Abstract: The present disclosure provides electrode assemblies. An electrode assembly includes a wire and a substantially cylindrical electrode including a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, and a strip defined by at least one slot extending from the radially inner surface to the radially outer surface, wherein the wire is welded to the radially outer surface of the strip.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead may include a longitudinally extending body, an electrical conductor, an electrical component, and a weld. The longitudinally extending body includes a distal end and a proximal end. The electrical conductor extends through the body between the proximal end and the distal end. The electrical component is on the body and includes a sacrificial feature defined in a wall of the electrical component. The sacrificial feature includes a region that continues from the wall of the electrical component and a side that is isolated from the wall of the electrical component via a void defined in the wall of the electrical component. The weld is formed at least in part from at least a portion of the sacrificial feature. The weld operably couples the electrical component to the electrical conductor.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead may include a longitudinally extending body, an electrical conductor, an electrical component, and a weld. The longitudinally extending body includes a distal end and a proximal end. The electrical conductor extends through the body between the proximal end and the distal end. The electrical component is on the body and includes a sacrificial feature defined in a wall of the electrical component. The sacrificial feature includes a region that continues from the wall of the electrical component and a side that is isolated from the wall of the electrical component via a void defined in the wall of the electrical component. The weld is formed at least in part from at least a portion of the sacrificial feature. The weld operably couples the electrical component to the electrical conductor.

Abstract: A portable rewritable medium and a method are provided for preventing unauthorized use of executable software stored on the portable rewritable medium. A portion of the software stored on the portable rewritable medium may include instructions for a processing device to determine whether execution of the executable software is permitted. If execution of the executable software is permitted, the processing device may execute the executable software directly from the portable rewritable medium. Characteristics of the portable rewritable medium may be checked to determine whether functionality of the executable software is to be limited.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a user may, via a processing device, indicate a desire to purchase a feature of an installed software product. A purchase request may be sent to an e-commerce server, or other server. The purchase request may be validated and information concerning the software product, the feature of the software product, and the processing device may be stored. Enabling information may be sent to the processing device to enable the feature of the software product. In some embodiments, the user may request a trial of a feature of a software product before purchasing the feature. In other embodiments, the user may deactivate a purchased feature of a software product on one processing device and may activate the purchased feature of the software product on a different processing device.

Abstract: A body-implantable lead suitable for use in conjunction with implantable cardiac devices and method for assembling a body-implantable lead suitable for use in conjunction with implantable cardiac devices. The body-implantable lead includes a lead body having at least one inner lumen and at least one elongated conductor cable residing within the inner lumen. An end portion of the conductor cable is joined by an aligned weld joint directly to an end portion of a lead component. Exemplary lead components include, but are not limited to, an electrode member, an elongated conductive connector pin of a proximal connector, a conductor extending from a proximal end of a distal tip of the lead, and a second elongated conductor cable residing within a second inner lumen of the lead body.

Abstract: A portable rewritable medium and a method are provided for preventing unauthorized use of executable software stored on the portable rewritable medium. A portion of the software stored on the portable rewritable medium may include instructions for a processing device to determine whether execution of the executable software is permitted. If execution of the executable software is permitted, the processing device may execute the executable software directly from the portable rewritable medium. Characteristics of the portable rewritable medium may be checked to determine whether functionality of the executable software is to be limited.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a user may, via a processing device, indicate a desire to purchase a feature of an installed software product. A purchase request may be sent to an e-commerce server, or other server. The purchase request may be validated and information concerning the software product, the feature of the software product, and the processing device may be stored. Enabling information may be sent to the processing device to enable the feature of the software product. In some embodiments, the user may request a trial of a feature of a software product before purchasing the feature. In other embodiments, the user may deactivate a purchased feature of a software product on one processing device and may activate the purchased feature of the software product on a different processing device.

Abstract: An improved operating system method that, in addition to the primary operating system, stores one or more alternate or recovery operating systems. The system monitors the operation of the present operating system and accesses the alternate or recovery operating system based on a fail-over algorithm when a fault condition is detected. The alternate or recovery operating systems are periodically updated.

Abstract: An improved operating system method that, in addition to the primary operating system, stores one or more alternate or recovery operating systems. The system monitors the operation of the present operating system and accesses the alternate or recovery operating system based on a fail-over algorithm when a fault condition is detected. The alternate or recovery operating systems are periodically updated.