Abstract: A body associated device comprises a housing, an adhesive layer configured to be applied to a body of a living subject, and at least one standoff located between the housing and the adhesive layer. An electronic module may be located within the housing of the body associated device. A personal communication system comprises a body associated device including an electronic module and further comprises a feedback portion coupled to the housing and to the electronic module. The feedback portion is configured to communicate information between the living subject and the body associated device. An external local node is operative to provide at least one of transmit communications to and receive communications from the body associated device.

Abstract: Implantable stimulation devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include a multiplexed multi-electrode component configured for neural stimulation. The multiplexed multi-electrode component includes two or more individually addressable satellite electrode structures electrically coupled to a common conductor. The satellite structures include a hermetically sealed integrated circuit controller operatively coupled to one or more electrodes. Also provided are systems that include the devices of the invention, as well as methods of using the systems and devices in a variety of different applications.

Abstract: The system of the present invention includes an implantable device that can detect high and low frequency current signature. The implantable device can communicate with a communication device that includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, the communication device is activated.

Abstract: Methods for the prevention and/or alleviation of androgen-mediated disorders treatable by administering a chroman-derived anti-androgen compound are provided by the present invention. The invention further provides pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compositions containing chroman-derived anti-androgen compounds useful in the prevention and/or alleviation of androgen-mediated disorders, particularly prostate cancer.

Abstract: A system for facilitating paperless gifting and purchasing may include a server having computer implemented instructions stored thereon for performing the operations of receiving a first image, analyzing the first image for suitability as an identifier for a transaction, generating and issuing a validation code, receiving a transaction packet, and storing the transaction packet in association with the first image on the server. The instructions may separately or additionally include receiving a first image and transaction information relating to an attempted purchase, searching the server by comparing the first image to a plurality of images stored on the server, retrieving a transaction packet associated with a matching image, the matching image being identified amongst the plurality of images when the first image matches one of the plurality of images, comparing the transaction information to information in the transaction packet, and selectively approving the purchase based on the comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating the comprehension and awareness of electronic content dynamically changing over time through the movement of tags across defined intervals are herein disclosed. The systems and methods include a fetching engine that requests the content using a web service; a chronological tag assembler that selects the documents from the time-stamped document repository for the defined intervals, and creates information associated with tags within the documents in tag tables; and a tag cloud canvas that accepts the tag table information from the chronological tag assembler, determines the placement of the tags in the tag cloud canvas using the tag table information, and renders animation of the tags in the tag cloud canvas to a display device.

Abstract: Methods for the prevention and/or alleviation of androgen-mediated disorders treatable by administering a chroman-derived anti-androgen compound are provided by the present invention. The invention further provides pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compositions containing chroman-derived anti-androgen compounds useful in the prevention and/or alleviation of androgen-mediated disorders, particularly prostate cancer.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for hybrid housings as well as hybrid housing based implantable medical devices are provided. A hybrid housing comprises a ceramic substrate, a bonding structure formed on the periphery of the ceramic substrate, and a biocompatible metal cap coupled to the ceramic substrate using the bonding structure to form a hermetically sealed enclosure. One or more electronic elements may be formed within the hermetically sealed enclosure, and the electronic elements may be stably associated with the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed as part of a system for tracking and confirming delivery of a medicinal dose to a user. The apparatus includes a detector. The detector is secured to and communicatively coupled to the user and is capable of detecting a current flow through the user's body. The current flow is produced when the user makes contact with the apparatus. The apparatus includes at least two contact areas connected to a power source where a circuit and, hence, a current path is completed through the user's body as the user makes contact with the apparatus. The current flow is detected by the detector, which is coupled to the user. Also disclosed is an apparatus for tracking and confirming delivery of a medicinal dose to a user where the apparatus includes an acoustic detector. Upon loading the dose into a chamber an acoustic vibration is generated. The vibration is detected and correlated with a current flow that is produced when the user makes contact with the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods enable robust, reliable control for implantable medical devices, including cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization devices. Integrated circuits in the devices have minimized interfaces, can derive power from the interface signals, and have high voltage and latch-up protection. A device lead has a power generation circuit and a switching circuit using cascaded PMOS transistors for operating with a stable voltage despite fluctuations in the supplied voltage. The lead has control electronics that provide a very low impedance between an electrode and a lead conductor during most of the duration of a pacing pulse, but during a brief initial portion of the pacing pulse, provide a very high impedance to permit charging up a power supply that is local to the control electronics. A method of stabilizing the external impedance and a system for fault detection and fault recovery for an implantable device are also provided.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting, by a sensing and data acquisition circuit module, at least one parameter associated with an access port. The method includes wiping at least a portion of an access port, allowing the access port to dry for a predetermined amount of time, accessing the access port with an access device, such as a syringe, and detecting at least one parameter associated with the access port by the sensor and acquisition module. An access port is disclosed that includes a sensor and a data acquisition module for sensing, recording, and providing an alert associated with the detection of the at least one parameter associated with the access port.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that track a deliverable to a user. The system includes an identifier or tag secured to the deliverable, a computer system for interrogating the identifier, and a personal device in communication with the computer system, wherein the personal device is held by the user at the time the user is administered the deliverable to detect the unique identity associated with the identifier device and confirms delivery of the deliverable to the user. The method includes attaching an identifiable tag that produces a unique signature to the deliverable, interrogating the tag at about the time of delivery to the user, and confirming that the user has been administered the deliverable through detecting the identifiable tag.

Abstract: An implantable integrated circuit structure comprising a conformal thin-film sealing layer for hermetically sealing circuitry layers is provided. Also disclosed are electrode structures, leads that include the same, implantable pulse generators that include the leads, as well as systems and kits having components thereof, other implantable devices utilizing the structures, and methods of making and using the subject structures.

Abstract: Methods for the prevention and/or alleviation of androgen-mediated disorders treatable by administering a chroman-derived anti-androgen compound are provided by the present invention. The invention further provides pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compositions containing chroman-derived anti-androgen compounds useful in the prevention and/or alleviation of androgen-mediated disorders, particularly prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings provides novel recombinant DT-based immunotoxins, and, more specifically anti-T cell immunotoxin fusion proteins. Also provided are immunotoxins that can be expressed in bacterial, yeast, or mammalian cells. The invention also provides means for expression of the immunotoxin fusion protein. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating motion of a cardiac tissue location, e.g., heart wall, are provided. In the subject methods, timing of a signal obtain from a strain gauge stably associated with the tissue location of interest is employed to evaluate movement of the cardiac tissue location. Also provided are systems, devices and related compositions for practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of different applications, including cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Abstract: Implantable stimulation devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include a multiplexed multi-electrode component configured for neural stimulation. The multiplexed multi-electrode component includes two or more individually addressable satellite electrode structures electrically coupled to a common conductor. The satellite structures include a hermetically sealed integrated control circuit operatively coupled to one or more electrodes. Also provided are methods of manufacturing wherein the application of laser welding is avoided in forming the satellite electrode structures and an integrated control circuit thereof is thereby shielded from mechanical stress during satellite manufacture. Additionally provided are systems that include the devices of the invention, as well as methods of using the systems and devices in a variety of different applications.

Abstract: The system of the present invention includes an implantable device that can detect high and low frequency current signature. The implantable device can communicate with a communication device that includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, the communication device is activated.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for automatically optimizing CRT procedures using a multi-electrode pacing lead. During operation, the system performs a first set of iterations to select one or more satellites on one or more pacing leads inserted in a patient. A pacing lead includes a plurality of pacing satellites, and a pacing satellite includes a plurality of electrodes that can be individually addressed and used for transmitting or detecting electric signals. The system then performs a second set of iterations to select one or more electrodes on the selected satellites. The system further performs a third set of iterations to select one or more timing configurations for pacing signals transmitted through one or more of the selected electrodes.

Abstract: Implantable stimulation devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include a multiplexed multi-electrode component configured for neural stimulation. The multiplexed multi-electrode component includes two or more individually addressable satellite electrode structures electrically coupled to a common conductor. The satellite structures include a hermetically sealed integrated circuit controller operatively coupled to one or more electrodes. Also provided are systems that include the devices of the invention, as well as methods of using the systems and devices in a variety of different applications.