Abstract: Systems and methods for rate-adaptive pacing are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a medical device for delivering electrical stimulation to a heart may include a housing configured to be implanted on the heart or within a chamber of the heart, one or more electrodes connected to the housing, and a controller disposed within the housing. The controller may be configured to sense a first signal and determine a respiration rate based at least in part on the sensed first signal. In at least some embodiments, the controller may be further configured to adjust a rate of delivery of electrical stimulation by the medical device based at least in part on the determined respiration rate.

Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes an outer shaft and an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft. An internally exposed coil is disposed within the inner shaft and is electrically coupled to an externally exposed coil that can be used to inductively transmit a current flowing through the internally exposed coil. An actuation member extends within the inner shaft and includes a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device. As the force translation rod moves relative to the internally exposed coil, an impedance varies in accordance with relative position.

Abstract: A system for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient that includes a gas delivery device configured to deliver a flow of pressurized gas to a gas delivery lumen extending therefrom, a gaseous sealing module communicating with a distal end of the gas delivery lumen and configured to generate a gaseous seal within a gas sealed lumen extending therefrom, and an access port communicating with a distal end of the gas sealed lumen so as to provide sealed instrument access to the surgical cavity and maintain a stable pressure within the surgical cavity.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to determine an indication of contractility of a heart of a patient using received physiologic information, and to determine blood pressure information of the patient using the heart sound information and the determined indication of contractility of the heart. The system can include an assessment circuit configured to determine an indication of contractility of a heart of the patient using first heart sound (S1) information of the patient, and to determine blood pressure information of the patient using second heart sound (S2) information of the patient and the determined indication of contractility of the heart.

Abstract: A ventricularly implantable medical device that includes a sensing module that is configured to detect an artifact during ventricular filling and to identify an atrial event based at least on part on the detected artifact. Control circuitry of the implantable medical device is configured to deliver a ventricular pacing therapy to a patient's heart, wherein the ventricular pacing therapy is time dependent, at least in part, on the identified atrial event.

Abstract: Catheter and implantable leadless pacing devices, systems, and methods utilizing catheters and implantable leadless pacing devices are disclosed. An example catheter system may include a holding structure extending distally from a tubular member. An implantable device, such a leadless pacing device, may be located within a cavity of the holding structure and an electrical barrier may be located within the holding structure at a location between a proximal electrode and a distal electrode of the implantable device. The electrical barrier may inhibit electrical signals of the implantable device from traveling within the holding structure between the proximal electrode and the distal electrode of the implantable device. The holding structure may include one or more electrical ports adjacent the proximal end of the holding structure and adjacent or proximal of the proximal electrode of the implantable device.

Abstract: A system for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient that includes a gas delivery device configured to deliver a flow of pressurized gas to a gas delivery lumen extending therefrom, a gaseous sealing module communicating with a distal end of the gas delivery lumen and configured to generate a gaseous seal within a gas sealed lumen extending therefrom, and an access port communicating with a distal end of the gas sealed lumen so as to provide sealed instrument access to the surgical cavity and maintain a stable pressure within the surgical cavity.

Abstract: A system for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient that includes a gas delivery device configured to deliver a flow of pressurized gas to a gas delivery lumen extending therefrom, a gaseous sealing module communicating with a distal end of the gas delivery lumen and configured to generate a gaseous seal within a gas sealed lumen extending therefrom, and an access port communicating with a distal end of the gas sealed lumen so as to provide sealed instrument access to the surgical cavity and maintain a stable pressure within the surgical cavity.

Abstract: A drive assembly for use with a delivery catheter for delivering an implantable medical device includes a drive motor configured to be operably coupled to an inner shaft of the delivery catheter such that operation of the drive motor causes the inner shaft to translate relative to the outer shaft and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a position signal from a position sensor indicating a position of the implantable medical device relative to the outer shaft as well as a motor signal indicating a rotational position of an output shaft of the drive motor. The controller is configured to output a control signal instructing operation of the drive motor based upon the indicated rotational position of the output shaft of the drive motor and the indicated position of the implantable medical device relative to the outer shaft.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for delivering insufflation gas to a body cavity of a patient during a surgical procedure, which includes an insufflator for delivering a flow of insufflation gas to the body cavity of the patient through a flow path that communicates with a pneumatically sealed trocar, a flow meter for measuring an amount of gas that has been removed from the body cavity by use of a suction device, and a controller operatively connected to the flow meter for receiving a flow measurement from the flow meter to determine when the suction device is in use and an amount of insufflation gas needed to be delivered to the body cavity by the insufflator to compensate for the gas removed from the body cavity by the suction device.

Abstract: Catheter and implantable leadless pacing devices, systems, and methods utilizing catheters and implantable leadless pacing devices are disclosed. An example catheter system may include a holding structure extending distally from a tubular member. An implantable device, such a leadless pacing device, may be located within a cavity of the holding structure and an electrical barrier may be located within the holding structure at a location between a proximal electrode and a distal electrode of the implantable device. The electrical barrier may inhibit electrical signals of the implantable device from traveling within the holding structure between the proximal electrode and the distal electrode of the implantable device. The holding structure may include one or more electrical ports adjacent the proximal end of the holding structure and adjacent or proximal of the proximal electrode of the implantable device.

Abstract: A system for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity of a patient that includes a gas delivery device configured to deliver a flow of pressurized gas to a gas delivery lumen extending therefrom, a gaseous sealing module communicating with a distal end of the gas delivery lumen and configured to generate a gaseous seal within a gas sealed lumen extending therefrom, and an access port communicating with a distal end of the gas sealed lumen so as to provide sealed instrument access to the surgical cavity and maintain a stable pressure within the surgical cavity.

Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes an outer shaft defining an outer shaft lumen and an inner shaft translatable within the outer shaft lumen, the inner shaft defining a lumen extending through the inner shaft. An actuation mechanism extends through the lumen and includes a coupler, a force translation rod that extends proximally from the coupler and a plurality of push pull rods that extend distally from the coupler and that releasably couple to the implantable medical device. The force translation rod includes a transition in electromagnetic permeability. The delivery system includes an inductive coil disposed relative to the force translation rod and positioned to detect a change in inductance resulting from the transition in electromagnetic permeability passing through the inductive coil.

Abstract: A filter cartridge for surgical gas delivery systems includes a filter housing configured to be seated in a filter cartridge interface of a surgical gas delivery system. A first filter element is seated in a first end portion of the filter housing. A second filter element is seated in a second end portion of the filter housing opposite the first end portion. A third filter element is seated in the filter housing between the first and second filter elements. The third filter element can include an activated carbon material, such as an activated carbon disc.

Abstract: A filter cartridge for surgical gas delivery systems includes a filter housing configured to be seated in a filter cartridge interface of a surgical gas delivery system, with a plurality of flow paths defined through the filter housing including at least one evacuation/return flow path and at least one insufflation/sensing flow path. A humidity filter element is included in the evacuation/return flow path for removing humidity from an evacuation/return lumen of a tube set. The humidity filter element can include a sintered polymer material configured to provide tortuous flow paths therethrough to condense humidity out of a flow through the humidity filter element.

Abstract: A system for performing an endoscopic surgical procedure in a surgical cavity is disclosed which includes a primary gas circulation device housing a central processor and a primary pump, the primary pump controlled by the central processor and configured to deliver a flow of pressurized gas to a primary gas delivery lumen and to receive gas from a primary gas return lumen, and a plurality of subordinate gas circulation devices each housing a respective subordinate pump configured to deliver a flow of pressurized gas to a respective subordinate gas delivery lumen and to receive gas from a respective subordinate gas return lumen, wherein the subordinate pump in each subordinate gas circulation device is in networked communication with and controlled by the central processor of the primary gas circulation device.

Abstract: A filter cartridge for surgical gas delivery systems includes a filter housing configured to be seated in a filter cartridge interface of a surgical gas delivery system, with a plurality of flow paths defined through the filter housing including at least one evacuation/return flow path and at least one insufflation/sensing flow path. A humidity filter element is included in the evacuation/return flow path for removing humidity from an evacuation/return lumen of a tube set. The humidity filter element can include a sintered polymer material configured to provide tortuous flow paths therethrough to condense humidity out of a flow through the humidity filter element.

Abstract: An access device for surgical procedures includes an end cap having a rigid body with a flexible support sealingly mounted to the rigid body with at least one separate access port for accommodating introduction of individual surgical instruments into a body of a patient. The at least one access port is sealingly attached to the flexible support and extend in a proximal direction therefrom. The flexible support is of a material more flexible than those of the rigid body and the at least one access port to provide for relative angular movement of the at least one access port to provide flexibility for positioning surgical instruments introduced through the at least one access port.

Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) is configured to sense cardiac activity and to pace a patient's heart and is disposable within a ventricle of the patient's heart. The LCP may include a housing, a first electrode and a second electrode that are secured relative to the housing and are spaced apart. A controller is disposed within the housing and is operably coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode such that the controller is capable of receiving, via the first electrode and the second electrode, electrical cardiac signals of the heart. The LCP may include a pressure sensor and/or an accelerometer. The controller may determine a pace time for a cardiac cycle based at least in part upon a signal from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) is configured with a pressure sensor. The IMD includes a housing and a diaphragm that is exposed to the environment outside of the housing. The diaphragm is configured to transmit a pressure from the environment outside of the housing to a piezoelectric membrane. In response, the piezoelectric membrane generates a voltage and/or a current, which is representative of a pressure change applied to the housing diaphragm. In some cases, only changes in pressure over time are used, not absolute or gauge pressures.