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

20070150005 - Method and apparatus for tissue protection against ischemia using remote conditioning: A stimulation system delivers stimulation to protect an ischemic region of a body from tissue damage caused by ischemia. The stimulation is delivered to one or more stimulation sites remote from the ischemic region to elicit a physiological effect that protects the ischemic region from the tissue damage caused by... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150006 - Neural stimulator to treat sleep disordered breathing: Various aspects relate to an implantable device. Various device embodiments include at least one sensor for use in detecting sleep disordered breathing, a pulse generator adapted to deliver a first electrical signal through at least one electrode to stimulate a neural target, and a controller adapted to communicate with the... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150007 - Non-linear electrode array: A system for stimulation includes an implantable pulse generator, a lead, and conductors. The lead includes an array body disposed at a distal end of the lead and electrodes concentrically arranged on the array body. A center electrode may also be disposed on the array body. The electrodes may be... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070150008 - Defibrillation electrode having drug delivery capablity: A defibrillation electrode includes a conductive member having first and second opposite side surfaces, a non-conductive backing connected to the first surface of the conductive member, and at least one drug delivery medium in electrical communication with the second surface of the conductive member. The drug delivery medium is adapted... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20070150012 - Cardiac pacemaker: The invention concerns implantable cardiac stimulation devices in general which have at least one stimulation pulse generator (A-STIM; RV-STIM; LV-STIM) to selectively generate a stimulation pulse for delivery to one of at least two different chambers of a heart, said chambers include right and left atria and right and left... Agent: Intellectual Property Department Dewitt Ross & Stevens S.c.

20070150010 - Cardiac pacemaker with pacing rate monitoring: A pacing monitoring system is described for incorporation in an implantable pacemaker that monitors the pacing rate and/or cumulative pace count in order to protect a patient from excessive pacing. The system includes monitoring circuitry that is configured to operate in multiple monitoring zones, where each zone is adapted to... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150009 - Electrode apparatus, systems and methods: Apparatus, system, and method that include a pacing apparatus having a stent electrode through which pulses of electrical current can be delivered. Stent electrodes receive energy for generating the electrical current from a variety of sources. Sources include from one or more induction coils that can form at least a... Agent: Brooks & Cameron, PLLC Suite 500

20070150013 - Method and system for setting cardiac resynchronization therapy parameters: A method or system for computing and/or setting optimal cardiac resynchronization pacing parameters as derived from intrinsic conduction data is presented. The intrinsic conduction data includes intrinsic atrio-ventricular and interventricular delay intervals which may be collected via the sensing channels of an implantable cardiac device. Among the parameters which may... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150011 - Neural stimulation system for reducing atrial proarrhythmia: A system for reducing proarrhythmic effects of neural stimulation is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an implantable medical device (IMD) for reducing proarrhythmic effects of neural stimulation. The IMD includes a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through at least one electrode to provide vagal... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150015 - Implantable cardiac device with ischemia response capability: A cardiac device is described with the capability of detecting cardiac ischemia using multiple sensing modalities. The device may be configured to modify its behavior in delivering therapies to treat bradycardia or tachyarrhythmias in response to detection of cardiac ischemia.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150014 - Method and apparatus for control of cardiac therapy using non-invasive hemodynamic sensor: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes a non-invasive hemodynamic sensing device and an implantable medical device to sense a hemodynamic signal and derive one or more cardiac performance parameters from the hemodynamic signal. The non-invasive hemodynamic sensing device includes at least a portion configured for external attachment to a... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150016 - Active implantable medical devices, notably for pacing, resynchronization, defibrillation and/or cardioversion, having improved diagnosis of the patient's clinical status: An active implantable medical device, preferably a device for pacing, resynchronization, defibrillation and/or cardioversion of a patient, that includes functionality that assists in the diagnosis of the patient's clinical status. This devices comprises circuits (10, 12) for measuring one physiologic parameter, preferably minute ventilation (VE), and circuits (14, 16) for... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070150017 - Method and apparatus for improving cardiac efficiency based on myocardial oxygen consumption: Devices and methods for improving cardiac efficiency involve measuring, patient-internally, an oxygen saturation parameter indicative of oxygen usage of myocardial tissue of the heart. A cardiac electrical therapy is adjusted to cause a change of the measured oxygen saturation parameter, and the adjusted cardiac electrical therapy is selected for delivery... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC

20070150019 - Implantable medical device powered by rechargeable battery: A battery management circuit provides an implantable medical device with power management that allows safe and efficient use of a rechargeable battery. Various ways of monitoring the energy level of the rechargeable battery and controlling the battery recharging process for user convenience and safety are provided.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150018 - Replacement indicator timer for implantable medical devices: A system and method is provided for reliably indicating that an implantable medical device is in need of replacement. An implantable medical device includes a battery and a replacement indicator timer. The battery provides power to the implantable medical device. The replacement indicator timer counts a replacement time period to... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070150020 - Externally oriented battery feedthrough with integral connector: A battery for use with implantable medical devices, and a method of making the battery. The battery includes a battery housing, a connector block connected to the battery housing, a feedthrough assembly having a ferrule, where at least a portion of the ferrule extends outside the battery housing, and within... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070150021 - Gastrointestinal electrical stimulation: The present invention is directed to a method of stimulating the vagus nerve of a subject.... Agent: Rogalsky & Weyand, LLP

20070150022 - Method and apparatus for detection and treatment of respiratory disorder by implantable device: Methods and apparatus for detection and treatment of respiratory disorders using implanted devices are described. In one form, afferent nerves are electrically or electro-mechanically stimulated to increase the tone of upper airway muscles. Detection of respiratory disorders is carried out using electrodes implanted in sub-pectoral regions. Open and closed airway... Agent: Gottlieb Rackman & Reisman PC

20070150023 - Transvisceral neurostimulation mapping device and method: The invention provides a method and device for providing electrical stimulation to a patient's diaphragm (or other organ or tissue) including the steps of: introducing an endoscope transviscerally (e.g., transgastrically) into the patient's body cavity; delivering an electrode into the patient's body cavity through a lumen of the endoscope; applying... Agent: Shay Law Group, LLP

20070150024 - Methods and systems for recommending an appropriate action to a patient for managing epilepsy and other neurological disorders: The present invention provides methods and system for managing neurological disorders such as epilepsy. In one embodiment, the method comprises measuring one or more signals from a patient and processing the one or more signals to characterize a patient's propensity for a future seizure. The characterized propensity for the seizure... Agent: Shay Law Group, LLP

20070150025 - Methods and systems for recommending an appropriate pharmacological treatment to a patient for managing epilepsy and other neurological disorders: The present invention provides systems and methods for managing epilepsy. In one embodiment, a method of the present invention characterize a patient's propensity for a future epileptic seizure and communicates to the patient and/or a health care provider a therapy recommendation. The therapy recommendation is typically a function of the... Agent: Shay Law Group, LLP

20070150026 - Closed-loop therapy adjustment: Techniques for detecting a value of a sensed patient parameter, and automatically delivering therapy to a patient according to therapy information previously associated with the detected value, are described. In exemplary embodiments, a medical device receives a therapy adjustment from the patient. In response to the adjustment, the medical device... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070150027 - Non-invasive device and method for electrical stimulation of neural tissue: A non-invasive device and method for stimulation of neural tissue of a patient comprises a power source and at least one pair of electrodes. The power source applies a voltage to the pair of electrodes, and the electrodes extend through a top layer of skin generally adjacent Arnold's nerve. The... Agent: Miller, Canfield, Paddock And Stone P.L.C C/o Robert Kelley Roth

20070150028 - Power management for implantable medical device during rf communications: In a patient management system, a remote monitoring device interrogates an implantable device on an intermittent basis over a wireless telemetry link, with interrogations being performed either according to a programmed schedule or upon receiving a command to do so via the user interface or the network interface. Described is... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070150029 - Closed-loop therapy adjustment: Techniques for detecting a value of a sensed patient parameter, and automatically delivering therapy to a patient according to therapy information previously associated with the detected value, are described. In exemplary embodiments, a medical device receives a therapy adjustment from the patient. In response to the adjustment, the medical device... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070150030 - Apparatus and method for stimulating hair growth: A hand-held device for hair growth stimulation. The device parts the user's hair while the light source that radiates user's exposed scalp. Non-light emitting teeth are uses to part the user's hair in front of an associated light source. An optional timer can be used to control the length of... Agent: John C. Smith, Esq.

20070150031 - Ocular light therapy device: An ocular light therapy device including a housing with a light passage opening, a reflective surface supported by the housing and a light source in the housing, the light source selected to emit light therefrom and positioned to direct the light toward the reflective surface such that light emitted from... Agent: Bennett Jones C/o Ms Roseann Caldwell

20070150032 - Laser with intelligent therapeutic fiber: A laser system is provided that includes a laser device for the generation of laser radiation and a light guide for guiding the generated laser radiation. A data medium for identity data is connected to the light guide, and a readout device is included for reading out the identity data.... Agent: King & Spalding LLP

20070150033 - Cooling blanket: The invention provides a cooling blanket useful for lowering the body temperature of a mammal, such as a human. The cooling blanket may be particularly useful when used in connection with a deleterious cardiac event, such as myocardial infarction. The cooling blanket is activated when reagents, such as ammonium nitrate,... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

20070150034 - Implantable medical lead: The disclosure describes an implantable medical lead for delivering stimulation to a patient. Electrodes may be located on two or more surfaces of the lead to, for example, selectively deliver stimulation to one or more tissue layers within the patient. The lead may be implanted within or between intra-dermal, deep... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070150035 - Multiple selectable field/current-voltage pads having individually powered and controlled cells: A method and apparatus for speeding the healing process of soft tissues, bone fractures, cancerous tissue, nerve pathways and other body tissues, wherein a portable base having a plurality of cells is applied with the cells facing or encircling the wound. The cells generate electro-magnetic radiations, radio frequencies, magnetic fields,... Agent: Cermak & Kenealy, LLP

20070150036 - Stimulator leads and methods for lead fabrication: A lead for a stimulation device can include an array of electrodes with each electrode having a front surface and a back surface; a plurality of conductors; a carrier formed around the array of electrodes; and a biocompatible material that may be disposed over and/or joined with the carrier and... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070150037 - Leadless cardiac stimulation systems: Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrodes that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Each... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20070150038 - Leadless cardiac stimulation systems: Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrodes that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Each... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20070150039 - Conformal electrode pad for a stimulating medical device: An ABI pad having a configuration and composition to provide the ABI pad with sufficient flexibility to permit the pad to be curved, molded or otherwise conformed to the cochlear nucleus, brainstem or other therapeutically-beneficial site, while ensuring the ABI pad maintains structural integrity over the anticipated operational life of... Agent: Jagtiani + Guttag

20070142863 - Apparatus and methods for stimulating tissue: Apparatus and methods for stimulating tissue employing local current imbalance to facilitate more effective stimulation regimens.... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070142864 - Automatic neural stimulation modulation based on activity: According to an embodiment of a method for providing neural stimulation, activity is sensed, and neural stimulation is automatically controlled based on the sensed activity. An embodiment determines periods of rest and periods of exercise using the sensed activity, and applies neural stimulation during rest and withdrawing neural stimulation during... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070142862 - Systems and methods for monitoring a patient's neurological disease state: The present invention provides methods and systems for modulating a patient's neurological disease state. In one embodiment, the system comprises one or more sensors that sense at least one signal that comprise a characteristic that is indicative of a neurological disease state. A signal processing assembly is in communication with... Agent: Shay Law Group, LLP

20070142865 - Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement methods: A subcutaneous cardiac device includes two electrodes and a stimulator that generates a pulse to the electrodes. The electrodes are implanted between the skin and the rib cage of the patient and are adapted to generate an electric field corresponding to the pulse, the electric field having a substantially uniform... Agent: Crompton Seager And Tufte, LLC

20070142866 - Method and apparatus for controlling anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing using hemodynamic sensor: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies including anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing (ATP) and at least one hemodynamic sensor that senses a hemodynamic signal. When a tachyarrhythmia episode is detected, the CRM system analyzes the hemodynamic signal to determine whether and/or when to deliver... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070142867 - Cardiac cycle synchronized sampling of impedance signal: A cardiac rhythm management device for obtaining transthoracic impedance. The device comprises a sensor for obtaining a signal indicative of an action of a heart, an impedance measurement circuit adapted to measure transthoracic impedance and a processor for utilizing the signal indicative of the action of the heart to sample... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070142868 - Posture sensor: A system and method determines the posture of a body. The system is first calibrated by attaching it to, or implanted it into, a body, placing the body in particular postures, and generating spectral signatures for each of those postures. Thereafter, the system generates spectral signatures for particular instants in... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070142869 - Atrioventricular delay adjustment enhancing ventricular tachyarrhythmia detection: This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising an atrial sensing circuit, a ventricular sensing circuit and an atrioventricular (AV) delay adjustment circuit. The atrial sensing circuit detects a first fast atrial pace that concludes a timing interval that is shorter than or equal to a first threshold value.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070142870 - Irritable bowel syndrome treatment: At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning a neurostimulator carrier around a body organ of the patient where... Agent: Attention Of Timothy R. Conrad Merchant & Gould P.C.

20070142873 - Adaptive method and apparatus for forecasting and controlling neurological disturbances under a multi-level control: An adaptive method and apparatus for forecasting and controlling neurological abnormalities in humans such as seizures or other brain disturbances. The system is based on a multi-level control strategy. Using as inputs one or more types of physiological measures such as brain electrical, chemical or magnetic activity, heart rate, pupil... Agent: Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC

20070142872 - 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... Agent: Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott

20070142871 - Implantable device for treating epilepsy and cardiac rhythm disorders: Various aspects relate to an implantable device. Various device embodiments comprise at least one pulse generator and a controller to communicate with the pulse generator(s). The pulse generator(s) is (are) adapted to deliver a first electrical signal through at least one electrode positioned proximate to a vagus nerve and to... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070142874 - Multiple-symptom medical treatment with roving-based neurostimulation.: Stimulation treatments for various medical disorders comprise serially varying the stimulation parameters, especially in order to treat multiple symptoms of a disorder. Roving of parameter values can be done in relation to the proportional incidence of the symptoms. Varying the parameters can occur according to algorithms designed in relation to... Agent: John, Michael Sasha

20070142875 - Stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion for treating depression: Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20070142876 - Low-frequency treatment device: A low-frequency treatment device includes electrodes to which a low-frequency pulse signal is supplied so as to apply an electric stimulus to a living body; a section for presetting a number of times of muscle contraction which occurs by applying the electric stimulus; a section for setting a pulse signal... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC

20070142877 - Charge-integrating retinal prosthesis and method: A retinal prosthesis that provides power control capabilities through the temporal integration of electrical charge is provided. The retinal prosthesis comprises at least one stimulating component, each stimulating component in turn comprising a photojunction element (e.g., a photodiode) in electrical communication with an electrode. A pulse generation circuit provides a... Agent: Vedder Price Kaufman & Kammholz

20070142878 - Flexible electrode array for artificial vision: An image is captured or otherwise converted into a signal in an artificial vision system. The signal is transmitted to the retina utilizing an implant. The implant consists of a polymer substrate made of a compliant material such as poly(dimethylsiloxane) or PDMS. The polymer substrate is conformable to the shape... Agent: Eddie E. Scott Attorney

20070142879 - Apparatus and method for modulating the baroreflex system: An apparatus for insertion into a blood vessel and for modulating the baroreflex system of a mammal includes an expandable support member for engaging a wall of a blood vessel at a desired location where baroreceptors are located, and at least one electrode connected with the expandable support member. The... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20070142880 - Light delivery apparatus: A light delivery apparatus to provide light treatment to a patient includes a catheter assembly having a light source that transmit light towards a target site within a patient. A balloon surrounds the light source and has a plurality of tissue engaging elements movable between first positions and second positions.... Agent: Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC

20070142881 - Treatment of cellulite and adipose tissue with mid-infrared radiation: A method and apparatus that will alter the fibrous strands in the fatty layers of the skin to reduce the appearance of cellulite and adipose tissue. Electromagnetic energy is used to selectively shrink or alternatively photoacoustically ablate the collagen in the constricting bands of connective tissue that causes the dimpled... Agent: Ray K. Shahani, Esq., Attorney At Law

20070142884 - Methods and apparatuses for treating an esophageal disorder such as gastroesophageal reflux disease: Methods and apparatuses for treating esophageal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a method includes applying energy to a portion of the sling and/or clasp fibers at the stomach, gastroesophageal junction, and/or esophagus of the patient in a manner that shortens or otherwise alters... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20070142883 - Therapeutic kit employing a thermal insert: A therapeutic kit for providing heat to an area of the body is provided. The therapeutic kit may be used to treat a variety of injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc., including arm, leg, ankle, knee, shoulder, foot, neck, back, elbow, wrist, hand, chest, finger, toe injuries, and so forth.... Agent: Dority & Manning, P.A.

20070142882 - Thermal device having a controlled heating profile: A thermal device that contains an exothermic composition is provided. The exothermic composition includes a metal that is capable of undergoing an oxidation reaction in the presence of moisture and oxygen to generate heat. Certain aspects of the thermal device may be optimized to supply a controlled amount of moisture... Agent: Dority & Manning, P.A.

20070142885 - Method and apparatus for micro-needle array electrode treatment of tissue: The invention describes a system and method for revitalizing aging skin using electromagnetic energy that is delivered using a plurality of needles that are capable of penetrating the skin to desired depths. A particular aspect of the invention is the capability to spare zones of tissue from thermal exposure. This... Agent: Reliant / Fenwick C/o Fenwick & West, LLP

20070142886 - Magnetic pulsing system for inducing electric currents in a human body: Disclosed is a means and method for the treatment of migraine headaches and other disorders of the human body by the application of one or more intense magnetic pulses. By placing an intense magnetic field pulse(s) onto a certain region of the brain, an electrical current can be generated in... Agent: Robert E. Fischell

20070142887 - Thermoregulatory device with absorbent material: The present invention is directed to a thermoregulatory device. The device has a first layer, a second layer, an enclosure, an inlet and a liquid absorbing material. The first layer has a first interior surface, and a first exterior surface. The second layer has a second interior surface and a... Agent: Kevin D. Mccarthy

20070142888 - Implantable leads and methods of using the same: An implantable medical lead having an indicator band is disclosed. Implanting the lead is simplified and accurate localization of lead electrodes is improved by using an indicator band to aid in aligning the lead within a receiving port of an implantable lead connector assembly. The medical lead may be used... Agent: Pepper Hamilton LLP

20070142889 - Electrode arrangement for nerve stimulation and methods of treating disorders: A stimulator arrangement for stimulating nerves or other tissue includes an electrode arrangement having a substrate and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the substrate. The substrate is configured and arranged to be in a curved state prior to implantation into the body and to flatten with exposure to the... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070142890 - Interconnections of implantable lead conductors and electrodes and reinforcement therefor: An implantable lead comprises a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion. The lead body includes one or more longitudinally extending lumens. A conductor is received in, and extends along, a lumen. In varying examples, the implantable lead further comprises a tubular... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070142891 - Therapeutic device that provides stimulation to an immobilized extremity: A therapeutic device for biasing a body portion of a patient into a predetermined position. The therapeutic device includes a rigid support that is substantially flat and contoured to brace the body portion into the predetermined position. A securing mechanism is provided to brace the rigid support against the body... Agent: Robert Z. Evora

20070135844 - Thermally conductive surgical probe: A surgical apparatus and process for freezing or cauterizing a particular infected body area employing a transparent sleeve insertable through a small slit in the flesh of a patient and wherein the inserted end of the sleeve is provided with a cone-shaped tip having a plurality of segments normally self... Agent: Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker

20070135845 - Method and devices for utilizing physiologic and biologic electrical potentials: Methods and devices that utilize various physiologic and biologic electrical potentials and material properties in order to power complementary devices in order to provide therapeutic and or diagnostic capabilities. Alternatively, the electrical energy can be directly applied to the target tissues for the therapeutic or diagnostic intent.... Agent: Hans Mische

20070135846 - Vagal obesity treatment: At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning a neurostimulator carrier around a body organ of the patient where... Agent: Timothy R. Conrad Merchant & Gould P.C.

20070135847 - Subcutaneous defibrillation system and method using same: A medical system includes a housing configured for implantation within a patient's subclavicular region. Detection circuitry provided in the housing is configured to detect cardiac electrical activity. Energy delivery circuitry provided in the housing is configured to deliver therapy to treat a detected tachycardia or fibrillation episode. A lead is... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC

20070135848 - Zoneless tachyarrhythmia detection with real-time rhythm monitoring: A system including an implantable medical device (IMD). The IMD includes a ventricular contraction sensing circuit that provides a sensed ventricular contraction signal, a timer circuit that provides a ventricular time interval between ventricular contractions, and a controller circuit coupled to the timer circuit, the controller circuit determines the ventricular... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070135851 - Implantable pulse generator and method having adjustable signal blanking: An implantable pulse generator senses a cardiac signal, identifies cardiac events in the cardiac signal, and starts a blanking interval including a repeatable noise window blanking interval in response to each cardiac event. When noise is detected during the repeatable noise window blanking interval, the noise window blanking interval is... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070135849 - Improved detection of ventricular tachycardia in an active implantable medical device having an aai operating mode: An active implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker, cardioverter and/ or defibrillator of AAI or AAI/DDD type, with detection of ventricular tachycardiae. This device senses spontaneous ventricular and atrial events; delivers atrial pacing pulses; and is able to apply, after delivery of an atrial pacing pulse, concurrently with sensing... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070135850 - Improved management of mode switching for an aai/ddd type implantable device in the presence of ventricular events of uncertain nature: An active implantable medical device of AAI/DDD type, notably a cardiac pacemaker, with improved management of mode commutation schemes in the presence of ventricular events of an uncertain nature. The device is able to pace the ventricle and the atrium; sense ventricular events (R, r), apply a safety window following... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070135852 - Tachyarrhythmia sudden onset detection with hysteresis: This document discusses, among other things, detection of a sudden onset of a tachyarrhythmia. A sudden onset of tachyarrhythmia is determined by monitoring changes in intrinsic ventricular rate, such as by using one or more sensing channels in the ICD. A lowest tachyarrhythmia rate threshold is accompanied by a slightly... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070135853 - Apparatus and method for ventricular rate regularization: A cardiac rhythm management device which employs pacing therapy to regularize the ventricular rhythm. Such ventricular rate regularization may be employed within bradycardia pacemakers, ventricular resynchronization devices, or implantable cardioverter/defibrillators.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070135854 - Method and apparatus for adjustable avd programming using a table: A pacing system provides for optimal hemodynamic cardiac function for parameters such as ventricular synchrony or contractility (peak left ventricle pressure change during systole or LV+dp/dt), or stroke volume (aortic pulse pressure) using system for calculating atrio-ventricular delays for optimal timing of a ventricular pacing pulse. The system deriving the... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070135855 - Patient management device for portably interfacing with a plurality of implantable medical devices and method thereof: A patient management device for portably interfacing with a plurality of implantable medical devices and method thereof is presented. Permission to interrogate one or more implantable medical devices is authenticated. Patient device data is individually exchanged through interrogation of at least one authenticated implantable medical device through short range telemetry.... Agent: Cascadia Intellectual Property

20070135856 - Bulimia treatment: At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning a neurostimulator carrier around a body organ of the patient where... Agent: Timothy R. Conrad Merchant & Gould P.C.

20070135857 - Gi inflammatory disease treatment: At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning a neurostimulator carrier around a body organ of the patient where... Agent: Timothy R. Conrad Merchant & Gould P.C.

20070135858 - Pancreatitis treatment: At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning a neurostimulator carrier around a body organ of the patient where... Agent: Timothy R. Conrad Merchant & Gould P.C.

20070135859 - Use of transcranial magnetic stimulation to improve memory and stress related syndromes in humans: Use of rTMS having a range of stimuli frequency of 1-100 Hz, with 100-3000 pulses, given at each stimuli-session, and a stimulus intensity of 1-300 Ampere per microseconds, to induce certain electric fields in cells or tissue by the use of pulsed magnetic fields in healthy persons to modulate the... Agent: Lynn E Barber

20070135860 - Device for treating patients by brain stimulation, electronic component and use of the device and electronic component in medicine and medical treatment method: A device for treating patients by brain stimulation and related electronic component and use of the device and of the electronic component in a medical treatment method. To achieve the brain stimulation result, a device includes at least one electrode for stimulating a brain region, at least one sensor for... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20070135861 - Method of intravascularly delivering stimulation leads into brain to stimulate the spg: A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient is provided. The method comprises intravascularly delivering a stimulation lead within the head of the patient, and placing the stimulation lead adjacent brain tissue (e.g., cortical brain tissue or deep brain tissue), the stimulation of which will treat the neurological... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070135862 - Multimodal auditory fitting: The present invention provides for fitting a multimodal hearing system to a recipient. Such fitting may include determining a desired perception for an input signal, receiving a measurement of a perception evoked by applying to the recipient one or more stimulation signals that correspond to the input signal, wherein the... Agent: Jagtiani + Guttag

20070135863 - Method and apparatus for post-processing of episodes detected by a medical device: A method and system of post-processing of sensing data generated by a medical device that includes transmitting a plurality of stored sensing data generated by the medical device to an access device, the stored sensing data including sensed atrial events and sensed ventricular events. The access device determines, in response... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070135864 - Method and apparatus for post-processing of episodes detected by a medical device: A system and method for determining oversensing during post-processing of sensing data generated by a medical device that includes transmitting a plurality of stored sensing data generated by the medical device to an access device, the stored sensing data including sensed atrial events and sensed ventricular events. The access device... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070135865 - System and method for receiving telemetry data from an implantable medical device: A system and method for receiving telemetry data from implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers with improved noise immunity is disclosed. Ambient noise levels and signal strength are monitored and used to adaptively adjust the detection sensitivity of the receiver. Filtering of the received signal is performed to remove... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070135866 - Medical device wireless adapter: The invention relates generally to a medical device wireless adapter, and more particularly, to a module that adapts an existing legacy or newly designed medical device to a healthcare provider's wireless infrastructure.... Agent: Hiscock & Barclay, LLP

20070135867 - Telemetry system for use with microstimulator: An implantable microstimulator configured to be implanted beneath a patient's skin for tissue stimulation employs a bi-directional RF telemetry link for allowing data-containing signals to be sent to and from the implantable microstimulator from at least two external devices. Further, a separate electromagnetic inductive telemetry link allows data containing signals... Agent: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri, L.L.P.

20070135868 - Techniques for sensing and adjusting a compliance voltage in an implantable stimulator device: Disclosed herein are methods and circuitry for monitoring and adjusting a compliance voltage in an implantable stimulator devices to an optimal value that is sufficiently high to allow for proper circuit performance (i.e., sufficient current output), but low enough that power is not needlessly wasted via excessive voltage drops across... Agent: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri, L.L.P.

20070135869 - Apparatus for stimulating acupuncture points on a human face: An apparatus for stimulating acupuncture points on a human face comprises a mask and a plurality of light sources and control circuits. This apparatus projects optical energy onto the acupuncture points on the human face to stimulate them and promote health.... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20070135870 - Method for treating hearing loss: A method for treating a patient with laser energy to improve hearing loss. The method involves applying laser energy to the patient's spine, preferably by sweeping a linear laser beam over the patient's skin. The method may alternatively include applying laser energy to the patient's jaw, skull, ears, or a... Agent: Etherton Law Group, LLC

20070135871 - Use of stellate ganglion block for the treatment of psychiatric and behavioral disorders: The present invention is directed to a method for the treatment of a patient suffering from psychiatric and behavioral disorders, including post partum depression, post traumatic stress disorder, compulsive smoking, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, gambling addiction, comprising the step of administering a stellate ganglion block to the patient to alleviate... Agent: Brian J. Lum Ice Miller LLP

20070135872 - Phototherapy apparatus using excimer radiation: A phototherapy device using excimer radiation in which, by skillful use of the individual peak wavelength of 308 nm and of the emission range of shorter wavelengths than 308 nm, the therapy effect is enhanced, and in which, at the same time, harm can be reduced is achieved using a... Agent: Roberts, Mlotkowski & Hobbes

20070135873 - System and method for therapy and diagnosis comprising in combination non-mechanical and mechanical distributors for distribution of radiation: A system and method for therapy and diagnosis of a human or animal. At least one coupling element for coupling of radiation couples radiation from at least a first radiation source to a tumour site and/or from said second radiation source to said site and/or from said site to a... Agent: Steven S Payne

20070135874 - Endoscope for therapeutic light delivery: An endoscope is configured to deliver therapeutically effective quantities and wavelengths of light to internal body tissues and cavities. One application for such an endoscope is the delivery of ultraviolet light (UV) to kill bacteria in body cavities or passages. An endoscope for therapeutic light delivery includes a light source... Agent: Alix Yale & Ristas LLP

20070135875 - Methods and apparatus for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation: Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20070135876 - Acne and skin defect treatment via non-radiofrequency electrical current controlled power delivery device and methods: A device is described that can be used to treat acne and certain skin defects quickly, accurately, and economically by the controlled application of NON-radiofrequency electrical energy. This economical hand-held device is to be used by patients alone or with under the consultation of a physician. Spot application of the... Agent: Paul Joseph Weber

20070135877 - Use of microwave energy for thermotherapy: Provided are systems and methods that employ microwave energy to selectively destroy damaged or diseased tissue such as tumors in the prostate, brain, breast, and other anatomical locations.... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20070135878 - Self-powered steady-state skin-cooling support surfaces: A refrigerant-containing bladder or container is positioned underneath the body. Heat absorbed from the body vaporizes the refrigerant, which expands to cooler remote regions of the bladder. Heat is then withdrawn from the edges of the container by thermally conductive pathways that distribute heat from this container to a cooler... Agent: B. Craig Killough Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms, LLC

20070135879 - Cylindrical device for delivering energy to tissue: An energy delivery device comprises an elongated body sized and shaped for insertion into a body lumen via a naturally occurring body orifice and an acoustic energy element emitting energy around a circumference of a portion of the elongated body in combination with an electrical connection between the acoustic energy... Agent: Fay Kaplun & Marcin, LLP

20070135880 - Method and apparatus for carrying out the controlled heating of tissue in the region of dermis: Implant apparatus and method for effecting a controlled heating of tissue within the region of dermis of skin. The heater implants are configured with a thermally insulative generally flat support functioning as a thermal barrier. One surface of this thermal barrier carries one or more polymerically encapsulated heater resistor segments... Agent: Mueller And Smith, Lpa Mueller-smith Building

20070135881 - Combination electrical stimulating and infusion medical device and method: A combined electrical and chemical stimulation lead is especially adapted for providing treatment to the spine and nervous system. The stimulation lead includes electrodes that may be selectively positioned along various portions of the stimulation lead in order to precisely direct electrical energy to ablate or electrically stimulate the target... Agent: Sheridan Ross PC

20070135882 - Cardiac stimulation system: Some embodiments of pacing systems employ wireless electrode assemblies to provide pacing therapy. The wireless electrode assemblies may wirelessly receive energy via an inductive coupling so as to provide electrical stimulation to the surrounding heart tissue. In certain embodiments, the wireless electrode assembly may be pivotable so that the proximal... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20070135883 - Cardiac stimulation system: Some embodiments of pacing systems employ wireless electrode assemblies to provide pacing therapy. The wireless electrode assemblies may wirelessly receive energy via an inductive coupling so as to provide electrical stimulation to the surrounding heart tissue. In certain embodiments, the wireless electrode assembly may include one or more biased tines... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20070135885 - Flexible electrode assembly having variable pitch electrodes for a stimulating medical device: An electrode assembly for use in a prosthetic hearing implant, the electrode assembly comprising: an elongate carrier member for implantation into the cochlea, the carrier member having a proximal end adapted to be positioned in a basal region of the cochlea, and a distal end adapted to be positioned in... Agent: Jagtiani + Guttag

20070135884 - Promoting curvature and maintaining orientation of an electrode carrier member of a stimulating medical device: An electrode assembly for use in a prosthetic hearing implant is disclosed, the electrode assembly comprising: an elongate carrier member for implantation into the cochlea, said carrier member having a proximal end adapted to be positioned in a basal region of the cochlea, and a distal end adapted to be... Agent: Jagtiani + Guttag

20070129760 - Methods and apparatus for intravasculary-induced neuromodulation or denervation: Methods and apparatus are provided for intravascularly-induced neuromodulation or denervation. Neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of energy or neuromodulatory agents to target neural matter, or to vascular structures that support the target neural matter. In some embodiments, parameters of the target neural matter, of non-target... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20070129759 - Treatment apparatus for applying electrical impulses to the body of a patient: The present invention provides a treatment device (10) for applying electrical impulses to a living body through the skin, for treating a variety of clinical conditions. The device comprises a pair of electrodes (32) for contact with the skin, and a waveform generator (46) for repeatedly generating an AC waveform... Agent: Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP

20070129761 - Methods for treating heart arrhythmia: Methods and apparatus are provided for treatment of heart arrhythmia via renal neuromodulation. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, ablation, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments,... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20070129762 - Cardiac pacemaker with dynamic conduction time monitoring: In accordance with the present invention, a cardiac device is provided comprising a first electrode for sensing an electrical pulse in an atrium, a second electrode for sensing an electrical pulse in an atrium, a microcontroller coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode for determining time between the... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070129763 - Method and apparatus for preventing cardiac arrhythmias with endovascular stimulation: Certain cardiac arrhythmias can be prevented by appropriate electrical stimulation of autonomic nerves innervating the heart. An implantable cardiac rhythm management device is configured to deliver such stimulation when an autonomic imbalance is predicted to be present via an endovascular electrode. Autonomic imbalance may be predicted to be present based... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070129765 - Implantable medical device for generating cardiac pressure-volume loop and optimizing therapy: An implantable medical device for generating a cardiac pressure-volume loop, the implantable medical device comprising a pulse generator including control circuitry, a first cardiac lead including a proximal end and a distal end and coupled to the pulse generator at the proximal end, a first electrode located at the distal... Agent: Faegre & Benson, LLP Boston Scientific Patent Dock

20070129764 - Method and apparatus for optimizing pacing parameters: A program for optimizing a pacing interval in an implantable medical device. The program includes setting the pacing interval to a baseline and measuring a physiologic sensor variable. The program measures the transient change in the physiologic sensor variable each time the pacing interval is changed. The pacing interval setting... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070129766 - Method and system for detecting capture with cancellation of pacing artifact: Methods and systems for detecting capture using pacing artifact cancellation are described. One or more pacing artifact templates are provided and a cardiac signal is sensed in a cardiac verification window. Each of the pacing artifact templates may characterize the pacing artifact associated with a particular pacing energy level, for... Agent: Attention: Clara Davis Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC

20070129767 - Passive charge of implantable medical device utilizing external power source and method: External power source for an implantable medical device implanted in a patient, the implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry and method therefore. A modulation circuit is operatively coupled to a power source. A plurality of primary coils are operatively coupled to the modulation circuitry... Agent: Iplm Group, P.A.

20070129768 - Battery protection and zero-volt battery recovery system for an implantable medical device: Circuitry useable to protect and reliably charge a rechargeable battery, even from a zero-volt state, is disclosed, and is particularly useful when employed in an implantable medical device. The circuit includes two charging paths, a first path for trickle charging the battery at a relatively low current when the battery... Agent: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri, L.L.P.

20070129770 - Electrode system for neural applications: Methods and apparatus for positioning electrodes in a skull. In some embodiments of the invention multiple measurements are made and a desired location is determined or estimated from the results of the measurements.... Agent: Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-cohen LLP

20070129769 - Wearable ambulatory data recorder: A wearable ambulatory data recorder that senses physiological parameters of a patient, and stores physiological parameter data for later retrieval, as well as techniques for using such a wearable ambulatory data recorder, are described. The data recorder includes one or more sensors located on or within a housing. The data... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070129771 - Device, method and stimulus unit for testing neuromuscular function: Embodiments relate generally to devices, methods and stimulus units for use in measuring neuromuscular function. Certain embodiments relate to a device for use in measuring at least one of nerve and muscle function, comprising: a substrate locatable on a body part, the substrate comprising a base portion, a limb portion... Agent: Bereskin And Parr

20070129772 - Cochlear implant fitting: Systems and methods for fitting cochlear implants. The cochlear implant fitting systems and methods can be used to generate various stimulus patterns for fitting patients with speech processors for cochlear implants. The fitting systems and methods provide means to identify rapidly which of several speech processing strategies could function effectively... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20070129773 - Medical device with intra-conductor capacitive energy storage: A medical device, such as for electrical stimulation, includes an electronic circuit that is implantable at a first location in an animal. The electronic circuit has an element for receiving a wireless signal and a power supply that converts electrical energy from that signal into a supply voltage for powering... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20070129774 - Closed-loop therapy adjustment: Techniques for detecting a value of a sensed patient parameter, and automatically delivering therapy to a patient according to therapy information previously associated with the detected value, are described. In exemplary embodiments, a medical device receives a therapy adjustment from the patient. In response to the adjustment, the medical device... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070129778 - Electromagnetic radiation therapy: An electromagnetic radiation therapy system comprises means for emitting divergent electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between 950 and 1500 nm and being capable of producing, at the site being treated, a radiation intensity of at least 50 μWatts/cm2. Also disclosed are the use of the system for treating various conditions... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec

20070129776 - External wearable light therapy treatment systems: A light therapy system provides for self-alignment or positioning with respect to a joint of a subject. The light therapy system can provide light therapy to a body part of a subject. The therapy system has a main body configured to be placed adjacent a target site and an activatable... Agent: Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC

20070129777 - Light therapy device: A light therapy device for alleviating medical disorders is provided. The light therapy device comprises a housing having a pair of first side walls, a pair of second side walls, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall with the second side walls being between the first side walls... Agent: Emery L. Tracy

20070129775 - System and method for generating treatment patterns: System and method for generating patterns P of aiming and treatment light on target eye tissue (e.g. the retina) of a patient's eye. The system includes light sources for treatment and aiming light, a scanner for generating patterns of spots of the generated light, a controller, and a graphic user... Agent: Dla Piper Rudnick Gray Cary Us, LLP

20070129779 - Percutaneous lead: A percutaneous lead assembly (10) for supplying electrical signals to a medical device (2) implanted within a body of a patient (1). The lead assembly comprising a flexible elongate member having a first portion (8) adapted to remain external to the body of a patient. The first portion having a... Agent: Ladas & Parry LLP

20070129780 - Cuff electrode arrangement for nerve stimulation and methods of treating disorders: One embodiment is a stimulator arrangement for a nerve. The stimulator arrangement includes a cuff for placement around the nerve and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the cuff. The cuff comprises a first edge and defines a plurality of indentations along the first edge of the cuff. The stimulator... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070129781 - Cardiac resynchronization system employing mechanical measurement of cardiac walls: Methods and devices are disclosed for employing mechanical measurements to synchronize contractions of ventricular wall locations. Accelerometers that may be placed within electrode leads are positioned at ventricular wall locations, such as the left ventricle free wall, right ventricle free wall, and the anterior wall/septum wall. The accelerometers produce signals... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth/bsc-crm

20070129782 - Active fixation cardiac lead: The invention relates to an active fixation cardiac electrode lead having a fixation helix movably placed in a housing at the electrode lead's distal end so as to be extended out of the housing's distal end and retraced into an inner space enclosed by the housing. The housing has a... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.C.