Abstract: An implantable medical lead may include components or mechanisms that can reduce the amount of induced current that is conducted to electrodes of the lead. A medical lead may, for example, have an energy dissipating structure that is connected to an electrode of the lead. This disclosure provides for coupling mechanisms to couple current induced on the lead to the energy dissipating structure. The coupling mechanisms described herein provide continuous contact with both electrode shaft and the energy dissipating structure while producing forces on the electrode shaft that is small enough to permit extension and retraction of the electrode from the lead.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead may include components or mechanisms that can reduce the amount of induced current that is conducted to electrodes of the lead. A medical lead may, for example, have an energy dissipating structure that is connected to an electrode of the lead. This disclosure provides for coupling mechanisms to couple current induced on the lead to the energy dissipating structure. The coupling mechanisms described herein provide continuous contact with both electrode shaft and the energy dissipating structure while producing forces on the electrode shaft that is small enough to permit extension and retraction of the electrode from the lead.

Abstract: An implantable medical device that includes a header a cavity or connector bore that extends from an opening at a first end of the header towards a second end of the header. The cavity is configured to receive a first end of a stimulation lead. The header includes a lead insertion indicator positioned at the second end of the cavity for engaging with the stimulation upon complete insertion into the header. The lead insertion indicator is operable between a first operating state and a second operating state, such that when the stimulation lead is not engaged with the lead insertion indicator, the lead insertion indicator operates in the first operating state, and when the stimulation lead properly engages the lead insertion indicator, the lead insertion indicator operates in the second operating state. The lead insertion indicator generates a signal that indicates the corresponding operating state.

Abstract: A device that can be temporarily introduced in a body or permanently implanted in a body comprising at least one elongated electric function conductor for transmitting treatment signals or diagnostic signals, or both, and further comprising a connector, which is connected to the function conductor and disposed on a proximal end of the function conductor, for connecting the device to a further device. Characteristic impedance is present between the function conductor and at least one further conductor. A transition region from the function conductor to the connector is designed such that a characteristic impedance between the function conductor and the further conductor in the transition region is designed to be between the corresponding characteristic impedance of the device in a line section distal of the transition region and the characteristic impedance present proximal of the transition region when the connector is connected to a further device.

Abstract: A device and method for intracranial electrical stimulation to effectuate a change in neural-functions of a patient, by electrical stimulating the brain at a site where neuroplasticity is occurring or is expected to occur, where the stimulation site may be different than the region in the brain where neural activity is typically present to perform the particular neural function according to the functional organization of the brain. In one embodiment in which neuroplasticity is related to the neural-function occurs in the brain, identifying the location where such neuroplasticity is present or expected to occur. Where neuroplasticity is not occurring in the brain, an alternative aspect is to induce neuroplasticity at a stimulation site where it is expected to occur. The methods can use electrical pulses that increase the resting membrane potential of neurons at the stimulation site to a subthreshold level.

Abstract: Connector assemblies for use with implantable medical devices having easy to assemble contacts are disclosed. The connector assemblies are generally formed by coupling a plurality of ring contacts, sealing rings, and spring contact elements together with at least one holding ring to form a connector having a common bore for receiving a medical lead cable. Contact grooves or spring chambers for positioning the spring contact elements are formed in part by assembling multiple components together. A further aspect is a provision for encasing each connector assembly or stack inside a thermoset layer or a thermoplastic layer before over-molding the same to a sealed housing.

Abstract: Lead body designs for forming a fluid tight seal between a multilumen tube and other portions of a lead body are provided. One lead body design has a multilumen tube having a first portion defining a first number of lumens and a second reduced dimension portion defining a second number of lumens, the second number of lumens being smaller than the first number of lumens. The reduced dimension portion is attached to a distal tip portion of the lead body, forming a fluid tight passageway through the multilumen tube to the distal tip portion. Also provided are methods for forming such multilumen tubes and incorporating such multilumen tubes into a lead body.

Abstract: A medical device compatible with magnetic resonance imaging including an elongated tubular body defining a longitudinal axis and having opposed proximal and distal end portions. The elongated body including a plurality of coaxial layers including a radially inner-most insulative layer, at least one inner conductive layer, and a radially outer-most insulative layer. The at least one conductive layer is defined by a non-ferromagnetic conductive material that is compatible with magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: Prosthetic valve devices for implantation in body vessels are provided. The prosthetic valve device includes at least one flexible member that permits fluid flow in a first direction and substantially prevents fluid flow in a second. The valve device also includes an inflatable chamber at least partially attached to the flexible member. The inflatable chamber is adapted to receive inflating media and is adapted to contact the body vessel. A delivery system is also provided that includes a valve device and a delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus includes a member adapted for filling the chamber of the valve device with inflating media. A related method of making the valve device is also provided.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes: an inner tube adapted to receive a guide wire; an outer tube disposed on the outer surface side of the inner tube and cooperating with the inner tube to define an inflation lumen therebetween; and a balloon joined at the distal end thereof to the inner tube and at the proximal end thereof to the outer tube and configured to be expanded by inflation fluid from the inflation lumen. A non-circular region, having a non-circular sectional shape taken in a direction orthogonal to an extending direction of the inner tube, is formed on at least one of an outer surface of the inner tube and an inner surface of the outer tube. The non-circular region at least includes a joint section between the balloon and the outer tube and extends proximally of the joint section.

Abstract: A fenestrated stent graft (1) with a tubular side arm (11) extending therefrom in which the side arm can be turned inside out to extend into the stent graft during deployment of the stent graft and extended out during deployment. Also disclosed is a deployment device (19) for such a side arm stent graft which has a deployment catheter (26) and a side arm guide (32), the side arm guide is releasably fastened at a proximal end to the branch tube (11) and is able to be moved independently of the deployment catheter such that the branch tube can be extended from the tubular body of the stent graft while it is fastened onto the side arm guide. The side arm guide can be formed from a side arm catheter (32) and a side arm guide wire (34) carried in the side arm catheter.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a stent for supporting a sidewall of a lumen which contains a first fluid. The stent comprises a stent body, a film and a photosensitizing layer. The stent body is disposed inside the lumen. The film is adapted to be penetrated by a light and covers the stent body. The photosensitizing layer is disposed on an outer surface of the film for receiving the light to generate a first object, and the film separates the photosensitizing layer and the first fluid. The film and the photosensitizing layer of the present invention can greatly reduce the needed dosage of the photosensitizer while maintaining the effective concentration of the photosensitizer around tumor cells.

Abstract: An expandable prosthesis having an imageable structure comprising one or more elements visually distinguishable by an external (e.g., radiographic or ultrasonic) imaging system, the structure being located about a first axis that corresponds to a structural feature of the prosthesis that is configured to perform a specific function particular to that axis. The imageable structure is configured to assist in the rotational orientation of the prosthesis during placement within the implantation site. In one embodiment, the prosthesis comprises a venous valve that includes imageable elements or structure, such as a pair of radiopaque markers, that defines the orifice of the valve structure such that the orifice can be oriented with a particular anatomical feature under imaging, such as to align the orifice with the long axis of the vessel.

Abstract: A medical device includes a balloon catheter having an expandable member, e.g., an inflatable balloon, at its distal end and a stent or other endoprosthesis. The stent is, for example, an apertured tubular member formed of a polymer and is assembled about the balloon. The stent has an initial diameter for delivery into the body and can be expanded to a larger diameter by inflating the balloon.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis (110) for a curved vessel includes a tubular graft defining a lumen between a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular graft comprising a proximal section (114) and a second section distal (116) of the proximal section, where a proximal end of the second section is adjacent to a distal end of the proximal section. The proximal section includes a first biocompatible material having pliable textile strands aligned in a first direction interwoven with pliable textile strands aligned in a second direction. The second section includes a second biocompatible material having textile strands aligned in a first direction interwoven with textile strands aligned in a second direction, where the proximal section is more pliable than the second section.

Abstract: A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as heart pacing lead or heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer fills substantially all of the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer, and the composite material comprising less than about 80% fluoropolymer by weight.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide stents for use in medical procedures. In one embodiment, a stent comprises a first flanged region and a body region. A first diameter of the first flanged region is greater than a second diameter of the body region when the stent is in an expanded deployed state. A proximal junction is formed between the first flanged region and the body region. The proximal junction comprises at least one strut extending from the distal end of the first flanged region in a distal direction towards the proximal end of the body region. A strut at the proximal end of the body region is disposed around at least a portion of the strut of the proximal junction. The overlap between the strut at the proximal end of the body region with the strut of the proximal junction causes an increased radiopaque effect at the proximal junction.

Abstract: A stent or other intraluminal medical device having markers formed from housings integral with the stent and marker inserts having a higher radiopacity than the stent provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. The housings are formed integral to the stent and the marker inserts are made from a material close in the galvanic series to the stent material and sized to substantially minimize the effect of galvanic corrosion. The housings are also shaped to minimize their impact on the overall profile of the stent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparation of an artificial blood vessel using a tube-type porous biodegradable scaffold having a double layered structure and a stem cell, and an artificial blood vessel made by the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for preparation of an artificial blood vessel by separately seeding a stem cell onto the inner membrane and an outer membrane of a tube-type porous biodegradable scaffold having a double layered structure, wherein the inner membrane and the outer membrane having different biodegradable polymer nano-fiber arrangements are continuously linked, and by inducing differentiation; and an artificial blood vessel made by the same.

Abstract: Compressible heart valve annulus sizing templates suitable for minimally-invasive or otherwise reduced accessibility surgeries. The sizing templates may be folded, rolled, or otherwise compressed into a reduced configuration for passage through an access tube or other such access channel. Once expelled from the access tube the sizing templates expand to their original shape for use in sizing the annulus. The templates may be formed of an elastomeric polymer material such as silicone, a highly elastic metal such as NITINOL, or both. Grasping tabs or connectors for handles permit manipulation from outside the body. A NITINOL wireform may be compressed for passage through an access tube and expelled from the distal end thereof into a cloth cover to assume a sizer shape.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for providing accommodative vision includes an adjustable optic and a haptic that is operably coupled to the optic. The adjustable optic comprises a central zone and an annular zone surrounding the central zone. The optic may also comprise additional annular zones. The haptic comprises a transparent portion protruding into the adjustable optic. The intraocular lens has a disaccommodative configuration in which the central zone has a base optical power and an accommodative configuration in which the central zone has an add optical power that is at least about 1 Diopter greater than the base optical power. The central zone and the annular zone have different optical powers when the adjustable intraocular lens is in the accommodative configuration and/or when the adjustable intraocular lens is in the disaccommodative configuration.

Abstract: Described herein are intraocular lenses and methods of implantation. In one aspect, the lens includes a shape changing optical element; a force translation element having a first end region coupled to the optical element and a second end region extending towards a ciliary structure, and an attachment portion coupled to the second end region of the force translation element and configured to contact the ciliary structure. The force translation element is configured to functionally transmit movements of the ciliary structure into a force exerted upon the optical element to effect an accommodating and a disaccommodating change of the optical element.

Abstract: An implantable mammary prosthesis includes a limpet buttress fill port structure. The fill port structure preferably comprises a shell, the shell including an opening, a compartment interior to the shell adapted to contain a filler. The limpet buttress is generally cup-shaped, and is disposed within the shell. The limpet buttress is preferably attached to the shell adjacent the opening to form a fluidic seal, optionally via a sealing flange. The limpet buttress may include one or more ribs, such as to provide structural support to the limpet buttress. Preferably, a reservoir is disposed external to the shell.

Abstract: A prosthetic ligament for replacing a natural articular ligament, comprising a first intraosseous end part, called the tibial end part, and a second intraosseous end part, called the femoral end part, the two intraosseous end parts surrounding an intraarticular central part, characterized in that the first intraosseous end part is in the form of two cylindrical strands, and in that the second intraosseous end part forms a loop connected to the first intraosseous end part via the intraarticular central part, which is composed of at least two bundles of technical filaments, each of the bundles being connected to the first intraosseous end part at one end of its ends and to the second intraosseous end part at the other of its ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fixing a ligament in a bone tunnel by cross-pinning the ligament in the bone tunnel.

Abstract: Methods of generating and expanding proliferative, multipotent connective tissue progenitor cells from adult stem cells are provided. Also provided are methods of generating functional tendon grafts in vitro and bone, cartilage and connective tissues in vivo using the isolated cell preparation of connective tissue progenitor cells.

Abstract: A connective tissue scaffold including opposed first and second anchoring segments formed from a plurality of bioresorbable polymeric fibers oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the scaffold and a plurality of bioresorbable polymeric fibers oriented in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the scaffold. A central segment joins the first and second anchoring segments and includes a plurality of bioresorbable polymeric fibers oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the scaffold. The scaffold can also a tissue particle and/or biological component.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for preparing a dual tendon bundle that is useful as a replacement ligament or tendon graft for, for example, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. More particularly, the dual tendon bundle prepared according to the present invention has a functional cross section diameter and/or a minimum length that meets or exceeds the standard requirements for replacement ligament or tendon grafts. The present invention further relates to the dual tendon bundle prepared by the disclosed methods and packages comprising the same. Methods of using the dual tendon bundle prepared according to the present invention by providing the dual tendon bundle thus obtained for implanting into a patient in need thereof are also provided.

Abstract: Devices for the treatment of intervertebral discs are described. The devices, when implanted into the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, are specifically configured with an inert outer layer and an inner layer containing at least one chemonucleolysis agent so as to provide a delayed and controlled release of the chemonucleolysis agent from the inner layer into the disc. The implant can be an elongated solid body having a tapered or rounded insertion end having at least one therapeutic agent in the inner layer of the implant surrounded by an outer layer of inert material.

Abstract: Shoulder arthroplasty systems and configurations for components thereof are described. For example, implant systems for a total should arthroplasty (TSA), hemi shoulder arthroplasty, and reverse should arthroplasty (RSA) are described. In addition, exemplary configurations for baseplates, glenoid components, glenosphere components, humeral components, humeral head components, humerosocket components, connectors, and adaptors, are described.

Abstract: A medical implant device comprises a substrate (10) having an undulating surface provided by peaks (12) which are separated by recesses (14). The device includes a porous coating layer provided on the undulating surface of the substrate which comprises a plurality of particles (16). The spacing between adjacent peaks on the surface of the substrate is less than the particle size of the particles. The particles are bonded to the peaks on the surface of the substrate and adjacent particles are bonded to one another.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed that facilitates the implantation of one of a number of differently sized or differently configured hip stem prostheses into a proximal end of a femur while also providing a surgeon with a substantial amount of rotational control over the prosthesis during the implantation. A suitable hip stem prosthesis is selected from a family of hip stem prostheses of varying sizes and dimensions. The surgical instrument attaches to the selected hip stem prosthesis via first and second spaced engagement portions such that the instrument is operable to exert rotational control over the selected hip stem prosthesis. The first engagement portion is an impaction portion configured to engage a corresponding impaction feature on a proximal body portion of the hip stem prosthesis. The second engagement portion is an adjustable clamping portion configured to clampingly receive the neck of the hip stem prosthesis, regardless of the prosthesis size.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to compositions for promoting bone growth or regeneration. The compositions described herein can comprise bioactive agents and scaffold materials.

Abstract: An airway stent graft includes a plurality of openings through the surface of the graft material and one-way valves at the openings to permit air from outside of the stent graft to enter a lumen thereof during exhalation and to prevent air from exiting the lumen through the openings during inhalation. The stent graft may be of variable length such that the stent graft may be cut to the desired length in vivo. A delivery system includes a cutter assembly to cut graft material of the stent at the desired location in vivo.

Abstract: Novel implantable tissue repair medical devices are disclosed. The devices have a central fabric member having anti-adhesion films on both opposed sides. The films have pores, and are arranged such that the pores on the opposed films are offset. The devices are useful in hernia repair procedures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite matrix that includes a reinforcing textile portion having two surfaces coated over at least 90% of the respective surface areas thereof, by means of at least a first layer including at least one resorbable macro-molecule and having a collagen content of between 50 and 100 wt % relative to the total weight of the first layer; the invention also relates to a prosthesis including such a matrix and to a method for preparing said matrix.

Abstract: One embodiment of the implant comprises a porous metal bone ingrowth portion (14) having a first side connected to a high density or solid (fully dense) metal portion (16) which in turn has an opposite side connected to a porous metal soft tissue ingrowth portion (12) thus forming a sandwich structure with the high density or fully dense portion in the middle. The implant may be made of a resorbable material such as an alloy of magnesium. Alternately, the alloy can be selected from the group consisting of calcium, iron, yttrium and lithium. The porous metal soft tissue ingrowth portion (12) has porosity characteristics allowing cartilage to interdigitate with the pores and extend outwardly beyond the platform of the metal surface towards a joint capsule. The solid or fully dense intermediate layer 16 may have some porosity, however that porosity prevents either bone tissue or cartilage tissue from migrating therethrough.

Abstract: A prosthetic cushion liner and cushion locking liner for use as a standalone interface between an amputee's residual limb and the interior of a prosthetic socket. The liners include a fabric covering having an open end for introduction of a residual limb and a closed end opposite said open end, and a cushioning block copolymer and plasticizing oil gel composition residing on only an interior surface of the fabric covering. The gel composition includes some amount of a Septon J-Series thermoplastic elastomer material. The cushion locking liner further includes a distally-located docking element for coupling the liner to the socket of a prosthesis.

Abstract: A four-bar-linkage brake-included knee joint includes a knee carriage, first and second links rotatably coupled to the carriage, and a clamp member coupled to a joint body. The clamp member forms a through hole that receives an axle to couple the second links. A compression block is received in a rear portion of the joint body and is set in engagement with a back side of the clamp member. The clamp member forms a gap extending from the through hole of the clamp member to a bottom of the clamp member. When a heel of a prosthesis that includes the knee joint is put on the ground, a reaction force is induced in the prosthesis that causes the compression block to directly depress the clamp member thereby reducing the gap to have the clamp member tightly clamping the axle and thus preventing the axle from further rotation.

Abstract: A process control system for a fieldbus network includes field devices having function blocks. Some distributed control systems access the standard parameters of the function blocks but cannot access manufacturers' non-standard parameters. Such parameters are placed in shared transducer blocks in the field devices where they are accessed by an alternate system for configuration and for collecting and monitoring data. This enables use by the function blocks of both standard and manufacturers' specific parameters and enables function blocks with only standard parameters to facilitate non-standard inter-function block communication connections using the shared transducer block parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing large transient identification for advanced control with multiple constraints. A request to change a current operating condition of a controlled plant is detected. A value of a control constraint corresponding to the request to change the current operating condition of the controlled plant is determined. A magnitude of a transient error corresponding to the request relative to the value of the control constraint is determined and the current operating condition of the controlled plant is adjusted based on the determined magnitude of the transient error.

Abstract: A system and method for generating modeling software for processing control, such as power plant control, cement plant or other industrial control application, using models such as expert systems, fuzzy logic, genetic optimization algorithms, and neural networks to convert sensor data into actionable data, information and/or diagnostics. The present invention includes a graphical programming environment, graphical programming tools, graphical user interface (GUI), visual feedback, real-time refresh, run-time object swap, logic standby (safety recovery), modeling and optimization to allows a user to create a control system for an industrial process, and that allows the user to change the process without any manual compile, assemble or load steps other than a save and refresh pushbutton.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided, which includes: a determination section that determines a control command according to sensor information, on the basis of a control rule capable of being set by a user for determining the control command controlling a device; and a control section that controls the device in accordance with the control command determined by the determination section.

Abstract: A channel interface component including redundancy within a control system with highway addressable remote transfer (HART) channels is provided. In one embodiment, a circuit includes: at least two highway addressable remote transfer (HART) channels, each HART channel including an input terminal and an output terminal configured to connect with a HART device via a current loop; an channel interface component coupled to each HART channel that is configured to support HART protocol signals for communications with the HART device, wherein the channel interface component includes a suicide relay switch for connecting or disconnecting each HART channel from the HART device; and a programmable logic device coupled to the channel interface component that is configured to perform modulation and demodulation of HART protocol signals for communications with the HART device.

Abstract: A system having a function block execution framework. Function blocks may be for use in a control system design. These blocks may be selected from a library of a function block engine. Selected function blocks may be executed for operational purposes. They may be continuously executed by a processor to maintain operational status. However, since a function block engine and a resulting system of function blocks may be operated with battery power, executions of function blocks may be reduced by scheduling the executions of function blocks to times only when they are needed. That means that the processor would not necessarily have to operate continuously to maintain continual execution of the function blocks and thus could significantly reduce consumption of battery power.

Abstract: Method of operation of a control device for a home-automation appliance, wherein the method comprises at least one step of selecting a possible control command from among a plurality of predefined control commands, that may be sent by the control device and at least one step of displaying the command selected by this control device.

Abstract: The present invention provides group performance monitoring systems and methods. In one exemplary embodiment, a group monitoring device includes a display configured to display, during an athletic activity, a plurality of individual performance metrics relating to a plurality of individuals engaged in the athletic activity, each individual performance metric relating to one of the plurality of individuals; and an input to manipulate the display.

Abstract: A wearable device assembly has a housing supporting a controller, display and indicator system thereon. The controller has at least one sensor wherein activity of a user wearing the device is detected. The controller selectively illuminates the indicator system to indicate a level of activity of the user.

Abstract: A procedure for calibrating walking and/or running measurements in an exercise-related apparatus are provided. As a result of a user running and walking a given distance which may be the same or different for running and walking, respective running and walking motion metrics are obtained during a calibration phase. A relation between the obtained running and walking motion metrics are then used to compute a calibration value applied to calibrate one of running and walking measurements during an exercise.

Abstract: In some aspects, a system is provided that includes (1) a plurality of mobile devices; and (2) an application on each mobile device, the application adapted to (a) allow exercisers to form an exercise group; (b) track position or change in position of each exerciser in the exerciser group; and (c) display an avatar having a position that is controlled by a position or change in position of one or more member of the exercise group. Numerous other aspects are provided.