Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include an implantable lead. The lead may include a taper or tapered portion and a fixation helix both configured to embed within tissue. In addition, the apparatuses, systems, and methods may include a guide wire configured to obtain and record signals from the heart tissue and facilitate placement of the fixation helix.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include an implantable pacing member having a housing and a lead input. A lead may be coupled to the lead input. The lead may be designed to extend along a pericardial space, epicardium, or both and engage a heart chamber. A passageway may be defined along a portion of the length of the lead.

Abstract: A method for green synthesis of uniform- and large-particle-size polystyrene particles, comprising steps of: prepolymerizing styrene at 70? to 75? for 1 h to 6 h in advance while stirring, adding divinylbenzene dissolved with initiators to the styrene, and stirring for 10 min to 30 min to obtain oil phase; heating lactic acid or an aqueous solution of lactic acid to 70? to 80?, adding the oil phase to dispersed phase by a constant-pressure device, maintaining the temperature for 2 h, heating to 80±5? and then maintaining the temperature for 1 h, and heating to 85±5? and then maintaining the temperature for 3 h to 6 h, to obtain polystyrene particles with a uniform particle size ranging from 0.7 mm to 2.0 mm.

Abstract: The invention is a polyoxymethylene film and a preparation method. The polyoxymethylene film comprises: 96 to 98 parts by weight of polyoxymethylene resin, 0.5 to 2 parts by weight of nucleating agent, 0.5 to 1 parts by weight of antioxidant, and 0.5 to 1 parts by weight of formaldehyde absorbent. In view of the high crystallinity and fast crystallization rate of polyoxymethylene, blown film process is used to directly blowing the molten mass extruded through a die of a screw extruder to form a blown film bubble. It is easy to form thin neck and easy to break when stretching, so the method is beneficial to form polyoxymethylene film, and has high processing efficiency, and is suitable for industrialization. Copolymerization unit —CH2—CH2—O— is introduced into the molecular chain of polyoxymethylene and its ratio is increased, thereby effectively reducing the crystallization rate of the materials and making it easier to form a film.

Abstract: Various aspects describe a lead delivery system for percutaneous introduction of a lead to a stimulation site near a neural target, such as the vagus nerve for nerve stimulation. The lead delivery system may include a needle assembly having a needle adapted to cut through tissue and provide initial access into the carotid sheath. The needle may be retracted into the lead delivery system to prevent cutting structures in the carotid sheath. The lead delivery system may also include a dilator assembly having one or more dilators to dilate a path to the stimulation site. The lead delivery system may further comprise a dilator assembly including a retractable needle adapted to cut through tissue. One or more locating elements, alternatively or in addition to one or more imaging elements, may be used on individual components of the lead delivery system for enhanced trackability and locatability within the body.

Abstract: A method for green synthesis of uniform- and large-particle-size polystyrene particles, comprising steps of: prepolymerizing styrene at 70? to 75? for 1 h to 6 h in advance while stirring, adding divinylbenzene dissolved with initiators to the styrene, and stirring for 10 min to 30 min to obtain oil phase; heating lactic acid or an aqueous solution of lactic acid to 70? to 80?, adding the oil phase to dispersed phase by a constant-pressure device, maintaining the temperature for 2 h, heating to 80±5? and then maintaining the temperature for 1 h, and heating to 85±5? and then maintaining the temperature for 3 h to 6 h, to obtain polystyrene particles with a uniform particle size ranging from 0.7 mm to 2.0 mm.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a single pass implantable lead configured to be coupled to the implantable medical device and arranged to sense and pace the chambers of a patient's heart. The lead may include a proximal region having a plurality of electrodes, a distal region having at least one electrode, and an intermediate region therebetween. The system can sense and pace the right atrium, the left atrium, the right ventricle, and the left ventricle.

Abstract: A catheter for delivering a medical electrical lead to a bundle of His from within a right atrium of a heart. The catheter includes a straight portion and a hook portion projecting from a distal end of the straight portion. The hook portion includes a first curved portion, a second curved portion, and a third curved portion. The straight portion and the first curved portion define a plane. The second curved portion extends from a distal end of the first curved portion. The second curved portion curves away from the plane. The third curved portion extends from a distal end of the second curved portion. The third curved portion curves toward the plane. The catheter forms a lumen extending from a proximal end of the straight portion to an opening at a distal end of the third curved portion.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose a method and an apparatus for determining a primary scheduler from a cloud computing system. The cloud computing system includes at least an arbiter and multiple schedulers, each scheduler is corresponding to one scheduling policy, and the method includes: receiving, by the arbiter, vote information sent by at least one scheduler, where the vote information is generated by the scheduler according to a current load status of the cloud computing system and a preset correspondence between a load status and the vote information; and determining, by the arbiter, a primary scheduler from the multiple schedulers according to the vote information sent by the at least one scheduler, so that the primary scheduler performs, according to a corresponding scheduling policy, scheduling on a computing resource in the cloud computing system, where the scheduling policy corresponding to the primary scheduler matches the current load status of the cloud computing system.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for estimating a traffic rate between a virtual machine pair includes, when a rate of traffic sent by a virtual machine vm-x1 to a virtual machine vm-y1 is estimated, obtaining at least rates of sending traffic by N21 virtual machines deployed in N2 physical hosts and including the virtual machine vm-x1, rates of traffic sent by N1 switching devices to N4 switching devices, rates of receiving traffic of N31 virtual machines deployed in N3 physical hosts and including the virtual machine vm-y1, and rates of outgoing traffic of the N4 switching devices.

Abstract: A leadless pacing device may include a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and a set of one or more electrodes supported by the housing. The housing may include a first a distal extension extending distally from the distal end thereof. The distal extension may include a retractable and/or rotatable distal electrode. The distal electrode may be configured to be delivered to and pace at the Bundle of His. The leadless pacing device may be releasably coupled to an expandable anchor mechanism.

Abstract: A leadless pacing device may include a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and a set of one or more electrodes supported by the housing. The housing may include a first a distal extension extending distally from the distal end thereof. One or more electrodes may be supported by the distal extension. The leadless pacing device may be releasably coupled to an expandable anchor mechanism.

Abstract: A method for estimating a traffic rate between a virtual machine pair, and a related device are provided. When a rate of traffic sent by a virtual machine vm-x1 to a virtual machine vm-y1 is estimated, reference is made to at least rates of sending traffic by N21 virtual machines deployed in N2 physical hosts and including the virtual machine vm-x1, rates of traffic sent by N1 switching devices to N4 switching devices, rates of receiving traffic of N31 virtual machines deployed in N3 physical hosts and including the virtual machine vm-y1, and rates of outgoing traffic of the N4 switching devices, thereby facilitating relatively accurate estimation of a traffic rate between a virtual machine pair.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a needle assembly for delivering a lead and methods of use. The needle assembly is configured to cut tissue and reduce the potential for cutting vulnerable bodily structures. The needle assembly includes an outer needle with a blunt tip and an inner needle with a sharp tip. The outer needle may be curved, and the inner needle may be curved. When the inner needle is rotated with respect to the outer needle, the inner needle protracts or retracts with respect to the outer needle. A stopping feature on the needle assembly may be included to resist over-rotation or over-extension. The needle assembly provides an initial path that may be further dilated for delivering a lead, such as a vagus nerve stimulation lead to a target site. The target site may be electrically tested with some embodiments.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include an implantable pacing member having a housing and a lead input. A lead may be coupled to the lead input. The lead may be designed to extend along a pericardial space, epicardium, or both and engage a heart chamber. A passageway may be defined along a portion of the length of the lead.

Abstract: Implantation of a cardiac stimulus system using an illuminating catheter system, and devices for such implantation. Multiple catheter systems for allowing for selective visualization of the internal thoracic vasculature are discussed and disclosed. A multiple lumen catheter may be used to selectively direct a contrast agent to a desired portion of the thoracic vasculature which may include the internal thoracic vein(s) and/or one or more intercostal veins.

Abstract: Implantable leads of a cardiac stimulus system are disclosed, as well as methods for implanting leads of a cardiac stimulus system. The lead may be comprised of a proximal portion having a coupler for coupling to an implantable pulse generator, an intermediate portion comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon, and a distal portion. The intermediate portion may have a first diameter and the distal portion may have a second diameter. The distal portion may also have an attachment feature for attaching to a lead pulling tool for delivery to an ITV and an intercostal vein. Methods may include pulling a lead from a first position to a second position within the vasculature, exiting the vasculature at the second location, and attaching a portion of the lead that exits the vasculature to an electrode or implantable device for use with the lead.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include an implantable pacing member having a housing and a lead input. A lead may be coupled to the lead input. The lead may be designed to extend along a pericardial space, epicardium, or both and engage a heart chamber. A passageway may be defined along a portion of the length of the lead.

Abstract: A leadless pacing device may include a power supply providing a power supply voltage, a housing having a first end, a second end, and a side extending between the first end and the second end, and a set of electrodes supported by the housing and in communication with the power supply. The housing may be angled to follow a contour of a patient's heart when the housing is positioned within the coronary sinus of the patient's heart. In some cases, an angled portion of the housing may include a smooth-curve. In some cases, an angled portion of the housing may include a first portion of the housing and a second portion of the housing at an angle of less than one-hundred-eighty degrees with respect to the first portion of the housing. One or more of the electrodes may be exposed on a concave side of the angled housing.

Abstract: A leadless pacing device may include a housing, a distal extension extending distally of a distal end of the housing, one or more electrodes supported by the housing, a distal electrode supported by the distal extension, and a processing module located within an interior space of the housing and electrically coupled to the one or more electrodes supported by the housing and the distal electrode supported by the distal extension. The housing may be positioned within a coronary sinus and the distal extension may be positioned within a vessel extending from the coronary sinus. The processing module may determine whether cardiac events occurred based on near-field signals and/or far-field signals sensed using the one or more electrodes supported by the housing and the distal electrode. The processing module may generate cardiac stimulation pulses based on the determination of whether a cardiac event occurred and where it occurred.