Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application inventions 08/07

20070203546 - Electrical and activation field models for configuring stimulation therapy: The disclosure describes a method and system that generates an electrical field model of defined stimulation therapy and displays the electrical field model to a user via a user interface. The electrical field model is generated based upon a patient anatomy and stimulation parameters to illustrate which areas of a... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203540 - Electrical and activation field models for programming a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry: The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. A programmer is configured to generate an electrical field model from selected stimulation parameters and patient anatomy data. The electrical field model indicates how the electrical field... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203544 - Programming interface with a concentric axial view of a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry: The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. The disclosure also contemplates guided programming to select electrode combinations and parameter values to support efficacy. The techniques may be applied to a programming interface associated with... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203541 - Programming interface with a cross-sectional view of a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry: The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. The disclosure also contemplates guided programming to select electrode combinations and parameter values to support efficacy. The techniques may be applied to a programming interface associated with... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203537 - Programming interface with an unwrapped 2d view of a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry: The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. The disclosure also contemplates guided programming to select electrode combinations and parameter values to support efficacy. The techniques may be applied to a programming interface associated with... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203543 - Stimulation templates for configuring stimulation therapy: The disclosure describes a method and system that generates stimulation parameters by selecting one or more stimulation parameters according to a stimulation field defined by a user. The system includes a memory that stores a plurality of stimulation templates for multiple electrode configurations of an electrical lead. A processor selects... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203542 - Stimulation templates for programming a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry: The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. A user interface of a programmer allows a user to define stimulation therapy by interacting with one or more representations of the lead that delivers the therapy.... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203539 - User interface with 2d views for configuring stimulation therapy: The disclosure describes a method and system that allows a user to configure electrical stimulation therapy by defining a stimulation field. After a stimulation lead is implanted in a patient, a clinician manipulates a stimulation field on the display to encompass desired anatomical regions of the patient. In this manner,... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203545 - User interface with 3d environment for configuring stimulation therapy: The disclosure describes a method and system that allows a user to configure electrical stimulation therapy by defining a three-dimensional (3D) stimulation field. After a stimulation lead is implanted in a patient, a clinician manipulates the 3D stimulation field in a 3D environment to encompass desired anatomical regions of the... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203538 - User interface with an atlas for configuring stimulation therapy: The disclosure describes a method and system that allows a user to configure electrical stimulation therapy by selecting a structure of an anatomical region represented by an atlas. The atlas is a reference anatomical region of a reference anatomy that a clinician may use to identify structures of a patient... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070203521 - Nerve stimulation for treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes: A tissue modulation device, for treating at least one of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes in a patient, is described. In some embodiments, the device includes a storage module having computer-readable instructions for delivering an electrical stimulation pattern to a splanchnic nerve of the patient. The stimulation pattern... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20070203526 - Cardiac rhythm management system selecting between multiple same-chamber electrodes for delivering cardiac therapy: A cardiac rhythm management system selects one of multiple electrodes associated with a particular heart chamber based on a relative timing between detection of a depolarization fiducial point at the multiple electrodes, or based on a delay between detection of a depolarization fiducial point at the multiple electrodes and detection... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070203525 - Fully inhibited dual chamber pacing mode: A pacing mode is provided, in one embodiment, that permits missed or skipped ventricular beats. The mode monitors a full cardiac cycle (A-A interval) for the presence of intrinsic ventricular activity. If ventricular activity is present, a flag is set that is valid for the next cardiac cycle. At the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203523 - Implantable medical device with adaptive operation: An implantable medical device operates with an algorithm that promotes intrinsic conduction and reduces ventricular pacing. The IMD monitors the occurrence of necessary ventricular pacing and takes certain actions based upon whether this occurrence has been relatively high or relatively low. When noise is detected, asynchronous pacing is provided when... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203522 - Method and apparatus for treating diastolic heart failure: Methods and systems for treating patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF) are disclosed which include slowing a patient's heart rate below its intrinsic rate, and controlling the rate using cardiac pacing therapy to improve LV filling and cardiac output. In certain embodiments, a pacing treatment rate may be determined by... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203524 - System and method for delivery of cardiac pacing in a medical device in response to ischemia: An implantable medical device system and method in which the implantable device is adapted to operate in a minimum ventricular pacing mode. The device delivers cardiac pacing pulses in a first pacing mode during a normal mode of operation and upon detecting myocardial ischemia alters the first pacing mode in... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203527 - Parasympathetic stimulation for termination of non-sinus atrial tachycardia: Apparatus is provided, which includes an electrode device, configured to be coupled to an atrial site of a subject containing parasympathetic nervous tissue, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to, responsively to a detection of an episode of non-sinus atrial tachycardia, restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20070203528 - Supply circuit for implantable medical devices: A supply circuit for an implantable medical device (IMD) is presented. The supply circuit includes a battery, a high current circuit, a current-modifying component, a low current circuit, and a capacitor. The low current circuit is connected to a first terminal of the battery. A current-modifying component is connected to... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203529 - Filtered feedthrough assembly: A filter apparatus for use with an implantable medical device includes a printed circuit board having a first trace connected to ground and adjacent feedthrough conductors extending through the printed circuit board. A chip capacitor is electrically connected between the adjacent feedthrough conductors, and is further electrically connected to the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203530 - Filtered multipolar feedthrough assembly: A filtered feedthrough assembly for use with an implantable medical device includes a ferrule, a plurality of feedthrough conductors extending through the ferrule, and a hermetic seal between the ferrule and the plurality of feedthrough conductors. A filter is electrically connected to a first of the feedthrough conductors to provide... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203531 - Heart rate variability control of gastric electrical stimulator: Methods and systems for stimulating a gastrointestinal system and for modifying a stimulation signal based on an indicator of autonomic nervous system function are described. One indicator of autonomic nervous system described is cardiac activity, including heart rate variability. Methods for selecting candidate patients for gastrointestinal stimulation therapy based on... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203532 - Method and device for decoupling and/or desynchronizing neural brain activity: A device for decoupling and/or desynchronizing neural, pathologically synchronous brain activity, in which, the activities in a partial region of a brain area or a functionally associated brain area are stimulated by means of an electrode, resulting in decoupling and desynchronizing the affected neuron population from the pathological area and... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20070203533 - Implantable medical device for restoration of neurological function impaired by peripheral neuropathy: An implantable device for treating a patient using sensory substitution includes a wearable article in which are disposed one or more sensors for detecting the phase of the gait cycle of the patient, a controller for receiving signals from the sensors indicative of the phase of the gait, and one... Agent: Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP

20070203534 - Stimulating galvanic or slow ac current for therapeutic physiological effects: Basically, the present invention is directed to a new and improved system for the therapeutic use of currents which includes conducting direct electrical current through the skin of a body being treated, and periodically reversing the electrical current and conducting the current through the skin in the opposite direction, to... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070203535 - Cochlear implants and apparatus/methods for improving audio signals by use of frequency-amplitude-modulation-encoding (fame) strategies: System and method for using Frequency-Amplitude-Modulation-Encoding (FAME) to improve the quality of sound perception for the cochlear implant users and the compress audio signals so that broadband qualities can be achieved with narrow-band transmission channels. In one embodiment, the FAME strategy extracts essential information (changes in amplitude and frequency) and... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20070203536 - Tinnitus suppressing cochlear implant: An implantable device and corresponding method for suppression of tinnitus are described. An implantable signal processing module develops a stimulation signal for application to audio sensing tissue of the user. The signal processing module includes a tinnitus suppression mode in which the stimulation signal is unrelated to environmental sound near... Agent: Bromberg & Sunstein LLP

20070203547 - Medical device identification: Techniques are provided for accessing information about a medical device or a related component. One or more interrogatable identification elements are located in a medical device. An interrogation device can communicate with the identification element(s), which element(s) can store information about the medical device, such as a manufacturer name, a... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (prts) (proteus Biomedical,inc)

20070203548 - System and device implantable in tissue of a living being for recording and influencing electrical bio-activity: Devices are implantable in tissue of living beings for detecting and influencing electrical bioactivity.... Agent: Edward W. Goebel, Jr. Macdonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP

20070203549 - Methods and apparatus for pulsed electric field neuromodulation via an intra-to-extravascular approach: Methods and apparatus are provided for pulsed electric field neuromodulation via an intra-to-extravascular approach, e.g., to effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, changes in cytokine upregulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, the ITEV PEF system comprises an... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20070203550 - Method and apparatus for application of light to tissue: a light device that is used to irradiates mucous membrane, blood organ, tumor or other body tissue. The light device has a power supply the least one light source and a camera the light source admits light at least one therapeutic wavelength preferably UVA and or UVC light the device... Agent: Orum & Roth LLC

20070203551 - Radiation applicator and method of radiating tissue: A dipole microwave applicator emits microwave radiation into tissue to be treated. The applicator is formed from a thin coax cable having an inner conductor surrounded by an insulator, which is surrounded by an outer conductor. A portion of the inner conductor extends beyond the insulator and the outer conductor.... Agent: Michael R. Reinemann Cesari And Mckenna, LLP

20070203552 - Method and system for control of a patient's body temperature by way of a transluminally insertable heat exchange catheter: Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette of any one of several disclosed variations is... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070203553 - Subcutaneous lead fixation mechanisms: A medical device that includes a lead having a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a housing having a connector block for receiving the proximal end of the lead body. A fixation mechanism is positioned proximal to an electrode coil located at the distal... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203554 - Methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart: The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the... Agent: Faegre & Benson, LLP Boston Scientific Patent Dock

20070203555 - Delivery catheter: A catheter used to deliver a medical electrical lead to a right atrium of a heart in close proximity to a His bundle. The catheter includes a proximal portion and a distal portion.... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203556 - Subcutaneous lead fixation mechanisms: A medical device that includes a lead having a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a housing having a connector block for receiving the proximal end of the lead body. A fixation mechanism is positioned proximal to an electrode coil located at the distal... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070203557 - Cochlear implant electrode array: An electrode array (30) which is able to be inserted to a desired depth within the cochlea to provide useful percepts for the recipient which will also preferably not cause damage to the sensitive structures of the cochlea. The electrode array (30) is insertable through an opening in the cochlea... Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP

20070203558 - Self-storing medical electrodes: The present invention provides a self-storing medical electrode (10) that does not require packaging, enclosures, or other means to house and to protect various electrode components. According to one aspect, the invention provides an electrode comprising an electrode body having first and second sides, wherein the first side comprises a... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20070198065 - Laparoscopic implantation of neurostimulators: A method for altering operation of a nerve related to a given body condition includes the steps of identifying at least one nerve root of a nerve related to the given body condition; laparoscopically implanting at least one electrode on the nerve root; and operating the electrode to electrostimulate the... Agent: Bachman & Lapointe, P.C.

20070198062 - Surgical access system and related methods: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20070198063 - Electrical devices and anti-scarring drug combinations: Electrical devices (e.g., cardiac rhythm management and neurostimulation devices) for contact with tissue are used in combination with an anti-scarring drug combination or a composition that comprises an anti-scarring drug combination to inhibit scarring that may otherwise occur when the devices are implanted within an animal.... Agent: Clark & Elbing LLP

20070198064 - Counter pulsation electrotherapy apparatus for treating a person or a mammal: An electrotherapy apparatus comprising a sensor for detecting periodically recurring signal peaks, in particular the R-R peaks of an electrocardiogram of a person, a processor for deriving from said periodically recurring signal peaks a time delay corresponding to approximately the end of the next T-wave, a trigger system or circuit... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20070198066 - Method and apparatus for visual neural stimulation: Existing epiretinal implants for the blind are designed to electrically stimulate large groups of surviving retinal neurons using a small number of electrodes with diameters of several hundred μm. To increase the spatial resolution of artificial sight, electrodes much smaller than those currently in use are desirable. In this study... Agent: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20070198067 - Automated collection of operational data from distributed medical devices: A system and method for automatically collecting at a data repository operational data from remotely distributed medical apparatus via a network, is disclosed, the method comprising: automatically capturing operational data at said medical apparatus; automatically selecting a route through the network for transferring said captured operational data to said data... Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP

20070198068 - Laser-induced transepidermal elimination of content by fractional photothermolysis: Subjects treated with nonablative fractional photothermolysis (FP) have an intact stratum corneum, but can have microscopic lesions and vacuole formation within the epidermis. The vacuoles thus formed can trap dermal material and extrude it through the epidermis. Thus, FP can be used for the treatment of recalcitrant melasma, solar elastosis,... Agent: Reliant / Fenwick C/o Fenwick & West, LLP

20070198069 - Treatment of vitiligo: Disclosed herein is a novel method of treating vitiligo by using an excimer laser that emits light in the UVB range. The invention includes a method of incrementally increasing exposure of affected vitiligo areas with UVB laser light from an excimer laser to restore pigmentation to skin areas afflicted with... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070198071 - Cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells: A cooling device for removing heat from subcutaneous lipid-rich cells of a subject having skin is provided. The cooling device includes a support having a first portion and a second portion. A first cooling element having a first heat exchanging surface is located at the first portion of the support.... Agent: Juniper Medical, Inc. Perkins Coie, LLP

20070198070 - Foam pad with far-infrared and/or ion generating properties and method for producing it: The present invention relates to a foam pad containing far-infrared and/or ion generating particles and method for producing such foam material. The method for producing the foam pad consists of mixing fine particles of a far-infrared and/or ion emitting stone into the base material prior to further processing such as... Agent: Arthur G. Oliveira

20070198072 - Body thermoregulation using skin temperature feedback: A method and apparatus for cooling a human being utilizes skin temperature feedback to control the amount of cooling. When the measured skin temperature reaches a preset high temperature, the human being is cooled until the measured skin temperature reaches a preset low temperature, and then cooling of the human... Agent: U.s. Army Medical Research And Material Command Attn: Mcmr-ja (ms. Elizabeth Arwine)

20070198073 - Medical device with a mri-induced signal attenuating member: A lead includes a conductor having a distal end and a proximal end. The lead also includes a filter circuit in the conductor. The filter circuit filters out magnetic resonance imaging induced signals.... Agent: Basch & Nickerson LLP

20070191896 - Method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing therapy: A method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy that includes an electrode to sense cardiac signals and to deliver the therapy, sensing circuitry, electrically coupled to the electrode, to detect the tachycardia event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, and a processor to control delivery of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070191897 - Method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing therapy: A method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy that includes an electrode to sense cardiac signals and to deliver the therapy, sensing circuitry, electrically coupled to the electrode, to detect the tachycardia event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, and a processor to control delivery of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070191898 - Method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing therapy: A method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy that includes an electrode to sense cardiac signals and to deliver the therapy, sensing circuitry, electrically coupled to the electrode, to detect the tachycardia event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, and a processor to control delivery of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070191899 - Method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing therapy: A method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy that includes an electrode to sense cardiac signals and to deliver the therapy, sensing circuitry, electrically coupled to the electrode, to detect the tachycardia event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, and a processor to control delivery of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070191900 - Method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing therapy: A method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy that includes an electrode to sense cardiac signals and to deliver the therapy, sensing circuitry, electrically coupled to the electrode, to detect the tachycardia event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, and a processor to control delivery of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070191902 - Methods and apparatus for treating anaphylaxis using electrical modulation: Methods and devices for treating anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock, bronchial constriction, and/or asthma include providing an electrical impulse to a selected region of the vagus nerve of a patient suffering from anaphylaxis to block and/or modulate nerve signals that would regulate the function of, for example, myocardial tissue, vasodilation/constriction and/or pulmonary... Agent: Kaplan Gilman Gibson & Dernier L.L.P.

20070191905 - Electrical stimulation treatment of hypotension: Methods and devices for treating hypotension, such as in cases of shock, including septic shock and anaphylactic shock, wherein the treatment includes providing an electrical impulse to a selected region of the vagus nerve of a patient suffering from hypotension to block and/or modulate nerve signals that regulate blood pressure.... Agent: Kaplan Gilman Gibson & Dernier L.L.P.

20070191912 - Interactive electrical stimulator device and server-based support system: A portable electro-therapy device includes a microprocessor configured to generate and control electrical stimulation output signals, an electrode jack, a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to the electrode jack and configured to transmit the electrical stimulation output signals to a patient, a modem communication port, and a modem configured to... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20070191913 - Multi-mode pet training device: The pet training device comprises a handheld wireless command module, a wireless receiver module connected to an adjustable collar assembly. The wireless command module is used to select a stimulation mode, stimulation duration, a Jump mode, a Rise mode, and a stimulation intensity level through the used of one-touch digital... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20070191887 - Device and method for conducting or brodcast actual neuro electrical coded signals for medical treatment: A method for collecting, recording, and broadcasting coded human or animal body waveforms. The method consists of placing a contact, which is designed to receive electrical signals, on a portion of the body. The electrical signal is converted into a readable format and is processed and stored in a computer.... Agent: Francis Law Group

20070191888 - Implantable biomedical chip with modulator for a wireless neural stimulation system: The invention relates to an implantable biomedical chip with modulator for a wireless neural stimulating system. The implantable biomedical chip comprises a power regulator, a demodulator, a baseband circuit, a D/A converter, an instrumentation amplifier, an A/D converter and a modulator. According to the invention, the modulator is mounted on... Agent: Volentine & Whitt PLLC

20070191889 - Atrial defibrillator: An atrial defibrillator has a stimulation pulse generator to generate pacing pulses, a sensing stage for sensing intrinsic ventricular events, (an R-wave having an amplitude). It also includes a defibrillation shock generator to generate an atrial defibrillation shock, an atrial fibrillation detector adapted to detect an atrial fibrillation, and a... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP

20070191892 - Apparatus and methods for automatic adjustment of av interval to ensure delivery of cardiac resynchronization therapy: The disclosure provides methods and apparatus of left ventricular pacing including automated adjustment of a atrio-ventricular (AV) pacing delay interval and intrinsic AV nodal conduction testing. It includes—upon expiration or reset of a programmable AV Evaluation Interval (AVEI)—performing the following: temporarily increasing a paced AV interval and a sensed AV... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070191891 - Fusion pacing enhancements: The disclosure provides methods and apparatus of left ventricular pacing including automated adjustment of a atrio-ventricular (AV) pacing delay interval and intrinsic AV nodal conduction testing. It includes—upon expiration or reset of a programmable AV Evaluation Interval (AVEI)—performing the following: temporarily increasing a paced AV interval and a sensed AV... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070191893 - Method and apparatus for providing ipselateral therapy background: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided to control contraction of the heart. At least one sensing element receives signals indicating electrical activity of sinus rhythm of the heart. The electrical activity is monitored and analyzed to detect an event. In addition, the electrical activity is monitored to detect, for example,... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20070191890 - Method and apparatus for treatment of cardiac tachyarrhythmias: Method and apparatus for preventing heart rhythm disturbances by recording cardiac electrical activity, measuring beat-to-beat variability in the morphology of electrocardiographic waveforms, and using the measured beat-to-beat variability to control the delivery of electrical impulses to the heart during the absolute refractory period.... Agent: Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP

20070191895 - Activation of cardiac alpha receptors by spinal cord stimulation produces cardioprotection against ischemia, arrhythmias, and heart failure: The present invention relates in general to methodologies for the treatment quenching preconditioning and communication between the peripheral cardiac nervous system and an electrical stimulus. In particular, the present invention utilizes spinal cord stimulation to alter and/or affect the peripheral cardiac nervous system and thereby protect cardiac function.... Agent: Dunlap, Codding & Rogers P.C.

20070191894 - Method and apparatus for selecting and timing anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing using cardiac signal morphology: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies including ATP. When a tachyarrhythmia episode is detected, the implantable medical device analyzes the morphology of a cardiac signal to determine whether and/or when to deliver an ATP therapy. In various embodiments, the implantable medical... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070191901 - Quantifying systolic and diastolic cardiac performance from dynamic impedance waveforms: The present invention is related to implantable cardiac devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators that deliver cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and to a method of optimizing acquisition of multi-vector impedance signals from electrodes present on implanted lead systems. Acquired impedance signals associated with dynamic intracardiac impedance are related to specific... Agent: Pacesetter, Inc.

20070191903 - Method for controlling micturition: The present invention concerns the stimulation of neural tissue, in particular brain tissue for the control of micturition. By activation of the pontine micturition centre (PMC) to induce micturition and deactivation of the pontine micturition centre to inhibit micturition, patients suffering from overactive bladder (OAB) and urge incontinence regain control... Agent: Young & Thompson

20070191904 - Expandable stimulation electrode with integrated pressure sensor and methods related thereto: This patent document discusses, among other things, apparatuses and methods including an expandable stimulation electrode with an integrated pressure sensor. In various examples, the apparatus further comprises a pulse generator, a controller, a posture sensor, or a physiological parameter sensor. When expanded, the electrode is adapted to abut a wall... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070191906 - Method and apparatus for selective nerve stimulation: Various aspects relate to a device. Various device embodiments include at least a first and a second transducer, and a controller. The first transducer is adapted to be positioned to direct a first energy wave toward a neural target, and the second transducer is adapted to be positioned to direct... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070191907 - Voltage/current regulator improvements for an implantable medical device: Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an implantable medical device. The stimulation waveform comprises at least one stimulation pulse. The embodiment of the invention supports a generation of a stimulation pulse in which an amplitude and an electrical polarity of the stimulation... Agent: Iplm Group, P.A.

20070191908 - Method and apparatus for stimulating a denervated muscle: A method of stimulating a subject having a denervated muscle and a corresponding functional muscle that are responsible for producing actions, such as blinking, on first and second portions, respectively, of the subject's body. The method includes determining whether the functional muscle has contracted, generating a contraction signal if it... Agent: Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott

20070191911 - Fitting a neural prosthesis using impedance and electrode height: The invention is a method of automatically adjusting an electrode array to the neural characteristics of an individual subject. The response to electrical neural stimulation varies from subject to subject. Measure of impedance may be used to predict the electrode height from the neural tissue and, thereby, predict the threshold... Agent: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20070191910 - Visual prosthesis: A prosthesis for viewing an object includes a CMOS camera that is mounted on an eye lens of a patient to create a visual image. A process controller then creates an encoded signal of the visual image that has specific intensity and position information for respective pixels. Next, this encoded... Agent: Neil K. Nydegger Nydegger & Associates

20070191909 - Wide-field retinal prosthesis: A wide-filed retinal prosthesis enables an increased field of vision with a relatively small scleral incision. The retinal prosthesis includes a flexible substrate comprising a central member and at least one wing, with an array of electrodes disposed therein that are configured to stimulate the central and peripheral nerves of... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20070191914 - Mri detector for implantable medical device: An implantable medical device with an inductive switching regulator having an inductor with a ferromagnetic core is described. The device incorporates a core saturation detector for detecting saturation in the inductor core indicating the presence of a magnetic field such as produced by an MRI scan. The device is configured... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070191915 - Systems and methods for intra-operative stimulation: Improved assemblies, systems, and methods provide safeguarding against tissue injury during surgical procedures and/or identify nerve damage occurring prior to surgery and/or verify range of motion or attributes of muscle contraction during reconstructive surgery. A stimulation control device may incorporate a range of low and high intensity stimulation to provide... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20070191916 - Method of determining the sympathetic tone and system for measurement thereof: The invention relates to a method of determining the sympathtic tone including the steps of: measuring an applied stimulation at a threshold value of the stimulation in one or more sympathetic tone-neutral points and measuring an applied stimulation at the same threshold value in one or more sympathetic tone-dependent points.... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20070191917 - Methods and compositions for treating conditions of the eye: Provided are methods and compositions for treating ocular conditions characterized by the presence of unwanted choroidal neovasculature, for example, neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The selectivity and sensitivity of, for example, a photodynamic therapy (PDT)-based approach can be enhanced by combining the PDT with an ansamycin analog or heat shock protein... Agent: Goodwin Procter LLP Patent Administrator

20070191918 - Method and system for control of a patient's body temperature by way of a transluminally insertable heat exchange catheter: Methods and apparatuses for temperature modification of a patient, or selected regions thereof, including an induced state of hypothermia. The temperature modification is accomplished using an in-dwelling heat exchange catheter within which a fluid heat exchange medium circulates. A heat exchange cassette of any one of several disclosed variations is... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070191919 - Device and method for removing lumenless leads: A device for removing from a patient a previously implanted elongated structure, such as a cardiac lead. The device includes a gripping member having a receiving portion and a capturing portion. The receiving portion defines an eyelet for receiving a length of the elongated structure. The capturing portion is movable... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/indy/cook

20070191920 - System for medical lead tunneling: An apparatus includes an elongated tube and an elongated rod having a holding member on one end, the holding member is adapted to hold an end of a lead such that the end of the lead can be pulled through the elongated tube resulting in minimal forces on the lead.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070191921 - Sensors having protective eluting coating and method therefor: An apparatus includes an implantable device, such as a chronically implantable device that has a device body. One or more chemical sensors are coupled with the device body. A drug eluting substance is disposed at a location including at least one of on, directly adjacent, or near the one or... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070185534 - Medical device durability test apparatus having an integrated particle counter and method of use: Apparatuses and methods for determining particle shed rates of implantable or inter-dwelling devices are disclosed. Durability test apparatuses with integrated particle counters produce time-dependent particle shed rate profiles. The apparatuses are designed to accommodate pulsatile flow, resembling a heartbeat at the implantable device. In an embodiment, the pulsatile flow is... Agent: Lathrop & Gage Lc

20070185533 - Neurofeedback conditioning method: An improved method for conditioning the brain for optimal cognitive functioning based on the use of neurofeedback. Using an EEG, a subject's brain activity is continually analyzed. A neurofeedback program is established for the subject on an automated individualized basis, based on the immediate brain activity and the understanding of... Agent: Weiss & Moy PC

20070185535 - Methods for anti-atherosclerotic therapy: Disclosed herein, among other things, is a method for identifying a patient for anti-atherosclerotic therapy. According to an embodiment, at least one diagnostic test is performed to determine if a patient is indicated for anti-atherosclerotic therapy. At least one parameter indicative of circulatory health is sensed as part of the... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070185536 - Heart treatment equipment and method for preventing fatal arrhythmia: In order to avoid a sudden cardiac death by a fatal arrhythmia, various living body information for generating a signal which shows a level of an autonomic tone is detected by a sensor or a VT/VF risk event is detected so as to control the stimulation of the vagus nerve... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20070185537 - Methods and apparatus for tissue activation and monitoring: Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (prts) (proteus Biomedical,inc)

20070185538 - Wireless intravascular medical device with a double helical antenna assembly: A medical device, such as a cardiac pacing device for an animal, includes an intravascular antenna that has a first coil for engaging a wall of a first blood vessel to receive a radio frequency signal. The first coil includes a first winding wound helically in a rotational direction along... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20070185539 - Overmold for a modular implantable medical device: A modular implantable medical device permits implantable medical devices to have a smaller profile in order to better fit into locations within the human body. A modular implantable medical device separates various functional components of the implantable medical device into a set of interconnected modules. This distributed architecture of a... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070185540 - Smooth muscle controller: A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle (200), comprises selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion, and applying a non-excitory electric field (210) to the portion, which reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.... Agent: Wolf, Block, Shorr And Solis-cohen LLP

20070185541 - Conductive mesh for neurostimulation: A medial treatment device for treating at least first and second medical conditions is provided, as well as a method for using the same. The medical treatment device includes a stimulation device for treating the first medical condition with electrical stimulation, and an implantable mesh adapted for implantation within the... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070185542 - Baroreflex therapy for disordered breathing: Devices, systems and methods are described by which the blood pressure, nervous system activity, and neurohormonal activity may be selectively and controllably reduced by activating baroreceptors. A baroreceptor activation device is positioned near a baroreceptor, preferably a baroreceptor located in the carotid sinus. A control system may be used to... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20070185543 - System and method for sustained baroreflex stimulation: The present invention comprises a medical device having a baroreflex stimulator to generate a stimulation signal, the stimulation signal being adapted to stimulate a baroreflex, and a controller to communicate with the baroreflex stimulator and implement a baroreflex stimulus regimen to vary an intensity of the baroreflex stimulation provided by... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20070185544 - System and methods of deep brain stimulation for post-operation patients: A method for programming a deep brain stimulator implanted in a target region of a brain of a living subject for optimal stimulation, wherein the deep brain stimulator comprises at least one electrode having a plurality of electrode contacts spaced apart from each other, and any portion of the brain... Agent: Morris Manning Martin LLP

20070185545 - Post-download patient data protection in a medical device: The disclosure describes techniques for protecting patient data stored in a medical device, such as an external defibrillator. The patient data may be transferred, or downloaded, from the medical device to another device, such as to a computing device for storage or analysis. In response to the download, the medical... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070185550 - 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.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070185546 - Flexible antenna module for wireless energy transmission: This invention provides a flexible antenna module for wireless energy transmission, which uses an antenna size controlling device to adjust the antenna's size to conform a living body's outer portion wearing the flexible annular antenna. An antenna energy transmission control module is provided to adjust the power for driving the... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC

20070185548 - Methods and apparatus for tissue activation and monitoring: Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (prts) (proteus Biomedical,inc)

20070185549 - Methods and apparatus for tissue activation and monitoring: Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (prts) (proteus Biomedical,inc)

20070185547 - System and method for remotely programming a patient medical device: A system and method for remotely programming a patient medical device (PMD) is presented. Programming instructions specified remotely are translated into commands formatted for a PMD to control functionality thereof. Correctness of the PMD-formatted commands is checked. Patient consent to modify the functionality of the PMD is confirmed. Application of... Agent: Cascadia Intellectual Property

20070185551 - Implantable pulse generators using rechargeable zero-volt technology lithium-ion batteries: An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without... Agent: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherfor & Brucculer L.l.p

20070185552 - Device and method for biological tissue stimulation by high intensity laser therapy: A method for laser anti-inflammatory treatment of painful symptomatologies and for tissue regeneration includes generating a pulsed laser beam with laser at a wavelength between 0.75 and 2.5 micrometers. The laser energy is conveyed to a hand unit where the laser beam is preferably defocused. The operator then applies the... Agent: Mcglew And Tuttle John James Mcglew

20070185553 - Therapy device and system and method for reducing harmful exposure to electromagnetic radiation: The invention is directed to a therapy device, including a body, an energy source disposed on the body for emitting a desired wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, and a proximity sensor for sensing proximity of the device to a desired surface. Also disclosed are a material dispensing system disposed on the... Agent: Torys LLP

20070185554 - Interstitial microwave system and method for thermal treatment of diseases: A minimally-invasive fluid-cooled insertion sleeve assembly, with an attached balloon and distally-located penetrating tip, into which sleeve any of a group comprising a rigid rod, a microwave-radiator assembly and an ultrasonic-imaging transducer assembly may be inserted, constitutes a probe of the system. The sleeve assembly comprises spaced inner and outer... Agent: Reed Smith, LLP Attn: Patent Records Department

20070185555 - Manually activatable chemical cold pack: A cold pack comprising a handheld flexible plastic bladder filled with a smaller container of a first reactant, with a volume between the container and the bladder filled with a second reactant. The cold pack may be hand crushed to break the thin walled inner container, allowing the reactants to... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20070185556 - Medical electrical lead body designs incorporating energy dissipating shunt: An elongate body of a medical electrical lead includes at least one conductor formed into a coil that includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends within an outer insulation sheath and the second portion extends outside the outer insulation sheath to be exposed to... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070185557 - Electrode line: An implantable electrode line having a proximal and a distal end, an outer electrode line surface and an electrode line longitudinal axis. The implantable electrode line is characterized in that the electrode line in the region of the distal end has a surface region with a microstructure, the surface region... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP

20070179548 - Power supply monitoring for an implantable device: A method and an apparatus for determining a time period remaining in a useful life of an energy storage device in an implantable medical device. The method may include measuring a voltage of the energy storage device to produce a measured voltage, and comparing the measured voltage to a transition... Agent: Cyberonics, Inc.

20070179573 - Method and apparatus for stimulating hair growth: A laser device for stimulating a body region to promote hair growth is disclosed. The laser device includes a housing structure, a plurality of pins, a plurality of laser modules, and a microcontroller. The housing structure includes a removable head assembly. The pins are configured to stimulate the body region.... Agent: Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20070179532 - Method and apparatus for a small power source for an implantable device: One embodiment of the present subject matter includes an apparatus including a non-thin-film battery, the apparatus including a cylindrical implantable housing, electronics disposed in the implantable housing, and a battery disposed in the implantable housing, the battery comprising: a stack including at least one substantially planar anode having a thickness... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070179533 - Method and apparatus to stimulate the immune system of a biological entity: A system and method for stimulating the immune systems of biological entities in an environment. Pulsed electrical currents are generated using an electric current generator. The pulsed electrical currents are fed through an arrangement of electrically conductive material such that magnetic energy is emitted from the arrangement into the environment.... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP

20070179535 - Apparatus for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of tissue: Apparatus (20) for carrying out a prophylactic or treatment procedure on tissue comprises a device (21) having a chamber (22) and at least one active element such as an electrode (23) within the chamber (22). The chamber (22) has an opening (26) through which tissue is drawn into the chamber... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20070179536 - 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... Agent: Sheridan Ross PC

20070179534 - Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery: Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes affecting a target neural population of the patient by providing to the patient at least one of an electromagnetic signal and a chemical substance. The... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20070179537 - Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator with post-shock reset: In a cardioverter/defibrillator system, an electrical circuit includes an energy storage device, an output circuit for controlling delivery of pulse therapy from the energy storage device to a patient, and a sensing circuit coupled across the patient to sense the patient's heart signal. The output circuit may be in the... Agent: Crompton Seager And Tufte, LLC

20070179538 - Implantable subcutaneous medical device providing post-extra-systolic potentiation therapy: A subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator provides post-shock post-extra-systolic potentiation therapy.... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179539 - Method and apparatus for controlling arrhythmia detection and treatment based on patient posture: An implantable medical device and method are provided for determining if a patient is in a substantially horizontal position and delaying a programmed cardioversion/defibrillation shock therapy in response to determining the patient is in a substantially horizontal position. In various embodiments, the shock therapy may be delayed by adjusting tachycardia... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179540 - Subcutaneous icd with separate cardiac rhythm sensor: A cardiac rhythm sensor positioned on or close to the heart senses electrical or mechanical activity and transmits a cardiac rhythm signal wirelessly to a subcutaneous ICD. Arrhythmia detection and delivery of therapy are performed by the SubQ ICD based upon the cardiac rhythm signal received from the sensor.... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179541 - Method and apparatus for determining excitation-physiologic response delays: An implantable medical device system and associated method are provided for measuring an excitation-physiological response delay. The method includes sensing a first signal responsive to electrical activity in a first cardiac chamber, sensing a second signal responsive to a physiologic response to the electrical activity in the first cardiac chamber;... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179542 - Method and apparatus for determining optimal pacing therapy timing intervals: A method for determining an optimal pacing timing control parameter setting is provided for use in an implantable medical device programmed to deliver a pacing pulse in response to the timing control parameter. The method includes storing a user-selected optimization metric, iteratively adjusting the timing control parameter setting, sensing a... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179543 - Techniques for prevention of atrial fibrillation: A method is provided, including identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of an occurrence of an episode of the AF is reduced by applying an electrical current to a site of the subject selected from the group... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20070179544 - Lead-carried proximal electrode for quadripolar transthoracic impedance monitoring: An implantable medical device (IMD) provides quadripolar transthoracic impedance measurement capability by forming at least one of the two electrodes associated with the canister of the device on a lead proximate the canister.... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179546 - Method and apparatus for optimizing stroke volume during ddd resynchronization therapy using adjustable atrio-ventricular delays: A pacing system for providing 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 providing an... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070179545 - Method and system for controlling pulmonary capillary pressure: A method of controlling pulmonary capillary pressure is disclosed which includes increasing the output of a first ventricle (V1) (e.g., a left ventricle) relative to second ventricle (e.g., right ventricle) by increasing the magnitude of a post extrasystolic potentiation (PESP) therapy effect in the first ventricle relative to the magnitude... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179547 - Power supply monitoring for an implantable device: A method and an apparatus for projecting an end of service (EOS) and/or an elective replacement indication (ERI) of a component in an implantable device is provided. The method comprises measuring the measured voltage of the energy storage device, and determining whether the measured voltage is less than a transition... Agent: Cyberonics, Inc.

20070179549 - Systems and methods for managing the longevity of an implantable medical device battery: A method for managing battery longevity of an implantable medical device (“IMD”) battery includes calculating a total IMD battery longevity value for an IMD and determining whether the total IMD battery longevity is below an optimal battery longevity value. At least one IMD parameter to be modified to improve the... Agent: Faegre & Benson, LLP Boston Scientific Patent Dock

20070179551 - Filtered electrical interconnect assembly: An electronic module assembly for an implantable medical device includes a non-conductive block having an opening for accepting a feedthrough conductor. The block has opposite first and second ends and opposite first and second sides. A bond pad is located on the first end of the block for electrical connection... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179550 - Intravascular medical device: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179555 - Electrical interconnection structures and method: An electrical interconnect structure for an implantable medical device includes a feedthrough that has a pin extending therefrom. The pin defines a first end and a middle portion. A bonding surface is formed at the first end of the pin, and the bonding surface has a surface area greater than... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179553 - Implantable medical device feedthrough assembly including flange plate: A medical device feedthrough assembly includes a flange plate formed with a plurality of receptacles. A feedthrough subassembly is mounted within each of the receptacles, and a ferrule of each subassembly is coupled to the flange plate.... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179552 - Intravascular medical device: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179554 - Method and apparatus for minimizing emi coupling in a feedthrough array having at least one unfiltered feedthrough: An implantable medical device is provided including a housing, an external circuit element extending outwardly from the housing, an internal circuit enclosed by the housing, a feedthrough array disposed along the housing having at least one filtered feedthrough and at least one unfiltered feedthrough, wherein the unfiltered feedthrough is adapted... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179556 - Gastrointestinal methods and apparatus for use in treating disorders: A method is provided for detecting a change in posture of a subject. An electrical impedance is measured between two or more sites on a stomach (20) of the subject, and an impedance signal is generated responsive thereto. The change in posture is detected by performing a posture analysis of... Agent: Wolf, Block, Shorr And Solis-cohen LLP

20070179557 - Controlling neuromodulation using stimulus modalities: A method, apparatus, and system for affecting neuromodulation based upon an evoking signal applied to a patient's body. An internal and/or external evoking and/or therapeutic signal is applied to a first target portion of a patient's body. Data relating to a physiological response resulting from the internal and/or external evoking... Agent: Timothy L. Scott

20070179558 - Systems and methods for varying electromagnetic and adjunctive neural therapies: Systems and methods for varying electromagnetic and adjunctive neural therapies are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes applying electromagnetic signals to a target neural population of a patient over a first period of time in accordance with a first mode (e.g., including signal delivery to the central... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20070179559 - Electrical stimulation to alleviate chronic pelvic pain: The disclosure describes a method and system for applying electrical stimulation to a genitofemoral nerve or a genital branch of a genitofemoral nerve of a patient. The system includes electrical stimulators that apply electrical stimulation for alleviation of pelvic pain. The system may apply electrical stimulation for pelvic pain in... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070179560 - Functional electrical stimulation system: An electrical stimulation device for a body part of a person comprises an orthosis with sensor and electrodes and a controller. The controller receives a sensor signal, compares the sensor signal to a threshold value and generates an electrical output from the electrodes if the sensor signal exceeds the threshold... Agent: Thomas E. Sisson Jackson Walker, LLP

20070179561 - Muscle stimulation method and system to improve walking: In a method and a system of providing walking assistance and/or therapy to a person with impaired gait, electrical stimulation is applied to muscles of a leg that effect dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the ankle of the leg. The timing of the electrical stimulation is determined from gait event... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20070179562 - Implantable tissue growth stimulator: An implantable tissue growth stimulator is disclosed. The implantable tissue growth stimulator includes electronic circuitry to alter the voltage output by the stimulator. The implantable tissue growth stimulator may be controlled from an external device via wireless communication. The implantable tissue growth stimulator may be configured for use with an... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070179563 - Treatment of vision disorders using electrical, light, and/or sound energy: A non-invasive ocular therapy for vision disorders is provided. First and second electrodes of a direct current source are electrically contacted so as to deliver current to and/or about an area proximal one or more eyes of a subject. A direct electrical current of between about 1-800 microamps, at a... Agent: Nawrocki, Rooney & Sivertson Suite 401, Broadway Place East

20070179564 - Treatment of vision disorders using electrical, light, and/or sound energy: A non-invasive ocular therapy for vision disorders is provided. First and second electrodes of a direct current source are electrically contacted so as to deliver current to and/or about an area proximal one or more eyes of a subject. A direct electrical current of between about 1-800 microamps, at a... Agent: Nawrocki, Rooney & Sivertson Suite 401, Broadway Place East

20070179566 - Cochlear implant electrode array: An electrode array (30) which is able to be inserted to a desired depth within the cochlea to provide useful percepts for the recipient which will also preferably not cause damage to the sensitive structures of the cochlea. The electrode array (30) is insertable through an opening in the cochlea... Agent: Jagtiani + Guttag

20070179565 - System for generating a cochlear implant program using multi-electrode stimulation to elicit the electrically-evoked compound action potential: A multichannel cochlear implant system spatially spreads the excitation pattern in the target neural tissue by either: (1) rapid sequential stimulation of a small group of electrodes, or (2) simultaneously stimulating a small group of electrodes. Such multi-electrode stimulation stimulates a greater number of neurons in a synchronous manner, thereby... Agent: Advanced Bionics Corporation

20070179567 - Customer-specific follow-up frequency: A customer-specific follow-up frequency for patient management systems. Methods and systems are disclosed that involve providing implantable medical device (IMD) data, such as data related to an IMD, sensed physiological data, to multiple customers, such as physicians, nurses, technicians, and physician's assistants. The methods and systems allow multiple customers to... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179569 - Methods and apparatus for tissue activation and monitoring: Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (prts) (proteus Biomedical,inc)

20070179568 - Methods for detecting osteolytic conditions in the body: Methods and systems for detecting a biological response indicative of osteolysis or osteolytic pre-conditions in bone.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070179571 - Light-emitting device and method for providing phototherapy to the brain: An apparatus emits light for irradiating a patient's skin to treat portions of a patient's body underneath the patient's skin. The apparatus includes a source of light having a wavelength which is substantially transmitted by the patient's skin. The apparatus further includes an optical conduit optically coupled to the source.... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070179570 - Wearable device and method for providing phototherapy to the brain: An apparatus is wearable by a patient for treating the patient's brain. The apparatus includes a body which covers at least a portion of the patient's scalp when the apparatus is worn by the patient. The apparatus further includes a plurality of elements. Each element has a first portion which... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070179572 - Energy irradiation device and method, control device and control method: An energy irradiation device for medical use to irradiate a living body with energy includes a data storage for storing data indicative of correlations between information about bloodstream quantities and amounts of tissue necrosed in living bodies for a plurality of living bodies differing in bloodstream quantity that are irradiated... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20070179574 - Apparatus for phototherapeutic treatment of skin disorders: A lens for use on a device to assist in the phototherapeutic treatment of skin disorders where the device includes a housing having an interior containing a source of ultra-violet radiation or being adapted to receive ultra-violet radiation from an external source. The lens comprises a sheet-like structure releasably securable... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20070179575 - Thermal therapeutic catheter with location detection enhancement: A working end of a catheter includes at least one therapeutic element, such as a resistive heating element, usable to deliver energy for ligating, or reducing the diameter of, a hollow anatomical structure. In certain examples, the catheter includes a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070179576 - Thermal therapy device: There is provided a thermal therapy device that is capable of following changes in the resonance frequency even if the resonance frequency of the series resonance circuit on the secondary side changes significantly and generating a magnetic field of a required intensity for heating the affected portion. The thermal therapy... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20070179578 - Implantable electrode line: A device for stimulating a living being having a proximal end having means for the electrical connection to an implantable medical device; having an oblong medial section having a first external diameter, which has at least one first dielectric outer envelope, at least one electrical conductor, and at least one... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.C.

20070179577 - Medical electrical lead having improved inductance: A conductor for connecting an electrode near a distal end of a medical electrical lead with an implantable medical device connected with a proximal end of the medical electrical lead includes a multi-filar coil wrapped around a central core. The multi-filar coil has an inductance of approximately 0.5 μH or... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179579 - Method of neurostimulation of distinct neural structures using single paddle lead to treat multiple pain locations and multi-column, multi-row paddle lead for such neurostimulation: In some embodiments, a paddle lead is implanted within a patient such that the electrodes are positioned within the cervical or thoracic spinal levels. An electrode combination on a first row of electrodes can be determined that is effective for a first pain location with minimal effects on other regions... Agent: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.

20070179580 - Multipolar stimulation electrode: An electrode assembly including a first spine having a first end, a second end, and at least one first mating structure; a second spine having a first end, a second end, and at least one second mating structure, wherein the first spine is generally opposite to the second spine, and... Agent: Cyberonics, Inc.

20070179581 - Intravascular medical device: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179582 - Polymer reinforced coil conductor for torque transmission: A coil conductor for connecting an electrode near a distal end of a medical electrical lead with an implantable medical device (IMD) connected with a proximal end of the medical electrical lead includes a multi-filar coil and a torque enhancing sheathing. The multi-filar coil comprises a co-radially wound, multi-filar coil... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070179583 - Delivery system, method, and anchor for medical implant placement: An anchor for a medical implant, a method of manufacturing an anchor, and a delivery system and method for delivering a medical implant, such as for monitoring physiological parameters, for example, for diagnosing and/or monitoring and/or treating cardiovascular diseases, such as CHF and CHD. The anchor includes a base member,... Agent: Hartman & Hartman, P.C.

20070179584 - Electrode geometries for efficient neural stimulation: Electrodes designed in accordance with the present invention may selectively employ arc shaped contacts; variations in contact number, positioning, spacing, and/or distribution; variations in contact area, size, or periphery; and/or on-electrode conductive links or interconnections between particular contacts to provide enhanced efficiency neural stimulation, and/or increased electrode reliability.... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea