Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application inventions 10/07

20070250120 - Active implantable medical device with at least two diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions: An active medical implantable device with at least two diagnostic and/or therapeutic functions is constructed from separate active implant modules (2 to 7) which are adapted to the respective desired functions and can be coupled to each other.... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.C.

20070250131 - Implantable battery-operated electrostimulation device: The present invention relates to an implantable battery-operated electrostimulation device (10), particularly for stimulating a heart, having a telemetry unit (11) for wireless data transmission between the electrostimulation device (10) and an external device (21), a control unit (15), which is connected to the telemetry unit (11) and is implemented... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.C.

20070250133 - Method and apparatus for detection of nervous system disorders: Systems and methods for detecting and/or treating nervous system disorders, such as seizures, are disclosed. Certain embodiments of the invention relate generally to implantable medical devices (IMDs) adapted to detect and treat nervous system disorders in patients with an IMD. Certain embodiments of the invention include detection of seizures based... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20070250138 - Method and apparatus of noninvasive, regional brain thermal stimuli for the treatment of neurological disorders: A method and device for treating neurological disorders involving the application of noninvasive, regional brain thermal stimulation to a region of a patient's head associated with a subject neurological disorder. The brain thermal stimulation method and device alters the brain function in the region of the brain underlying the region... Agent: Meyer Unkovic & Scott LLP

20070250119 - Systems and methods for altering brain and body functions and for treating conditions and diseases of the same: The present invention relates to systems and methods for management of brain and body functions and sensory perception. For example, the present invention provides systems and methods of sensory substitution and sensory enhancement (augmentation) as well as motor control enhancement. The present invention also provides systems and methods of treating... Agent: Medlen & Carroll, LLP

20070250121 - Collecting activity information to evaluate therapy: A medical device delivers a therapy to a patient. The medical device or another device may periodically determine an activity level of the patient, and associate each determined activity level with a current therapy parameter set. A value of at least one activity metric is determined for each of a... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070250122 - Method of delivering pesp/icc as well as adjusting the refractory period of the heart: Medical devices and methods are used to treat cardiac dysfunction conditions which involve delivery of stimulation pulses in cardiac refractory periods in order to modulate an effective refractory period (ERP). Such devices and methods may be used in conjunction with or in place of other therapies, including increased cardiac contractility... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250123 - Implantable medical device: An implantable medical device is provided for sensing cardiac activity within a patient's body. The device comprises a canister, control circuitry disposed within the canister, and a lead assembly extending from the canister. At least one sense electrode is coupled to the circuitry and disposed on the lead assembly for... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250124 - Apparatus and methods of delivering an enhanced refractory period stimulation therapy: Refractory period stimulation (RPS) disclosed herein includes apparatus and methods to enhance cardiac performance by delivering monophasic stimulation pulses during the refractory period. The disclosure describes several system level improvements to RPS that include one or more of the following: (i) Delivery of RPS therapy pulses at multiple sites in... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250125 - Expert system and method: A medical device programmer and a method of operation in which a first data value is received and used in the execution of one or more algorithms. One or more suggested pulse generator settings are calculated from the one or more algorithms based on the first data value, and the... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070250126 - System and method for waking an implantable medical device from a sleep state: A system and method for waking up an implantable medical device (“IMD”) from a sleep state in which power consumption by the IMD is essentially zero. The IMD may be adapted to perform one or more designated measurement and/or therapeutic functions. In one embodiment, the IMD includes a wake-up sensor... Agent: Faegre & Benson, LLP Boston Scientific Patent Dock

20070250127 - Implantable medical device with automatic ischemia threshold determination: An implantable medical device (IMD) performs periodic testing of a patient to determine ischemia threshold information. At selected times while the patient is at rest, the IMD increases the pacing rate over time until it receives feedback either from the patient or from an ischemia sensor. The IMD determines the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250128 - Refractory period stimulation to increase ventricular performance: In general, the disclosure describes implantable pulse generators (IPGs) adapted to deliver stimulation to refractory myocardial tissue. An IPG nominally delivers one to six monophasic stimulation pulses. Because monophasic stimulation tends to accumulate polarization, a programmable blanking period of between about 20 milliseconds (ms) and about 300 ms is implemented... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250129 - System and method for characterization of atrial wall using digital signal processing: A system and method for characterizing the atrial wall of the heart is provided. The characterization of the atrial wall can be used for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. For example, it can be used to detect precursors to various types of hear disease, such as atrial fibrillation.... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250130 - Remote communication system with availability indicator for an implantable medical device: A medical information communication system and corresponding methods are described. The system can permit monitoring the performance of an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a body of a patient, monitoring the health of the patient, and/or remotely delivering a therapy to the patient through the IMD. The IMD can... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250132 - Devices and methods for gastrointestinal stimulation: Devices and methods for applying gastrointestinal stimulation include implanting a stimulation device including a body with at least one expandable portion and a bridging portion and at least one stimulation member in the gastrointestinal tract. The at least one stimulation member includes one or more energy delivery members, one or... Agent: Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

20070250134 - Collecting gait information for evaluation and control of therapy: A medical device delivers a therapy to a patient. The medical device or another device may periodically determine an activity level or gait parameter of the patient, and associate each determined level or parameter with a current therapy parameter set. A value of at least one activity metric is determined... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070250135 - Compound subretinal prostheses with extra-ocular parts and surgical technique therefore: In a method for introducing a retinal implant to a position within a subretinal region of an eye, the following steps are performed: a) preparing a fornix-based scleral flap at a distance from the limbus; b) detaching the retina by subretinal injection of balanced salt solution, from the vitreous cavity... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070250136 - Systems and methods of facilitating communication between a first and second device: Systems for facilitating communication between a first and second device include a voltage level translator circuit configured to convert a voltage level of one or more digital signals that are transmitted from the first device to the second device to a voltage level substantially equal to a supply voltage level... Agent: Advantedge Law Group , LLC

20070250137 - Hand held laser for medical treatment: A hand held laser for treating a skin condition includes a housing comprising a first end, a second end and a cavity therein wherein the cavity includes a substantially light reflective surface and wherein the housing comprises at least one fin extending from an exterior surface of the housing. The... Agent: Westman Champlin & Kelly, P.A.

20070250139 - Enhanced systems and methods for rf-induced hyperthermia ii: An RF transceiver for coupling an RF signal through a target area, having a transmission head having a transmission inductor having a first axis directed toward a target area, an RF generator capable of generating a hyperthermia-inducing RF signal having at least one component for transmission via the transmission head,... Agent: Calfee Halter & Griswold, LLP

20070250140 - Apparatus and methods for isolating human body: Apparatus (8) and methods are provided for facilitating medical procedures, such as providing injections to human or animal patients. The apparatus and methods mitigate against discomfort and/or pain often experienced by a patient receiving an injection for a therapeutic or a cosmetic purpose. The apparatus and methods are effective to... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20070250141 - Patient cooling system: A patient cooling system comprises an inflatable patient mattress and a patient enclosure or tent supported by a framework of inflatable tubes drawing air off of the same air supply used to supply the mattress and to cool the tent. The framework of inflatable tubes is divided into left and... Agent: Kinetic Concepts, Inc. Legal Department Intellectual Property

20070250142 - Atomic layer deposition coatings for implantable medical devices: Implantable medical devices with coatings formed by atomic layer deposition and methods of applying such coatings to implantable medical devices are disclosed. The medical devices may include electrical feedthroughs and media exposed integrated circuits and/or transducer systems, as well as others. The coatings may improve, among other things, hermeticity, biocompatibility,... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250143 - Multi-conductor ribbon coiled medical device lead: A medical device lead that includes a first insulative material and a plurality of substantially parallel conductive filars extending from a proximal end to a distal end within the first insulative material. The first insulative material and the plurality of conductive filars are coiled to a define a lumen, and... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250144 - Active fixation medical electrical lead: A medical electrical lead includes a proximal insulation segment, a distal insulation segment, a conductor extending within the proximal and distal segments, and an electrode coupled to the conductor and disposed in proximity to a distal end of the distal insulation segment. A fixation element of the lead is coupled... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070250145 - Device for the transdermal stimulation of a nerve of the human body: The invention relates to a device (1) for transcutaneous stimulation of a nerve of the human body, which device (1) comprises at least one stimulation electrode (2) and at least one reference electrode (3) for transcutaneous nerve stimulation, the at least one stimulation electrode (2) and the at least one... Agent: Lucas & Mercanti, LLP

20070244527 - A treatment apparatus and a method of treatment: A dental treatment apparatus is provided with an irradiation unit, a temperature detection unit and a control unit. The irradiation unit is constituted by N number of first light emitting elements S1 to SN, N number of first focusing lenses L1 to LN, and N number of optic fibers F1... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20070244519 - Autogeneration of neurostimulation therapy program groups: The disclosure relates to techniques for automatically generating neurostimulation therapy program groups. The techniques may include receiving rating information and information describing actual therapy effects for a plurality of tested programs, and receiving target therapy data describing target therapy effects. The techniques may include automatically generating plurality of program groups... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20070244520 - Lumen-traveling biological interface device and method of use: Lumen-traveling biological interface devices and associated methods and systems are described. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices capable of traveling within a body lumen may include a propelling mechanism to produce movement of the lumen-traveling device within the lumen, electrodes or other electromagnetic transducers for detecting biological signals and electrodes, coils or... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20070244521 - Systems and methods for preventing, detecting, and terminating pacemaker mediated tachycardia in biventricular implantable cardiac stimulation systems: Various techniques are described for preventing pacemaker mediated tachycardia (PMT) within biventricular pacing systems and for detecting and terminating PMT should it nevertheless arise. In a first prevention technique, refractory periods applied to the atrial channel are synchronized to begin with a second of a pair of ventricular pacing pulses... Agent: Pacesetter, Inc.

20070244522 - Gradual recruitment of muscle/neural excitable tissue using high-rate electrical stimulation parameters: A neurostimulator system (170) stimulates excitable muscle or neural tissue through multiple electrodes (E1, E2, . . . En) fast enough to induce stochastic neural firing, thereby acting to restore “spontaneous” neural activity. The type of stimulation provided by the neurostimulator involves the use of a high rate, e.g., greater... Agent: Advanced Bionics Corporation

20070244523 - System and method for selective retinal stimulation: A method for selective electrical stimulation of a retina for application in a visual neuralprosthesis. The method includes application of an asymmetrical, charge-balance biphasic waveform to increase the receptivity of selected cells to a subsequent stimulus, and then electrically stimulating to those selected cells to induce either a punctuate phosphene... Agent: Christopher B. Jacobs - Case Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20070244524 - Method and device for photoreactive therapy and diagnosis: Described are devices, systems, and methods for photoreactive operations involving the use of a photolyzable caged molecule as a photoreactive agent. The caged molecule may be a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. Also described is an implantable device configured to perform photoreactive operations in the form of photoreactive therapy and/or photoreactive... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070244525 - Phototherapy light with dual spring support neck: A phototherapy light device for directing light onto an infant. The phototherapy light device has a base containing an illumination source and a gooseneck type of elongated neck that extends outwardly from the base and has a distal end adapted to be positioned to direct the light onto the infant.... Agent: Roger M. Rathbun

20070244526 - Laser apparatus for therapeutic applications: Apparatuses and methods for applying laser energy for therapeutic purposes (e.g., relief of pain and/or inflammation in tissues) are disclosed. The synchronization of two spatially overlapping energy forms having closely positioned emission axes and particular emission modalities can in many cases provide strengthened or even synergistic effects in the alleviation... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

20070244528 - Apparatus and methods for pain relief using ultrasound waves in combination with cryogenic energy: The method and device of the present invention for pain relief using ultrasound waves in combination with cryogenic energy includes a generator and a transducer to produce ultrasonic waves and a cryogenic source to produce cryogenic energy. Ultrasound waves are delivered to the target in combination with cryogenic energy. Ultrasound... Agent: Eilaz Babaev

20070244529 - Apparatus and methods for treatment of nasal tissue: Apparatus and methods for the treatment of nasal tissue, particularly the nasal turbinates, are described herein. One method for reducing the size of the inferior nasal turbinate is to apply ultrasound energy to the tissue regions beneath the surface of the turbinate tissue. One instrument may be used to deliver... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20070244530 - Microwave heating apparatus and method for whole-body or regional heating: The invention provides a microwave heating method and apparatus for evenly heating an object, such as a person's body. The methods and apparatus involve use of microwave source (or sources) that outputs multiple microwaves that are non-correlated with each other in phase; an array of antennas that radiate substantially plane... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070244531 - Heating/cooling system for indwelling heat exchange catheter: A cooling system for an indwelling heat exchange catheter includes a heat exchange bath that is configured to receive a conduit that carries saline to and from the catheter. A heating/cooling fluid is in the bath and exchanges heat with the saline. The heating/cooling fluid flows through a heat exchanger... Agent: John L. Rogitz, Esq. Rogitz & Associates

20070244533 - Hose retainer for thermal blanket: An inflatable convective thermal blanket is designed to have at least one section on its top surface that has securely mounted thereon at least one fluid absorbent mechanism for absorbing fluids from a subject that is placed onto the blanket, or from fluids fallen onto the blanket from other sources.... Agent: Louis Woo Law Office Of Louis Woo

20070244532 - Underbody thermal blanket: An inflatable convective thermal blanket is designed to have at least one section on its top surface that has securely mounted thereon at least one fluid absorbent mechanism for absorbing fluids from a subject that is placed onto the blanket, or from fluids fallen onto the blanket from other sources.... Agent: Louis Woo Law Office Of Louis Woo

20070244534 - Tissue stabilization and ablation methods: Tissue stabilization and ablation devices and methods provide techniques for stabilizing and ablating body tissues during surgical ablation procedures. In many embodiments, for example, devices may be used in minimally invasive techniques for ablating epicardial tissue adjacent one or more pulmonary veins to treat atrial fibrillation. Tissue stabilization and ablation... Agent: Greenberg Traurig LLP (la)

20070244535 - Heat dissipation for a lead assembly: A method, system, and apparatus are provided for using an electrode for delivering an electrical signal to a first tissue of a patient's body. An electrode system comprises a lead and an electrode coupled to the lead. The electrode includes a stimulation portion that couples to the first tissue to... Agent: Cyberonics, Inc.

20070244536 - System for conditioning surfaces in vivo: A system and method for conditioning surfaces of a body in vivo includes providing an electrical energy source, coupling the electric energy source to the surface, and delivering electropositive current from the electrical energy source to the surface so as to generate a sub-threshold current density on the surface. In... Agent: Mark J. Burns Haugen Law Firm Pllp

20070244537 - Electrophysiology/ablation catheter having second passage: A deflectable tip cardiac electrophysiology/ablation lumen catheter includes first and second passages, one of which communicates with an inflatable member or balloon. The second passage terminates in an opening or port downstream of the inflatable member. The second passage is adapted to introduce a liquid during an electrophysiology study while... Agent: Sjm/afd-wiley

20070244538 - Transvaginal uterine artery occlusion: Uterine artery occlusion is performed for the treatment of uterine fibroid using a tool which is introduced through the vaginal wall to the exterior of the uterus. The tool carried clamping elements which may be positioned over the uterine artery. Electrodes or other energy applying devices on the clamping elements... Agent: Glenn Patent Group

20070239238 - Configurable finger compress: The preferred invention comprises a tube sized and configured to receive a finger for therapeutic treatment. In one form, the invention includes an exterior shell formed from plastic, silicone, or other flexible materials that defines an interior volume for holding a gel or liquid. The gel or liquid may be... Agent: Black Lowe & Graham, PLLC

20070239237 - Hyperthermo-therapeutic apparatus for treating lower part of the user's body: e

20070239212 - Clothing materials, clothing, and methods of manufacture and use: A clothing material or clothing article includes multiple first reservoirs and multiple second reservoirs joined with a substrate. Selected ones of the multiple first reservoirs include a reducing agent, and first reservoir surfaces of selected ones of the multiple first reservoirs are proximate to a first substrate surface. Selected ones... Agent: Lowell Gresham

20070239211 - Embedded neural prosthesis: A neural prosthesis comprised of a network of component devices that sense, analyze, and communicate data to deliver a therapeutic effect to a patient. The network of component devices establish systems and methods for sensing physiological parameters in, on or around a human body and achieving a therapeutic effect based... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070239210 - System and method for closed-loop neural stimulation: Various system embodiments comprise a neural stimulator, a premature ventricular contraction (PVC) event detector, a heart rate detector, an analyzer, and a controller. The neural stimulator is adapted to generate a stimulation signal adapted to stimulate an autonomic neural target. The analyzer is adapted to, in response to a PVC... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070239213 - Treating cancer using electromagnetic fields in combination with other treatment regimens: Chemotherapeutic treatment for certain cancers may be combined with low intensity, intermediate frequency alternating electric fields that are tuned to a particular type of target cell. When the tuned fields were combined with Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin or Cyclophosphamide, excellent results were obtained against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and non-small cell... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP Patent Department

20070239214 - Method and system for aborting cardiac treatments: A method and system for aborting cardiac treatments are provided. An arrhythmia in a heart of a patient is detected with at least one electrode, which is located outside the heart of the patient. An alarm signal is generated after said detection of the arrhythmia to alert a user of... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070239215 - Method and apparatus for using an optical hemodynamic sensor to identify an unstable arrhythmia: A medical device identifies a hemodynamically unstable arrhythmia based upon optical hemodynamic sensor signals. The optical hemodynamic sensor includes a light source for transmitting light corresponding to first and second wavelengths through a blood perfused tissue of a patient and a light detector for generating optical signals corresponding to an... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070239216 - Modulation of intracellular calcium concentration using non-excitatory electrical signals applied to the tissue: According to a method and device for modulating intracellular calcium concentration in biological tissue, a stimulation probe is applied to the tissue, a non-excitatory stimulation pulse is generated, and the pulse is conveyed to the stimulation probe. In one embodiment concerning cardiac tissue, a stimulation probe is applied to a... Agent: Wolf, Block, Shorr And Solis-cohen LLP

20070239217 - Cardiac tachy arrhythmia therapy selection based on patient response information: Cardiac treatment methods and devices providing templates representative of past tachyarrhythmia events, each template associated with a therapy. A cardiac waveform is detected, and if it corresponds to a particular template associated with a previous therapy that was satisfactory in terminating a past event, the previous therapy is delivered again.... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC

20070239218 - Hemodynamic stability assessment based on heart sounds: A system comprising an implantable medical device (IMD). The IMD includes an implantable sensor operable to produce an electrical signal representative of mechanical activity of a heart of a subject and a controller circuit coupled to the sensor. The IMD also includes a heart sound sensor interface circuit to produce... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070239219 - Pacing therapy for diastolic heart failure: Described herein are methods and systems for delivering pacing therapy to HF patients who do not exhibit a reduced EF. Such patients do not have systolic dysfunction and generally do not benefit from established HF therapies that either augment contractile function or counteract conduction abnormalities. In one embodiment, a HF... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070239220 - Implantable medical device system and method with signal quality monitoring and response: An implantable medical device system and method are provided for monitoring the quality of signals sensed by a subcutaneously implanted device using subcutaneous electrodes. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting one or more sensing vectors; sensing signals from selected sensing vectors, determining a signal quality metric in response to... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070239221 - Implantable medical device: An implantable medical device includes a housing formed of a first material and a first electronic component provided within the housing. The implantable medical device also includes a second material provided in contact with at least a portion of the housing. At least one of the housing and the first... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20070239223 - Feedthrough array for use in implantable medical devices: A feedthrough array for use in an implantable medical device is provided including an insulator, a plurality of conductive feedthrough pins extending through the insulator, and a ferrule including a flange extending inwardly from a ferrule sidewall along at least a majority of a length of a first ferrule side.... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070239222 - Feedthrough connector for implantable device: An implantable device includes a header, a pulse generator housing, one or more electrical connectors connected to the header, and a feedthrough assembly mounted to the pulse generator housing. The feedthrough assembly includes a nonconductive base having one or more holes therethrough, the feedthrough assembly further including one or more... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070239224 - Systems and methods for bilateral stimulation of left and right branches of the dorsal genital nerves to treat urologic dysfunctions: Systems and methods treat urologic dysfunctions by implanting a lead and electrode in a tissue region affecting urologic function, and implanting a pulse generator in an anterior pelvic region remote from the electrode. Bilateral stimulation of the left and/or right branches of the dorsal genital nerves using a single lead... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20070239225 - Training device and method to suppress sounds caused by sleep and breathing disorders: A training method and device to suppress sounds caused by sleep and breathing disorders, such as, snoring and sleep apnea. The system records the actual snoring of the subject, modifies it, by time delay and perhaps other sound modifying techniques, and broadcasts it to the subject by a speaker or... Agent: Ralph A. Dowell Of Dowell & Dowell P.C.

20070239226 - Gradual recruitment of muscle/neural excitable tissue using high-rate electrical stimulation parameters: A neurostimulator system (170) stimulates excitable muscle or neural tissue through multiple electrodes (E1, E2, . . . En) fast enough to induce stochastic neural firing, thereby acting to restore “spontaneous” neural activity. The type of stimulation provided by the neurostimulator involves the use of a high rate, e.g., greater... Agent: Advanced Bionics Corporation

20070239227 - Frequency modulated stimulation strategy for cochlear implant system: A new speech processing strategy, termed Frequency Modulated Stimulation (FMS), is provided for use with a cochlear prosthetic. The FMS strategy advantageously mimics the neural firing patterns of the healthy cochlea by controlling when and where stimulation pulses are presented in the cochlea. The benefits of this approach are its... Agent: Advanced Bionics Corporation

20070239228 - System and method using multiple timing channels for electrode adjustement during set up of an implanted stimulator device: Methods using multiple timing channels for electrode adjustment during set up of an implanted stimulator device are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least two conditions of electrodes (i.e., electrode combinations, pulse widths, pulse frequencies, pulse amplitudes) can be “simultaneously” tested by providing each condition in its own timing channel. In... Agent: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherfor & Brucculer L.l.p

20070239229 - Multichannel communication for implantable medical device applications: An implantable medical device (“IMD”) as described herein is configured to support concurrent multichannel data communication with one or more other devices within a body area network corresponding to a patient. The IMD, and possibly other devices within the body area network, can support the multichannel communication with any number... Agent: Ingrassia Fisher & Lorenz, P.C.

20070239230 - System and method for regulating cardiac triggered therapy to the brain: An implantable neurostimulator device for implantation in a head of a patient includes a housing adapted to be implanted beneath a patient's scalp, a cardiac monitoring element, a therapy module, and a processor. The processor is configured to activate the therapy module to deliver a therapeutic output to treat a... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20070239231 - System and method for controlling an implantable medical device subject to magnetic field or radio frequency exposure: A system for controlling an implantable medical device (e.g., a drug delivery device) susceptible to malfunctioning during exposure to a magnetic field and/or Radio Frequency field (e.g., during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure) and a method for operating the same. Exposure of the implantable device to the magnetic field and/or... Agent: Cheryl F. Cohen, LLC

20070239232 - Light guide based light therapy device: A light therapy device (40) for delivering light energy to treat medical conditions in tissues (200) includes a light source (300) with one or more light emitters, which provides input light (305). A light coupling means comprised of one or more optical fibers (310) for coupling the input light into... Agent: Eastman Kodak Company

20070239235 - Red light implant for treating parkinson's disease: This invention relates to an implantable device that delivers an effective amounts of red light to the substantia nigra as a treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD).... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070239233 - Surface mount light emitting diode medical apparatus: An apparatus for relief of chronic and acute pain in tissue or arthritic joints and/or for promoting wound healing and human tissue growth can include a handheld housing supporting an array of light emitting diodes (LED) for application of light to a portion of a human body. The LED array... Agent: Thomas D. Helmholdt Young & Basile P C

20070239234 - Therapeutic treatment apparatus: The apparatus for non-invasive treatment of skin disorders or removal of unwanted hair comprises a reflector unit having therein at least one light source for emitting incoherent light, the reflector unit and the light source being replaceable after activation thereof and disposable after such replacement. The apparatus includes an energy... Agent: Kohn & Associates, PLLC

20070239236 - Method and apparatus for producing thermal damage within the skin: A method and apparatus are provided for treating dermatological conditions, in which a first beam of radiation is used to ablate a hole in skin tissue, and a second beam of radiation is directed into the hole and onto a region of skin tissue adjacent to and/or at the bottom... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20070239239 - Warming device with varied permeability: A warming device includes a clinical garment having an inside surface supporting a convective apparatus with separately-inflatable sections, each adapted to enable a particular mode of warming. Each section has a surface or region with a permeability that varies from the permeability of a surface or region in another section.... Agent: Terrance A. Meador Incaplaw

20070239240 - Perioperative warming device: A perioperative warming device includes a clinical garment having an inside surface supporting a convective apparatus with multiple stacked sections. One section of the convective apparatus is adapted to provide comfort warming by convection. Another section of the convective apparatus is adapted to provide therapeutic warming by convection.... Agent: Terrance A. Meador Incaplaw1050

20070239242 - Apparatus and method for anchoring an implanted lead: An anchor for a spinal cord stimulator lead or an intrathecal catheter lead includes a gripper for securely gripping the lead and a suture ring for suturing the anchor to the adjacent tissue.... Agent: Gardner Groff Greenwald & Villanueva. PC

20070239241 - Transvenous active fixation lead system: A medical electrical lead system that includes a catheter extending from a proximal catheter end to a distal catheter end; a lead, insertable within the catheter, including a lead body extending from a proximal lead end to a distal lead end and an active fixation member positioned at the distal... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070239243 - Electrode contact configurations for cuff leads: A stimulation system is disclosed that may include a stimulator unit coupled to electrode contacts on a cuff. In one embodiment, the cuff may be placed at least partially around a nerve. The stimulation system may include at least two electrode contacts disposed on the cuff such that a distance... Agent: Advanced Bionics C/o Darby & Darby P.C.

20070239244 - Intrapericardial lead: The intrapericardial lead includes a lead body having a proximal portion and a flexible, pre-curved distal end portion. The distal end portion carries at least one electrode assembly containing an electrode adapted to engage pericardial tissue. The distal end portion further carries a pre-curved flexible wire member having ends attached... Agent: Pacesetter, Inc.

20070239245 - Conductive polymeric coating with optional biobeneficial topcoat for a medical lead: A cardiac lead comprising a lead body extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion; a cardiac electrode disposed along the lead body; and a coating associated with at least a portion of the electrode, wherein the coating comprises a conductive polymer.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070239246 - Medical electrical lead and delivery system: A medical electrical lead having an elongated lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a first electrode positioned at the distal end of the lead body, a second electrode spaced proximally from the first electrode, the second electrode being a flexible conductive coil and having a... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070239248 - Cardiac stimulation electrodes, delivery devices, and implantation configurations: Some embodiments of an electrode delivery system may be used to deliver a plurality of wired electrodes into one or more chambers of the heart. In particular embodiments, the plurality of wired electrodes may be delivered into a heart chamber through a single guide sheath device. Such a system may... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20070239247 - Medical electrical lead and delivery system: A medical delivery system includes an outer catheter extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a suction device positioned at the outer catheter distal end and coupled to a suction conduit; a delivery catheter extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the delivery catheter having an... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070239249 - Lead having varying stiffness and method of manufacturing thereof: An apparatus includes a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate portion therebetween. The lead body includes two or more individually insulated conductors, where a first conductor traverses along less than an entire length of the lead body and a second conductor... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070239250 - Electrodes for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator: A transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator (TENS) electrode that comprises a conductive layer containing both an inner perimeter(s) and an outer perimeter(s) is disclosed. When used with TENS treatment protocols and devices or other treatment/therapy methods, the electrode can induce a higher rate of A fiber firing by creating baffling to... Agent: Eilaz Babaev

20070233193 - Microburst electrical stimulation of cranial nerves for the treatment of medical conditions: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for treating a medical condition in a patient using an implantable medical device by applying an electrical signal characterized by having a number of pulses per microburst, an interpulse interval, a microburst duration, and an interburst period to a portion of a cranial... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

20070233194 - Synchronization of vagus nerve stimulation with the cardiac cycle of a patient: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for treating a medical condition of a patient, involving detecting a physiological cycle or cycles of the patient and applying an electrical signal to a portion of the patient's vagus nerve through an electrode at a selected point in the physiological cycle(s). The... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

20070233192 - Vagus nerve stimulation method: An implanted electrical signal generator delivers a novel exogenous electrical signal to a vagus nerve of a patient. The vagus nerve conducts action potentials originating in the heart and lungs to various structures of the brain, thereby eliciting a vagal evoked potential in those structures. The exogenous electrical signal simulates... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

20070233196 - Method and apparatus for detecting arrhythmias in a subcutaneous medical device: A method and apparatus for detecting a cardiac event in a medical device that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes forming a first sensing vector and a second sensing vector different from the first sensing vector, determining a characteristic associated with cardiac signals... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070233198 - Method and apparatus for detecting arrhythmias in a subcutaneous medical device: A method and apparatus for detecting a cardiac event in a medical device that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes forming a first sensing vector and a second sensing vector, initiating charging of an energy storage device in response to the sensed cardiac... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070233200 - Implantable pacemaker: A pacemaker comprises an implantable pacemaker housing and a pacemaker electrode which is provided for the transmission of stimulation pulses. A switching element, in particular a reversibly actuatable switching element, is provided for interrupting, reducing or limiting a current flowing through the pacemaker electrode, said current being inducible by an... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20070233206 - Method and arrangement for monitoring a medical appliance: A medical device adapted to transmit messages via a communication network to a communication device, forwarding the same or another message via the same or another communication network to a further communication device, and a method including producing a message in the medical device, transmitting the message to the communication... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20070233210 - Phototherapy device: A phototherapy device which obtains an advantageous therapeutic effect and suppresses side effects at least to a certain degree by irradiation of diseased sites with therapeutic radiation with a spectrum in the UV-B radiation wavelength range that is continuous at least in the wavelength range of at most 303 nm... Agent: Roberts, Mlotkowski & Hobbes

20070233211 - Methods and compositions for treating non-neuropathic pain: Methods are provided for treating a subject for non-neuropathic pain. Aspects of the methods include applying heat to a tender area of a skin surface of a subject in a manner sufficient to treat the subject for the non-neuropathic pain. Embodiments include applying focused heat to the skin surface of... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP

20070233191 - Vaginal remodeling device and methods: This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for tightening tissue of the female genitalia by heating targeted connective tissue with radiant energy, while cooling the mucosal epithelial surface over the target tissue to protect it from the heat. Embodiments include a treatment tip that comprises both an energy delivery... Agent: Shay Law Group LLP

20070233195 - Implantable medical device: An implantable medical device includes a housing and a circuit board provided within the housing. The circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components electrically coupled thereto. At least one non-functional component is provided on the circuit board and formed from a material that has an electromagnetic permeability configured to... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20070233197 - Automated defibrillator: One aspect relates to defibrillating an individual potentially in an absence of any human assistance including that from the individual. Another aspect relates to positioning an electrode in electrical proximity to an individual when the individual is in an unusual defibrillating position; and applying a defibrillating charge to the individual... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20070233199 - Communicating medical event information: In general, the invention provides techniques for wireless communication of medical event information between medical devices that treat a particular patient. In general, medical event information describes the condition and treatment of a patient. A medical device may detect another medical device via a wireless communications medium, and establish a... Agent: Mary Y. Redman Medtronic, Inc.

20070233201 - Rate smoothing control: A rate smoothing function used in implantable pulse generators uses detected triggering events, which cause the rate smoothing function to be activated or deactivated, and detected parameter adjusting events, which cause parameter(s) of the rate smoothing function to be changed. In one example, the activation/deactivation and/or change to the parameters... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070233202 - Method of stimulation fastigium nucleus to treat neurological disorders: A method of treating a neurological disorder comprises introducing an electrical stimulation lead within a patient's head, locating the stimulation lead within the 4th ventricle of the patient's head, and placing the stimulation lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient's brain. The method may further comprise stimulating the fastigium... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP / Advanced Bionic Corporat

20070233203 - Obstetric analgesia system: The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing a short-acting analgesic agent in the management of pain during labor, wherein the system enables efficient, real-time prediction of contractions for the coordinated administration of analgesia such that the peak effectiveness of the analgesic coincides with the intermittent pain of... Agent: Saliwanchik Lloyd & Saliwanchik A Professional Association

20070233204 - Rfid-based apparatus, system, and method for therapeutic treatment of a patient: Provided is an implantable RFID-enabled micro-electronic neurostimulator system comprising a) an internal subsystem having (i) an array of electrodes, where at least one electrode pair contacts a nerve; (ii) a multiplexer; (iii) digital to analog signal converter; and (iv) a RFID based control and stimulation chip; and (b) an external... Agent: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

20070233205 - Monitor for auditory prosthesis: The invention provides detection and indication of proper operation of a transmitter of an auditory prosthesis. During proper operation, the transmitter transmits electromagnetic signals to an implanted receiver. Electromagnetic emissions of the transmitter are detected, and an indicator such as a LED is provided on the transmitter of the prosthesis... Agent: Jagtiani + Guttag

20070233208 - Light therapy bandage with imbedded emitters: A light therapy bandage (300) for treating medical conditions comprises a plurality of flexible sheet circuitry (350), each of which is fabricated with a serpentine pattern provided with one or more surface mounted light emitting devices (372). A flexible transparent material (470) included within the substrate (410) and the surface... Agent: Patent Legal Staff Eastman Kodak Company

20070233207 - Phototherapy method and device: A phototherapy method, acting on the eyes (5) of an individual through light rays (R) of at least one specific wavelength, emitted by at least one light source (3) stationary relative to his/her head, which consists in: arranging the light source (3) at the periphery of his/her visual field allowing... Agent: Powell Goldstein LLP

20070233209 - Therapeutic light source and method: A therapeutic light source, for example for photodynamic therapy (PDT), comprises an air-cooled array of LED's (Lx,y), the air being vented in the vicinity of the array. The array may be mounted at the distal end of a hand piece suitable for invasive therapy. The LED's may be coupled to... Agent: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.l.l.c.

20070233212 - Methods and apparatus for regional and whole body temperature modification: Methods and apparatus for temperature modification of selected body regions including an induced state of local hypothermia of the brain region for neuroprotection. A heat exchange catheter is provided with heat transfer fins projecting or extending outward from the catheter which may be inserted into selected blood vessels or body... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20070233213 - Method of therapeutic treatment using a biocompatible ceramic composition: The present invention pertains to injectable heat generating biocompatible ceramic compositions based on hydraulic calcium aluminate, which can be used for therapeutic treatment in vivo, such as tumour treatment, pain control, vascular treatment, drug activation etc, when curing in situ, and which form a biocompatible solid material that can be... Agent: Young & Thompson

20070233214 - Convertible stylet to abet in the implant of a left heart lead: To implant a lead system for an implantable cardiac stimulation device, a guide wire is slidably introduced into a longitudinally extending internal passage of an elongated stylet. In turn, the combined stylet and guide wire are slidably introduced into the longitudinally extending lumen of an elongated tubular lead body of... Agent: Pacesetter, Inc.

20070233216 - His bundle mapping, pacing, and injection lead: A cardiac rhythm management system includes a lead assembly for intracardiac mapping, pacing, and drug delivery. The lead assembly includes an implantable endocardial lead having a proximal end for connection to an implantable cardiac rhythm management device and a distal end for disposal in an intracardiac region. The lead includes... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070233215 - Mapping guidelet: The medical lead delivery device more easily and quickly delivers a lead to or through the coronary vein of a patient's heart. The medical lead delivery device includes an elongated body, a controller, a first and second spring, and a sleeve. The elongated body includes a proximal end and a... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070233217 - Implantable medical electrode: An implantable medical electrode for use with implantable medical device systems having a base formed of a tungsten alloy. The tungsten alloy electrode may be a lead-based or leadless electrode and may be provided with or without a coating. The tungsten alloy electrode is utilized in an implantable medical device... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070233218 - Implantable medical electrode device: A medical, implantable electrode device, in particular a cardiological electrode device, comprises an elongate electrode body (2) having a proximal and a distal end (1) for insertion into the body of the patient and multiple strut-like anchoring elements (4), which are attached laterally to the electrode body (2) before the... Agent: Dewitt Ross & Steven S.c. Intellectual Property Department