the membrane chamber. The intravascular device includes a first one-way valve and optionally a second one-way valve configured to permit blood flow in a first direction. The first one-way valve may be positioned proximal to the membrane chamber, and the second one-way valve may be positioned distal to the membrane chamber. Methods related to intravascular devices and their respective use are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of pumping blood in a patient. The method includes inserting an impeller housing and impeller into the patient, the impeller disposed within the impeller housing and having a longitudinal axis, positioning the impeller housing and the impeller at a treatment location in the patient, activating an adjustment device at a proximal end portion of the heart pump outside the patient to provide relative motion between the impeller housing and the impeller along the longitudinal axis, and pumping blood through the impeller housing along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An extracorporeal heart-lung support machine apparatus includes a platform capable of supporting one or more pieces of equipment and at least one coupler mounted to the platform so as to provide a docking interface for a piece of equipment, wherein the coupler includes: an electrical interface configured to matingly engage wills a complementary configured electrical interface of the at least one piece of equipment; and a locking mechanism configured to selectively transition between a locked configuration in which a latch member of the locking mechanism is positioned to secure fee at least one piece of equipment to the coupler and m unlocked configuration in which the latch member of the locking mechanism is positioned to permit both engagement or disengagement of the electrical interface of the coupler with the electrical interface of the at least one piece of equipment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optimizing hemodynamics within a patient's heart, e.g., to improve the patient's exercise capacity. In one embodiment, a system is configured to be implanted in a patient's body to monitor and/or treat the patient that includes at least one sensor configured to provide sensor data that corresponds to a blood pressure within or near the patient's heart; at least one adjustable component designed to cause blood to flow in a direction opposite to the normal direction (regurgitation) within the patient's heart; and a controller configured for adjusting the function of the at least one adjustable component based at least in part on sensor data from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optimizing hemodynamics within a patient. Specifically, the system incorporates invasive sensor data (e.g., pressure measurements) combined with mechanisms to dynamically change the loading conditions of the heart and/or heart rate, in order to understand hemodynamic parameters. Computational analyses on dynamic sensor data are used to understand and guide heart rate, filling pressures, and/or volume resuscitation in critically ill patients. By pacing the heart or inducing tricuspid regurgitation, the system may cause dynamic changes in sensor data to understand optimal loading conditions and heart rates. While determining optimal hemodynamic parameters, the system may then automatically optimize the heart rate and/or filling pressures in critically ill patients.

Abstract: A cardiopulmonary bypass system is described that includes a cardiopulmonary bypass machine having a console, the console has a base and a frame connected to the base. The system further comprises a plurality of peripheral modules operatively connectable to the cardiopulmonary bypass machine via one or more cables. The system further comprises a cable chase having a first end and a second end, and a housing that extends at least partially between the first end and second end to at least partially enclose a channel for receiving one or more cables or conduits connected to one or more of the peripheral modules.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for optimizing intracardiac filling pressures and cardiac output in patients with heart failure, conduction disease, and atrial fibrillation. The system is able to adjust and optimize intracardiac filling pressures and cardiac output by adjusting heart rate and the effective amount of total body blood volume. The device includes an adjustable member that may create a mean pressure differential in order to manifest an effective “mechanical diuresis” by sequestering extraneous blood volume to the high-capacitance of the venous vasculature. The system is therefore designed to reduce intracardiac filling pressures while maintaining or even increasing cardiac output.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optimizing hemodynamics within a patient. Specifically, the system incorporates invasive sensor data (e.g., pressure measurements) combined with mechanisms to dynamically change the loading conditions of the heart and/or heart rate, in order to understand hemodynamic parameters. Computational analyzes on dynamic sensor data are used to understand and guide heart rate, filling pressures, and/or volume resuscitation in critically ill patients. By pacing the heart or inducing tricuspid regurgitation, the system may cause dynamic changes in sensor data to understand optimal loading conditions and heart rates. While determining optimal hemodynamic parameters, the system may then automatically optimize the heart rate and/or filling pressures in critically ill patients.