Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices for treating heart disease. In particular, the present disclosure relates to medical devices, systems, and methods for delivering artificial chordae tendineae in a patient. A system for delivering a chordae tendineae into a heart may include a delivery catheter. A clamp catheter may be configured to translate through the delivery catheter. A spreader may be disposed on the clamp catheter. A first clamp may be at least partially contained in the spreader in a closed configuration and may be attached to the chordae tendineae. An anchor catheter may be configured to translate through the delivery catheter and may have an anchor attached to the chordae tendineae. A sheath may be extended over the anchor catheter and anchor and may be configured to restrain an arm of the anchor.

Abstract: An implantable hearing assistance system includes a sensor transducer and an electronics unit. The sensor transducer, such as a piezoelectric transducer, is operatively coupled to an auditory element of the middle ear (e.g., malleus), and electrically connected to the electronics unit. The transducer and the electronics unit are arranged together to minimize the driving impedance and lead capacitance therebetween, thereby minimizing susceptibility to electromagnetic interference and minimizing high audio frequency signal attenuation. In one example, the transducer and the electronics unit are disposed immediately adjacent each other or physically joined together to virtually eliminate (or at least significantly shorten) the length of the electrical connection between the transducer and the electronics unit.

Abstract: A dual path implantable hearing assistance system transduces sound vibrations of the malleus in one or both ears into electrical signals, processes the electrical signals to provide one or more resulting output electrical signals, and transduces the output signals into mechanical vibrations provided to the stapes in one or both ears. Communication between an electronics device and at least one ear is either wireless or through subcutaneous lead wires. The system may have two input paths and two output paths, programmable to provide the function of two separate single path systems, but capable of combining the signals such as by weighted summing. The system may have also have two input paths and one output path; or, one input path and two output paths; or, one input path and one output path, each associated with a different ear.

Abstract: An implantable hearing assistance system includes a sensor transducer and an electronics unit. The sensor transducer, such as a piezoelectric transducer, is operatively coupled to an auditory element of the middle ear (e.g., malleus), and electrically connected to the electronics unit. The transducer and the electronics unit are arranged together to minimize the driving impedance and lead capacitance therebetween, thereby minimizing susceptibility to electromagnetic interference and minimizing high audio frequency signal attenuation.

Abstract: An implantable hearing assistance system includes a sensor transducer and an electronics unit. The sensor transducer, such as a piezoelectric transducer, is operatively coupled to an auditory element of the middle ear (e.g., malleus), and electrically connected to the electronics unit. The transducer and the electronics unit are arranged together to minimize the driving impedance and lead capacitance therebetween, thereby minimizing susceptibility to electromagnetic interference and minimizing high audio frequency signal attenuation. In one example, the transducer and the electronics unit are disposed immediately adjacent each other or physically joined together to virtually eliminate (or at least significantly shorten) the length of the electrical connection between the transducer and the electronics unit.

Abstract: An implantable hearing assistance system has a subcranially implantable electronics unit that is remotely situated from the ear, such as implanted in the pectoral region, rather than in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. The increased volume available in the remote electronics unit allows it to carry a power source of increased energy capacity. This improves longevity, allows higher power consumption signal processing capability, and simplifies battery replacement. The hearing assistance system is coupled to a middle ear input transducer and a middle or inner ear output stimulator. The hearing assistance system is capable of use in a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), or cochlear implant hearing assistance system.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system includes multiple middle ear transducers for sensing vibrations of an ossicle or other auditory element. The hearing assistance system is configured to accommodate an unknown or variable direction of the vibration. Two transducers are arranged to transduce nonidentical directional components of the vibration into electrical signals which are then combined. The combined electrical signal is approximately independent of the direction of the vibration, or has improved frequency response, or has an amplitude that is approximately independent of the direction of the vibration. The combined electrical signal may result from a square root of sum-of-squares, sum of individually filtered signals, differentiation, or other techniques. The hearing assistance system analogously accommodates three dimensional variability of the direction of vibration using three middle ear transducers.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system senses sound vibrations of an auditory element in the middle ear and provides a stimulus to an auditory sensory element. The vibrations are received through the tympanic membrane, and sensed at the tympanic membrane, malleus, incus, or other auditory element. A capacitive sensor is mechanically or magnetically coupled to a vibrating auditory element, such as the malleus, and time-varying capacitance values resulting from the vibrations are detected. One embodiment allows pivotable mechanical coupling of the capacitive sensor to at least one of the auditory element and a carrier secured within the middle ear. An resulting electrical output signal is provided to the output stimulator for assisting hearing.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system includes electric response audiometry (ERA) functions for diagnostic, self-calibration, frequency-response parameter adjustment, feedback self-testing, and automatic gain control (AGC) purposes. The invention includes partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), cochlear implant, or other hearing assistance systems. Auditory response signals are obtained by auditory brain-stem response (ABR), cortical ERA, and electrocochleography. A mechanical vibration or electrical stimulus is introduced directly in the middle or inner ear, either in response to an input signal corresponding to sound, or in response to an independent calibration signal. Auditory response signals are obtained by surface electroencephalography (EEG) or by an implanted electrocochleographic sensor. Calibration stimuli have constant or adjustable amplitudes, frequencies, and repetition frequencies. Wide-band clicks, pure audio tones, and other calibration stimuli are included.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system includes multiple middle ear transducers for sensing vibrations of an ossicle or other auditory element. The hearing assistance system is configured to accommodate an unknown or variable direction of the vibration. Two transducers are arranged to transduce nonidentical directional components of the vibration into electrical signals which are then combined. The combined electrical signal is approximately independent of the direction of the vibration, or has improved frequency response, or has an amplitude that is approximately independent of the direction of the vibration. The combined electrical signal may result from a square root of sum-of-squares, sum of individually filtered signals, differentiation, or other techniques. The hearing assistance system analogously accommodates three dimensional variability of the direction of vibration using three middle ear transducers.

Abstract: An implantable hearing assistance system has a subcranially implantable electronics unit that is remotely situated from the ear, such as implanted in the pectoral region, rather than in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. The increased volume available in the remote electronics unit allows it to carry a power source of increased energy capacity. This improves longevity, allows higher power consumption signal processing capability, and simplifies battery replacement. The hearing assistance system is coupled to a middle ear input transducer and a middle or inner ear output stimulator. The hearing assistance system is capable of use in a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), or cochlear implant hearing assistance system.

Abstract: An implantable hearing assistance system method has a subcranially implantable electronics unit that is remotely situated from the ear, such as implanted in the pectoral region, rather than in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. The increased volume available in the remote electronics unit allows it to carry a power source of increased energy capacity. This improves longevity, allows higher power consumption signal processing capability, and simplifies battery replacement. The hearing assistance system is coupled to a middle ear input transducer and a middle or inner ear output stimulator. The hearing assistance system is capable of use in a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), or cochlear implant hearing assistance system.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system senses sound vibrations of an auditory element in the middle ear and provides a stimulus to an auditory sensory element. The vibrations are received through the tympanic membrane, and sensed at the tympanic membrane, malleus, incus, or other auditory element. An electromagnetic sensor includes receiving and reference elements, e.g. a permanent magnet and a coil, having a time-varying magnetic flux linkage due to the vibrations. The magnet and coil are pivotably coupled to an auditory element and a carrier, or vice-versa, for self-alignment. A resulting electrical signal on the coil is processed, then provided to an output stimulator for mechanical or electrical stimulation of the cochlea.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system senses sound vibrations of an auditory element in the middle ear and provides a stimulus to an auditory sensory element. The vibrations are received through the tympanic membrane, and sensed at the tympanic membrane, malleus, incus, or other auditory element. A capacitive sensor is mechanically or magnetically coupled to a vibrating auditory element, such as the malleus, and time-varying capacitance values resulting from the vibrations are detected. One embodiment allows pivotable mechanical coupling of the capacitive sensor to at least one of the auditory element and a carrier secured within the middle ear. A resulting electrical output signal is provided to the output stimulator for assisting hearing.

Abstract: A dual path implantable hearing assistance system transduces sound vibrations of the malleus in one or both ears into electrical signals, processes the electrical signals to provide one or more resulting output electrical signals, and transduces the output signals into mechanical vibrations provided to the stapes in one or both ears. Communication between an electronics device and at least one ear is either wireless or through subcutaneous lead wires. The system may have two input paths and two output paths, programmable to provide the function of two separate single path systems, but capable of combining the signals such as by weighted summing. The system may have also have two input paths and one output path; or, one input path and two output paths; or, one input path and one output path, each associated with a different ear.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system includes electric response audiometry (ERA) functions for diagnostic, self-calibration, frequency-response parameter adjustment, feedback self-testing, and automatic gain control (AGC) purposes. The invention includes partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), cochlear implant, or other hearing assistance systems. Auditory response signals are obtained by auditory brain-stem response (ABR), cortical ERA, and electrocochleography. A mechanical vibration or electrical stimulus is introduced directly in the middle or inner ear, either in response to an input signal corresponding to sound, or in response to an independent calibration signal. Auditory response signals are obtained by surface electroencephalography (EEG) or by an implanted electrocochleographic sensor. Calibration stimuli have constant or adjustable amplitudes, frequencies, and repetition frequencies. Wide-band clicks, pure audio tones, and other calibration stimuli are included.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system senses sound vibrations of an auditory element in the middle ear and provides a stimulus to an auditory sensory element. The vibrations are received through the tympanic membrane, and sensed at the tympanic membrane, malleus, incus, or other auditory element. An electromagnetic sensor includes receiving and reference elements, e.g. a permanent magnet and a coil, having a time-varying magnetic flux linkage due to the vibrations. The magnet and coil are pivotably coupled to an auditory element and a carrier, or vice-versa, for self-alignment. A resulting electrical signal on the coil is processed, then provided to an output stimulator for mechanical or electrical stimulation of the cochlea.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system senses sound vibrations of an auditory element in the middle ear and provides a stimulus to an auditory sensory element. The vibrations are received through the tympanic membrane, and sensed at the tympanic membrane, malleus, incus, or other auditory element. A capacitive sensor is mechanically or magnetically coupled to a vibrating auditory element, such as the malleus, and time-varying capacitance values resulting from the vibrations are detected. One embodiment allows pivotable mechanical coupling of the capacitive sensor to at least one of the auditory element and a carrier secured within the middle ear. A resulting electrical output signal is provided to the output stimulator for assisting hearing.

Abstract: An implantable hearing assistance system has a subcranially implantable electronics unit that is remotely situated from the ear, such as implanted in the pectoral region, rather than in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. The increased volume available in the remote electronics unit allows it to carry a power source of increased energy capacity. This improves longevity, allows higher power consumption signal processing capability, and simplifies battery replacement. The hearing assistance system is coupled to a middle ear input transducer and a middle or inner ear output stimulator. The hearing assistance system is capable of use in a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), or cochlear implant hearing assistance system.