Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application inventions 07/06

20060167497 - Implantable medical device having multiple electrode/sensor capability and stimulation based on sensed intrinsic activity: In one embodiment, an implantable neurostimulator comprises a pulse generator that generates an electrical pulse signal to stimulate a neural structure in a patient, a stimulation lead assembly coupled to the pulse generator for delivering the electrical pulse signal to the neural structure, a plurality of sensors coupled to the...

20060167498 - Method, apparatus, and surgical technique for autonomic neuromodulation for the treatment of disease: 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...

20060167496 - System and method for operating an implantable medical device in a disruptive energy field: A system and method for operating an implantable medical device in a disruptive energy field. The system includes an implantable medical device having a control processor and memory. The control processor operates the implantable medical device in a first mode when outside the disruptive energy field, and in a second...

20060167499 - Treating a tumor or the like with electric fields at different orientations: Cells that are in the late anaphase or telophase stages of cell division are vulnerable to damage by AC electric fields that have specific frequency and field strength characteristics. The selective destruction of rapidly dividing cells can therefore be accomplished by imposing an AC electric field in a target region...

20060167501 - Method to enhance progenitor or genetically-modified cell therapy: A method is provided including selecting a patient suffering from a condition, administering cells to the patient selected from the group consisting of: progenitor cells and genetically-modified cells, applying an electrical current to a site of the patient in a vicinity of nervous tissue, and configuring the current to stimulate...

20060167500 - Neurostimulator: Methods and devices of stimulating nerves are disclosed. In one embodiment adapted for stimulating excitable tissue, the invention includes drive circuitry (12), an acoustic transducer (14) and a pair of electrodes (28)....

20060167502 - Positionally adaptable implantable cardiac device: Cardiac sensing and/or stimulation devices and methods that adapt to implant location and positioning, and may employ automated vector selection from multiple electrodes. Devices include a housing having a first face opposing a second face, and an edge extending around the perimeter. A pulse generator and controller are coupled to...

20060167505 - Defibrillator with overridable cpr-first protocol: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a defibrillation treatment protocol in an external defibrillator whereby a user may override a CPR-first default protocol. The method includes following steps configured in a defibrillator controller of issuing an inquiry; waiting for a response to the inquiry for a set time; ordering...

20060167504 - Devices for adapting charge initiation for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: The present invention is directed toward devices configured to perform an adaptive method for initiating the charging and delivering therapy to treat patient's experiencing recurrent non-sustained arrhythmic events. The adaptive methods of the allow accounting for the persistence of an arrhythmia prior to initiating the charging sequence to deliver therapy....

20060167503 - Method for adapting charge initiation for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: The present invention is directed toward an adaptive method for initiating the charging and delivering therapy to treat patient's experiencing recurrent non-sustained arrhythmic events. The adaptive methods of the present invention allow accounting for the persistence of an arrhythmia prior to initiating the charging sequence to deliver therapy....

20060167510 - Implantable medical device with ventricular pacing management of elevated heart rates: An implantable medical device operates to promote intrinsic ventricular depolarization according to a pacing protocol. When a cardiac rate exceeds a predetermined threshold, the implantable medical device modifies the pacing protocol parameters to promote AV synchrony....

20060167506 - Implantable medical device with ventricular pacing protocol: An implantable medical device operates to promote intrinsic ventricular depolarization according to a pacing protocol. The medical device determines a course of action based upon the presence or absence of sensed ventricular activity. The device further determines whether that activity is properly conducted or the result of a PVC or...

20060167509 - Implantable medical device with ventricular pacing protocol: An implantable medical device operates to promote intrinsic ventricular depolarization according to a pacing protocol. The medical device monitors the AV interval and adjusts the Ventricular Pacing Protocol if the AV interval exceeds a threshold when the cardiac rate is elevated....

20060167508 - Implantable medical device with ventricular pacing protocol including progressive conduction search: An implantable medical device operates to promote intrinsic ventricular depolarization according to a pacing protocol. The medical device operates to promote intrinsic conduction by providing elongated AV intervals or operating in an atrial based pacing mode. Conduction checks to determine if AV conduction is present are performed on a graduated...

20060167507 - System and method for determining an effectiveness of a ventricular pacing protocol for an implantable medical device: An implantable medical device operates to promote intrinsic ventricular depolarization according to a pacing protocol. The medical device monitors the number of attempts made to promote intrinsic conduction in comparison with the number of successful cardiac cycles to determine an efficiency value....

20060167511 - Apparatus and method for temporary treatment of acute heart failure decompensation: A system for providing temporary therapy, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy, to a patient suffering a decompensation event. The system can include a device having an external module for generating electrical stimuli, a first lead coupled to the module and implanted into an atrial region of a patient's heart, and...

20060167512 - Energy efficient therapeutic pulse generator system: The present invention relates generally to a therapeutic pulse generator system used to provide energy efficient stimulation/pacing by causing controlled cellular depolarization based on pre-measured charge transfer. This is accomplished by periodic electrical characterization of the electrode-tissue interface. Each channel of stimulation is programmed individually enabling the clinician to customize...

20060167515 - Apparatus, software, and methods for cardiac pulse detection using a piezoelectric sensor: Signal data obtained from a piezoelectric sensor placed on a patient's body is used to detect the presence of a cardiac pulse. The piezoelectric sensor has a transducing element adapted to sense movement due to a cardiac pulse and produce piezoelectric signal data in response thereto. Processing circuitry analyzes the...

20060167513 - Implantable medical device with ventricular pacing protocol for sleep state: A Ventricular Pacing Protocol (VPP) is provided that reduces ventricular pacing. The VPP has varying levels of aggressiveness that are more or less tolerant of an absence of intrinsic ventricular activity within a given interval. During periods of sleep, the VPP is adjusted to a more aggressive level to further...

20060167514 - System and method for monitoring myocardial performance using sensed ventricular pressures: A medical device chronically monitors cardiac function in a patient. An input circuit of the medical device receives a pressure signal representative of a pressure sensed within a ventricle of the patient's heart as a function of time. A processor derives from the pressure signal a myocardial performance index based...

20060167516 - System and method for monitoring a ventricular pressure index to predict worsening heart failure: A medical device monitors a patient to predict worsening heart failure. An input circuit of the medical device receives a pressure signal representative of a pressure sensed within a ventricle of the patient's heart as a function of time. A processor derives from the pressure signal a ventricular pressure index...

20060167517 - System and method for distinguishing among cardiac ischemia, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia using an implantable medical device: Techniques are described for detecting ischemia, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia based on intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals. Ischemia is detected based on a shortening of the interval between the QRS complex and the end of a T-wave (QTmax), alone or in combination with a change in ST segment elevation. Alternatively, ischemia is...

20060167518 - System and method for distinguishing among cardiac ischemia, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia using an implantable medical device: Techniques are described for detecting ischemia, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia based on intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals. Ischemia is detected based on a shortening of the interval between the QRS complex and the end of a T-wave (QTmax), alone or in combination with a change in ST segment elevation. Alternatively, ischemia is...

20060167519 - System and method for distinguishing among cardiac ischemia, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia using an implantable medical device: Techniques are described for detecting ischemia, hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia based on intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals. Ischemia is detected based on a shortening of the interval between the QRS complex and the end of a T-wave (QTmax), alone or in combination with a change in ST segment elevation. Alternatively, ischemia is...

20060167520 - System and method for detection enhancement programming: A system and method of enabling detection enhancements selected from a plurality of detection enhancements. In a system having a plurality of clinical rhythms, including a first clinical rhythm, where each of the detection enhancements is associated with the clinical rhythms, the first clinical rhythm is selected. The first clinical...

20060167521 - Casings for implantable stimulators and methods of making the same: An implantable stimulator includes a device for delivering a stimulus and a casing having a first, metal portion and a second, portion which is formed from a plastic or polymer. A method of forming an implantable stimulator includes preparing a coil on a ferrite tube and molding a casing body...

20060167522 - Connector for use in an implantable stimulator device: A connector is configured to couple an implantable pulse generator (IPG) to an electrical stimulation lead or electrical leads while allowing the implantable pulse generator to be hermetically sealed within a case assembly. The connector includes a resilient body having a lead insertion lumen defined therein. Connector contacts for connecting...

20060167523 - Device and method for improving upper airway functionality: A device and method is provided for improving upper airway functionality by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve of a subject....

20060167524 - Current application apparatus and method for applying current: A current application apparatus includes a pair of electrodes, mounts the pair of electrodes on the head by uses of an electrode mounting member, and applies a specific current to the head through the pair of electrodes. The pair of electrode is mounted by the electrode mounting member on one...

20060167526 - Medical apparatus and system for preventing and treating diseases: Medical apparatus and system are provided for preventing and treating diseases by the medical apparatus comprising body-thing, electronic pulse device, medical magnet slices, herbal medicine gauze pads and nano-micro-biochemical-textile. The medical apparatus is made in various types such as cap, eyeshade, waistband, knee-band, wristband based on different position of human...

20060167525 - Method of stimulating multiple sites: A method of stimulating two sites of neurological tissue. A lead is implanted in or near the spinal column. The lead has a first set of at least two electrodes and a second set of at least first, second and third electrodes. The first and second electrodes are positioned on...

20060167527 - Apparatus and method for repair of spinal cord injury: An apparatus for stimulating regeneration and repair of damaged spinal nerves, comprising at least two electrodes placed intravertebrally near the site of spinal neurite injury and delivering direct current thereto. A method for stimulating regeneration and repair of damaged spinal nervous tissue, comprising placing electrodes intravertebrally near the site of...

20060167528 - Neural stimulation for increased persistence: The present invention is a method of improving the persistence of electrical neural stimulation, and specifically a method of improving the persistence of an image supplied to a retina, or visual cortex, through a visual prosthesis. A continuously stimulated retina, or other neural tissue, will desensitize after a time period...

20060167529 - Method and algorithm for defining the pathologic state from a plurality of intrinsically and extrinsically derived signals: The present invention describes methods and algorithms for processing a plurality of clinically relevant signals/data/genotypes intrinsic to a given patient and/or signals/data derived from external diagnostic equipment. The intrinsic signals can be acquired from device-based sensors and analogous extrinsic data can be obtained from imaging equipment. These signals/data are input...

20060167530 - Patient training routine for biological interface system: Various embodiments of a biological interface system and related methods are disclosed. The system may comprise a sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for detecting multicellular signals emanating from one or more living cells of a patient and a processing unit configured to receive the multicellular signals from the sensor...

20060167531 - Optical therapies and devices: An optical therapy device for providing therapeutic light to a person's nasal cavity includes a body and at least one UV light source in or on the body. A distal end of the body is configured to be inserted into the person's nasal cavity. The body can be configured to...

20060167532 - Phototherapy treatment devices for applying area lighting to a wound: Phototherapy treatment devices include a light emitter that is adapted to be placed in close proximity to a wound for applying light/heat energy to the wound to aid in the healing process. The light emitter may comprise a light guide that receives light from a light source or a light...

20060167533 - Endo-pelvic fascia penetrating heating systems and methods for incontinence treatment: Retrograde methods of accessing and treating collagenous pelvic tissue from a fixed point behind the endo-pelvic fascia, particularly from a space of retzius, are disclosed. Performing treatment from the space of retzius provides for simple and reliable placement and application of the system which in turn enhances both safety and...

20060167534 - Implantable pulse generator case: An implantable medical device, e.g., a stimulator, having a sealed housing and method of making the same. An exemplary embodiment of the device includes a case frame defining a cavity, the cavity extending at least substantially through the case frame, which cavity may contain electronics or a power source, and...

20060167535 - Deflectable coronary sinus lead delivery catheter: A catheter assembly for cannulating the coronary sinus of the heart includes a flexible, elongate shaft having a proximal end extending to a distal end. A central lumen and a secondary lumen extend through the shaft. The distal end is preformed with a first curved segment and a second curved...

20060167536 - Method for fabrication of low-polarization implantable stimulation electrode: A method for fabricating an implantable medical electrode includes roughening the electrode substrate, applying an adhesion layer, and depositing a valve metal oxide coating over the adhesion layer under conditions optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization. The electrode substrate may be a variety of electrode metals or alloys...

20060161204 - Implantable microstimulator with plastic housing and methods of manufacture and use: An implantable microstimulator includes a plastic housing having a first end and a second end; an electronic subassembly disposed within the housing; a first electrode disposed at the first end of the plastic housing and in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly; and a second electrode disposed at the second...

20060161205 - Method and apparatus for arrhythmia detection in a medical device: A method and device for detecting arrhythmias in a patient that includes electrodes positioned subcutaneously within the patient, a microprocessor, coupled to the electrodes, determining one of a sequence of the sensing of cardiac signals by the electrodes and a duration between the sensing of cardiac signals by the electrodes,...

20060161206 - Method for low-voltage termination of cardiac arrhythmias by effectively unpinning anatomical reentries: A method for extinguishing a cardiac arrhythmia utilizes destructive interference of the passing of the reentry wave tip of an anatomical reentry through a depolarized region created by a relatively low voltage electric field in such a way as to effectively unpin the anatomical reentry. Preferably, the relatively low voltage...

20060161207 - Method of continuous capture verification in cardiac resynchronization devices: In bi-ventricular pacing devices (including CRT devices) analysis of myocardial electrogram signals in one ventricle (e.g., a left ventricle, or “LV”) can be used to infer capture or loss-of-capture (LOC) of an earlier stimulus pulse in the same ventricle, on a continuous (every pacing cycle), triggered, aperiodic and/or periodic basis....

20060161208 - Method and apparatus for optimizing electrical stimulation parameters using heart rate variability: A cardiac rhythm management system modulates the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses based on heart rate variability (HRV). An HRV parameter being a measure of the HRV is produced to indicate a patient's cardiac condition, based on which the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses is started,...

20060161209 - Method and apparatus for using heart rate variability as a safety check in electrical therapies: A cardiac rhythm management system modulates the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses based on heart rate variability (HRV). An HRV parameter being a measure of the HRV is produced to indicate a patient's cardiac condition, based on which the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses is started,...

20060161210 - Method and apparatus for using heart rate variability to control maximum tracking rate in pacing therapy: A cardiac rhythm management system modulates the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses based on heart rate variability (HRV). An HRV parameter being a measure of the HRV is produced to indicate a patient's cardiac condition, based on which the delivery of pacing and/or autonomic neurostimulation pulses is started,...

20060161211 - Implantable accelerometer-based cardiac wall position detector: Methods for evaluating motion of a cardiac tissue location, e.g., heart wall, are provided. In the subject methods, timing of a signal obtain from a accelerometer stably associated with the tissue location of interest is employed to evaluate movement of the cardiac tissue location. Also provided are systems, devices and...

20060161212 - Method and device for displaying remaining serviceable life of an analytical device: The invention generally related to a method and device for displaying the remaining serviceable life of a battery-operated analytical device for analysis of a medically-relevant component of a body fluid, in particular of a blood glucose measuring device....

20060161213 - Method of graphical display of link status and fail-safe mechanism for safety during real-time medical device therapy: A remote medical device programming system and method are provided for monitoring a communication signal during a remote programming procedure and generating a communication status signal for presentation on a display. The communication signal monitoring may include monitoring a communication link bandwidth on a communication network linking a remote programmer...

20060161214 - Method of graphical display of link status and fail-safe mechanism for safety during real-time medical device therapy: A remote medical device programming system and method are provided for monitoring a communication signal during a remote programming procedure and generating a communication status signal for presentation on a display. The communication signal monitoring may include monitoring a communication link bandwidth on a communication network linking a remote programmer...

20060161215 - Weld plate contact for implanted medical devices: A weld plate contact assembly is provided for implanted medical devices which includes at least one molded plastic housing having two halves joined together with the halves defining a bore therethrough. A canted coil spring is disposed within the housing halves along a bore circumference and includes a pigtail lead...

20060161216 - Device for neuromuscular peripheral body stimulation and electrical stimulation (es) for wound healing using rf energy harvesting: A device for electrical stimulation using radio frequency harvesting is disclosed. The device called the BioMed chip is implantable in a patient, the chip circuit comprising a radio frequency harvesting and power circuit and a stimulation circuit, and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the circuit, the plurality of electrodes...

20060161217 - Methods and systems for treating obesity: Methods of treating obesity include applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. Systems for treating obesity include a stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient...

20060161219 - Electrical stimulation system and method for stimulating multiple locations of target nerve tissue in the brain to treat multiple conditions in the body: An electrical stimulation system is provided for electrically stimulating nerve tissue in multiple locations in a person's brain to treat multiple conditions in the person's body. The system includes first electrodes and second electrodes adapted to be implanted within a person's skull. The first electrodes are adapted to be positioned...

20060161218 - Systems and methods for treating traumatic brain injury: The present invention relates to systems and methods for management of brain and body functions and sensory perception. For example, the present invention provides systems and methods of sensory substitution and sensory enhancement (augmentation) as well as motor control enhancement. The present invention also provides systems and methods of treating...

20060161220 - Wear-type joint drive device: Provided is a wearable joint driving device in which a plurality of frame members are attached to a wearing body so as to be in contact with the outer surface of the wearing body. Between the frame members, there is mounted a fluid pressure type actuator. The fluid pressure type...

20060161221 - Activation of calcium-mediated cell functions in cells and tissues, including aggregation of human platelets, by nanosecond pulsed electric fields: Methods for inducing calcium mobilization in cells through the application of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (“nsPEFs”) are provided. The invention also provides a method of increasing intracellular calcium in cells through the application of nsPEFs. In one embodiment of the invention, the cells are human platelets, whereby activation and aggregation...

20060161223 - Dynamic channel selection for rf telemetry with implantable device: A telemetry system for radio-frequency communications between an implantable medical device and an external device providing improved noise immunity is disclosed. Multiple communications channels are used to enable establishment and re-establishment of communications between a particular pair of devices in a multiple device environment....

20060161222 - Multiple band communications for an implantable medical device: In some embodiments, a medical device system may include one or more of the following features: (a) an external medical device (EMD), (b) an implantable medical device (IMD) disposed within a hermetically sealed housing adapted for implantation in the body of a patient to provide a therapy delivery and/or monitoring...

20060161224 - Wireless communication of physiological variables using spread spectrum: The present invention relates to a system and a method of measuring a physiological variable in a body. A basic idea of the present invention is to measure a physiological variable in a body by means of employing a sensor (314) which is arranged to be disposed in the body...

20060161225 - Medical implant system: There is provided a system for transmission of power and/or information between a first location external of a living body and a second position internal of the living body which comprises: (a) a primary controller (2) comprising a power source and a transmitter locatable at the first locations; and (b)...

20060161226 - Apparatus and method for reducing follicular cell apoptosis: The invention provides a light emitting device having an array of light emitting diodes (LED). The array of the device is arranged to illuminate a surface area of a scalp and the LEDs exhibit a plurality of wavelengths within the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum between about 600-1000...

20060161227 - Apparatus and methods for optical stimulation of the auditory nerve: A cochlear implant placed in a cochlea of a living subject for stimulating the auditory system of the living subject, where the auditory system comprises auditory neurons. In one embodiment, the cochlear implant includes a plurality of light sources, {Li}, placeable distal to the cochlea, each light source, L1, being...

20060161228 - System and method for tissue treatment: A system and method for the treatment of body tissue is provided that includes a radiation-emitting device and a massaging mechanism. In accordance with one embodiment, the radiation-emitting device is a laser and the massaging mechanism is an automated mechanical massaging mechanism. The radiation-emitting device can emit radiation in one...

20060161229 - System and method for the treatment of heart tissue: A device is disclosed for locating and treating an infarct scar in a heart. The device includes a catheter, a collapsible heater and energizing means connected to the collapsible heater for energizing the collapsible heater to raise the temperature of the infarct scar to a temperature sufficient to reduce the...

20060161230 - Method of applying thermodynamic therapy for the rejuvenation of a subject: The present invention relates to a method for treating a subject using thermodynamic therapy through the application of cold water to the subject. The therapy also includes a method for improving the metabolism of the subject and inducing paradoxical sleep in the subject....

20060161231 - Non-occlusion convective blanket: A thermal treatment apparatus for underlying and/or covering and bathing a patient in a thermally-controlled inflating fluid is disclosed. The apparatus has an inflatable chamber, fluid inlet, and a plurality of interspaced exhaust ports. The inflatable chamber is designed to receive or overlie at least a portion of a patient...

20060161232 - Phase-change particulate ice slurry coolant medical delivery tubing and insertion devices: Various systems for delivering phase-change particulate ice slurries to targeted areas or organs of a patient are provided. Systems for delivering phase-change particulate ice slurries include a slurry reservoir and a conduit for delivering slurry from the reservoir to the patient. The conduit may include multiple components, including a section...

20060161233 - Device and method for lung treatment: This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by...

20060161234 - Hinged therapeutic mouthpiece: This invention relates to devices for insertion into the mouth for the application of heat or cold to oral tissue to provide a therapeutic effect. The device 10 includes an upper member 11 substantially conforming to a contour of an upper gum line, a lower member 12 substantially conforming to...

20060161236 - Apparatus for multiple site stimulation: An implantable medical device for stimulating electrically excitable tissue within a patient, and more particularly relates to such a system having a pulse generator and a lead. The lead includes a first set of electrodes including at least three electrodes. The lead also includes a second set of electrodes including...

20060161235 - Multiple lead stimulation system and method: A lead system for stimulating two sites of neurological tissue. The lead system includes at least a paddle lead and another lead. The paddle lead includes an anchor channel configured for anchoring the two leads together. A method for implanting a lead system for stimulating two sites is also provided....

20060161237 - Fastening device for an epicardial lead: An epicardial pacing lead comprising a flexible, elongated lead body having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrode coupled to the lead body near the distal end; a housing coupled to the lead body proximal to the electrode; and a platform at least partially encompassed by the housing,...

20060161238 - Thoracoscopic epicardial cardiac lead with guiding deployment applicator and method therefor: An epicardial lead assembly includes a thoracoscopic epicardial lead including an electrode, a guiding applicator, and, optionally, an introducer. The epicardial lead includes therapy delivering leads such as, but not limited to, pacing leads, and combination pacing-defibrillation leads....

20060155333 - Human-implantable-neurostimulator user interface having multiple levels of abstraction: A programming-device user interface may include multiple levels of abstraction for programming treatment settings. A stimulation zone-programming interface may be at a highest level of abstraction and may include idealized stimulation zones. A field strength-programming interface may be at a middle level of abstraction and may include electromagnetic field-strength patterns...

20060155337 - Cardioverter-defibrillator having a focused shocking area and orientation thereof: 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; an electrical circuit located within the housing; a first electrode coupled to the electrical circuit and located on the...

20060155335 - Implantable cardioverter defibrillator: An implantable cardiac stimulator, such as a cardioverter defibrillator, is operable in an autocapture mode. Following the delivery of a defibrillation or cardioversion shock, the stimulator switches from the autocapture mode to a post-shock mode, in which predetermined pacing pulse parameter settings are used for the delivery of pacing pulses....

20060155336 - Medical resuscitation system and patient information module: A medical resuscitation system includes an external physiological stimulator system module for resuscitating a patient and an external communication system module. The external physiological stimulator and communication system modules are removeably coupled together. The external communication system module can flow a signal between it and an electronic patient information module...

20060155334 - Methods and systems for reducing discomfort from cardiac defibrillation shocks: Methods, systems and computer program products for combining atrial defibrillation treatment techniques include techniques for reducing the discomfort associated with defibrillation and/or reducing the defibrillation threshold. Techniques include timing the defibrillation shock to reduce discomfort based on a sensed signal, giving the shock relatively early during atrial fibrillation, therapeutic drugs,...

20060155338 - Bi-ventricular ventricular capture management in cardiac resyncronization therapy delivery devices: 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., “CRT”). The invention also provides ventricular capture management by delivering a single ventricular pacing stimulus and checking inter-ventricular conduction during a temporal window to determine...

20060155339 - Writer-mode ecg display: An external programming device for an implant comprises a receiving unit for receiving data from the implant and a display with an actuating unit which are adapted to represent signals forming the basis of the received data. A switching unit connected to the actuating unit of the display is provided...

20060155340 - Method and system to control gastrointestinal function by means of neuro-electrical coded signals: A method to record, store and transmit waveform signals to control gastrointestinal function generally comprising capturing waveform signals that are generated in a subject's body and are operative in the control of gastrointestinal function and transmitting at least a first waveform signal to the body that is recognizable by the...

20060155341 - Device and method for biasing lung volume: A device and method is provided for biasing lung volume by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve at a low level....

20060155342 - Combination electrical stimulating and infusion medical device: A combined electrical and chemical stimulation lead is especially adapted for providing treatment to intervertebral discs. The combination lead may be placed proximate to intervertebral disc cellular matrix and nucleus pulposus tissue to promote tissue regeneration and repair, as well as nociceptor and neural tissue modulation. The stimulation lead includes...

20060155343 - Combination electrical stimulating and infusion medical device and method: A combined electrical and chemical stimulation lead is especially adapted for providing treatment to intervertebral discs. The combination lead may be placed proximate to intervertebral disc cellular matrix and nucleus pulposus tissue to promote tissue regeneration and repair, as well as nociceptor and neural tissue modulation. The stimulation lead includes...

20060155344 - Delivery device for stimulating the sympathetic nerve chain: The present invention provides a device and assembly for electrically and/or chemically stimulating individual ganglion and a plurality of ganglia of the nervous system, and particularly to ganglia of the sympathetic nerve chain. A device is provided that generally wraps around an individual ganglion and conforms to the shape of...

20060155345 - Implantable neuromodulation system and method: An implantable neuromodulation system and method of treating a patient through neuromodulation of a patient's body tissue. The neuromodulation system includes a portable transmitter and an implantable receiver. The implantable receiver includes one or more electrodes disposed on the distal end of one or more elongated, flexible insulated leads. The...

20060155346 - Active vibration attenuation for implantable microphone: The invention is directed to an implanted microphone having reduced sensitivity to vibration. In this regard, the microphone differentiates between the desirable and undesirable vibration by utilizing at least one motion sensor to produce a motion signal when an implanted microphone is in motion. This motion signal is used to...

20060155347 - Harmless wireless energy transmission to implant: A transmission device (1) transmits an alternating magnetic field to a receiver (3) implanted in a human's body to supply energy drawn from the alternating magnetic field to an energy consuming implant in the human's body. The transmission device comprises a coil (6) adapted to generate the alternating magnetic field...

20060155348 - Applications of the stimulation of neural tissue using light: The present invention comprises systems and methods for stimulating target tissue comprising a light source; an implantable light conducting lead coupled to said light source; and an implantable light-emitter. The light source, lead and emitter are used to provide a light stimulation to a target tissue...

20060155349 - 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...

20060155351 - Cooling blanket assembly: A cooling blanket assembly includes a substantially waterproof and flexible housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending between and attached to the top and bottom walls. The housing has an inner surface an outer surface. The housing has a substantially rectangular shape with a...

20060155350 - Pressure adjustable structure for ice compress: A pressure adjustable structure for ice compress compresses an ice-packing unit, an air-containing unit, and a pressure-adjusting unit, all included in an ice-compress body. The pressure-adjusting unit controls the gas pressure in the air-containing unit. By adding the air-containing unit and the pressure-adjusting unit to the conventional ice-packing unit, the...

20060155352 - Lead locking device and method: A lead locking device has a lead engaging member with a mandrel extending along a lumen and attached to the distal end of the lead engaging member such that it extends beyond the proximal end of the lead engaging member. The lead locking device also has a loop handle attached...

20060155353 - Spring fixation mechanism for epicardial leads: A spring fixation mechanism is adapted for fixing the distal end of an epicardial lead in a myocardium of the heart. The spring fixation mechanism is positioned at a distal end of the lead and includes a spring member and a stop. The spring member is formed about the lead...

20060155354 - Electrode system for a physiological stimulator: A physiological power source is coupled to a signal coupler/decoupler through a conductive line. The signal coupler/decoupler includes a proximal signal port, connected to the physiological power source through the first conductive line, and separate distal signal ports. The signal coupler/decoupler combines signals flowing to the physiological power source through...

20060149318 - Ergonomic ped-hydro cavity agitation for therapeutic assistance and relaxation use: This invention is an ergonomic device that has been created with the notion of removing barriers to quality, productivity, and safe human performance by fitting products, tasks, and environments to people. The invention is designed to provide a service to people who are concerned about the long term problems that...

20060149319 - Flexible implantable electrical stimulator array: A flexible implantable electrical stimulator array is provided, which is associated with a flexible circuit board, biocompatible materials, a cathode electrode array and an anode electrode array. By using the flexible circuit board, the implanting position and implanting way of the present electrical stimulator are more flexible. Hence, the present...

20060149320 - Implantable cardiac stimulator: An implantable cardiac stimulator, comprises a ventricular detection unit which is adapted to be connected to an intracardiac electrode and to record and detect ventricular events, a ventricular stimulation unit which is adapted to be connected to a ventricular electrode and to produce ventricular stimulation pulses for delivery to the...

20060149321 - Medical device information system: In general, the invention is directed to management of information from a plurality of emergency medical devices, such as automated external defibrillators, and associated docking stations. The medical devices and docking stations may communicate with one another and with a remote unit. The managed information includes patient status information. After...

20060149323 - Medical device information system: In general, the invention is directed to management of information from a plurality of emergency medical devices, such as automated external defibrillators, and associated docking stations. The medical devices and docking stations may communicate with one another and with a remote unit. The managed information includes information pertaining to authorized...

20060149322 - Medical device tracking system: In general, the invention is directed to management of information from a plurality of emergency medical devices, such as automated external defibrillators, and associated docking stations. The medical devices and docking stations may communicate with one another and with a remote unit. The managed information includes information pertaining to the...

20060149324 - Cardiac rhythm management with interchangeable components: A cardiac rhythm management apparatus includes a proximal housing, a distal housing and a lead. The proximal housing includes a first energy storage device. The distal module is implantable within a patient's heart, and includes a second energy storage device, at least one electrode, and a control module. The control...

20060149325 - Atp pacing with entrainment monitoring: A method and system for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) is disclosed. During delivery of an ATP burst, an implantable cardiac rhythm management device is programmed to sense evoked responses and determine whether or not the ATP burst has entrained the heart by counting the number of successive pacing pulses achieving...

20060149326 - Intermittent stress augmentation pacing for cardioprotective effect: A device and method for delivering electrical stimulation to the heart in a manner which provides a protective effect against subsequent ischemia is disclosed. The protective effect is produced by configuring a cardiac pacing device to intermittently switch from a normal operating mode to a stress augmentation mode in which...

20060149327 - Detection of diastolic heart failure: An implantable medical apparatus for detecting diastolic heart failure, DHF, has a DHF determining device for determining at least one blood pressure parameter for detecting a DHF state of the heart of a patient. The DHF determining device includes a pressure measuring unit for measuring pulse pressure in a cardiac...

20060149328 - Lv threshold measurement and capture management: The invention provides methods and apparatus for determining in a non-tracking pacing mode (e.g., DDI/R, VVI/R) whether a ventricular pacing stimulus is capturing a paced ventricle, including some or all of the following aspects. For example, increasing a ventricular pacing rate a nominal amount to an overdrive pacing rate higher...

20060149329 - Implantable medical device with integrated acoustic: An implantable medical device comprises a hermetically sealed housing having a housing wall with an interior surface, and an ultrasonic acoustic transducer, the transducer comprising one or more piezoelectric discs fixed to the interior surface of the housing wall, such that the housing wall acts as a diaphragm in response...

20060149330 - Digitally controlled cardiac rhythm management: A cardiac rhythm management apparatus includes a proximal housing, a distal housing and a lead. The proximal housing includes a first energy storage device. The distal module is implantable within a patient's heart, and includes a second energy storage device, at least one electrode, and a control module. The control...

20060149331 - Method for digital cardiac rhythm management: A cardiac rhythm management apparatus includes a proximal housing, a distal housing and a lead. The proximal housing includes a first energy storage device. The distal module is implantable within a patient's heart, and includes a second energy storage device, at least one electrode, and a control module. The control...

20060149332 - Method to replace a pacemaker: The method to replace a header begins with a pacemaker having a can containing a power source and control circuitry and a header to connect with leads. The leads connect to the heart and electrically pace the heart beats properly. The header has a bore which admits a lead into...

20060149333 - Methods and systems for selective control of bladder function: A method and system for selective inhibition of somatic nerve fibers in a mixed nerve containing both somatic and autonomic nerve fibers where the method finds use in treatment of chronic pain, spastic muscles and for sensory and motor control of a bladder. The methods and systems utilize alternate phase...

20060149334 - Device and method for controlling breathing: A device and method is provided for controlling breathing of a subject by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve of the subject....

20060149335 - Devices and methods for brain stimulation: A device for brain stimulation that includes a lead having a longitudinal surface; at least one stimulation electrode disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead; and at least one recording electrode, separate from the at least one stimulation electrode, disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead....

20060149336 - Devices and methods using an implantable pulse generator for brain stimulation: A device for brain stimulation includes a lead having a longitudinal surface; at least one stimulation electrode disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead; at least one recording electrode, separate from the at least one stimulation electrode, disposed on the lead; and an implantable pulse generator coupled to the...

20060149337 - Systems and methods for tissue stimulation in medical treatment: Stimulation treatments for various medical disorders, such as neurological disorders, comprise novel systems, strategies, and methods for providing TMS, electrical, magnetic, optical and other stimulation. Some stimulation methods comprise varying the stimulation parameters to improve the therapeutic efficacy of stimulation, and decrease risk of habituation and side-effects such as interference...

20060149338 - Neurally controlled patient ambulation system: Various embodiments of an ambulation system and a movement assist system are disclosed. For example, an ambulation system for a patient may comprise a biological interface apparatus and an ambulation assist apparatus. The biological interface apparatus may comprise a sensor having a plurality of electrodes for detecting multicellular signals, a...

20060149339 - Aggregation of data from external data sources within an implantable medical device: An implantable device is described that collects and aggregates data from non-implanted medical devices external from a body of a patient. The device may also collect and aggregate data from medical devices implanted within the body. The implantable device includes a wireless transceiver to acquire physiological data from the external...

20060149340 - Systems and methods for providing power to one or more implantable devices: Systems for providing a power signal to one or more implantable devices include a number of dynamic range amplifiers each having a multiplicity of output drivers. Each of the output drivers is configured to generate an output signal. The systems further include control circuitry configured to select at least one...

20060149341 - Electrodes for applying an electric field in-vivo over an extended period of time: As compared to conventional electrodes, the electrode configurations disclosed herein minimize irritation and damage to the skin when they are placed in contact with a patient's body over extended of time. The electrodes are formed from a conductive substrate coated with a thin dielectric material, and a plurality of open...

20060149342 - Light therapeutic device: A light therapeutic device. The light therapeutic device comprises a flexible optical element capable of deforming corresponding to an affected part of a patient and providing a light of specific wavelength for treating the affected part. The flexible optical element comprises a flexible optical conductor coated with opaque material, and...

20060149343 - Cooling system for a photocosmetic device: Photocosmetic device for use in medical or non-medical environments (e.g., a home, barbershop, or spa), which can be used for a variety of tissue treatments. Radiation is delivered to the tissue via optical systems designed to pattern the radiation and project the radiation to a particular depth. The device has...

20060149344 - Method of use of implantable percutaneous stimulation lead: A percutaneous neurological stimulation lead has at least a first lead body and a second lead body that interlock during implantation using interlocking elements. The first lead body has at least one first detail on the first lead body distal end that is configured to engage at least one second...

20060149345 - Neuromodulation stimulation for the restoration of sexual function: Systems and methods use an implantable pulse generator system for neuromodulation stimulation to treat sexual dysfunction by the unilateral or bilateral stimulation of the left and/or right branches of the dorsal genital nerves using one or more leads and electrodes implanted in adipose or other tissue in the region at...

20060149346 - Method of applying defibrillator electrode pad with folded release sheet: A defibrillator electrode pad assembly has an adhesive release sheet configured to be removed while the electrode pad is held in a desired position on the patient. The release sheet is folded in a substantially U-shaped configuration and includes a pull-tab to be grasped by the user. The electrode pad...