Abstract: Instrument and systems for applying ablative energy to epicardial tissue via a subxiphoid access surgical approach. The instrument has a head assembly sized and shaped for a subxiphoid surgical approach to a patient's heart and defines a contact face. The head assembly includes a paddle body, a first ablation electrode, and a second ablation electrode. The ablation electrodes are coupled to the paddle body in a spaced apart, spatially-fixed fashion. The ablation electrodes are exteriorly exposed at the contact face. A tubular member extends from the head assembly and maintains wiring connected to the ablation electrodes. The instrument is manipulable to locate the contact face on epicardial tissue of a patient's heart via a subxiphoid surgical approach, such as between the left and right pulmonary vein junctions of the posterior left atrium.

Abstract: Instrument and systems for applying ablative energy to epicardial tissue via a subxiphoid access surgical approach. The instrument has a head assembly sized and shaped for a subxiphoid surgical approach to a patient's heart and defines a contact face. The head assembly includes a paddle body, a first ablation electrode, and a second ablation electrode. The ablation electrodes are coupled to the paddle body in a spaced apart, spatially-fixed fashion. The ablation electrodes are exteriorly exposed at the contact face. A tubular member extends from the head assembly and maintains wiring connected to the ablation electrodes. The instrument is manipulable to locate the contact face on epicardial tissue of a patient's heart via a subxiphoid surgical approach, such as between the left and right pulmonary vein junctions of the posterior left atrium.

Abstract: Instrument and systems for applying ablative energy to epicardial tissue via a subxiphoid access surgical approach. The instrument has a head assembly sized and shaped for a subxiphoid surgical approach to a patient's heart and defines a contact face. The head assembly includes a paddle body, a first ablation electrode, and a second ablation electrode. The ablation electrodes are coupled to the paddle body in a spaced apart, spatially-fixed fashion. The ablation electrodes are exteriorly exposed at the contact face. A tubular member extends from the head assembly and maintains wiring connected to the ablation electrodes. The instrument is manipulable to locate the contact face on epicardial tissue of a patient's heart via a subxiphoid surgical approach, such as between the left and right pulmonary vein junctions of the posterior left atrium.

Abstract: Instrument and systems for applying ablative energy to epicardial tissue via a subxiphoid access surgical approach. The instrument has a head assembly sized and shaped for a subxiphoid surgical approach to a patient's heart and defines a contact face. The head assembly includes a paddle body, a first ablation electrode, and a second ablation electrode. The ablation electrodes are coupled to the paddle body in a spaced apart, spatially-fixed fashion. The ablation electrodes are exteriorly exposed at the contact face. A tubular member extends from the head assembly and maintains wiring connected to the ablation electrodes. The instrument is manipulable to locate the contact face on epicardial tissue of a patient's heart via a subxiphoid surgical approach, such as between the left and right pulmonary vein junctions of the posterior left atrium.

Abstract: Methods of implanting an annuloplasty ring to correct maladies of the mitral annulus that not only reshapes the annulus but also reconfigures the adjacent left ventricular muscle wall. The ring may be continuous and is made of a relatively rigid material, such as Stellite. The ring has a generally oval shape that is three-dimensional at least on the posterior side. A posterior portion of the ring rises or bows upward from adjacent sides to pull the posterior aspect of the native annulus farther up than its original, healthy shape. In doing so, the ring also pulls the ventricular wall upward which helps mitigate some of the effects of congestive heart failure. Further, one or both of the posterior and anterior portions of the ring may also bow inward.

Abstract: An electronic sensor is configured to be carried by a person and to be used by the person to detect a cleanliness state of the person's hands. A single unit includes the electronic sensor and (a) a device to provide an indication of the cleanliness state of the person's hands and/or (b) a device to identify the person. A circuit that is configured to control how long after a cleanliness state of a person's hands has been determined to be clean, the state is presumed no longer to be clean. A badge that includes indicia identifying a person who carries the badge, a sensor to be used to detect a cleanliness state of the person's hands, and a visible indicator to indicate to other people the cleanliness state of the person's hands can be used in combination.

Abstract: Among other things, from a wireless device, a command is transmitted to wearable monitors within range of the wireless device to update their states to a non disinfected state of the hands of users of the wearable monitors.

Abstract: An electronic sensor is configured to be carried by a person and to be used by the person to detect a cleanliness state of the person's hands. A single unit includes the electronic sensor and (a) a device to provide an indication of the cleanliness state of the person's hands and/or (b) a device to identify the person. A circuit that is configured to control how long after a cleanliness state of a person's hands has been determined to be clean, the state is presumed no longer to be clean. A badge that includes indicia identifying a person who carries the badge, a sensor to be used to detect a cleanliness state of the person's hands, and a visible indicator to indicate to other people the cleanliness state of the person's hands can be used in combination.

Abstract: Among other things, an entry monitor has circuitry to detect when a person enters a monitored space and an indicator perceptible to other people in the space to indicate a cleanliness state of the hands of the person who has entered the space.

Abstract: An extracardiac pumping system and method for using it supplement the circulation of blood, including the cardiac output, in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart. A battery powered pump may be implanted subcutaneously and attached to an inflow conduit fluidly coupled to a patient's femoral artery via a subcutaneous anastomosis connection. The pump draws blood from the inflow conduit and discharges it through an outflow conduit fluidly coupled to a second peripheral artery via another subcutaneous anastomosis connection. The battery may be charged extracorporeally and the pump may be operated in either a continuous or pulsatile fashion in synchronization with the patient's heart. The conduits can be housed in a multi-lumen catheter and a reservoir may be provided which fluidly communicates with the inflow conduits. An additional feature may keep blood traveling extracorporeally within the system at or near body temperature.

Abstract: An extracardiac pumping for supplementing the circulation of blood, including the cardiac output, in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, and methods of using same. One embodiment provides a vascular graft that has a first end that is sized and configured to couple to a non-primary blood vessel and a second end that is fluidly coupled to a pump to conduct blood between the pump and the non-primary blood vessel. An outflow conduit is also provided that has a first end sized and configured to be positioned within the same or different blood vessel, whether primary or non-primary, through the vascular graft. The outflow conduit is fluidly coupled to the pump to conduct blood between the pump and the patient. The vascular graft may be connected to the blood vessel subcutaneously to permit application of the extracardiac pumping system in a minimally-invasive procedure.

Abstract: A percutaneous cannula is provided that directs blood into a vessel of a patient. The cannula includes a main cannula portion and a tip portion. The tip portion directs blood-flow in a direction generally counter to the direction of flow through the lumen. The cannula is configured to prevent blood-flow exiting the distal end from immediately discharging against a wall of the vessel.

Abstract: An extracardiac pumping for supplementing the circulation of blood, including the cardiac output, in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, and methods of using same. One embodiment provides a vascular graft that has a first end that is sized and configured to couple to a non-primary blood vessel and a second end that is fluidly coupled to a pump to conduct blood between the pump and the non-primary blood vessel. An outflow conduit is also provided that has a first end sized and configured to be positioned within the same or different blood vessel, whether primary or non-primary, through the vascular graft. The outflow conduit is fluidly coupled to the pump to conduct blood between the pump and the patient. The vascular graft may be connected to the blood vessel subcutaneously to permit application of the extracardiac pumping system in a minimally-invasive procedure.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter that maximizes the blood flow into and out of the patient's vasculature while also providing for passive and/or active perfusion of tissue downstream of where the catheter resides in the vasculature. The inventive catheter comprises a proximal end, a first distal and a second distal end. Lumens extending from the proximal end to each of these distal ends provide for blood circulation within one or between two blood vessels. At least one aperture in one of the lumens positioned near the proximal end provides for active perfusion of blood to the patient's vasculature downstream of where the aperture resides in the vasculature when the catheter is inserted into the patient for treatment. The inventive catheter may comprise a third lumen positioned entirely within the patient's vasculature, providing passive perfusion of blood to the patient's vasculature downstream of where the third lumen resides in the vasculature when the catheter is inserted into the patient for treatment.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter that maximizes the blood flow into and out of the patient's vasculature while also providing for passive and/or active perfusion of tissue downstream of where the catheter resides in the vasculature. The inventive catheter comprises a proximal end, a first distal and a second distal end with first and second lumens extending from the proximal end to each of these distal ends to provide for blood circulation within one blood vessel or between two different blood vessels. The second lumen, and any additional lumens so desired, may be positioned coaxially with or radially around the first lumen. Redirecting means is provided at a distal end of at least one of said lumens for directing blood in a direction generally opposite of the direction of flow through said lumen.

Abstract: An extracardiac pumping for supplementing the circulation of blood, including the cardiac output, in a patient without any component thereof being connected to the patient's heart, and methods of using same. One embodiment of the intravascular extracardiac system comprises a pump with inflow and outflow conduits that are sized and configured to be implantable intravascularly through a non-primary vessel, whereby it may positioned where desired within the patient's vasculature. The system comprises a subcardiac pump that may be driven directly or electromagnetically from within or without the patient. The pump is configured to be operated continuously or in a pulsatile fashion, synchronous with the patient's heart, thereby potentially reducing the afterload of the heart.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter that maximizes the blood flow into and out of the patient's vasculature while also providing for passive and/or active perfusion of tissue downstream of where the catheter resides in the vasculature. The inventive catheter comprises-a proximal end, a first distal and a second distal end with first and second lumens extending from the proximal end to each of these distal ends to provide for blood circulation within one blood vessel or between two different blood vessels. The second lumen, and any additional lumens so desired, may be positioned coaxially with or radially around the first lumen. Redirecting means is provided at a distal end of at least one of said lumens for directing blood in a direction generally opposite of the direction of flow through said lumen.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter that maximizes the blood flow into and out of the patient's vasculature while also providing for passive and/or active perfusion of tissue downstream of where the catheter resides in the vasculature. The inventive catheter comprises a proximal end, a first distal and a second distal end. Lumens extending from the proximal end to each of these distal ends provide for blood circulation within one or between two blood vessels. At least one aperture in one of the lumens positioned near the proximal end provides for active perfusion of blood to the patient's vasculature downstream of where the aperture resides in the vasculature when the catheter is inserted into the patient for treatment. The inventive catheter may comprise a third lumen positioned entirely within the patient's vasculature, providing passive perfusion of blood to the patient's vasculature downstream of where the third lumen resides in the vasculature when the catheter is inserted into the patient for treatment.

Abstract: A percutaneous cannula is provided that directs blood into a vessel of a patient. The cannula includes a main cannula portion and a tip portion. The tip portion directs blood-flow in a direction generally counter to the direction of flow through the lumen. The cannula is configured to prevent blood-flow exiting the distal end from immediately discharging against a wall of the vessel.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter that maximizes the blood flow into and out of the patient's vasculature while also providing for passive and/or active perfusion of tissue downstream of where the catheter resides in the vasculature. The inventive catheter comprises a proximal end, a first distal and a second distal end with first and second lumens extending from the proximal end to each of these distal ends to provide for blood circulation within one blood vessel or between two different blood vessels. The second lumen, and any additional lumens so desired, may be positioned coaxially with or radially around the first lumen. Redirecting means is provided at a distal end of at least one of said lumens for directing blood in a direction generally opposite of the direction of flow through said lumen.