Abstract: A system for the detection of cardiac events occurring in a human patient is provided. At least two electrodes are included in the system for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. An electrical signal processor is electrically coupled to the electrodes for processing the electrical signal and applying tests to determine whether a cardiac event has occurred. When the processor detects some types of changes in heart rate, event detection is altered or suspended for a period of time.

Abstract: Collapsible golf simulators include an enclosure mounted over a base. The base has a play surface configured to support a person using the golf simulator, and the enclosure is configured to receive golf balls hit from the play surface. A container is configured to be removably mounted to the base, and at least one component of at least one of a computer system and a graphical display system is disposed within the container. In additional embodiments, collapsible golf simulators include a collapsible enclosure mounted over a base. The enclosure is configured to receive a physical golf ball hit from a play surface on the base. The collapsible enclosure includes a plurality of arcuate rib members each having ends pivotally mounted to the base. The rib members are configured to pivot relative to the base and carry a sheet of pliable material. Methods of using such apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using different algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means) which are activated after the ST segment of the electrogram exceeds a preset threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using different algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means) which are activated after the ST segment of the electrogram exceeds a preset threshold.

Abstract: A heart rate monitor is disclosed. The monitor generates an ST deviation time series by employing a recursive filter that is preferably an exponential average filter whose output is a weighted sum of the then existing ST time series value and current ST deviation values of analyzable beats, seats are detected in segments of data. ST deviation is measured for analyzable beats. The ST deviation time series is updated only if certain criteria are met. A first criterion for updating the time series is that at least half of the beats within a segment must be normal sinus rhythm beats: A second criterion for updating the time series is that (i) the average RR interval of the segment is between ¾ and 1.5 times the average RR interval of the previous segment; or (ii) both (a) the number of abnormal beats in the current segment is less than 2, and (b) the number of premature ventricular contractions within the current segment is less than 2.

Abstract: A programmer is provided for an implantable medical device capable of detecting cardiac events in a human patient. The programmer has a two-way wireless data communication mechanism with the implantable medical device and a graphical user interface is included which has a display and input mechanism designed for use in programming patient specific parameters for the detection of ST shift related cardiac events.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using different algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means) which are activated after the ST segment of the electrogram exceeds a preset threshold.

Abstract: A system for the detection of cardiac events occurring in a human patient is provided. At least two electrodes are included in the system for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. An electrical signal processor is electrically coupled to the electrodes for processing the electrical signal and a patient alarm means is further provided and electrically coupled to the electrical signal processor. The electrical signal is acquired in the form of electrogram segments, which are categorized according to heart rate, ST segment shift and type heart rhythm (normal or abnormal). Baseline electrogram segments are tracked over time.

Abstract: Antenna assemblies for an implantable medical device are disclosed. The implantable medical device comprises a hermetically sealed housing, typically formed of titanium materials, and electronics, including a transceiver, disposed therein. An antenna is disposed in an air, gas or plastic dielectric filled compartment within a header, which is attached to the housing. The header is premolded so as to create the compartment. The antenna is then placed within the compartment, which is then sealed.

Abstract: A system for providing alerts with regard to a patient's heart. An implanted medical device includes a sensor as well as a processor configured to detect a cardiac event. An internal alarm is configured for producing an alarm signal. An internal transceiver acting in cooperation with an external transceiver within an external device is provided. The processor is configured to determine whether the external and internal transceivers are able to communicate with each other and send a command to the internal alarm if there is no communication.

Abstract: Disclosed is a “tracker system” that includes implanted electrical leads which are part of an implanted cardiotracker plus external equipment that includes external alarm means and a physician's programmer. The tracker system is designed to monitor the degradation of a patient's cardiovascular condition from one or more causes. These causes include the rejection of a transplanted heart and/or the progression of a stenosis in a coronary artery. As one or more stenoses in a coronary artery become progressively more narrow thereby causing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle coronary circulation, the tracker system can alert the patient by either or both internal and/or external alarm means to take the appropriate medical action. The physician's programmer can be used to display histograms of key heart signal parameters that are indicative of the patient's cardiovascular condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a “tracker system” that includes implanted electrical leads which are part of an implanted cardiotracker plus external equipment that includes external alarm means and a physician's programmer. The tracker system is designed to monitor the degradation of a patient's cardiovascular condition from one or more causes. These causes include the rejection of a transplanted heart and/or the progression of a stenosis in a coronary artery. As one or more stenoses in a coronary artery become progressively more narrow thereby causing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle coronary circulation, the tracker system can alert the patient by either or both internal and/or external alarm means to take the appropriate medical action. The physician's programmer can be used to display histograms of key heart signal parameters that are indicative of the patient's cardiovascular condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using different algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means) which are activated after the ST segment of the electrogram exceeds a preset threshold.

Abstract: A system for the detection of cardiac events occurring in a human patient is provided. At least two electrodes are included in the system for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. An electrical signal processor is electrically coupled to the electrodes for processing the electrical signal and a patient alarm means is further provided and electrically coupled to the electrical signal processor. The electrical signal is acquired in the form of electrogram segments, which are categorized according to heart rate, ST segment shift and type heart rhythm (normal or abnormal). Baseline electrogram segments are tracked over time.

Abstract: A “tracker system” that includes electrical leads which are part of an implanted cardiotracker plus external equipment that includes external alarm and a physician's programmer. The tracker system is designed to monitor the degradation of a patient's cardiovascular condition from one or more causes, These causes include the rejection of a transplanted heart and/or the progression of a stenosis in a coronary artery. As one or more stenoses in a coronary artery become progressively more narrow thereby causing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle coronary circulation, the tracker system can alert the patient by either or both internal and/or external alarm to take the appropriate medical action. The physician's programmer can be used to display histograms of key heart signal parameters that are indicative of the patient's cardiovascular condition.

Abstract: A system for the detection of cardiac events occurring in a human patient is provided. At least two electrodes are included in the system for obtaining an electrical signal from a patient's heart. An electrical signal processor is electrically coupled to the electrodes for processing the electrical signal and applying tests to determine whether a cardiac event has occurred. When the processor detects some types of changes in heart rate, event detection is altered or suspended for a period of time.

Abstract: Methods for isolation of a synthetic cyclic peptide by spray drying, including spray drying at elevated temperatures, products made by the methods, and synthetic cyclic peptides preparations with defined characteristics, including an essentially amorphous acid addition salt of Ac-Nle-cyclo(-Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys)-OH in the form of a fine powder with a particle diameter of about 2 to about 20 microns.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using different algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means) which are activated after the ST segment of the electrogram exceeds a preset threshold.

Abstract: In the method and apparatus for providing an optical fiber interconnect, a transmitter transmits an optical signal through an optical fiber. The transmitter does not transmit to a controller, information about the power of the transmitted optical signal near the input end of the fiber. The controller receives an indication of the power of a returned portion of the transmitted optical signal. The controller causes the lowering of the power of the transmitted optical signal to a predetermined level based the received indication.