Abstract: An improved pivotal mounting boss for attachment to front or rear orthodontic bands on a mandibular arch expander and a maxillary arch expander. The pivotal mounting boss includes a base casing that is soldered or welded to the orthodontic band. A screw is threadedly engaged in the base casing. The base casing has an opening formed therein for the insertion of an arch wire. The opening can be preangulated to assist in root angulation when the arch wire is inserted.

Abstract: A system and method for optimal sensing of cardiac events includes registering electrical activity from a cardiac event in a patient's heart and entering a refractory period after the cardiac event has been registered. The system and method further includes detecting when the electrical activity from the cardiac event has settled into a baseline region for a predetermined period of time, whereby the refractory period is ended at such time. The method may also implement a minimum backup timer and a maximum backup timer, which are set to predetermined minimum and maximum time periods, respectively, when the refractory period begins. In this case, the system ends the refractory period, either: (1) when the electrical activity settles into a baseline region for a predetermined period of time and the minimum time period elapses, or (2) when the maximum time period elapses, whichever occurs first.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes a mandibular arch expander and a maxillary arch expander which are interconnected by a pair of adjustable connector assemblies. The maxillary and mandibular arch expanders each include front and rear orthodontic bands which have bosses to facilitate connection of the connector assemblies to the arch expanders. The connector assemblies include an expandable tube assembly and a rod which extends through said expandable tube assembly. The expandable tube assembly has a mount at a first end thereof adapted to connect the connector to the rear orthodontic band of the maxillary arch. The rod has a mount adjacent a second end of the expandable tube assembly adapted to be connected to the front orthodontic bands of the mandibular arch expander. The tube assemblies each include a hollow posterior tube and an anterior tube which are telescopically connected. Preferably, the anterior tube has a hollow body which is externally threaded at its back end.

Abstract: A ventricular tachycardia (VT) complex is distinguished from a sinus tachycardia or a supraventricular tachycardia. A template based on morphology of a normal sinus rhythm is collected. A test signal is compared against the template to determine how closely the test and template signals correspond based on morphology. The comparison is done based on peak information in the template and the test signal. A score is generated to indicate the degree of similarity between the template and the test signal. The peak information is extracted as follows. First, a group of three consecutive peaks having a largest cumulative peak amplitude is located in the template and in the test signal. The polarity, position and area of each peak within the group is then determined. The area of each peak is normalized. The polarities, positions and normalized areas represent the peak information that is used for comparison.

Abstract: A orthodontic appliance having a midarch expander positioned between two forward orthodontic bands to effect intercanine arch length development and bilateral spring-loaded telescopic rod and tube assemblies for molar distalization and added arch length development in the mandibular or maxillary bicuspid area. In one embodiment of the invention the midarch expander is an jackscrew complex connecting a bilateral palate plate. Each side of the palate plate is attached to a canine and a molar with an orthodontic band. In another embodiment of the appliance, a molded palate plate is divided into four sections, two forward sections and two rear sections. Each forward section is attached to a canine tooth and each rear section is attached to a molar with an orthodontic band. The midarch expander is positioned between the two forward sections and the two rear sections are attached to their respective forward section by a spring-loaded telescopic rod and tube assembly.

Abstract: A method for storing digitized electrogram and diagnostic data in a read/write memory of an implantable cardiac therapy device which includes the steps of configuring the memory into first and second memory blocks, configuring the first memory block into a plurality of successive EGM data records for storage of the electrogram data, and the second memory block into a plurality of successive diagnostic data records for storage of the diagnostic data, storing successive electrogram data corresponding to successive EGM trigger events in respective, successive ones of the EGM data records, and, storing successive diagnostic data corresponding to successive diagnostic trigger events in respective, successive ones of the diagnostic data records. The electrogram data is preferably written into the EGM data records in a wraparound, FIFO manner.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac therapy device collects patient ECG and device status information, including cardiac event interval information, why therapy was or was not applied, and patient response to therapy, in connection with an arrhythmic episode and correlates such information in a data frame that may be stored for later telemetric transmission to an external instrument or that may be transmitted in real time to the external instrument. The data frame is decoded and parsed by the external instrument for presentation to an attending physician in a time correlated format.

Abstract: A orthodontic appliance having a midarch expander positioned between two forward orthodontic bands to effect intercanine archlength development and bilateral spring-loaded rod and tube assemblies for molar distalization and added archlength development in the mandibular or maxillary bicuspid area. In one embodiment of the invention the midarch expander is an expansion screw complex. In another embodiment of the appliance, the midarch expander is a spring-loaded rod and tube assembly. In the maxillary arch expander, a pair of spring-loaded tube assemblies function as the midarch expander.

Abstract: A method and system for testing the integrity of a high voltage output stage and high voltage leads of an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator. The method and system comprises charging one or more high voltage capacitors associated with the high voltage output stage to a predetermined relatively low voltage on the order of 10-20 volts, discharging the high voltage capacitors synchronous with a sensed cardiac event for a predetermined time period, measuring a residual voltage on the high voltage capacitors, and then comparing the residual voltage to a reference voltage to assess the integrity of the output stage and high voltage leads.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the integrity of biphasic and monophasic defibrillator switches in an implantable defibrillator without delivering a shock to the patient. The test circuitry is integrated with and implantable with the defibrillator and provides for the testing of the defibrillator switches without shocking the patient by charging the capacitive defibrillation voltage source to a predetermined level and discharging it through a resistive network and shunting one of the switches to provide an alternate current path to ground, while isolating the test circuitry from the patient. Switch conditions are capable of ascertainment by measuring residual charge, i.e., voltage, on the capacitive voltage source at selected measurement times.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac therapy device collects patient ECG and device status information, including cardiac event interval information, why therapy was or was not applied, and patient response to therapy, in connection with an arrhythmic episode and correlates such information in a data frame that may be stored for later telemetric transmission to an external instrument or that may be transmitted in real time to the external instrument. The data frame is decoded by the external instrument for presentation to an attending physician in a time correlated format.

Abstract: A medical device is provided for monitoring waveform complexes of intracardiac electrograms. The intracardiac electrogram is identified by determining, with respect to a waveform peak of the intracardiac electrogram, its amplitude, width and polarity. The identification criteria are averaged and stored to provide a standard complex. Subsequent complexes are compared to the stored standard complex. Such comparison includes comparing peaks of subsequent complexes with the peaks of a stored standard complex, aligning subsequent complexes with a stored standard complex, and providing a score associated with the comparisons and alignment.

Abstract: An appliance for fixing fractures of the comprises an intramedullary nail for implantation in the intramedullary canal of the femur, a cross nail mountable on the intramedullary nail to extend through the neck of the femur and into the head of the femur and a locking screw that screws into a bore formed in the cross nail to fix the cross nail to the intramedullary nail. A D-shaped aperture is formed through the cross nail to receive the intramedullary nail therethrough and the intramedullary nail has a trifoliate cross section to co-act with the straight side of the aperture to prevent turning of the intramedullary nail in the aperture. A slit is formed longitudinally through the wall of the intramedullary nail and the bore that receives the locking screw is aligned with the slit so that a tapered nose of the locking screw will enter and expand the intramedullary nail into locking engagement with portions of the cross nail extending about the D-shaped aperture.