Abstract: A porous hardened material is provided for various medical applications, including strengthening, supporting, moving, reinforcing, separating, isolating, and/or bulking biological substrates. The hardened material is formed from a liquid composition including a fluorinated copolymer and a biocompatible solvent system. The fluorinated copolymer includes a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) moiety and a vinyl moiety, wherein the vinyl moiety comprises at least one functional group selected from acetate, alcohol, amine, and amide.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems and methods that include arranging an acute alteration of blood flow in, for example, heart failure patients.

Abstract: An endoluminal access device including an outer sheath defining a lumen and a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes an expandable portion configured to be transitioned between a collapsed configuration having a first diameter and an expanded configuration having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The expandable portion includes a first arm defining a first lumen and an aperture in communication with the first lumen. The expandable portion is configured to expand outwardly from a central longitudinal axis when the expandable portion transitions to the expanded configuration and to deflect inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis when the expandable portion is transitioned to the collapsed configuration. The endoluminal access device further includes an endoluminal tool deliverable from the first lumen of the first arm and outwardly from the aperture of the first arm.

Abstract: An endoluminal access device including an outer sheath defining a lumen and a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes an expandable portion configured to be transitioned between a collapsed configuration having a first diameter and an expanded configuration having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The expandable portion includes a first arm defining a first lumen and an aperture in communication with the first lumen. The expandable portion is configured to expand outwardly from a central longitudinal axis when the expandable portion transitions to the expanded configuration and to deflect inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis when the expandable portion is transitioned to the collapsed configuration. The endoluminal access device further includes an endoluminal tool deliverable from the first lumen of the first arm and outwardly from the aperture of the first arm.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for altering blood flow in a vessel of a patient, the device including a stent element and a graft component attached to at least a portion of the stent element. The stent element and the graft component include a restricting portion configured to direct flow into one or more side branches off the vessel, and an anchor portion to arrange an inlet of the restricting portion approximately centrally within the vessel.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes a stent having an inner surface defining a lumen and an outer surface; and a polymeric cover on the outer surface of the stent. The polymeric cover includes a base and adhesion elements. When the endoprosthesis is expanded to the expanded state in a lumen defined by a vessel wall, the adhesion elements create an interlock between the vessel wall and the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: An endoluminal access device including an outer sheath defining a lumen and a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes an expandable portion configured to be transitioned between a collapsed configuration having a first diameter and an expanded configuration having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. The expandable portion includes a first arm defining a first lumen and an aperture in communication with the first lumen. The expandable portion is configured to expand outwardly from a central longitudinal axis when the expandable portion transitions to the expanded configuration and to deflect inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis when the expandable portion is transitioned to the collapsed configuration. The endoluminal access device further includes an endoluminal tool deliverable from the first lumen of the first arm and outwardly from the aperture of the first arm.

Abstract: A medical apparatus comprising an implantable lead and a stylet configured for stimulation of a target region of a patient's nervous system is described. The lead includes a generally tubular lead body, a conductor, and an electrode assembly. The generally tubular lead body has a stylet lumen and a conductor lumen extending through the proximal and distal ends of the lead body. The conductor is enclosed within the conductor lumen. The electrode assembly extends from the distal end of the lead body. The electrode assembly includes a flexible polymeric carrier and an electrode on the carrier and electrically coupled to the conductor. The stylet is sized and shaped to be receivable within the stylet lumen and configured to stiffen and support the lead body. The distal portion of the stylet includes a bend having a predetermined angle of incidence relative to the proximal portion of the stylet.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents methods and apparatuses for mapping a target physiological region, for example, during baroreceptor stimulation therapy. In an aspect, such an example apparatus of the present disclosure may include a surgical instrument configured to be securely coupled to a patient and to allow access to a target physiological region. Furthermore, the example apparatus may include an attachment element coupled to the surgical instrument and configured to releasably engage a lead, stabilize the lead during mapping of the target physiological region, and allow the lead to be repositioned relative to the target physiological region.

Abstract: An electrode structure for an implantable stimulation lead for use in stimulating a target nerve structure within a patient includes a flexible backing defined by a major dimension extending in a direction of a first axis, and a minor dimension extending generally orthogonal to the first axis. The electrode structure also includes a plurality of electrodes coupled to the backing.

Abstract: A system for mapping and marking baroreceptors of a patient. The system includes a mapping device, a marker, and a stimulator. The mapping device includes a plurality of electrodes to be situated on the patient. The marker is to be attached to the patient and mark a location of at least one of the plurality of electrodes based on an analysis of patient physiological responses to stimulation of the plurality of electrodes. The stimulator is to divide the plurality of electrodes into a first electrode zone and a second electrode zone and stimulate electrodes in the first electrode zone and the second electrode zone to obtain first patient physiological responses, where one of the first electrode zone and the second electrode zone is selected based on the first patient physiological responses.

Abstract: An example of a system comprises a patch of electrodes for placement on tissue containing neural tissue, and a tissue tester configured to measure an electrical characteristic of tissue. The tissue tester may include a test controller and switches. The test controller and the switches may be configured to connect different combinations of the electrodes to create subsets of two or more electrodes to measure the electrical characteristic of tissue using the subsets. The test controller may be configured to measure an electrical characteristic of tissue using the subsets within the set of electrodes placed on the tissue, and compare measurements of the electrical characteristic and identify a neural target for a therapy based on the comparison of the measurements of the electrical characteristic for tissue at the neural target relative to adjacent non-neural tissue.

Abstract: An example of a method embodiment may place a set of stimulation electrodes on tissue containing the baroreceptor region, and may test bipolar configurations of the electrodes. Each of the bipolar configurations of the electrodes includes at least one of the electrodes configured to function as an anode and at least one other of the electrodes configured to function as a cathode. Testing the bipolar configurations may include stimulating the tissue using each of the bipolar configurations. For each of the tested bipolar configurations at least one physiological parameter may be monitored for a baroreflex response to stimulation of the tissue, and the baroreflex response may be recorded for each of the tested bipolar configurations.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern an implantable lead. The lead can comprise a lead body. At least two conductors can extend within the lead body, such as in respective lumens of the lead body. The lead can comprise at least two electrodes. Each electrode can be connected to a respective one of the at least two conductors. A paddle body can be connected to the lead body. The paddle body can comprise a longitudinal axis that divides the paddle body into left and right sides. The at least two electrodes can be partially embedded within the paddle body. The at least two electrodes can be arrayed along the longitudinal axis. Each electrode can be asymmetric about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern an implantable paddle lead. The paddle can be attached to a distal portion of an elongate lead body. The paddle can comprise a main panel and a ridge that peripherally surrounds the main panel. The main panel can comprise a first face and a second face opposite the first face. One or more electrodes can be exposed on the first face but not exposed on the second face. The paddles can be sutured to anatomical structures. The sutures can be threaded through the main panel but not through the ridge. The paddle can be thicker along the ridge than along the main panel.

Abstract: System and methods for programming and delivering electrical stimulation to treat hypertension are described. In various embodiments, an ambulatory stimulator system, such as an implantable medical device, can detect a respiration-mediated heart rate variation (RM-HRV), monitor the efficacy of hypertension therapy and adjust the stimulation parameters using the detected RM-HRV to achieve desired therapy outcome. In some embodiments, the system can be configured to synchronize the detected heart rates to one or more respiration cycles or respiration phases within the respiration cycles, and determine the RM-HRV using the heart rates synchronized with the respiration cycles or the respiration phases. The RM-HRV may be presented to the system operator to monitor the efficacy of the AHT therapy. The ambulatory stimulator system can adjust the stimulation parameters using at least the RM-HRV.

Abstract: Some embodiments, by way of example, provide a system, comprising a posture change detector configured to detect a posture transition indicative of an increased risk of syncope, and a neural stimulator configured to deliver a neural stimulation therapy. The neural stimulator may include a syncope avoidance module configured to respond to a detected posture transition by temporarily overriding the neural stimulation therapy to ameliorate the risk of increased syncope.

Abstract: An example of a method embodiment may place a set of stimulation electrodes on tissue containing the baroreceptor region, and may test bipolar configurations of the electrodes. Each of the bipolar configurations of the electrodes includes at least one of the electrodes configured to function as an anode and at least one other of the electrodes configured to function as a cathode. Testing the bipolar configurations may include stimulating the tissue using each of the bipolar configurations. For each of the tested bipolar configurations at least one physiological parameter may be monitored for a baroreflex response to stimulation of the tissue, and the baroreflex response may be recorded for each of the tested bipolar configurations.

Abstract: A guide catheter system includes a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a first, second and third electrode wherein the first, second and third electrodes are spaced longitudinally apart from each other on the outer wall of the catheter, and an electrical impulse generator connected to the guide catheter wherein the electrical impulse generator includes a circuit for selecting an adjacent pair of electrodes to use as a bipolar electrode system to send an electrical impulse and a method of use thereof to treat vasospasm.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern an implantable lead. The lead can comprise a lead body. At least two conductors can extend within the lead body, such as in respective lumens of the lead body. The lead can comprise at least two electrodes. Each electrode can be connected to a respective one of the at least two conductors. A paddle body can be connected to the lead body. The paddle body can comprise a longitudinal axis that divides the paddle body into left and right sides. The at least two electrodes can be partially embedded within the paddle body. The at least two electrodes can be arrayed along the longitudinal axis. Each electrode can be asymmetric about the longitudinal axis.