Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application inventions 02/06

20060041276 - Method and apparatus for delivering combined electrical and drug therapies: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers combined electrical and drug therapies. The implantable medical device includes a drug reservoir that is refillable after implantation. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device includes an implantable housing encapsulating a pulse generator circuit and a drug...

20060041277 - Methods and apparatus for renal neuromodulation: Methods and apparatus are provided for renal neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field to effectuate electroporation or electrofusion. It is expected that renal neuromodulation (e.g., denervation) may, among other things, reduce expansion of an acute myocardial infarction, reduce or prevent the onset of morphological changes that are affiliated with congestive...

20060041278 - Automatic defibrillator module for integration with standard patient monitoring equipment: A defibrillator module is described which includes a cardiac sensor, a pulse generator and a controller that generates commands responsive to intrinsic cardiac signals for the operation of said pulse generator. The defibrillator module synergistic and arranged so that it can be coupled to a generic patient monitor so that...

20060041279 - Detection and treatment of prolonged inter-atrial delay in cardiac resynchronization patients: A method and system for identifying and assessing inter-atrial conduction delays in patients is disclosed. Patients who are so identified and are also in need of ventricular resynchronization therapy may then be treated with left atrial pacing and ventricular resynchronization pacing. Certain patients may alternatively be treated with ventricular resynchronization...

20060041280 - Thoracic impedance detection with blood resistivity compensation: This document discusses, among other things, a cardiac rhythm management device or other implantable medical device that uses thoracic impedance to determine how much fluid is present in the thorax, such as for detecting or predicting congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, hypotension, or the like. The thoracic fluid...

20060041281 - Techniques for blood pressure measurement by implantable device: An implantable cardiac device is configured and programmed to collect blood pressure waveforms from one or more implantable pressure sensors. Techniques are described for extracting features and reducing noise in the pressure waveforms by averaging waveforms which are aligned with a detected cardiac cycle. Noise can also be reduced by...

20060041282 - Device in connection with pacers: The invention relates to the electrode lead connector of a pacemaker. A tubular connector (29) is used for connection to the electrode lead contact plug (10). A transparent component (19) allows for visual confirmation that the electrode lead contact plug (10) is adequately inserted into said tubular connector (29)....

20060041283 - Implantable device and method for treatment of hypertension: A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension with electrostimulation of peripheral nerves. Treatment is performed by periodically stimulating a nerve such as a median nerve. Apparatus for stimulation is permanently implanted in the body. The nerve is stimulated by electric current applied to electrodes that are placed near the...

20060041284 - Electrical stimulation system and method for stimulating nerve tissue in the brain using a stimulation lead having a tip electrode, having at least five electrodes, or both: An electrical stimulation system is provided for electrically stimulating target nerve tissue in a person's brain using a stimulation lead having a tip electrode, having at least five electrodes, or both. The system includes a stimulation lead adapted for implantation into the brain for electrical stimulation of target nerve tissue...

20060041285 - Portable unit for treating chronic pain: A portable pain treatment unit includes: a first pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in a frequency range typical for interferential treatment; a second pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in the frequency range for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) treatment; electrodes operatively connected with the first and second pulse...

20060041286 - Method for inducing angiogenesis by electrical stimulation of muscles: The present invention discloses a method for angiogenesis. The method comprises the steps of electrically stimulating a muscle below the threshold for muscle contraction....

20060041288 - Conversational interface for programmable implantable medical device: A system capable of delivering a therapeutic output to a patient. An implantable medical device is capable of delivering the therapeutic output to the patient. A controller, programmable by a medical professional, operatively coupled to the implantable medical device, to specify, at least in part, the therapeutic output to be...

20060041287 - Task based flow interface for programmable implantable medical device: A controller, method and system capable of delivering a therapeutic output to a patient. An implantable medical device is capable of delivering the therapeutic output to the patient. A controller, programmable by a medical professional, specifies, at least in part, the therapeutic output to be delivered to the patient. The...

20060041289 - Skin treating device with protection against radiation pulse overdose: A device for the treatment of skin by radiation pulses. The device has a detector measuring a biophysical property of skin, such as temperature increase, dispersion or absorption coefficient, or reflection coefficient for light having a predetermined wavelength, and also has a control unit which determines, from the biophysical property,...

20060041290 - High efficiency tanning apparatus: Tanning apparatuses and methods of operating tanning apparatuses for high efficiency use. In an embodiment, a tanning apparatus including a tanning lamp is operated by delivering a first input voltage to the tanning lamp to generate an ultraviolet radiation output. When the output from the tanning lamp has sufficiently decreased...

20060041291 - Directional probe treatment apparatus: A treatment apparatus includes a cannula with a cannula lumen. The cannula has a first average diameter. A probe is positionable in the cannula lumen. The probe has a first section with a second average diameter and a second section with a third average diameter that is less than the...

20060041292 - Single use ice pack and method: An ice pack including a bag having a containment section with an opening. At least one layer of adhesive material and preferably two respective layers of adhesive material may be disposed on adjacent portions of the opening. At least one removable liner and preferably two removable liners may be disposed...

20060041294 - Magnetic resonance imaging interference immune device: A wire form includes a conductor having a distal end and a proximal end. The conductor is coiled and has a predetermined spacing between adjacent coils. The predetermined spacing provides a parasitic capacitance and an inductance. The parasitic capacitance and inductance have a resonance frequency tuned to about an excitation...

20060041293 - Novel lead body-to-connector transition zone: A medical electrical lead includes a lead body and a connector terminal. A conductor extends from the lead body to the connector terminal along a helical path through a transition zone....

20060041295 - Positive fixation percutaneous epidural neurostimulation lead: Disclosed is a lead for percutaneous insertion into an epidural space of a spinal canal, which includes an elongated lead body having opposed proximal and distal end portions. At least one electrode for stimulating a patient is operatively associated with the distal end portion of the lead body. Structure for...

20060041298 - Method and apparatus for sensing cardiac contractile function: Systems and methods for detecting and measuring cardiac contractile function of a heart using an acceleration sensor unit inserted within the heart, such as within a vein of the cardiac wall are disclosed. The systems and methods involve detecting the occurrence of electrical events within the patient's heart by inserting...

20060041297 - Novel electrode assembly for medical electrical leads: A lumen seal of a medical electrical lead includes an outer surface adapted to form a portion of an exterior surface of the medical electrical lead and an inner surface adapted to seal off a lumen of the lead and yet allow passage of an elongate member that is slidably...

20060041296 - Novel medical electrode configurations: A medical electrode includes an active surface extending from a first end to a second end and has a maximum outer diameter exceeding an outer diameter of the both the first end and the second end. The electrode further includes a recess formed in the active surface and an agent...

20060041299 - Novel distal portions for medical electrical leads: A medical electrical lead includes a canted lead body distal portion extending from an approximately straight lead body proximal portion; the canted distal portion includes an approximately straight segment and a hump-like segment extending from a first end, in proximity to the approximately straight segment, to a second end. The...

20060041300 - Transeptal lead: A lead includes a lead body and an electrode disposed proximate a distal end of the lead body. A retaining member is disposed proximate the distal end of the lead and adapted to retain the electrode proximate an interatrial septum when the retaining member is located on a left atrial...

20060041301 - Multifunction electrode and method of making same: A transcutaneous electrode is disclosed having a sheet electrode of an electrically-conductive material with an electrically conductive layer affixed to a major portion of the lower surface thereof. A pad of electrically-conductive gel is applied to the lower surface of the sheet electrode over the electrically-conductive layer. An electrical conductor...

20060036286 - Monitoring, preventing, and treating rejection of transplanted organs: An implantable system control unit (SCU) includes means for measuring tissue impedance or other condition to determine allograft health, in order to predict or detect allograft rejection. The SCU also includes at least two electrodes coupled to means for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient within whom the device is...

20060036287 - Defibrillator comprising a relay testing device: A defibrillator including an output stage that has a high-voltage section and patient electrode connections which can be automatically connected by a coupling circuit to said high-voltage section via a relay, and that has a relay testing device. A reliable functioning of the defibrillator is ensured due to the provision...

20060036289 - Optional use of a lead for a unitary subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning over a patient's ribcage, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator includes a housing having a first end and a second end; a first electrode disposed upon the first end of the housing; a second electrode disposed upon the second end...

20060036288 - Pacer with combined defibrillator tailored for bradycardia patients: This document discusses, among other things, a combination pacer/defibrillator that is tailored for bradycardia patients. In one example, its shock-delivery specificity exceeds its sensitivity to shockable ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In another example, its specificity exceeds 95%, or 99%, or even 99.5%. Sensitivity is programmed to a high desired sensitivity value, but...

20060036291 - Automatic post-pacing interval measurement: A method for processing a biopotential signal includes detecting a pacing signal, and applying a dynamic filter on a pacing channel based on the detected pacing signal. A method for processing a biopotential signal includes detecting a pacing signal, and automatically obtaining a post-pacing interval based at least in part...

20060036290 - Cardiopulmonary functional status assessment via metabolic response detection by implantable cardiac device: An implantable cardiac device is configured and programmed to assess a patient's cardiopulmonary function by evaluating the patient's minute ventilation response. Such evaluation may be performed by computing a minute ventilation response slope, defined as the ratio of an incremental change in minute ventilation to an incremental change in measured...

20060036292 - Risk of death indicator: A system comprising an implantable medical device (IMD). The IMD comprises a ventricular heart signal sensing circuit to provide a ventricular heart signal, at least one sensor operable to provide an electrical signal representative of patient activity, a sensor interface circuit coupled to the at least one sensor to provide...

20060036293 - Methods for treating gastrointestinal disorders: A small implantable stimulator(s) having at least two electrodes is implanted adjacent to a gastrointestinal nerve and/or muscle for the stimulation treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, including gastrointestinal motility, sphincteric disorders, and/or eating disorders. The stimulator provides a means of stimulating tissue at a stimulation site when desired, and may be...

20060036294 - Patient compliance management device and method: A device and method are provided for managing the treatment of a patient With respiratory disorders or symptoms. Respiratory parameters are sensed and recorded and communicated to an external device to provide information to a patient and/or provider for further treatment or diagnosis. Also respiratory disorders such as apnea or...

20060036296 - Electrode array for neural stimulation: The present invention is an improved electrode array for neuro-stimulation. The electrode array of the present invention is ideally suited for a visual prosthesis for the restoration of sight in patients with lost or degraded visual function. The electrode array of the present invention improves connectivity between a prosthesis and...

20060036295 - Retinal prosthesis: The invention is a retinal prosthesis with an improved configuration mounting necessary components within and surrounding the eye. The present invention better allows for the implantation of electronics within the delicate eye structure. The invention further limits the necessary width of a thin film conductor passing through the sclera by...

20060036297 - Method and apparatus for the treatment of tinnitus: An improved method and apparatus for electrically stimulating the brain to alleviate tinnitus. In one aspect of the invention the areas of the brain to which stimulation is applied would be determined by a procedure which first involves analysis of the patient to determine the nature of the sound perceived...

20060036298 - Biofeedback electronic stimulation device: A biofeedback electronic stimulation device includes a processor for generating a first control signal and a plurality of second control signals responsive to at least one input signal. Transformer circuitry generates a stimulation signal including packets of at least one pulse responsive to the first control signal. Pulse circuitry configures...

20060036299 - Light promotes regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury: The present invention relates generally to the treatment of SCI by stimulating axon regeneration within the central nerve system. One aspect of the present invention provides methods of treating SCI with low power laser irradiation (LPLI). Another aspect of the present invention provides methods of treating SCI by modulating a...

20060036300 - Method for lypolisis: A method of lipolysis. The method comprises deforming a region of skin so that the region of skin protrudes from surrounding skin. One or more radio frequency (RF) electrodes are positioned on the protruding region of skin so as to generate an electrical current through adipose tissue in the protruding...

20060036301 - System method and apparatus for localized heating of tissue: System method and apparatus for accurately carrying out the in situ heating of a targeted tissue. Small implants are employed with the targeted tissue which exhibit an abrupt change of magnetic permeability at an elected Curie temperature. The permeability state of the implant is monitored utilizing a magnetometer. The implants...

20060036302 - Methods of inducing protective hypothermia of organs: Methods of inducing protective hypothermia of an organ are described that include delivering a phase-change particulate slurry to at least a portion of the organ; and reducing a temperature of the organ through heat exchange with the phase-change particulate slurry. Therapeutically acceptable duration of artificially-induced ischemia of the organ is...

20060036303 - Intravascular systems for corporeal cooling: A catheter for intravascular corporeal cooling comprises an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen extending therethrough for providing cooled blood, an inflatable annular balloon positioned on the outer surface of the elongated tubular member, and a pressure reliever positioned in the external wall of the elongated tubular member...

20060036304 - Thermal garment system and method of using the same: The instant invention comprises a thermal garment system worn by a user to cool the user's upper torso and thereby reducing the incidence of heat stress related injuries. The garment comprising a plurality pockets integrally attached to adapted to receive and support at least one thermal pack therein. The thermal...

20060036305 - Eye pillow: A reversible eye pillow provides a set of opposed sides, each formed of a continuous fabric panel that is resiliently stretchable. Each side includes peripheral portions that conform to and contact peripheral portions of a user's eye and a recessed portion that enables a user to open his or her...

20060036307 - Lead assembly and methods including a push tube: A lead assembly includes an elongate body having a conductor electrically coupled with an electrode coupled to the elongate body. The lead assembly includes a push tube extending along at least a portion of the elongate body. A distal tip is coupled to the elongate body substantially adjacent to the...

20060036306 - Telescoping, dual-site pacing lead: A lead with a proximal electrode and a telescoping distal electrode enables dual-site electrical pacing or stimulation of a heart or another organ. The lead includes an outer tube with a proximal electrode and an inner tube connected to a distal electrode. The inner tube is concentric and slides inside...

20060030887 - Method and apparatus for treating aneurysms by electrostimulation: An aneurysmal sac arterial wall electrostimulation system (11) comprises an array of electrical leads (4 and 5) placeable in contact with a portion of the arterial wall (12) to be electrostimulated and a source (3) of electrostimulation attached to the array of electrical leads. The source provides periodic electrostimulus to...

20060030888 - Static device: The present invention relates to a method and device for creating a static electric charge and using the device to treat ailments in the body....

20060030889 - Local cardiac motion control using applied signals and mechanical force: Apparatus (18) for performing a medical procedure on a beating heart (20) includes a mechanical stabilization element (25), a surface (27) of which is adapted to be applied to a segment (24) of the heart to reduce motion of the segment. One or more electrodes (100) are fixed to the...

20060030891 - Method and apparatus for remote wireless communication with a medical device: A medical device is configured to support two-way communication to remotely monitor and manage medical device parameter status and software. A two-way communication module is incorporated into the medical device. A remote monitoring service is configured to regularly communicate with the medical device to initiate status assessments of medical device...

20060030890 - System, method, and apparatus for automated interactive verification of an alert generated by a patient monitoring device: A system for verification of an alert generated by an assessment process operating upon patient feedback and physiological data. The system may utilize a categorization for alerts, in order to obtain a rule set corresponding thereto. A question hierarchy may correspond to each rule within the rule set. Each question...

20060030892 - Cardiopulmonary functional status assessment via heart rate response dectection by implantable cardiac device: An implantable cardiac device is configured and programmed to assess a patient's cardiopulmonary function by evaluating the patient's heart rate response. Such evaluation may be performed by computing a heart rate response slope, defined as the ratio of an incremental change in intrinsic heart rate to an incremental change in...

20060030893 - Means for increasing implantable medical device electrode surface area: A surface area of an IMD electrode is increased by forming a conductive layer over an external portion of a sidewall of an IMD connector header and electrically coupling the conductive layer of the connector header to a conductive mounting surface of a hermetically sealed IMD housing; wherein the conductive...

20060030894 - Breathing disorder detection and therapy device for providing intrinsic breathing: A device and method are provided for managing the treatment of a patient with respiratory disorders or symptoms. Respiratory parameters are sensed and recorded and communicated to an external device to provide information to a patient and/or provider for further treatment or diagnosis. Also respiratory disorders such as apnea or...

20060030895 - Method for treating degenerative disc disease using noninvasive capacitively coupled electrical stimulation device: A method for treatment of degenerative disc disease using capacitively coupled electrical stimulation. In one embodiment, a subject diagnosed as having degenerative disc disease is treated by placing first and second electrodes on the subject's body at the site of an identified disc in a state of degenerative disc disease,...

20060030896 - Pulsed electromagnetic field method of treatment of degenerative disc disease: A pulsed electromagnetic field method of treating degenerative disc disease, wherein, in one embodiment, a patient in need of treatment for degenerative disc disease is administered a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) having repetitive pulse bursts approximately 5 ms in duration, with a pulse burst repetition rate of approximately 15 Hz....

20060030897 - Brain stimulation method and device: The present invention provides for applying electric impulse trains to a patient. A ditherer generates a plurality of indicia, each of the plurality of indicia corresponding to an impulse train. The ditherer is further configured to vary the time period between generating the indicia corresponding to the plurality of impulse...

20060030898 - Static device: The present invention relates to a method and device for creating a static electric charge and using the device to treat ailments in the body....

20060030899 - System and method for stimulating peripheral nerves to treat pain: According to one embodiment, a system for stimulating peripheral nerves in a painful upper chest region of a person's body is provided. The system includes stimulation electrodes adapted to be implanted in tissue proximate a network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful upper chest region and...

20060030900 - Two-phase oxygenated solution and method of use: A two-phase mixture is provided having a dissolved gas and a suspension of bubbles in a liquid. Methods for making, maintaining, and using the two-phase mixture are also provided. The gas molecules may be introduced into the liquid at a high velocity under elevated pressure to form a supersaturated solution...

20060030901 - Automatic power control for a radio frequency transceiver of an implantable device: Power supplied to a particular telemetry system of an implantable device having multiple telemetry systems is managed by a state machine. Power to a transceiver of a device is terminated if the particular telemetry system remains dormant or inactive for a programmable period of time and power to the transceiver...

20060030903 - Dynamic telemetry link selection for an implantable device: Communications with an implantable device are conducted using a physical telemetry link dynamically selected from multiple physical telemetry links based on selected criteria including, for example, bandwidth, security, data throughput, channel availability and reliability....

20060030904 - Secure remote access for an implantable medical device: This document discloses, among other things, a telemetry system that controls access to assets of an implantable device as a function of the manner of initiating the communication session or an access code. A tiered hierarchy of assets are associated with corresponding levels of access. A tiered array of security...

20060030902 - Telemetry switchover state machine with firmware priority control: The selection of one communication channel from a plurality of available channels is determined by a state machine. In an automatic selection mode, a first telemetry system has priority over other telemetry systems. A communication session is in progress based on session initiation and termination triggers. An override function allows...

20060030905 - External coil assembly for a transcutaneous system: An external coil assembly for a transcutaneous system is disclosed. The assembly comprises: a housing having a skin-adjacent surface, an opposing exposed surface and a threaded shaft open to the exposed surface and extending toward the skin-adjacent surface; an external coil secured within the housing; and a magnet with a...

20060030906 - Switchable and programmable electrode configuration: An electrode configuration for surface electrical stimulation to treat chronic and acute pain electrically re-routes current through one of a variety of possible switching means to selectively use a set of electrodes in different modes, for example, in a cross current mode or a longitudinal current mode....

20060030907 - Apparatus, system, and method for creating an individually balanceable environment of sound and light: An system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for therapeutic light and sound, comprising the steps of exposing a user to spectral light and laterally directed sound and adjusting the manner of exposure sufficient to elicit a desired autonomic nervous response....

20060030908 - Skin treatment phototherapy device: A light emitting diode (LED) phototherapy device is disclosed. The phototherapy device may be used in the treatment of various skin conditions. The phototherapy device may include multi-color LEDs for emitting multiple wavelengths of light for skin treatment. Furthermore, the phototherapy device may include a control system that receives, from...

20060030909 - Device and method for treating skin: A device for the cosmetic treatment of skin, especially for epilation, skin remodeling and treatment of acne whereby an appropriate cosmetically effective wavelength of light is produced using a fluorescent material pumped with ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light source....

20060030910 - Method and apparatus for controlling a patient's body temperature by in situ blood temperature modification: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the...

20060030911 - Stabilization of aortic iliac neck diameter by use of radio frequency: A radio frequency probe is positioned in a body lumen, and the body lumen is heated, using the radio frequency probe, to stabilize the body lumen for insertion of a stent graft or stent. Specifically, the heating shrinks a diameter the body lumen. In one example, blood is allowed to...

20060030912 - System, method and apparatus for evaluating tissue temperature: Method, system and apparatus for monitoring target tissue temperatures wherein temperature sensors are configured as passive resonant circuits each with a unique resonating signature at monitoring temperatures extending below a select temperature setpoint. The resonant circuits are configured with an inductor component formed of windings about a ferrite core having...

20060030913 - System, method and apparatus for evaluating tissue temperature: Method, system and apparatus for monitoring target tissue temperatures wherein temperature sensors are configured as passive resonant circuits each with a unique resonating signature at monitoring temperatures extending below a select temperature setpoint. The resonant circuits are configured with an inductor component formed of windings about a ferrite core having...

20060030914 - System, method and apparatus for evaluating tissue temperature: Method, system and apparatus for monitoring target tissue temperatures wherein temperature sensors are configured as passive resonant circuits each with a unique resonating signature at monitoring temperatures extending below a select temperature setpoint. The resonant circuits are configured with an inductor component formed of windings about a ferrite core having...

20060030915 - Method and apparatus for reducing body temperature of a subject: A cooling system includes a pressurized liquid refrigerant source having a liquid refrigerant and a cooling garment coupled to the liquid refrigerant source. The cooling garment defines chambers containing a heat transfer fluid. During operation, a user places the cooling garment in thermal communication with a body portion of a...

20060030916 - Method and device for rapidly inducing hypothermia: Disclosed is a system and method for inducing therapeutic levels of hypothermia in a patient in the emergent care setting. The system consists of a small battery operated console and one or more garments. The garments are connected to the console by one or more umbilicals. The console provides cold...

20060030917 - Dual heating device and method: A dual-channel fluid temperature control apparatus controls temperature of cardiac fluids during surgery using power from an electrical convenience outlet having a power limit. A first pump receives a first heat exchange fluid to selectively pump the first heat exchange fluid within a first circulation channel. A second pump receives...

20060030918 - Operating room lead connector: An operating room connector is used in conjunction with a multiple electrode SCS system which can easily detach and connect to an external trial stimulator (ETS). By connecting the electrode SCS system to a stylet handle, and then locking the stylet handle within a slot of the connector platform, a...

20060030919 - Devices, systems, and methods employing a molded nerve cuff electrode: Devices, systems, and methods for recording, and/or stimulation, and/or blocking of a nerve make use of a molded cuff electrode. An electrically conductive surface is coupled to an inside surface of the cuff's elastic body. The electrically conductive surface and the body assume a coiled configuration in its natural state....

20060025820 - Integrated system and method for mri-safe implantable devices: An implantable system includes at least one electrode that is configured to apply a stimulus to surrounding tissue based on a control signal. A control module provides the control signal, such as for controlling application of the stimulus, which can be an electrical stimulus, a chemical stimulus or a combination...

20060025821 - Methods and devices for renal nerve blocking: A method and apparatus for treatment of cardiac and renal diseases associated with the elevated sympathetic renal nerve activity by implanting a device to block the renal nerve signals to and from the kidney. The device can be a drug pump or a drug eluding implant for targeted delivery of...

20060025822 - Atp therapy for tachyarrhythmias in vf zone: A method and apparatus for delivering therapy to treat ventricular tachyarrhythmias is described. A ventricular tachyarrhythmia can be classified into tachycardia or fibrillation zones using a rate criterion so that the tachyarrhythmia can be treated with either anti-tachycardia pacing or shock therapy, respectively. Rate stability and morphology criteria are employed...

20060025824 - Automatic therapy advisor: A method of automatically determining which type of treatment is most appropriate for (or the physiological state of) a patient. The method comprises transforming one or more time domain measurements from the patient into frequency domain data representative of the frequency content of the time domain measurements; processing the frequency...

20060025825 - Method and apparatus for detecting artifact signals in the electrocardiogram of a patient caused by cpr and/or patient motion using patient impedance: Medical apparatus for detecting the presence of artifact signals generated in the electrocardiogram of a patient by CPR and/or other patient motion. The presence of artifact signals is determined by analyzing variations in a measured electrical signal that represents the patient's transthoracic impedance. Such detection is important because the presence...

20060025823 - Method and apparatus for facilitating opening a sealed medical electrode package: An apparatus for storing one or more electrodes for an automatic external defibrillator includes inter alia a cavity and a lid. The cavity accepts the one or more electrodes and includes at least one vertical surface. A top lateral edge surface of the cavity meets the at least one vertical...

20060025826 - Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator employing a telescoping lead: One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning between the third rib and the twelfth rib within a patient, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator including a housing including a first electrode; a telescoping lead assembly including a second electrode, wherein the telescoping lead assembly is electrically and...

20060025827 - Apparatus and method for detecting lung sounds using an implanted device: Adventitious lung sounds indicative of lung congestion are detected using an implantable sensor. The sensor is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a pulmonary system and to output signals indicative of lung sounds in response to pulmonary system activity. A controller receives the signals and processes the signals to detect...

20060025828 - Impedance measurement for an implantable device: A method and an apparatus for determining an impedance experienced by a lead associated with the implantable device. A substantially constant current signal is provided through a first terminal and a second terminal of the lead. A voltage across the first and second terminals is measured. An impedance across the...

20060025829 - Power supply monitoring for an implantable device: A method and an apparatus for projecting an end of service (EOS) and/or an elective replacement indication (ERI) of a component in an implantable device and for determining an impedance experienced by a lead associated with the implantable device. An active charge depletion of an implantable device is determined. An...

20060025830 - Wireless pacing systems analyzer in a programmer system: An external interface device provides telemetry between an implantable apparatus and a remote device. The interface device includes a battery powered circuit and a wireless transceiver. A power supply of the remote device is isolated from the implantable apparatus by a wireless communication link....

20060025831 - Potential therapeutic device: An electric potential therapy apparatus has been prepared with a plurality of alternating current patterns, made by combining varying voltages, waveforms and frequencies with the passage of time. The user selects one from the alternating patterns in accordance with the user's physical constitution and physical condition, so that an a.c....

20060025832 - System and method for stimulating peripheral nerves to treat pain: According to one embodiment, a system for stimulating peripheral nerves in a painful region of a person's limb is provided. The system includes stimulation electrodes adapted to be implanted in tissue proximate a network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful region of the person's limb and...

20060025833 - Variable width electrode scheme: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, methods and systems are disclosed for delivering a stimulating signal by a stimulating medical device having a plurality of electrodes. These methods and systems comprise electrically coupling a first set of at least two of the plurality of electrodes, and simultaneously delivering...

20060025834 - Methods and apparatuses for implantable medical device telemetry power management: An implantable medical device includes a radio-frequency (RF) telemetry circuit connected to an energy source through a power connection module to obtain power when a user initiates an RF telemetry session. After the session is completed, the power connection module shuts off the at least one portion of the RF...

20060025835 - Type ii mid-infrared quantum well laser: A mid-infrared emitting indirect bandgap quantum well semiconductor laser with an optical waveguide structure having an active waveguide core. The active waveguide core comprises at least one repetition of a sub-region comprising in the following order a first wide bandgap layer, a first conduction band layer of InAs, a valence...

20060025836 - Device to alleviate freezing of gait in users with parkinsonism: A device for alleviating freezing of gait in a user with parkinsonism comprising a light source adjustably seated on a holder is provided. A method for alleviating freezing of gait also is provided....

20060025838 - Device for shaping infarcted heart tissue and method of using the device: A device and method for treating an infarct scar on a heart comprising an electric cable with proximal and distal ends; a handle with proximal and distal ends with the proximal end connected to the distal end of the cable; a stem with proximal and distal ends with the proximal...

20060025837 - Handpiece with rf electrode and non-volatile memory: An RF device includes a support structure coupled to an RF electrode that has conductive and dielectric portions. A cooling member is coupled to the support structure and is configured to cool a back surface of the RF electrode. The cooling member is distanced from the back surface of the...

20060025839 - System and method using the rectal mucosal membrane for inducing hypothermia and warming: A system and method for cooling and warming the central nervous system of a patient comprises a delivery tube with one of the ends couplable to a supply of fluid. A head structure is coupled to the other end of the delivery tube and cooling or warming fluid is directed...

20060025840 - Cooling tissue inside the body: Devices and methods for cooling a target tissue region inside the body are disclosed. A catheter for cooling blood includes an elongated member with a lumen extending longitudinally through a portion of the member. The lumen has an entry port and an exit port through which blood from a body...

20060025841 - Thalamic stimulation device: The present invention provides an electrical lead configured for stimulation of the thalamus. The electrical lead provides for preferential stimulation of the medial or lateral thalamus as well as specific nuclei within the thalamus, such as the intralaminar nuclei....

20060025842 - Low frequency therapy apparatus: A non-symmetric property spike pulse Ps is set to have a frequency of 8.0±0.5 Hz, a pulse width Tp of a range from 210 μsec to 650 μsec, and also a turns ratio between a primary winding 23f and a secondary winding 23r of an output transformer 23 is set...