Abstract: Sensors located on a sensor carrier are placed adjacent one or more of a surgical patient's major thoracic blood-containing structures such as the aorta or pulmonary artery, and characteristics of blood in the blood-containing structures are determined noninvasively by measuring transmission or reflection of light or other types of energy by the blood. Emitters and receptors included in the sensors are connected electrically with suitable electronic signal generating and processing components in a package remote from the sensor carrier.

Abstract: Implants and implants, including sensors responsive to pressure, fluid flow, concentration of analytes, pH and other variables, including a feedback loop and means for modifying the implant after placement in a patient in response to measurements made using the sensors, have been developed. These are particularly useful in cardiology, where the implants contain one or more sensors responsive to variables which change over time, for example, pressure which is indicative of changes in fluid flow and diameter of the vessel in which the implant has been placed. Feedback from the sensor(s) either directly, or indirectly via monitoring means external to the patient, signal changes that may be required, such as expansion of the implant in the case where the vessel diameter changes over time or the implant becomes unstable or migrates.

Abstract: A endovascular graft having sensing devices attached thereto to facilitate measurement of pertinent parameters within the vasculature into which the graft is implanted. Power sources and transmitters may be attached to the graft to facilitate transmission of measurements to a receiving device outside the patient's body. The sensing devices, may be electrically passive or integrated devices with measurement and transmission capability. The sensing devices may be attached to specific locations on the graft material or attached to the lumen, thereby providing pertinent parameters from critical points inside the vasculature, or may be dispersed over the surface of the graft material or within the lumen to provide a profile of pertinent parameters. The sensing devices may be attached to the graft material with one suture using a running stitch to minimize graft bulk and may be coated with a material to inhibit or control tissue growth.

Abstract: An implantable medical device comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis. A first set of anchoring members are operatively connected to the proximal end of the housing. A second set of anchoring members are operatively connected to the distal end of the housing. The first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members are movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. The collapsed position is defined as a position whereby the first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The deployed position is defined as a position whereby the first set of anchoring members and the second set of anchoring members are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Abstract: A method for implanting a medical device between tissue comprises the steps of providing a catheter having a body and a distal end thereof wherein the catheter includes an implantable device comprising a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis. The implantable device further includes a first set of anchoring members operatively connected to the proximal end of the housing and a second set of anchoring members operatively connected to the distal end of the housing. Both sets of anchoring members are movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. Each set of anchoring members includes ring members connected to a housing of the device. Further steps of the method include inserting the distal end of the catheter into tissue and disposing the medical device at least partially from the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A biosensor for monitoring pressure or other physical parameters at an aneurysm site is mountable to a tubular prosthesis that is expandable between contracted and enlarged conditions. A loop, having the biosensor attached thereto, is securable around the prosthesis. An apparatus is used to deliver the loop to an aneurysm site that includes a catheter having a connector on its distal end for detachably securing the loop thereto. The prosthesis is advanced in a contracted state to the aneurysm, and the apparatus, with the loop connected thereto, is advanced to the aneurysm site. The loop and the prosthesis are positioned coaxially with respect to one another, and the prosthesis is expanded towards its enlarged condition, thereby engaging the loop around the prosthesis and engaging the prosthesis with a wall of the blood vessel at the treatment site.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic apparatus including a catheter and a probe assembly coupled to the catheter and a method involving the use of a catheter and a probe assembly coupled to the catheter. The probe assembly is capable of detecting a chemical analyte. The probe assembly includes a detection probe located within the catheter. The detection probe can be fixedly attached to the catheter or slideable within the catheter.

Abstract: Sensors located on a sensor carrier are placed adjacent one or more of a surgical patient's major thoracic blood-containing structures such as the aorta or pulmonary artery, and characteristics of blood in the blood-containing structures are determined noninvasively by measuring transmission or reflection of light or other types of energy by the blood. Emitters and receptors included in the sensors are connected electrically with suitable electronic signal generating and processing components in a package remote from the sensor carrier.

Abstract: A peripherally inserted central catheter includes three lumens that communicate with its proximal end. A large lumen terminates short of the distal end of the catheter and is used for the infusion of fluids into the venous system. A second lumen terminates at the distal end and is suitable for measuring blood pressure in the central venous system and infusion of fluids into the central venous system. The third lumen houses a pair of optical fibers which form part of a central venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) monitoring system.

Abstract: A probe insertable into a body cavity for applying an electrical stimulation to tissue therein includes a flexible hollow member of biocompatible material to enable the member to be inserted into the body cavity and to substantially conform to its inner surface, and thereby, to contact the tissue therein to be stimulated. A portion of the outer surface of the hollow member is electrically conductive to enable an electrical voltage to be applied thereto for electrically stimulating the tissue within the body cavity contacted by the electrically conductive surface. The probe may also include a transparent section and an optical sensor, such as an oximeter, for optically examining tissues within the body cavity.

Abstract: Analysis device for determining an analyte in vivo in the body of a patient, having a measuring probe with a hollow needle (18) which can pierce through the skin. Light is passed through the hollow needle (18) and into the body via an optical fiber (22) travelling in the hollow needle (18). The light transported in the optical fiber (22) is modified in the measuring probe (3), the modification being characteristic of the presence of the analyte. A measurement and evaluation unit (4) measures the change to extract information concerning the presence of the analyte in the body.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic apparatus including a catheter and a probe assembly coupled to the catheter and a method involving the use of a catheter and a probe assembly coupled to the catheter. The probe assembly is capable of detecting a chemical analyte. The probe assembly includes a detection probe located within the catheter. The detection probe can be fixedly attached to the catheter or slideable within the catheter.

Abstract: A biosensor for monitoring pressure or other physical parameters at an aneurysm site is mountable to a tubular prosthesis that is expandable between contracted and enlarged conditions. A loop, having the biosensor attached thereto, is securable around the prosthesis. An apparatus is used to deliver the loop to an aneurysm site that includes a catheter having a connector on its distal end for detachably securing the loop thereto. The prosthesis is advanced in a contracted state to the aneurysm, and the apparatus, with the loop connected thereto, is advanced to the aneurysm site. The loop and the prosthesis are positioned coaxially with respect to one another, and the prosthesis is expanded towards its enlarged condition, thereby engaging the loop around the prosthesis and engaging the prosthesis with a wall of the blood vessel at the treatment site.

Abstract: A lead assembly having a ring electrode is adapted for implant and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The lead assembly includes a first porous member disposed around the ring electrode at the distal end of the lead assembly, which can be used as a sensing or pacing interface with the cardiac tissue. In addition, a second porous member is disposed over the first porous member and is electrically coupled with the ring electrode.

Abstract: An implantable sensor assembly for use with an implantable medical device are disclosed. The sensor assembly preferably includes two or more physiologic sensors coupled to the medical device via a pair of lead conductors, or alternatively an oxygen sensor having certain features. The oxygen sensor permits more accurate and reliable measurement of oxygen saturation in blood masses flowing within the human body.

Abstract: A physical-information-image displaying apparatus for use with an endoscope including an image pick-up which picks up an endoscopic image from a living subject and produces an endoscopic-image signal representing the picked-up endoscopic image, and a display which displays the picked-up endoscopic image represented by the endoscopic-image signal, the apparatus including a physical-information obtaining device which obtains a physical information from the subject and produces a physical-information signal representing the obtained physical information, a physical-information-image-signal producing device which produces, based on the physical-information signal produced by the physical-information obtaining device, a physical-information-image signal representing a physical-information image corresponding to the obtained physical information, and a superimposing device which superimposes the physical-information-image signal produced by the physical-information-image-signal producing device, on the endoscopic-i

Abstract: An apparatus for informing an operator of an abnormality of a physical information obtained from a living subject, including a physical-information obtaining device which obtains the physical information from the subject via an endoscope and outputs a physical-information signal representing the obtained physical information, a signal converting device which converts the physical-information signal into an analog speech signal having a waveform representing a speech corresponding to the obtained physical information, a speech outputting device which outputs the speech represented by the speech signal, a judging device for judging whether the obtained physical information represented by the physical-information signal is abnormal, and a frequency shifting device which shifts, when the judging means makes a positive judgment, frequencies of the speech output by the speech outputting device, so that the operator is informed of the abnormality of the physical information obtained from the subject.