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

20060142803 - Gastrointestinal motility control: A method and a multichannel implantable device are described for partial or complete restoration of impaired gastrointestinal motility, or for disturbing and/or partially or completely blocking normal gastrointestinal motility using one or multiple microsystem-controlled channels of circumferentially arranged sets of two or more electrodes which provide externally-invoked synchronized electrical signals...

20060142801 - Methods and apparatus for intravascularly-induced neuromodulation: Methods and apparatus are provided for intravascularly-induced neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field, e.g., to effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, changes in cytokine upregulation, etc., in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, the intravascular PEF system comprises a catheter having a...

20060142802 - Neurostimulation with activation based on changes in body temperature: Improved methods and devices are provided for detecting and/or predicting the onset of an undesirable physiological event or neural state, such as an epileptic seizure, to facilitate rapid intervention with a treatment therapy such as neurostimulation or drug therapy. The methods and devices involve monitoring the patient's body temperature, preferably...

20060142804 - Implantable intravenous cardiac stimulation system with pulse generator housing serving as optional additional electrode: Described is an implantable pulse generator housing for enclosing and containing pulse generator circuitry. The housing is formed of electrically conductive metal defining an electrically conductive outer surface which may be connected to the pulse generator circuitry for delivering electrical energy to the heart. A programmable switch operable by the...

20060142808 - Defibrillator/monitor system having a pod with leads capable of wirelessly communicating: A modular external defibrillator system in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a base containing a defibrillator module, (b) a pod having a patient parameter module with patient lead cables attachable to a patient to collect at least one patient vital sign,...

20060142809 - Medium voltage therapy applications in treating cardiac arrest: A method and system for treating an individual experiencing cardiac arrest using an automatic external defibrillator (AED) includes placing a first and a second electrode of the AED in electrical communication with an exterior surface of the individual. A need to apply a high voltage defibrillation signal to the individual...

20060142805 - Method and article for packaging an automatic external defibrillator for use without a prescription: A method and article for packaging an automatic external defibrillator for use without a prescription are described. The OTC AED is encased in a rigid polymeric disclosure which is a distinctive color or set of colors to enable the OTC AED to be readily distinguished in the home environment. The...

20060142807 - Method and article for packaging an automatic external defibrillator for use without a prescription: A method and article for packaging an automatic external defibrillator for use without a prescription are described. The OTC AED is encased in a rigid polymeric disclosure which is a distinctive color or set of colors to enable the OTC AED to be readily distinguished in the home environment. The...

20060142806 - Method and article for storing an automatic external defibrillator for use without a prescription: A method and article for storing an automatic external defibrillator for use without a prescription are described. The hermetically sealed electrode pads of the OTC AED are electrically coupled to the OTC AED base unit where they are constantly accessible to self-test circuitry inside the base unit for periodic, automatic...

20060142810 - Method of detecting when electrode pads have been handled or removed from their package: Handling or removal of a pair of pre-connected defibrillator electrode pads from their package, or a compartment in the defibrillator, is detected in order to effectively time the issuance of prompts to guide the user. Detection occurs when an impedance level between the electrode pads varies sufficiently over time to...

20060142811 - Biventricular cardiac pacemaker for cardiac resynchronisation therapy: The invention concerns a cardiac pacemaker comprising a stimulation pulse generator (RVP; LVP) for biventricular stimulation of a heart, which is to be connected to at least one right-ventricular electrode for the stimulation of a right ventricle of the heart and to at least one left-ventricular electrode for the stimulation...

20060142813 - Implantable pacemaker: A pacemaker comprises an implantable pacemaker housing and a pacemaker electrode provided to transmit stimulation impulses, and a detector for a current which can be induced by an external magnetic field and flowing through the pacemaker electrode. A circuit element is provided to interrupt this inducible current....

20060142812 - Pacemaker which reestablishes or keeps the physiological electric conduction of the heart and a method of application: A pacemaker is disclosed which reestablishes or keeps the physiological electric conduction of the heart and a method of application. The pacemaker is a pulse generator, it has a ventricular output including at least two superimposed monopolar pulsewaves of reversed polarity between each other, with programmable configuration, with respect to...

20060142814 - Pacing method: A method for delivering physiological pacing includes selecting an electrode implant site within an interventricular septal zone, which is in proximity to the bundle of His where pacing stimulation results in a rhythm breaking out at an intrinsic location, and wherein a ratio of sensed P-wave amplitude to sensed R-wave...

20060142815 - Device and method for treating obstructive sleep apnea: A device and method are provided for treating obstructive respiratory events by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the phrenic nerve or diaphragm to elicit a respiratory response....

20060142816 - Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator with hot or cold thermal application: A Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) and electrode pad that is capable simultaneously of delivering hot or cold thermal therapy for the relief of pain....

20060142817 - Method and apparatus for treating a wound: A method of treating a wound comprising the steps of placing a pair of electrodes placed spaced apart in the region of a wound and applying a predetermined sequence of current waveforms across the electrodes. The sequence of current waveforms comprises a first waveform comprising a series of current pulses...

20060142818 - Methods for improving damaged retinal cell function: Methods of using electrical stimulation by itself or in conjunction with growth factors to treat and prevent visual loss due to choroidal, retinal pigment epithelial and/or neuroretinal cell degeneration and dysfunction are presented....

20060142819 - Acoustic switch and apparatus and methods for using acoustic switches: Systems and methods for communicating with an implant within a patient's body using acoustic telemetry includes an external communications device attachable to the patient's skin. The device includes an acoustic transducer for transmitting acoustic signals into the patient's body and/or for receiving acoustic signals from the implant. The device includes...

20060142820 - Antenna systems for implantable medical device telemetry: An implantable medical device system includes an implanted device communicating with an external device via telemetry. The implanted device and the external device each have a telemetry module connected to an antenna system to support a radio-frequency (RF) telemetry link. The antenna system of the external device has a manually...

20060142821 - System and method for removing narrowband noise: A system and method for removing narrowband noise from an input signal in which notch filters having notch frequencies corresponding to the noise are dynamically adjusted in accordance with a detected noise spectrum. The method may be applied to telemetry systems for implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers to...

20060142822 - Externally activated neuro-implant which directly transmits therapeutic signals: An externally powered and controlled neuro-implant system for transmission of stimulating therapeutic signals to an implantable electrode. The system basically consists of two coils, one external active coil and one internal passive coil each housed in a ferrite pot core which enhances inductive coupling and minimizes the coils in size,...

20060142823 - Hair generator: The present invention relates to a hair growth caring apparatus that includes a head housing, a head pin protruded from a lower side of the head housing, a power generation device fixed to a lower side of the head pin for thereby generating power, a light generation device for generating...

20060142824 - Systems and methods for treating a hollow anatomical structure: A treatment system for occluding a hollow anatomical structure comprises a treatment device sized for insertion into a hollow anatomical structure. The treatment device comprises a therapeutic element configured to treat the hollow anatomical structure. The system comprises a sensor configured to sense a first treatment parameter. A controller is...

20060142825 - Patient warming system: The present invention relates to a patient warming system and in particular a patient warming blanket for warming patients undergoing medical care. The patient warming blanket is particularly for use in veterinary medicine. The warming blanket includes a porous surface from which warmed air can escape over the entire porous...

20060142826 - Targeted cooling of tissue within a body: Devices and methods to cool a target tissue region inside the body are described. Fluid cooled below normal body temperature and blood at a normal body temperature are provided to the tissue region in proportions to cool the tissue region. A system for controlling the temperature of the target tissue...

20060142827 - Targeted cooling of tissue within a body: Devices and methods to cool a target tissue region inside the body are described. Fluid cooled below normal body temperature and blood at a normal body temperature are provided to the tissue region in proportions to cool the tissue region. A system for controlling the temperature of the target tissue...

20060142828 - Thermal coverings: A thermal covering that comprises a thermoregulatory substrate is provided. The thermoregulatory substrate contains an exothermic coating formed from an oxidizable metal. The exothermic coating is generally free of moisture prior to activation. Exposure of the exothermic coating to oxygen and moisture activates an exothermic reaction to generate heat, such...

20060142829 - Intravenous pacemaker electrode: An intravenous pacemaker electrode has an electrode tip designed to release a drug, where the drug contains at least one of the active substances sirolimus, paclitaxel, everolimus, fibrin, rapamycin, and tacrolimus....

20060142830 - Intravenous pacemaker electrode: An intravenous pacemaker electrode comprises an electrode cable featuring a conductor, a duct and an insulating sleeve as well as an electrode head attached to the distal end of the conductor in order to transmit stimulation pulses, with an OCT catheter being moveable in the duct, and comprising a thread-like...

20060142831 - Limited use ecg electrode set: Methods and apparatus are provided for a limited use ECG electrode set. The electrode set includes a plurality of limited use electrodes capable of being affixed to a human patient so as to receive patient information from the patient such as ECG data. Cables are also affixed to each electrode,...

20060135998 - System and method for closed-loop neural stimulation: Various device embodiments comprise a pulse generator, a signal processing module and a controller. The pulse generator is adapted to provide a neural stimulation signal to be applied at a neural simulation site within an autonomic nervous system (ANS). The signal processing module is adapted to receive and process sensed...

20060135999 - Leadless cardiac stimulation device employing distributed logic: Systems and methods involve an intrathoracic cardiac stimulation device operable to provide autonomous cardiac sensing and energy delivery. The cardiac stimulation device includes a housing configured for intrathoracic placement relative to a patient's heart. A fixation arrangement of the housing is configured to affix the housing at an implant location...

20060136000 - System and method for performing self-test in an automatic external defibrillator (aed): An automatic external defibrillator with an intelligent self-test system that ensures device readiness. The self-test system conditionally runs functional tests based on knowledge of device use, time of day, pre-programmed information, operational features and previous events. The condition of the defibrillator is indicated visually, audibly or both based on the...

20060136001 - Ventricular pacing: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a condition of a patient's heart includes placing a first electrode and a second electrode in a right ventricle of the heart. A reference electrode is placed within the patient and internal or external to the heart. A pacing signal is generated...

20060136002 - Automatic lv / rv capture verification and diagnostics: The present invention provides a technique for verifying pacing capture of a ventricular chamber, particularly to ensure desired delivery of a ventricular pacing regime (e.g., cardiac resynchronization therapy or “CRT”). The invention also provides for ventricular capture management by delivering a single ventricular pacing stimulus and checking inter-ventricular conduction during...

20060136003 - Multi chamber capture detection: The invention relates to a pacing system, in particular an implantable pacemaker for pacing multiple chambers of the heart and sensing signals from the myocardium of multiple chambers of the heart which will allow the verification of a cardiac evoked response resulting from a delivered charge to the heart tissue...

20060136005 - Implantable transducer devices: Receiver-stimulators comprise a nearly isotropic transducer assembly, demodulator circuitry, and at least two tissue contacting electrodes. Use of near isotropic transducers allows the devices to be implanted with less concern regarding the orientation relative to an acoustic energy source. Transducers or transducer elements having relatively small sizes, typically less than...

20060136004 - Leadless tissue stimulation systems and methods: Systems including an implantable receiver-stimulator and an implantable controller-transmitter are used for leadless electrical stimulation of body tissues. Cardiac pacing and arrhythmia control is accomplished with one or more implantable receiver-stimulators and an external or implantable controller-transmitter. Systems are implanted by testing external or implantable devices at different tissue sites,...

20060136007 - Deep brain stimulation apparatus, and associated methods: Various methods and apparatus for providing deep brain stimulation for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's Disease that do not require an onboard power supply that is implanted in the patient's body. Power may be supplied from outside of the body by, for example, near-field inductive coupling with an...

20060136006 - System and method for regulating cardiac triggered therapy to the brain: A medical device system includes a brain monitoring element, cardiac monitoring element, therapy module and a processor. The processor is configured to activate the therapy module upon detection of a cardiac event in the cardiac signal. The processor is further configured to monitor the brain signal and communicate to the...

20060136008 - System and method for stimulation of a person's brain stem: According to one embodiment, a neurological stimulation system includes an electrical stimulation lead suited for implantation into the epidural space overlying the medulla for stimulation of nerve tissue in the brain stem. The lead includes a plurality of electrodes suited to be positioned in the epidural space overlying the medulla...

20060136009 - Dental/medical anxiety/phobia remediation protocol: A protocol or procedure is provided for lowering sympathetic nervous system arousal in a person in order to prepare that person for a medical or dental procedure. First, a therapeutic dosage of one or more neurotransmitter supplements, such as a gamma aminobutyric acid formulation, a tryptophan-derived neurotransmitter, and dehydroepiandrosterone are...

20060136010 - Strial hearing loss treatment device having a sliding electrode: An implanted electrolytic current injection device, comprising a reservoir of KCl in electrolytic contact with the interior of the scala media and including a charge injection electrode and a reservoir of saline solution in electrolytic contact with a part of the body that is saline. Also, a current source supplies...

20060136011 - Electronic healthcare device: An electronic healthcare device includes a microprocessor, a pulse generator and a patch. The microprocessor controls the pulse generator for generating pulses of specific waveforms. An external switch turns on and off the pulse generator and controls the amplitude of the output pulses. The output pulses are sent to two...

20060136012 - Change log for implantable medical device: A method and system for recording changes to programmable parameters in an implantable pulse generator. An executable program is stored in an implantable pulse generator. A parameter log is maintained in the implantable pulse generator, where the parameter log is used to record changes to the state of one or...

20060136014 - Generating and communicating web content from within an implantable medical device: Methods, systems, and computer program products for generating and communicating web content from within an implantable medical device are provided. A method includes collecting data from a memory and/or subsystem of an implantable medical device. Upon collecting the data, the data is converted into web content having a web readable...

20060136015 - Human body communication device, human body communication system and method using the same: A human body communication apparatus, a human body communication system, and a method using the same are provided. The communication apparatus is directly in contact with a human body and allows a small amount of current including a data signal to flow through the body so that information is communicated...

20060136016 - Synchronization method and apparatus and location awareness method and apparatus in chaotic communication system: A synchronization method and apparatus and a location awareness method and apparatus in a chaotic communication system are provided. The location awareness method includes receiving a data frame which includes a template chaotic signal to be determined to be arranged at a predetermined position of the data frame, and a...

20060136013 - Wireless communication system for transmitting information from a medical device: A medical device communication system may comprise a medical device and a wireless communication circuit mounted to the medical device. The wireless communication circuit is configured to broadcast information relating to the medical device. The medical device may be one of a surgical tool and an implant configured for subcutaneous...

20060136017 - Apparatus and method for treating strial hearing loss: An electrolytic current injection device comprising an electrode and an electrolytic current port. In addition a control and rectification assembly is adapted to apply a biphasic pulse to said electrode, yet produce a pulsatile, unidirectional DC electrolytic current at said electrolytic current port. In one preferred embodiment a set of...

20060136018 - Apparatus for administering light stimulation: An apparatus for administering light to effect re-timing of the human body clock is disclosed. In one form, the apparatus includes two pairs of light emitting diodes having an emission wavelength in the range 450 nm to 530 nm and a frame adapted to be worn on the face of...

20060136019 - Phototherapeutical apparatus and method for the treatment and prevention of diseases of body cavities: A phototherapeutical apparatus and method are described. The apparatus includes an ultraviolet light source, an optical guidance system, and a patient interface. The patient interface is insertable at least partially into a body cavity and is operable to apply the guided ultraviolet light to a tissue surface of a body...

20060136021 - Helical probe: The present invention relates to a therapeutic probe adapted to aid in the insertion and navigation of the probe into delicate tissue structures, and to provide protection of adjacent tissue structures....

20060136020 - Silhouette control: A therapeutic apparatus allowing the user to stretch into it in order to aliviate muscular pains whilst controlling his weight. The chest uses dry heat and infrared spread by radiating strips. The chest is a hollow compartment, long-limbed, structured of 45 and 90 degree angles. The head remains outside the...

20060136022 - Medical device and method for temperature control and treatment of the eye and surrounding tissues: The invention provides a medical device having a thermister for temperature measurement, irrigation/aspiration ports for fluid exchange and application of therapeutic modalities, a pressure manometer for pressure measurement, and an external system for control of temperature, pressure, and flow rate. When applied to the eye and orbit, this device can...

20060136023 - Method and apparatus for patient temperature control employing administration of anti-shivering agents: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat...

20060136024 - Construction of electrode assembly for nerve control: Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing that is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve. First, second, and third electrodes are fixed to the housing at first, second, and third longitudinal sites of the housing, respectively. The first, second, and third...

20060136025 - Intra-ventricular substance delivery catheter system: A guide catheter and a needle catheter are disclosed. The guide catheter construction provides for maximum articulation of the deflectable tip and maximum torque response during rotation. The needle catheter may include a release mechanism that imparts a sudden force to the needle in order to facilitate tissue penetration....

20060136026 - Inter-atrial septum or superior vena cava electrodes for atrial defibrillation: An implantable system for the defibrillation of the atria of a patient's heart comprises (a) a first catheter configured for insertion into the right atrium of the heart, preferably without extending into the right ventricle of the heart; a first atrial defibrillation electrode carried by the first catheter and positioned...

20060136027 - Lead electrode incorporating extracellular matrix: Implantable devices containing extracellular matrix and methods of using the devices are provided....

20060136028 - Epicardial patch including isolated extracellular matrix with pacing electrodes: An epicardial patch includes an extracellular matrix (ECM) and a plurality of electrodes. The isolated ECM is configured for epicardial attachment over a myocardial region including an injured area to control post-injury remodeling of the myocardial region. The plurality of electrodes is configured for delivering electrical stimulation to enhance the...

20060136029 - Medical-treatment electrode assembly having treatment-monitoring application: A medical-treatment electrode assembly includes at least three spaced-apart electrodes contactable with patient tissue and includes at least three leads electrically connected one each to a corresponding one of the electrodes. The leads are electrically connectable to a medical radio-frequency (RF) generator....

20060136030 - Side-top electrode: A bio-implant having a length and a proximal and a distal end. The bio-implant includes at least two laminae of dielectric material that are joined together, thereby defining a boundary and that also define a side surface that is intersected by the boundary. The laminae also define a nominal top...

20060129189 - Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment apparatus and method: An apparatus and method for the treatment of chronic wounds using electromagnetic energy. The apparatus includes a generator and at least one applicator. The generator can produce electromagnetic energy and the applicator can apply the electromagnetic energy produced by the generator. A detector is disposed on the applicator that can...

20060129190 - External defibrillator with charge advisory algorithm: A method of delivering electrical therapy to a patient by a medical device includes activating the medical device and performing a first analysis of a first set of data signals sensed by the medical device. If the first analysis shows the first set of data signals meets a first criterion,...

20060129192 - High-energy battery power source for implantable medical use: A high energy battery power source suitable for use in an implantable medical device includes an input, an output, and two or more battery modules each comprising two or more battery cells. The battery cells are of relatively low voltage and permanently configured within each battery module in an electrically...

20060129191 - Medical device with resuscitation prompts depending on elapsed time: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a defibrillation treatment protocol in an external defibrillator using a measurement of elapsed time. The present invention provides a defibrillator with a timer function. Upon activation of the defibrillator, an internal timer begins to run. By closely associating the activation of the defibrillator...

20060129193 - Template initialization for evoked response detection: Methods and devices for initializing templates for evoked response detection from pacing stimulation are described. A method of generating templates characterizing a cardiac response to pacing involves determining values associated with signal features for each of a number of sensed cardiac signals following pacing pulses. The median values of the...

20060129195 - Cardiac pacing response classification based on waveform feature variability: Methods and systems involve determining the cardiac response to pacing pulses. The variability cardiac signal features detected during initialization is used to establish a variability threshold. A cardiac signal associated with a pacing pulse is sensed and one or more features of the cardiac signal are detected. The variability of...

20060129194 - Cardiac pacing response classification using an adaptable classification interval: Methods and systems involve the formation of a classification interval used for sensing a cardiac signal following a pacing pulse to determine a cardiac response to pacing. One or more cardiac signals associated with a type of cardiac pacing response are sensed. The timing of at least one feature of...

20060129197 - Atrial capture verification: Methods and systems for classifying cardiac responses to pacing stimulation and/or preventing retrograde cardiac conduction are described. Following delivery of a pacing pulse to an atrium of the patient's heart during a cardiac cycle, the system senses in the atrium for a retrograde P-wave. The system classifies the atrial response...

20060129199 - Atrial retrograde management: Methods and systems for classifying cardiac responses to pacing stimulation and/or preventing retrograde cardiac conduction are described. Following delivery of a pacing pulse to an atrium of the patient's heart during a cardiac cycle, the system senses in the atrium for a retrograde P-wave. The system classifies the atrial response...

20060129198 - Baseline adaptation for cardiac pacing response classification: Methods and devices for establishing and using baseline for cardiac pacing response detection are described. A baseline amplitude of the cardiac signal may be established using data acquired in an evaluation interval prior to the delivery of the pacing pulse. An amplitude of the cardiac signal following delivery of the...

20060129196 - Capture verification with intrinsic response discrimination: Approaches to automatically classifying a cardiac response to pacing involve discriminating between a captured response and non-capture with intrinsic activation. A capture detection system senses for morphological characteristics of a cardiac signal associated with the pacing pulse. The cardiac signal may be sensed using a defibrillation electrode during one or...

20060129200 - Device for electrically stimulating stomach: The present invention provides a gastric electrical stimulation apparatus having (1) a pulse generator located outside of the body, (2) an external coil connecting to the pulse generator, (3) an internal coil which is implanted in the body and receives electricity from the external coil by transcutaneous energy transmission, (4)...

20060129201 - Stimulation of the stomach in response to sensed parameters to treat obesity: Systems for treating an obese patient include one or more sensors configured to sense one or more physical parameters of the patient and one or more implanted stimulators configured to apply a stimulus to the stomach in response to the sensed parameters. Methods of treating an obese patient include sensing...

20060129205 - Method and system for cortical stimulation with rectangular and/or complex electrical pulses to provide therapy for stroke and other neurological disorders: A method and system for providing rectangular and/or complex electrical pulses to cortical tissues of a patient for at least one of, providing therapy or alleviating symptoms of neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease, or for providing improvement of functional recovery following stroke. The intracranial electrodes may be implanted epidurally, or...

20060129203 - Methods and kits for delivering cortical electrode leads into patient's head: Methods and kits for delivering an electrode lead into the head of a patient are provided. A burr hole is formed within the cranium of the patient, and an electrode lead is threaded through the burr hole. The electrode lead is then placed in a pre-shaped two-dimensional geometry between the...

20060129204 - Modulation and analysis of cerebral perfusion in epilepsy and other neurological disorders: A system including an implantable neurostimulator device capable of modulating cerebral blood flow to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders. In one embodiment, the system is capable of modulating cerebral blood flow (also referred to as cerebral perfusion) in response to measurements and other observed conditions. Perfusion may be increased...

20060129202 - Neurostimulator with activation based on changes in body temperature: Improved methods and devices are provided for detecting and/or predicting the onset of an undesirable physiological event or neural state, such as an epileptic seizure, to facilitate rapid intervention with a treatment therapy such as neurostimulation or drug therapy. The methods and devices involve monitoring the patient's body temperature, preferably...

20060129206 - Vestibular stimulator: A method for providing relief from Meniere's disease, includes reversibly disabling vestibular function following detection of an attack of Meniere's disease following detection of an attack of Meniere's disease....

20060129207 - Mimicking neural coding in retinal ganglion cells with short pulse electrical stimulation: A method, device and system for stimulating visual tissue, typically in the retina or visual cortex, to achieve an artificial percept of light or image. The method includes providing stimulating electrodes suitable for placement in proximity to the visual tissue and generating a series of short-duration stimulation signals having a...

20060129208 - Full-range electrotherapy unit with digital force modulator: An electrotherapy unit includes a central processor, a digital force modulator connected to and controlled by the central processor, a voltage-increasing transformer, and two conductive pads connected to a secondary coil of the voltage-increasing transformer. The digital force modulator includes two pairs of transistors each having an input side connected...

20060129210 - Device and method for transmitting multiple optically-encoded stimulation signals to multiple cell locations: The present invention concerns a device and method for transmitting multiple optically-encoded stimulation signals to multiple stimulation sites, especially cell locations. The device uses a primary optical fiber to transmit specific wavelength components of an encoded light signal to output positions along the fiber where they are coupled out of...

20060129209 - Method and apparatus for the stimulation of hair growth: A system for producing hair growth stimulation using light energy, topical compositions, and combinations thereof. By using photomodulation resulting from cellular responses to exposure to specific wavelengths of light, optionally in conjunction with topical compositions and procedures for enhancing the penetration of such compositions, hair follicles are activated to produce...

20060129211 - Method, apparatus and protocols for performing low level laser therapy: Apparatus for delivering low level laser therapy comprising at least one probe for delivering the low level laser therapy; a processor, connected to the at least one probe, for transmitting signals to the probe corresponding to the low level laser therapy; wherein, after receiving the signals, the low level laser...

20060129212 - Method and apparatus for applying heat or cold to a body: An apparatus for applying heat and/or cold to a body and, in particular to a wearer's chest, and for allowing relatively easy application and removal of the device while further allowing for relative mobility of the wearer the apparatus having an elongated section having a outside side and an underside...

20060129213 - Method of sterilization of human and animal males: A method of sterilization of human and animal males has the steps of acting on testicles with a thermal energy, and providing the thermal energy by a microwave radiation with a radiator which is located at a distance from the testicles and supplies the radiation to the testicles so as...

20060129214 - Skin treatment device: A compact hand held device is provided that can be safely used by those suffering from acne, blemished skin or fine wrinkles. The hand held device includes an on/off switch and a button that pulses the device when it is placed on the target site. A battery within the device...

20060129215 - Medical devices having nanostructured regions for controlled tissue biocompatibility and drug delivery: According to certain aspects of the invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided that contain one or more nanoporous regions, which may further comprise interconnected nanopores. Other aspects of the invention are directed to implantable or insertable medical devices that contain one or more nanostructured regions, which are formed...

20060129216 - Stimulation of cell growth at implant surfaces: The present invention is directed to medical devices that contain at least one tissue contacting surface that is configured to undergo a variation in surface charge in response to a time-dependent signal. Such a variation in surface charge is provided, for example, to enhance or inhibit cellular growth adjacent to,...

20060129217 - Conductive polymer sheath on defibrillator shocking coils: An implantable lead includes a distal portion carrying a tissue stimulating electrode, at least a portion of its outer surface being adapted to stimulate cardiac tissue, wherein the electrode is covered by a pliable, electrically conductive sheath. The sheath is made of an electrically conductive material that does not rely...

20060129218 - Implantable medical electrical stimulation lead fixation method and apparatus: An implantable medical electrical lead particularly for stimulation of the sacral nerves comprises a lead body extending between a distal end and a proximal end, and the distal end having at least one electrode of an electrode array extending longitudinally from the distal end toward the proximal end. The lead...

20060129219 - Tool for placement of dual angioplasty wires in the coronary sinus vasculature and method of using the same: An apparatus for facilitating implantation of a pacemaker lead into the vasculature of the coronary sinus of a human heart comprises a flexible guidewire for endovascular disposition; a flexible elongate tool having at least one lumen defined therethrough for telescopic disposition of the flexible guidewire therein, the elongate tool being...

20060129220 - Two-part implantable cardiac lead: A two-part implantable cardiac pacing lead is usable with a cardiac function management device. The lead includes an outer lead portion having a lead body and a conductive coil extending substantially from the proximal end to the distal end. The lead body defines an internal longitudinal lumen. The lead further...

20060129221 - Tunneling guide: An implantable tunneling guide capable of releasing one or more therapeutic agents is described. The tunneling guide has a body member defining a lumen. The lumen is configured to receive at least a portion of a therapy delivery element, such as a catheter, a lead, or a lead extension. One...

20060116722 - Context-sensitive collection of neurostimulation therapy data: Techniques for collection and management of data relating to neurostimulation therapy involve selection of questions for the user to answer based on the context of the therapy delivered by the neurostimulation device at the time the questions are presented. In this manner, appropriate data may be collected for specific contexts....

20060116720 - Method and apparatus for improving renal function: An electrical stimulator for providing electrical energy to nerves related to renal function for the purpose of improving and controlling renal function....

20060116721 - Methods and compositions for treating a disease condition in a subject: Methods for treating a disease condition in a subject are provided. The subject methods are characterizing by enhancing at least one symptom of the disease condition in a manner effective to cause the subject to mount a compensatory response effective to treat the disease condition. Also provided are compositions, kits...

20060116724 - External defibrillator with shock activated by cessation of precordial compressions: A defibrillator having a pair of electrodes for delivering an artifact-compensated defibrillation shock and a method thereof is provided. The defibrillator can be deployed rapidly while administering a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the patient. Upon detection of an end of the CPR operation, a correlation signal indicative of signal corruption...

20060116723 - Interactive automatic external defibrillator providing attachment guidance to operator: A method for operating an automatic external defibrillator (AED) prompts an operator about proper operation of the automatic external defibrillator and placement of the electrodes to ensure rapid and proper operation. Depending upon a state of a pad storage compartment, upon activation the AED issues an initial prompt, pauses after...

20060116725 - Method and apparatus for beat alignment and comparison: Methods of using a template having a template data set and template parameters to provide improved alignment of captured cardiac signal data to a stored template. More particularly, in an illustrative method, a captured cardiac signal is first configured using template parameters for a stored template. Then, once configured, the...

20060116726 - Method and apparatus for testing an alternating current power source for defibrillation compatibility: A device tests a circuit that is a source of alternating current by measuring at least one electrical parameter of the circuit to determine whether the circuit is able to provide adequate energy for defibrillation by an external defibrillator. The device may test the circuit by applying a load to...

20060116727 - Automatic selection of stimulation chamber for ventricular resynchronization therapy: A method and apparatus for selection of one or more ventricular chambers to stimulate for ventricular resynchronization therapy. Intrinsic intracardia electrograms that include QRS complexes, are recorded from a left and right ventricle. A timing relationship between the intrinsic intracardia electrograms recorded from the left and right ventricle is then...

20060116728 - Reduction of interaction with tachyarrhythmia detection by negative offset pacing: A device and method is disclosed for improving tachyarrhythmia detection when the ventricles are resynchronized by delivering paces to both ventricles separated by a specified negative offset interval. Timing of escape intervals and tachyarrhythmia detection is based upon senses from one of the ventricles designated as a rate ventricle. Techniques...

20060116729 - Method and apparatus for termination of cardiac tachyarrhythmias: An apparatus and method for terminating atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias by delivering a voltage pulse to an electrode arrangement that efficiently terminates the tachyarrhythmia. In one embodiment, a voltage pulse is impressed between an electrode located in the coronary sinus and an electrode located lo within the superior vena cava...

20060116730 - Method and apparatus for determining oversensing in a medical device: A method and apparatus for determining oversensing in an implantable medical device that includes sensing a first cardiac signal and detecting cardiac events via a first electrode configuration, determining the presence of an episode requiring therapy in response to the detected cardiac events, sensing the first cardiac signal via a...

20060116731 - Method and apparatus for quantification of cardiac wall motion asynchrony: A phase analysis technique provides for quantification of regional wall motion asynchrony from endocardial border contours generated from two-dimensional echocardiographic ventricular images. The technique produces results including a degree of radial ventricular asynchrony in heart failure patients with ventricular conduction delay to predict a magnitude of contractile function improvement with...

20060116732 - Method and apparatus for determining oversensing in a medical device: A method and apparatus for determining oversensing in a medical device that includes sensing cardiac signals and detecting cardiac events via a first electrode configuration, determining the presence of an episode event in response to the detected cardiac events, and sensing the cardiac signals via a second electrode configuration. Amplitudes...

20060116733 - Method and apparatus for identifying lead-related conditions using prediction and detection criteria: A method for delivering therapy in a medical device that includes a two-tiered approach of determining the presence of a lead-related condition, and determining, in response to a lead-related condition being present, the presence of oversensing. Deliver of therapy by the medical device is controlled in response to determining that...

20060116734 - Selective organ cooling apparatus: An endovascular heat transfer device which can have a smooth exterior surface, or a surface with ridges and grooves. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments, with each having such a surface. A flexible joint connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. The flexible joints can be bellows or...

20060116735 - Gastric device and endoscopic delivery system: A system is provided for endoscopically attaching a functional device to a stomach wall wherein the functional device is configured to perform a therapeutic or diagnostic function at the stomach....

20060116736 - Method, apparatus, and surgical technique for autonomic neuromodulation for the treatment of obesity: The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for physiological modulation, including neural and gastrointestinal modulation, for the purposes of treating several disorders, including obesity, depression, epilepsy, and diabetes. This includes chronically implanted neural and neuromuscular modulators, used to modulate the afferent neurons of the sympathetic nervous system to induce...

20060116737 - Neural stimulation with avoidance of inappropriate stimulation: Various aspects of the present subject matter provide an implantable medical device. In various embodiments, the device comprises a pulse generator, a first monitor and a controller. The pulse generator is adapted to generate a neural stimulation signal for a neural stimulation therapy. The neural stimulation signal has at least...

20060116738 - Systems, methods, and computer program products for transmitting neural signal information: Systems, Methods, and Computer Program Products for Transmitting Neural Signal Information. Systems, method, and computer program products are provided for neural signal transmission. A system according to one embodiment can include a signal receiver operable to receive a neural signal comprising an action potential. The system can also include an...

20060116739 - Electrode assembly for nerve control: Apparatus (20) is provided for applying current to a nerve (30). A cathode (40) is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a cathodic longitudinal site of the nerve (30) and to apply a cathodic current to the nerve (30). A primary inhibiting anode (42) is adapted to be...

20060116740 - Ophthalmic treatment apparatus: An ophthalmic treatment method for inhibiting death of retinal constitutive cells of an eye by stimulating the cells includes a first step of placing a positive electrode and a negative electrode in such positions outside the eye that the electrodes provide electrical stimulation to the cells, at least one of...

20060116741 - Optically controlled microfluidic chip: An optically controlled microfluidic chip is provided for administering a fluid to a neuronal site. The chip is made of at least one unit or pixel, each of which constitutively emits fluid in the dark, and reduces emission of fluid in response to light. The individual pixels are capable of...

20060116742 - Spinal cord stimulation to treat auditory dysfunction: A system and method for treating auditory dysfunction by somatosensory system stimulation. The system and/or method comprises a probe and a device to stimulate the probe. The probe has a stimulation portion subcutaneously implanted in communication with a predetermined spinal cord site. The stimulation portion of the probe may be...

20060116743 - Fixation system for an implantable medical device: A medical implant, such as an implantable component (22) of a tissue-stimulating prosthesis. One example of such a prosthesis being a cochlear implant. The component (22) is adapted to be implanted at or adjacent a tissue surface within the recipient, such as a bone surface. The component (22) has a...

20060116744 - Telemetry duty cycle management system for an implantable medical device: A telemetry system enabling radio frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external device, or programmer, in which the RF circuitry is normally maintained in a powered down state in order to conserve power. At synchronized wakeup intervals, one of the devices designated as a master device...

20060116745 - Thermotherapy device: A thermotherapy device for treating the substantially whole body of a human being by thermotherapy. The thermotherapy device is for a human body and provided with a heat capsule (5) and a control computer (8). The heat capsule (5) is filled with a Ringer's solution, and the substantially whole body...

20060116746 - Cardiac electrode attachment procedure: Surgical procedure and surgical instruments include an electrode structure for insertion through tissue superiorly of a subxiphoid incision to a position posterior of an aspect of the sternum and anterior of the pericardium. The electrode structure may be expanded, for example, including an inflatable member to position a number of...

20060116747 - Method and apparatus for detecting left ventricular lead displacement based upon egm change: Displacement or migration of a left ventricular lead located within the coronary sinus or coronary veins of the heart is detected by comparing an electrogram (EGM) waveform pattern from the lead with a stored baseline EGM waveform pattern. Based upon the extent of lead migration, if any, a lead displacement...