Abstract: This invention relates to the use of microorganisms for the generation of ethanol from lignocellulosic waste materials. Yeast strains of the genus Kluyveromyces which have the capability to ferment cellulose, hexose sugars to ethanol are provided. Also provided are methods for converting cellulose, hexoses, or mixed hydrolysates of hexoses to ethanol by fermentation with Kluyveromyces strains. The invention also provides methods to isolate yeast strains which metabolize cellulose, pentoses, or hemicelluloses from waste materials.

Abstract: A method and system for programming an implantable therapeutic stimulation device sensing from and delivering therapeutic stimulations to multiple sites within a patient under a plurality of programmable parameters. The method includes automatically determining which parameters need to be programmed, graphically indicating specific parameters that need to be programmed in a spatial correspondence to the affected sites in the patient and/or displaying a waveform corresponding to expected physiological activity with the programming, and providing control inputs to program the specific parameters. The method can also include automatically evaluating the programmed parameters, and if errors exist in the programming, indicating the errors and awaiting corrective input, else programming the implantable device. The method can also include automatically determining a number of sensing and stimulation electrodes connected to the device.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation device includes a system that identifies and prevents the occurrence of impending atrial arrhythmias. A sensing circuit senses atrial activity of a patient's heart to provide an atrial activity signal. A processor compares the atrial activity signal to a predetermined standard indicative of an impending accelerated atrial arrhythmia to identify an impending accelerated atrial arrhythmia. A therapy circuit provides accelerated atrial arrhythmic preventive therapy to the patient when an impending accelerated atrial arrhythmia is identified. Data associated with the identification and therapy delivery is stored in a memory.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation device and method measure atrioventricular conduction times and automatically adjust an atrioventricular delay time based on the measured conduction time values.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation device provides bipolar pacing and bipolar autocapture. If a measured bipolar electrode configuration capture threshold is too high, an impedance measuring circuit measures the impedance of the bipolar electrode configuration to determine a possible lead failure. If the bipolar electrode configuration impedance is within a normal range, bipolar pacing is continued in a manner which assures continued capture of the heart. If the bipolar electrode configuration impedance is outside of the given range of impedances, the device is switched to unipolar pacing in a manner which insures capture of the heart and notification of the need for a physician consultation.

Abstract: In a heart stimulation device a mode of operation is switched in response to detection of atrial tachyarrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. The stimulation device may initially operate in a normal mode of pacing then, upon detection of atrial tachyarrhythmia, the stimulation device may change how it senses signals and it may switch to another mode of pacing at one or more sites in the ventricle.

Abstract: A helicopter of the type having an electrical system, a landing light, a master switch and a power supply of between about 18-32 V for operating the electrical system when the master switch is in an on position also includes a landing light fault detector. The landing light fault detector includes a light switch for turning the landing lights on and off and circuit means for detecting a fault in the landing light and for providing a signal indicative of a fault whether or not the light switch is in an on or off position.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating optimal atrioventricular delay values for use in pacing the ventricles. Both the intrinsic inter-atrial conduction delay and the intrinsic atrioventricular conduction delay are determined for the patient and then the preferred atrioventricular pacing delay is derived therefrom. By taking into account intrinsic inter-atrial delay along with intrinsic atrioventricular delay, a more reliable estimate of the true optimal atrioventricular delay values for the patient can be achieved than with techniques that only take into account intrinsic atrioventricular delay values. In one example, the technique uses intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals and surface electrocardiogram (EKG) signals and hence can be performed by an external programmer without requiring Doppler echocardiography or other cardiac performance monitoring techniques.

Abstract: In a heart stimulation device a mode of operation is switched in response to detection of atrial tachyarrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. The stimulation device may initially operate in a normal mode of pacing then, upon detection of atrial tachyarrhythmia, the stimulation device may change how it senses signals and it may switch to another mode of pacing at one or more sites in the ventricle.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling both preventive overdrive pacing and antitachycardia pacing (ATP) within an implantable device are provided. The device gains the benefits of overdrive pacing for preventing the onset of a tachycardia and, if one nevertheless occurs, ATP is employed to terminate the tachycardia. In particular, a technique is provided for promptly detecting the onset of atrial tachycardia during preventive overdrive pacing based on loss of capture of atrial pacing pulses. A technique is also provided for using detection of loss of capture of atrial or ventricular pacing pulses to trigger automatic switching from overdrive pacing to ATP. A setup technique determines whether to enable the automatic switching from overdrive pacing to ATP within a particular patient. Also, techniques are provided for verifying loss of capture of atrial or ventricular backup pacing pulses and for detecting low amplitude ventricular fibrillation based on loss of capture of ventricular backup pacing pulses.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling both preventive overdrive pacing and antitachycardia pacing (ATP) within an implantable device are provided. The device gains the benefits of overdrive pacing for preventing the onset of a tachycardia and, if one nevertheless occurs, ATP is employed to terminate the tachycardia. In particular, a technique is provided for promptly detecting the onset of atrial tachycardia during preventive overdrive pacing based on loss of capture of atrial pacing pulses. A technique is also provided for using detection of loss of capture of atrial or ventricular pacing pulses to trigger automatic switching from overdrive pacing to ATP. A setup technique determines whether to enable the automatic switching from overdrive pacing to ATP within a particular patient. Also, techniques are provided for verifying loss of capture of atrial or ventricular backup pacing pulses and for detecting low amplitude ventricular fibrillation based on loss of capture of ventricular backup pacing pulses.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allowing Automatic Mode Switching (AMS) to be exploited within dual unipolar systems employing Combipolar sensing. Relative refractory windows are opened within both the atrial and ventricular refractory periods for the purposes of determining the atrial rate using Combipolar sensing logic. In this manner, T-waves occurring during the relative refractory windows are excluded from the atrial rate calculation, whereas any P-waves occurring during the relative refractory windows are counted, thereby achieving a more accurate atrial rate calculation, particularly at high atrial rates, and thus permitting AMS to be enabled along with Combipolar sensing in the dual unipolar lead system. An alternative technique is provided for use in dual unipolar systems not initially set to a Combipolar Sensing mode, which also achieves more accurate atrial rate calculation at high atrial rates. Additional techniques are provided for use in dual bipolar systems.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allowing Automatic Mode Switching (AMS) to be exploited within dual unipolar systems employing Combipolar sensing. Relative refractory windows are opened within both the atrial and ventricular refractory periods for the purposes of determining the atrial rate using Combipolar sensing logic. In this manner, T-waves occurring during the relative refractory windows are excluded from the atrial rate calculation, whereas any P-waves occurring during the relative refractory windows are counted, thereby achieving a more accurate atrial rate calculation, particularly at high atrial rates, and thus permitting AMS to be enabled along with Combipolar sensing in the dual unipolar lead system. An alternative technique is provided for use in dual unipolar systems not initially set to a Combipolar Sensing mode, which also achieves more accurate atrial rate calculation at high atrial rates. Additional techniques are provided for use in dual bipolar systems.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes delivering a therapy selected from tiered therapies that include cardioversion and/or defibrillation therapies wherein the delivered therapy aims to treat a cardiac condition, delivering analgesic stimulation, determining whether the delivered therapy successfully treated the cardiac condition, and responsive to the determining, changing one or more analgesic stimulation parameters. Various other exemplary methods and/or devices capable of performing such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical system for detecting ice and water on the surface of an aircraft includes an elongated transparent optical element having first and second end portions. A light source and light detector are disposed in one end of the optical element and a reflective surface is disposed in the opposite end portion. The reflective surface defines a critical angle and reflects light from the light source to the light detector when the critical angle is in contact with air and refracts the light toward the external environment when the reflective surface is in contact with ice or water. The system may also incorporate an optical element wherein the reflective surface includes a continuous array of convex elements extending outwardly from and across one end of the optical element and wherein each of the convex elements defines a critical angle.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allowing Automatic Mode Switching (AMS) to be exploited within dual unipolar systems employing Combipolar sensing. Relative refractory windows are opened within both the atrial and ventricular refractory periods for the purposes of determining the atrial rate using Combipolar sensing logic. In this manner, T-waves occurring during the relative refractory windows are excluded from the atrial rate calculation, whereas any P-waves occurring during the relative refractory windows are counted, thereby achieving a more accurate atrial rate calculation, particularly at high atrial rates, and thus permitting AMS to be enabled along with Combipolar sensing in the dual unipolar lead system. An alternative technique is provided for use in dual unipolar systems not initially set to a Combipolar Sensing mode, which also achieves more accurate atrial rate calculation at high atrial rates. Additional techniques are provided for use in dual bipolar systems.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allowing Automatic Mode Switching (AMS) to be exploited within dual unipolar systems employing Combipolar sensing. Relative refractory windows are opened within both the atrial and ventricular refractory periods for the purposes of determining the atrial rate using Combipolar sensing logic. In this manner, T-waves occurring during the relative refractory windows are excluded from the atrial rate calculation, whereas any P-waves occurring during the relative refractory windows are counted, thereby achieving a more accurate atrial rate calculation, particularly at high atrial rates, and thus permitting AMS to be enabled along with Combipolar sensing in the dual unipolar lead system. An alternative technique is provided for use in dual unipolar systems not initially set to a Combipolar Sensing mode, which also achieves more accurate atrial rate calculation at high atrial rates. Additional techniques are provided for use in dual bipolar systems.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing internal measurement of heart sounds to estimate patient cardiac function in terms of stroke volume, cardiac output, or a maximum rate of change of aortic pressure with time (max dP/dt). Control parameters of the medical device are then automatically adjusted so as to optimize overall cardiac function or to provide for ventricular resynchronization therapy. In one example, heart sound signals are derived from acceleration signals received from an accelerometer. The heart sound signals are analyzed to identify S1 and S2 heart sounds as well as ejection period and isovolumic interval (ISOV). Proxies for max dP/dt, stroke volume and cardiac output are then derived from the S1 and S2 heart sounds, the ejection period and the ISOV. Alternative techniques, not requiring detection of ISOV, are employed for use if the patient has heart value regurgitation.

Abstract: A programmer for implantable stimulation devices and surface ECG system in wireless communication with each other. A self-powered ECG monitor with conventional surface electrodes transceives signals from and to a programmer provided with a radio frequency transceiver to eliminate hardwiring between the surface electrodes and the programmer. The system reduces the need for supply line frequency filtering and isolation circuitry to protect against high voltage defibrillation shocks.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing cardiac therapy are described. In some embodiments, methods and systems are configured to deliver atrial tachyarrhythmia therapy by confirming that a patient is asleep and thereafter administering the therapy. Sleep can be confirmed, in some embodiments, through the use of a histogram that can be calculated using one or more parameters that are monitored by an implantable stimulation device. Parameters can include both physiological and non-physiological parameters. In other embodiments, atrial tachyarrhythmia therapy is delivered by determining desirable times to administer such therapy. Other various systems and methods for administering cardiac therapy are described.