Abstract: A bladder fullness monitoring system includes a controller and an active optical sensor that is affixed to a patient's bladder. The sensor emits light onto the bladder and further detects light reflected from the bladder, in order to generate an output signal that indicates an amount of emitted light was reflected back to the detector. The controller is coupled to the optical sensor to receive and interpret the output signals, e.g., to determine when the bladder is full. The controller may be operatively coupled to a urinary control apparatus which uses the output signals to trigger urination in patients who have lost the ability to voluntarily urinate. Embodiments are particularly useful for monitoring bladder fullness in patients who have lost bladder sensation and/or the ability to voluntary urinate and rely on a urinary control apparatus in order to urinate.

Abstract: A bladder fullness monitoring systems includes a controller and an active optical sensor that is affixed to a patient's bladder. The sensor emits light onto the bladder and further detects light reflected from the bladder, in order to generate an output signal that indicates an amount of emitted light was reflected back to the detector. The controller is coupled to the optical sensor to receive and interpret the output signals, e.g., to determine when the bladder is full. The controller may be operatively coupled to a urinary control apparatus which uses the output signals to trigger urination in patients who have lost the ability to voluntarily urinate. Embodiments are particularly useful for monitoring bladder fullness in patients who have lost bladder sensation and/or the ability to voluntary urinate and rely on a urinary control apparatus in order to urinate.

Abstract: A header lock assembly includes a header lock pin and mating lead lock collar that provide a releasable coupling for attaching one or more leads to a device. The header lock assembly is configured to engage the lead to assure closure while not applying undue pressure on the lead. One or more notches in the header lock pin allow the lead to pass the header lock pin unimpeded while the header lock assembly is in an unlocked configuration. Rotation of the header lock pin engages a circumferential groove in the lead lock collar to secure the lead to the header. A slot in the top of the header lock pin provides an interface surface with a lead locking tool for rotating the header lock pin. The slot orientation provides a visual indication of the header lock assembly being in a locked or unlocked configuration.

Abstract: A lead device is provided for a medical treatment apparatus, where the lead device includes protruding anchoring mechanisms for anchoring the lead device in tissue. The anchoring mechanism include permanent anchoring mechanisms, or a combination of permanent and dissolvable anchoring mechanisms, to anchor the device in tissue. The anchoring mechanism resists migration of the lead device in at least one or both axial directions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide drug packaging and methods for producing drug packaging which can be sealed at room temperature and/or without the need for elevated temperatures above room temperature. Many embodiments provide drug packaging comprising pierceable tubing having a capsule shape (also referred to herein as a pierceable capsule and/or pierceable drug capsule) containing a solid drug such as a drug pellet and methods for producing pierceable drug capsules which can be sealed at room temperature. Embodiments are particularly useful for the packaging and delivery of drugs used in implantable drug delivery devices as well as packaging of drugs that are easily thermally degraded.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide bladder fullness monitoring systems and associated methods for such monitoring. One includes a controller and an active optical sensor that is affixed to a patient's bladder. The sensor emits light onto the bladder and further detects light reflected from the bladder, in order to generate an output signal that indicates an amount of emitted light was reflected back to the detector. The controller is coupled to the optical sensor to receive and interpret the output signals, e.g., to determine when the bladder is full. The controller may be operatively coupled to a urinary control apparatus which uses the output signals to trigger urination in patients who have lost the ability to voluntarily urinate. Embodiments are particularly useful for monitoring bladder fullness in patients who have lost bladder sensation and/or the ability to voluntary urinate and rely on a urinary control apparatus in order to urinate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide drug packaging and methods for producing drug packaging which can be sealed at room temperature and/or without the need for elevated temperatures above room temperature. Many embodiments provide drug packaging comprising pierceable tubing having a capsule shape (also referred to herein as a pierceable capsule and/or pierceable drug capsule) containing a solid drug such as a drug pellet and methods for producing pierceable drug capsules which can be sealed at room temperature. Embodiments are particularly useful for the packaging and delivery of drugs used in implantable drug delivery devices as well as packaging of drugs that are easily thermally degraded.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide drug packaging and methods for producing drug packaging which can be sealed at room temperature and/or without the need for elevated temperatures above room temperature. Many embodiments provide drug packaging comprising pierceable tubing having a capsule shape (also referred to herein as a pierceable capsule and/or pierceable drug capsule) containing a solid drug such as a drug pellet and methods for producing pierceable drug capsules which can be sealed at room temperature. Embodiments are particularly useful for the packaging and delivery of drugs used in implantable drug delivery devices as well as packaging of drugs that are easily thermally degraded.

Abstract: Embodiments provide apparatus and methods for delivering solid form medications such as drug cords (DC) to various locations in the body. The DCs may comprise one or more drugs and excipients. One embodiment provides an apparatus for in vivo delivery of DCs comprising a housing including a port, a DC disposed in the housing on a spool or like device and a mechanism for advancing the DCs from the inside the housing to a delivery site (DS) outside the housing. The apparatus can be used to deliver selected lengths of DC corresponding to a dose of drug to treat a medical condition. The DC can be delivered to the DS at regular intervals or responsive to a detected biological event. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for delivering medication to treat a selected medical condition over an extended period without requiring a patient to take external medication.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide drug packaging and methods for producing drug packaging which can be sealed at room temperature and/or without the need for elevated temperatures above room temperature. Many embodiments provide drug packaging comprising pierceable tubing having a capsule shape (also referred to herein as a pierceable capsule and/or pierceable drug capsule) containing a solid drug such as a drug pellet and methods for producing pierceable drug capsules which can be sealed at room temperature. Embodiments are particularly useful for the packaging and delivery of drugs used in implantable drug delivery devices as well as packaging of drugs that are easily thermally degraded.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide drug packaging and methods for producing drug packaging which can be sealed at room temperature and/or without the need for elevated temperatures above room temperature. Many embodiments provide drug packaging comprising pierceable tubing having a capsule shape (also referred to herein as a pierceable capsule and/or pierceable drug capsule) containing a solid drug such as a drug pellet and methods for producing pierceable drug capsules which can be sealed at room temperature. Embodiments are particularly useful for the packaging and delivery of drugs used in implantable drug delivery devices as well as packaging of drugs that are easily thermally degraded.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide drug packaging and methods for producing drug packaging which can be sealed at room temperature and/or without the need for elevated temperatures above room temperature. Many embodiments provide drug packaging comprising pierceable tubing having a capsule shape (also referred to herein as a pierceable capsule and/or pierceable drug capsule) containing a solid drug such as a drug pellet and methods for producing pierceable drug capsules which can be sealed at room temperature. Embodiments are particularly useful for the packaging and delivery of drugs used in implantable drug delivery devices as well as packaging of drugs that are easily thermally degraded.

Abstract: Embodiments provide apparatus and methods for delivering solid form drug (SFD) to various locations in the body. In one embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus for treatment of arrhythmia comprising a drug delivery member (DDM) coupled to a drug storage device (DSD). The DSD is configured to store and advance SFD (e.g., drug pellets) through the DDM to a target tissue site (TTS) in or on the heart. A drug advancement member may be used to advance the SFD through the DSD. A capture chamber (CC) may be coupled to the DDM. and is configured to be positioned on a heart surface and allow SFD to dissolve to deliver a drug solution to the heart. The DSD can be implanted subcutaneously e.g., in the pectoral area. Embodiments of the apparatus can be used to store and deliver SFD to the heart or other TTS over an extended period of years.

Abstract: A circuit breaker, and particularly, though not exclusively, an automatic cut-out or line-protective circuit breaker, which includes a housing, an electric arc chamber arranged within the housing, a fixed contact and a movable contact located in the arc chamber, a current supply line forming a U-shaped current loop with the contacts. The arc-extinguishing chamber incorporates arc-extinguishing plates for guiding the path of the arc into the electric arc chamber to the extinguishing chamber, and in which plates of a magnetically-conductive material extend in parallel with the plane of contact movement up to opening or breaking thereof, and extend from the contacts to the arc-extinguishing chamber, and a gas-emitting coating being provided on each of the plates and constituted of an electrically-insulating material which emits gas when heated.