Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application inventions 02/08

20080051838 - Integrated cardiac rhythm management system with heart valve: Systems and methods using a heart valve and an implantable medical device, such as for event detection and optimization of cardiac output. The cardiac management system includes a heart valve, having a physiological sensor. The physiological sensor is adapted to measure at least one of an intrinsic electrical cardiac parameter,... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080051839 - System for abating neural stimulation side effects: Various system embodiments comprise a neural stimulation delivery system adapted to deliver a neural stimulation signal for use in delivering a neural stimulation therapy, a side effect detector, and a controller. The controller is adapted to control the neural stimulation delivery system, receive a signal indicative of detected side effect,... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080051842 - Intermittent high-energy cardiac stimulation for therapeutic effect: A device and method for delivering high-energy electrical stimulation to the heart in order to improve cardiac function in heart failure patients. The high-energy stimulation mimics the effects of exercise and improves symptoms even in patients who are exercise intolerant. The high-energy stimulation may be delivered on an intermittent basis... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080051843 - Method and apparatus for automated adjustment of arrhythmia detection duration: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies and uses patient-specific and/or tachyarrhythmia event-specific information to automatically set and adjust one or more arrhythmia detection durations. In one embodiment, the CRM system initializes and updates the one or more arrhythmia detection durations using patient-specific information such as medical history... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080051845 - Automated ecg lead impedance measurement integrated into ecg gating circuitry: The present invention relates to a system and method for determining the impedance of an electrode at the electrode-body interface. The electrode-body impedance of one of the electrodes may be calculated using the voltage difference between that electrode and a plurality of other electrodes, and the voltage and impedance of... Agent: Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (formerly Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham)

20080051847 - Operational electrode impedance measurement for an implantable medical stimulator: Controller, system and method for an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes, said implantable device being capable of delivering a therapeutic stimulation to a patient. An electrode interface is operatively coupled between a plurality of electrodes and a control module. The control module uses an electrode interface to... Agent: Iplm Group, P.A.

20080051856 - Micro-organism-reducing device: The invention relates to a micro-organism reducing device, comprising a radiation device which is provided with a light source, a photosensitive substance which treats the area to be treated and is irradiated by said light source. The aim of said invention is to configure said device in such a way... Agent: Jordan And Hamburg LLP

20080051857 - Medical equipment for coronary artery disease: The present invention relates to a low cost treatment device for coronary artery disease. The treatment device for coronary artery disease comprises a photonic glove, a heart-board, and a machine for controlling the photonic glove and the heart-board, which are electrically connected. The photonic glove includes 4 holes for the... Agent: Scihead Patent Agent Co., Ltd. Room 1508, Huihua Trading Building

20080051840 - Methods and systems for cardiac remodeling via resynchronization: Systems, methods and devices are provided for improving the hemodynamic efficiency of a patient's heart by implanting one or more reinforcement elements on or with the heart and providing electrical stimulation to the heart. The reinforcement elements may include magnetic and/or shape memory material and are configured to reshape the... Agent: Stoel Rives LLP - Slc

20080051841 - Defibrillation shock strength determination technology: A method for determining a cardiac shock strength, for example the programmed first-therapeutic shock strength of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), including the steps of sensing a change in a T-wave of an electrogram with respect to time such as the maximum of the first derivative of a T-wave of... Agent: Joel D. Skinner, Jr. Skinner And Associates

20080051844 - Detection of function of implanted medical devices: A monitoring system and method for monitoring signals from an implantable medical device are disclosed. The monitoring system and method include a monitor configured to detect a radio frequency artifact from the signals of the implantable medical device and circuitry for processing the radio frequency artifact from the signals of... Agent: Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP

20080051846 - Detection of function of implanted medical devices: A monitoring system and method for monitoring signals from an implantable medical device are disclosed. The monitoring system and method include a monitor configured to detect a radio frequency artifact from the signals of the implantable medical device and circuitry for processing the radio frequency artifact from the signals of... Agent: Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP

20080051848 - Electronics package suitable for implantation: The invention is directed to a method of bonding a hermetically sealed electronics package to an electrode or a flexible circuit and the resulting electronics package that is suitable for implantation in living tissue, such as for a retinal or cortical electrode array to enable restoration of sight to certain... Agent: Scott B. Dunbar Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080051849 - 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

20080051850 - Method and devices for stimulation of an organ with the use of a transectionally placed guide wire: Devices, systems and methods are provided for electrical stimulation of a body organ, particularly within the gastrointestinal tract. In preferred embodiments, the stomach is the organ within the gastrointestinal tract which is targeted for such stimulation. A guide wire or other delivery device is positioned within the body so as... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080051851 - Restoring cough using microstimulators: A method of inducing forced expiration in a subject is disclosed. The method can include percutaneously placing an injectable microstimulator adjacent at least one thoracic spinal nerve that innervates an intercostal muscle. For example, the microstimulator is placed within 8 cm externally of a neuroforamen through which the spinal nerve... Agent: Klarquist Sparkman, LLP

20080051852 - Device and method for the transdermal stimulation of a nerve of the human body: The invention relates to a device for transdermal stimulation of a nerve of the human body, which device comprises at least one stimulation electrode and at least one reference electrode for transdermal nerve stimulation, the at least one stimulation electrode and the at least one reference electrode being connected to... Agent: Lucas & Mercanti, LLP

20080051853 - Power efficient electrical stimulation: A method and device are disclosed for neural stimulation with improved power consumption and/or effectiveness. The stimulus generator is arranged, for example via a look up table, to recognise proposed stimuli which will be masked by earlier or simultaneous stimuli. Such masked stimuli are either deleted, or replaced by another... Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP

20080051854 - Mri compatible implanted electronic medical device with power and data communication capability: An antenna module, that is compatible with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner for the purpose of diagnostic quality imaging, is adapted to be implanted inside an animal. The antenna module comprises an electrically non-conducting, biocompatible, and electromagnetically transparent enclosure with inductive antenna wires looping around an inside surface. An electronic... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20080051855 - Pre-positioned storable implantable medical device assembly allowing in package charging and method: A storable implantable medical device assembly. An implantable medical device has a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry. A container holds the implantable medical device, the container having a first face. The implantable medical device being arranged in the container such that the secondary coil is positioned within a... Agent: Iplm Group, P.A.

20080051858 - Therapeutic methods using electromagnetic radiation: This invention provides methods for treating a variety of disorders using localized electromagnetic radiation directed at excitable tissues, including nerves, muscles and blood vessels. By controlling the wavelength, the wavelength bandpass, pulse duration, intensity, pulse frequency, and/or variations of those characteristics over time, and by selecting sites of exposure to... Agent: D. Benjamin Borson, Ph.d. Borson Law Group, PC

20080051859 - Method for treating intervertebral discs: A method of treating an intervertebral disc includes inserting an introducer into an intervertebral disc, inserting a catheter through the introducer and into the intervertebral disc, advancing a distal region of the catheter through a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc to an annular wall of an annulus fibrosus, delivering... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C. Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20080051860 - Cosmetic mask and method of using: A multi-layer cosmetic mask designed to enhance the absorption of skin care compositions is disclosed. The mask comprises a thermally reflective layer, composed of foil or similar material, and a thermally insulating layer, composed of fleece or similar material. A method of using the cosmetic mask is also disclosed, comprising... Agent: James Ray & Associates

20080051861 - Implantable medical assemblies with improved flexibility, extensibility and positionability with branched structures: Implantable medical lead assemblies of a plurality of leads that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements and that are bundled to create a branched lead assembly to permit lead ends on one or both ends of the lead assembly to be movable relative... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC Attn: Md Matters

20080051862 - Micro-miniature implantable coated device: An implantable micro-miniature device is disclosed. The device comprises a thin hermetic insulating coating and at least one thin polymer or metal secondary coating over the hermetic insulating layer in order to protect the insulating layer from the erosive action of body fluids or the like. In one embodiment the... Agent: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080051863 - Method and anchor for medical implant placement, and method of anchor manufacture: An anchor and procedure for placing a medical implant, such as for monitoring physiological parameters. The anchor includes a central body in which a medical implant can be received. Arms and members extend radially from first and second ends, respectively, of the central body. Each member defines a leg extending... Agent: Hartman & Hartman, P.C.

20080051864 - Epicardial lead: A lead for implanting into the epicardium includes a pair of tissue anchors coupled to a tissue engaging member, forming an anchor mechanism. The tissue anchors include electrodes coupled to conductors extending from the tissue engaging member. The tissue anchors are movable from a low profile configuration to an implanting... Agent: Faegre & Benson, LLP Boston Scientific Patent Dock

20080046013 - Method for treating eating disorders: The present invention is a method for the treatment of eating disorders by nerve tissue stimulation and infusion techniques to one or more areas of the brain affecting hunger and satiety; palatability and aversion; hedonism; reward/addiction behavior; mood; anxiety; depression, taste and smell. The invention also comprises methods for the... Agent: Michaud-duffy Group LLP

20080046018 - Switch for medical device: A switch for use with a medical device. The switch includes an accelerometer for detecting motion, a controller cooperating with said accelerometer to determine whether said detected motion is substantially identical to a predefined motion of a user. The controller alters the functioning state of the medical device, if the... Agent: Mccarter & English , LLP Stamford Office

20080046019 - Capture threshold estimation for alternate pacing vectors: Approaches for estimating capture thresholds for alternate pacing vectors of multi-electrode pacing devices are described. Capture thresholds of at least one initial pacing vector is measured. The impedance of the initial pacing vector and at least one alternate pacing vector is measured. The initial and alternate pacing vectors have an... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC

20080046023 - Electrode switch for a brain neuropacemaker: Described here are systems for connecting a multiplicity of brain electrodes to an electronic medical device. In some variations, the system comprises at least two leads, where each lead has a conducting means connected to at least one electrode, a reconfigurable electrode switch with control logic attachable to the at... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20080046028 - Systems and methods for treatment of retinopathy and other eye diseases: An oxygen-producing device for aiding in treatment of diseases and conditions of the human eye has a power supply with an electrical output, and at least one pair of electrodes, one electrode of the pair coupled to the electrically positive output and the other coupled to the electrically negative output.... Agent: Central Coast Patent Agency, Inc

20080046036 - Selecting electrode combinations for stimulation therapy: Techniques for selecting electrode combinations for stimulation therapy include delivering stimulation via each of at least five combination groups. A first group of electrode combinations is characterized by the presence of a caudal anode. A second group of electrode combinations is characterized by the presence of a rostral anode. A... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20080046038 - Local communications network for distributed sensing and therapy in biomedical applications: A local communication network for an implantable medical device system is provided. The system includes a first medical device and a second medical device adapted for implantation in the body of a patient including a telemetry circuit enabled for transmitting data via a wireless communication link to the first medical... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080046039 - Secure telemetric link: A communications protocol is used to provide data privacy, message integrity, message freshness, and user authentication to telemetric traffic, such as to and from implantable medical devices in a body area network. In certain embodiments, encryption, message integrity, and message freshness are provided through use of token-like nonces and ephemeral... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080046037 - Wireless communication network for an implantable medical device system: An implantable medical device system includes, in one embodiment, a first device including a first communication module coupled to a wireless communication network for transmitting data and a second device adapted for implantation in a patient's body including a second communication module coupled to the wireless communication network and adapted... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080046042 - Auricular therapy: The invention is based upon the principle that stimulating a plurality of acupuncture points as will bring them to homeostatic balance. It follows that stimulating the whole pinna is as effective as stimulating individual acupuncture points. Therapeutic apparatus according to the invention comprises a pair of earpieces 10 joined by... Agent: James C. Wray

20080046012 - Method and system for modulating energy expenditure and neurotrophic factors: A method system for modulating the energy expenditure and/or the expressed brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain of an individual is performed by a system that includes a control device that generates a stimulation pattern from a predetermined set of stimulation parameters, and that converts the stimulation pattern into... Agent: Klein, O'neill & Singh, LLP

20080046014 - Unitary subcutaneous only implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and optional pacer: A unitary subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator which has a long thin housing in the shape of a patient's rib. The housing contains a source of electrical energy, a capacitor, and operational circuitry that senses the presence of potentially fatal heart rhythms. Provided on the housing are cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes located to deliver... Agent: Ari Pramudji Pramudji Wendt & Tran, LLP

20080046015 - Integrated resuscitation: A resuscitation system for use by a rescuer for resuscitating a patient, comprising at least two high-voltage defibrillation electrodes, a first electrical unit comprising circuitry for providing resuscitation prompts to the rescuer, a second electrical unit separate from the first unit and comprising circuitry for providing defibrillation pulses to the... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20080046016 - Intravascular parasympatheticstimulation for atrial cardioversion: 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

20080046017 - Cardiac rhythm management system with staggered pulses for coordination therapy: A cardiac rhythm management system for coordination therapy includes a pulse generator to generate pacing and discharging of recharge pulses. A pulse delivery controller coupled to the pulse generator, times the delivery of the pacing and discharging of recharge pulses in a desired sequence. A therapy circuit coupled to the... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080046020 - Medical device interface system with automatic rate threshold adjustment: A medical device programmer graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface provides a programmer user with a method of automatically adjusting parameters to be programmed to a medical device in direct response to a user modifying related parameters that are to be programmed to the medical device. The programming... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/bsc-crm

20080046021 - Package for an implantable neural stimulation device: The present invention is an improved hermetic package for implantation in the human body. The implantable device of the present invention includes an eclectically non-conductive bass including electrically conductive vias through the substrate. A circuit is flip-chip bonded to a subset of the vias. A second circuit is wire bonded... Agent: Tomas Lendvai Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080046022 - Self charging airway implants and methods of making and using the same: An airway implant device for maintaining and/or creating an opening in air passageways is disclosed. Methods of using the device are also disclosed. The airway implant device comprises a deformable element to control the opening of an air passageway. Preferably the deformable element is an electroactive polymer element. Energizing of... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080046024 - 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.

20080046025 - Method and device for desynchronizing neuronal brain activity, controller and method for treating neuronal device and/or psychiatric disorders: The invention relates to a method and a device for desynchronizing neural brain activity, a controller and a method for treating neurological and/or psychiatric disorders. According to the invention, low-frequency successions of high-frequency pulse trains are applied in corresponding brain regions. This suppresses symptoms and even brings about a cure... Agent: Staas & Halsey LLP

20080046026 - Modulation and analysis of cerebral perfusion in epilepsy and other neurological disorders: A system including an implantable neurostimulator device capable of modulating cerebral blood flow to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders. In one embodiment, the system is capable of modulating cerebral blood flow (also referred to as cerebral perfusion) in response to measurements and other observed conditions. Perfusion may be increased... Agent: Neuropace, Inc.

20080046027 - Skin-hair treatment method and system: A method and system of conditioning human skin and hair using a hand-held skin/hair conditioner having interchangeable interface conductors that are contoured to enhance electrical conductivity between the conditioner and a variety of body areas. Each of the interchangeable interface conductors are preferably formed to maximize surface area contact with... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20080046029 - Downloadable filters for a visual prosthesis: The present invention is a method of neural stimulation and more specifically an improved method of providing flexible video/image possessing in a visual prosthesis by providing downloadable video filters. In a visual prosthesis, the input video image will, for the foreseeable future, be higher resolution than the output stimulation of... Agent: Scott B. Dunbar Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080046030 - Neural stimulation for increased contrast: The present invention is a method of improving the contrast of electrical neural stimulation and expanding the dynamic range for brightness, and specifically a method of improving the contrast of an image supplied to the retina, or visual cortex, through a visual prosthesis. The background brightness for a blind subject... Agent: Scott B. Dunbar Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080046032 - Retinal prosthesis with separate central electrode array and peripheral electrode array: The artificial percept of light may be created by electrically stimulating the neurons of the retina. While a photolithographed array internal to the retina provides superior resolution, an array external to the retina provides easier implantation and improved manufacturability. Therefore it is advantageous to supply a high-resolution electrode array internal... Agent: Scott B. Dunbar Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080046031 - Sub-threshold stimulation to precondition neurons for supra-threshold stimulation: In order to generate the smallest phosphenes possible, it is advantageous to selectively stimulate smaller cells. By hyperpolarizing the somas of the large cells selectively with sub-threshold anodic ‘pre-pulse’ stimuli (making them more difficult to stimulate) and then selectively depolarize the smaller cells one can selectively stimulate smaller cells. Alternatively,... Agent: Scott B. Dunbar Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080046033 - Visual prosthesis: A visual prosthesis apparatus and a method for providing artificial vision are disclosed in the present disclosure. The visual prosthesis apparatus comprises a camera for capturing a video image, a video processing unit configured to convert the video image to stimulation patterns, and a retinal stimulation system configured stimulate neural... Agent: Tomas Lendvai, Ph.d. Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080046035 - Electrode configurations for reducing invasiveness and/or enhancing neural stimulation efficacy, and associated methods: Electrode configurations for reducing invasiveness and/or enhancing neural stimulation efficacy, and associated methods, are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention for treating a brain disorder includes identifying a target neural structure within a patient's skull and implanting an electrode device within the patient's skull so... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20080046034 - Transceiver coil for auditory prosthesis: The invention provides a tuned transmitter coil for transcutaneous transmission of power and information from an external component of an auditory prosthesis to an implanted receiver. A shield is provided in order to reduce a skin-to-coil capacitance, thereby improving tuning stability of the coil from one user to the next.... Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP

20080046040 - Radio frequency antenna for a wireless intravascular medical device: A radio frequency antenna is provided for use with a medical device for implantation into an animal. The antenna comprises a coil formed by a wire that includes a core formed of a shape-memory material with an electrically conductive first layer applied to an outer surface of the core. A... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20080046041 - Method and apparatus to provide safety checks for neural stimulation: In electrically stimulating neural tissue it is important to prevent over stimulation and unbalanced stimulation which would cause damage to the neural tissue, the electrode, or both. It is critical that neural tissue in not subjected to any direct current or alternating current above a safe threshold. Further, it is... Agent: Tomas Lendvai, Ph.d. Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080046043 - Manufacturing method for qpm wavelength converter elements, qpm wavelength converter element, and medical laser apparatus using it: A manufacturing method for quasi phase matching (QPM) wavelength converter elements using crystal quartz as a base material in which twins are periodically induced, comprises a step of periodically inducing the twins by applying a stress onto a crystal quartz substrate as the base material so that an angle θ... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20080046044 - Method and apparatus to provide infrared heating for an animal: The present invention includes an infrared heating device and method including a first infrared heating source connected to a base and a second infrared heating source connected adjustably to the first infrared heating source to provide infrared heating to an animal.... Agent: Chalker Flores, LLP

20080046045 - Method of manufacturing a heat transfer element for in vivo cooling without undercuts: An intravascular heat transfer device is provided with a mixing-inducing surface formed by an easily manufacturable process. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments, each having a mixing-inducing exterior surface. A flexible joint connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. The device may be conveniently formed, e.g., by vapor... Agent: Mayer & Williams PC

20080046046 - Method for endovascular management of body temperature: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins, LLP

20080046047 - Hot and cold therapy device: A therapy device incorporating a thermoelectric (Peltier) cell to enable therapeutic temperatures to be applied to a body. As current passes through the cells, heat is transferred from one surface of the cell to the other. Opposite directional current changes the heat transfer direction. A heat sink may be in... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080046048 - Treatment of obstructive disorders of the eye or eyelid: In accordance with certain illustrative embodiments, methods and apparatuses of treating obstructive disorders of the structure of an eye or eyelid are disclosed. The treating may involve applying heat to the structure containing the obstructive disorder to melt an obstruction in the structure and place the obstruction in a melted... Agent: Withrow & Terranova, P.l.l.c.

20080046049 - Novel assembly methods for medical electrical leads: A method for making a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes the steps of: forming an insulative carrier from an insulative material; coupling at least one conductive component to the carrier by inserting at least one tab of the at least one conductive component through the carrier, the tab extending... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20080046051 - Novel features for routing conductors in medical electrical lead electrode assemblies: An insulative body of a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes a pre-formed channel having a section extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body. An electrode portion of a conductive component has an electrode contact surface facing outward from a first side of the body and... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20080046050 - Novel medical electrode mounting: A medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes an insulative carrier and at least one conductive component. The at least one conductive component includes an electrode portion disposed on a first side of the carrier and at least one tab extending away from the electrode portion, through the carrier to a... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20080046053 - Apparatus and method for stimulation of biological tissue: An apparatus for generating focused currents in biological tissue is provided. The apparatus comprises an electric source capable of generating an electric field across a region of tissue and means for altering the permittivity of the tissue relative to the electric field, whereby a displacement current is generated. The means... Agent: Brown, Rudnick, Berlack & Israels, LLP.

20080046054 - Implantable electrode assembly utilizing a belt mechanism for sutureless attachment: An electrode assembly for implantation around an elongate biological structure such as, for example, a blood vessel, includes at least one belt mechanism for securing the electrode assembly around the outer surface of the elongate biological structure. Each of the at least one belt mechanism includes a strap and a... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080046052 - Method and apparatus providing asynchronous neural stimulation: Method and apparatus providing asynchronous neural stimulation pseudo-randomly varying at least one of a plurality of stimulation parameters. Neural stimulation may be monitored and compared with a target. Parameters may be varied to more closely match stimulation target. A range for at least one parameter may be established and the... Agent: Iplm Group, P.A.

20080046055 - nerve cuff for implantable electrode: A flat interface nerve electrode provides a plurality of electrical contacts embedded in a non-conductive cuff structure, which acts to gently and non-evasively redefine the geometry of a nerve through the application of a force acting on the nerve without causing damage to the nerve. The cuff is open at... Agent: Christopher B. Jacobs - Case Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20080046056 - Electrode insertion tools, lead assemblies, kits and methods for placement of cardiac device electrodes: Insertion tools, lead assemblies, kits, and methods for placement of cardiac device electrodes. In some embodiments, an insertion tool having a proximal end and a distal, dissecting end includes a structure configured to receive or engage a structure on a lead assembly. Some embodiments include a lead assembly having an... Agent: Ari Pramudji Pramudji Wendt & Tran, LLP

20080046057 - Timing cycles for synchronized multisite cardiac pacing: The present invention relates to identifying and using groups of cardiac events associated with depolarization wavefronts to coordinate the delivery of pacing therapy to the heart. According to one aspect of the invention, cardiac events associated with a plurality of cardiac sites are detected. The cardiac sites may be located... Agent: Clara Davis Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC

20080046059 - Lead including a heat fused or formed lead body: An implantable lead comprises a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion. In one example, the lead body may comprise a heat-formed bias portion. In another example, an outer insulator is fused to the lead body. In such an example, a lead... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080046058 - Methods for customizing implantable medical lead assemblies with improved flexibility and extensibility: Implantable medical lead assemblies that are customizable and that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements. In particular, implantable medical lead assemblies in accordance with the present invention advantageously include the ability to be customized by selective and controllable separation of leads from one... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC Attn: Md Matters

20080046060 - Cardiac pacing/sensing lead providing far-field signal rejection: A proximal end of a lead body carries a connector assembly. A first electrical conductor within the lead body electrically connects a tip electrode to a first electrical contact on the connector assembly. A collar electrode is carried by a distal end portion of the lead body. A second electrical... Agent: Pacesetter, Inc.

20080046061 - Heart wire: An apparatus including a pledget; and an anchor disposed through the pledget in a manner to form a loop over a surface of the pledget, wherein the anchor comprises electrically conductive material. A kit including a pledget; an anchor of an electrically conductive material including at least one end having... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman

20080046062 - Implantable medical lead with proximal retrieval wire: The disclosure describes a medical lead with a retrieval wire that extends from the proximal end of the lead. The retrieval wire allows a physician to insert the medical lead into a patient and grab the retrieval wire to pull the proximal end of the lead away from the implant... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20080039896 - Medical electrode with at least two poles and a plug: A medical electrode (1) with at least two poles arranged at its distal end (2) and preferably an anchor (3) as well as a plug (7) having a feeder (4) from the plug (7) to the poles is provided. The anchor (3), is formed at least from two in reference... Agent: Volpe And Koenig, P.C.

20080039897 - Trans-septal left ventricular pressure measurement: A pressure sensing device includes a body portion, a pressure transmitting port, and an electrical lead. The body portion includes transducing electronics within a housing that is shaped about a longitudinal axis. The housing has a coating thereon that promotes tissue growth to anchor the housing within a ventricular septum.... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20080039903 - Electronic device with dual purpose inductive element: Disclosed is an electronic device comprising an inductive element configured to function in a communication mode as an antenna for picking up communication signals, and in a power conversion mode as an inductive element configured to be the energy storage inductor in a switching regulator used for conditioning the power... Agent: Laubscher & Laubscher, P.C.

20080039904 - Intravascular implant system: An intravascular implantable system for providing electrical stimulation of tissue inside an animal to deal with a clinical condition is described. The system comprises a power supply module supplying energy to the implantable system, an implanted control module controlling operation of the implantable system and producing desired digital waveforms. Each... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20080039895 - Electromagnetic signal delivery for tissue affected by neuronal dysfunction, degradation, damage, and/or necrosis, and associated systems and methods: Electromagnetic signal delivery for tissue affected by neuronal dysfunction, degradation, damage, and/or necrosis, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes identifying an affected region, with the affected region including neuronal tissue that, at least during a pre-dysfunctional period, was... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20080039899 - Device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position for an implantable electrical stimulator: A device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position for an implantable electrical stimulator is provided. The device utilizes a design of a wireless energy transmitting and positioning device with an external energy-feedback control, which can automatically detect an optimum energy-transmitting position through an external antenna performing an adjustable energy... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC

20080039898 - Implantable medical device: An implantable medical device has a conductive housing containing circuitry for operation of the device and radio frequency circuitry for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals. An insulating header is arranged adjacent to the conductive housing. A conductive structure is provided on a surface of, and/or within, the insulating header.... Agent: Schiff Hardin, LLP Patent Department

20080039900 - Lead up-sizing sleeve: An improved connection system for coupling a device such as a pacemaker, cardioverter, defibrillator, nerve stimulator, muscle stimulator, implantable monitor or other medical device to a medical lead is disclosed. The connection system includes a coupling member designed to couple to the proximal end of the lead. This coupling member,... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080039901 - Methods for modulating chondrocyte proliferation using pulsing electric fields: Compositions and methods are provided for modulating the growth, development and repair of cartilage, bone or other connective tissue. Devices and stimulus waveforms are provided to differentially modulate the behavior of chondrocytes, osteoblasts and other connective tissue cells to promote proliferation, differentiation, matrix formation or mineralization for in vitro or... Agent: King & Spalding LLP

20080039902 - Network interface module for bilateral cochlear implant systems: A network interface module that forms part of a bilateral cochlear implant system which allows two standalone BTE units to be synchronized both temporally and tonotopically in order to maximize a patients listening experience. The bilateral cochlear network includes a communications interposer adapted to be inserted between the BTE battery... Agent: Advanced Bionics Corporation

20080039905 - Electronic device and its usage in the bio-resonance functional medicine: This invention relates to an electronic device and the use thereof in the bio-resonance functional medicine by generating electric signals with positive offset, sinus, square or triangle wave shapes, selectable frequency between a lower limit and an upper limit, with variable gain numerically controlled by a microprocessor that can provide... Agent: Hershkovitz & Associates

20080039906 - Light therapeutic device: A light therapeutic device for an affected part is provided. The light therapeutic device includes an optical element providing light with at least one specific wavelength for treatment of the affected part. When the optical element contacts the affected part, the optical element has a shape corresponding to the shape... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080039907 - Phototherapy systems and methods: A phototherapy method includes applying to skin a lotion which includes a carrier material and nanocrystals located in the carrier material, and exposing the lotion to photons of a first wavelength range such that the nanocrystals convert the photons of a first wavelength range into photons of a second wavelength... Agent: Foley And Lardner LLP Suite 500

20080039908 - Method for treating intervertebral disc: A device is described that may be positioned at a location in an intervertebral disc for diagnosis or treatment of the disc. Treatment may include, for example, applying energy or removing material, and may decrease intradiscal pressure. Radiofrequency energy may be applied. A percutaneous method of repairing a fissure in... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C. Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20080039909 - Method for treating intervertebral disc: A device is described that may be positioned at a location in an intervertebral disc for diagnosis or treatment of the disc. Treatment may include, for example, applying energy or removing material, and may decrease intradiscal pressure. Radiofrequency energy may be applied. A percutaneous method of repairing a fissure in... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C. Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20080039910 - Far infrared therapy unit with universal angle adjustment function: A far infrared therapy unit with universal angle adjustment function includes a unit base, a universal flexible arm, which is height adjustable, and far infrared emitters. The far infrared emitters are pivotally connected to one another. One of the emitter is connected to an arched arm, which is connected to... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080039911 - Adhesion prevention and an intra-luminal cooling system therefor: By present invention it has been found that hypothermia decreases adhesion formation more specifically pneumoperitoneum-enhanced adhesion formation. A cooling system has been designed to reduce the peritoneal cavity temperature during surgery, while maintaining at all times a 100% relative humidity in order to prevent desiccation, and a regulatory unit designed... Agent: Clark & Elbing LLP

20080039912 - Thermo bag heating device: A thermo bag heating device includes a housing internally defining a through receiving space; a heating basket being an open-topped hollow thermal conductive container disposed in the receiving space for receiving a thermo bag therein for heating; and a heating element wound around an outer surface of the heating basket... Agent: Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts

20080039913 - Aromatherapy blanket pack: An aromatherapy blanket includes a flexible, aroma-permeable cover that has upper and lower layers. The upper and lower layers are joined at their outer edges and define a space between them. The space is divided into a number of subspaces which are filled with a quantity of thermal reservoir material... Agent: Belasco, Jacobs & Townsley LLP Howard Hughes Center

20080039914 - Needle with depth determination capability and method of use: A needle apparatus capable of measuring the depth of the needle in tissue of a patient includes a linear resistive coating on the needle. Resistance of the resistive layer changes with the length of the resistive layer. The depth of the needle in tissue is determined by measuring the resistance... Agent: Hansen Huang Technology Law Group, LLP

20080039916 - Distally distributed multi-electrode lead: Distally distributed multi-electrode leads are provided. The leads have a distally distributed electrode satellite which includes a processor and at least one individually addressable electrode positioned on the lead distal to the processor, e.g., in a tapered distal end of the lead. Also provided are implantable pulse generators that include... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (proteus Biomedical, Inc)

20080039915 - Lead set for nerve stimulator and method of operation thereof: Single-use electrical leads for a nerve stimulator are disclosed. The leads include a status flag element such as a fuse, which is deliberately blown after use of the leads has begun to indicate that the leads are not to be reused. The nerve stimulator has a “test mode” that determines... Agent: Cyr & Associates, P.A.

20080039917 - Implantable medical leads and lead assemblies with improved flexibility and extensibility to facilitate body movements: Implantable medical leads that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements. In particular, implantable medical leads advantageously are able to permit and withstand multiple degree of freedom that are useful for use in the neck region of a subject body and other regions of... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC Attn: Md Matters

20080039918 - Electrophysiology catheter for mapping and/or ablation: The present invention encompasses apparatus and methods for mapping electrical activity within the heart. The present invention also encompasses methods and apparatus for creating lesions in the heart tissue (ablating) to create a region of necrotic tissue which serves to disable the propagation of errant electrical impulses caused by an... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20080033492 - Electro-therapy method: A method of introducing therapeutic electrical energy to the body tissues in a treatment site beneath the epidermis of a patient is disclosed. The method requires an electro-therapy apparatus with a signal generator and at least one percutaneous electrode array. The percutaneous electrode array is placed on a portion of... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080033493 - Peri-capsular fibroid treatment: Uterine fibroids and other tissue masses are treated using an electrode or other treatment element introduced into a potential or peri-capsular space surrounding the fibroid under ultrasonic imaging. A therapy is delivered into the potential space by the treatment element in order to reduce or eliminate blood supply to the... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080033495 - External defibrillator: An external defibrillator having a battery; a capacitor electrically communicable with the battery; at least two electrodes electrically communicable with the capacitor and with the skin of a patient; a controller configured to charge the capacitor from the battery and to discharge the capacitor through the electrodes; and a support... Agent: Shayglenn LLP

20080033500 - Implantable medical devices having a liquid crystal polymer housing: An implantable medical device having a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) housing. Circuitry is positioned within the housing to perform a predefined function, such as generate a stimulation waveform, or pump a fluid, or turn on a motor, for example. The circuitry may include a power source, and the power source... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080033512 - Light therapy device: A light therapy device for rhinitis treatment. The light therapy device includes a hollow tube body with a longitudinal axis, being dimensioned and configured to permit insertion into a nostril of a treatment subject. A light emitting diode package disposed within the hollow tube body includes a first LED chip... Agent: Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, LLP

20080033491 - Implantable device and method for transvascular neuromodulation: A method for using an implantable device to help manage a patient's condition. The device includes a power source member that provides power to a pulse-generating member. An electrode member has its proximal end electrically connected to the pulse-generating member, and a distal end with one or more electrodes, the... Agent: Mirick, O'connell, Demallie & Lougee, LLP

20080033490 - System and method for regulating cardiopulmonary triggered therapy to the brain: A medical device system includes a housing, the housing at least partially supporting a therapy module and a processor, and a respiratory monitoring element coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to activate the therapy module upon detection of a respiratory event in a respiratory signal. In some embodiments,... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20080033496 - Filtered feedthrough assembly and method of manufacture: A method for attaching a capacitor to the feedthrough assembly of a medical device is provided. The capacitor includes a lower surface, and the feedthrough assembly includes a ferrule having a cavity therethrough for receiving at least one terminal pin. The feedthrough assembly is configured to be coupled to the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080033494 - Shock timing technology: A method for accurately determining timing points for T-wave shocks is particularly useful in a system for determining a cardiac shock strength in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD. The method involves acquiring at least one first signal, acquiring at least a second signal, comparing the signals, and selecting a timing... Agent: Joel D. Skinner, Jr. Skinner And Associates

20080033497 - Mri compatible implanted electronic medical device and lead: An implantable biocompatible lead that is also compatible with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner for the purpose of diagnostic quality imaging is described. The implantable electrical lead comprises a plurality of coiled insulated conducting wires wound in a first direction forming a first structure of an outer layer of conductors... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20080033498 - System for estimating cardiac pressure using parameters derived from impedance signals detected by an implantable medical device: A method of monitoring pressure within a medical patient, includes measuring an actual pressure in a medical patient in a first time period; measuring an indicator of the actual pressure in the first time period, wherein the indicator is derived from an electrical signal of the patient's heart; determining a... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080033499 - Implantable cardiac stimulation device, system and method which provides an electrogram signal facilitating measurement of slow-changing electrogram features: An implantable cardiac system including an implantable cardiac stimulation device provides a heart activity signal of a heart facilitating measurement of slowly changing electrogram features. The system comprises at least one implantable electrode arrangement that senses cardiac electrical activity and provides an intracardiac electrogram signal, a first high pass filter... Agent: Pacesetter, Inc.

20080033501 - Elliptical element for blood pressure reduction: Apparatus is provided for treating hypertension of a subject. The apparatus includes an implantable element which has a non-circular shape and which is configured to reduce the hypertension by facilitating an assumption of a non-circular shape by a blood vessel in a vicinity of a baroreceptor of the subject, during... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080033503 - Electrode configurations for reducing invasiveness and/or enhancing neural stimulation efficacy, and associated methods: Electrode configurations for reducing invasiveness and/or enhancing neural stimulation efficacy, and associated methods, are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention for treating a brain disorder includes identifying a target neural structure within a patient's skull and implanting an electrode device within the patient's skull so... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20080033502 - Minimally invasive system for selecting patient-specific therapy parameters: The present invention provides systems and methods for ambulatory, long term monitoring of a physiological signal from a patient. At least a portion of the systems of the present invention may be implanted within the patient in a minimally invasive manner. In preferred embodiments, brain activity signals are sampled from... Agent: Shayglenn LLP

20080033504 - Method of relieving migraines or headaches: A device for providing noninvasive electrical stimulation of a single acupuncture site for treatment of migraines and/or headaches is disclosed.... Agent: Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

20080033505 - Muscle stimulation systems: A control system for controlled exercise controls a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system which applies electrical signals to muscle groups of a user such as a user having a disability; the user exercises on a motor driven exercise machine such that substantially isokinetic exercise during a movement is obtained as... Agent: Kelly Lowry & Kelley, LLP

20080033506 - Multilayer conductive appliance having wound healing and analgesic properties: A dressing for promoting healing and pain relief of the body of a living organism having a pathologic condition has at least one layer of conductive material having a resistance no greater than 1000 Ω/cm2. When placed proximate a portion of the body of the living organism suffering from the... Agent: Patrea L. Pabst Pabst Patent Group LLP

20080033507 - Systems for fitting a cochlear implant to a patient: Systems for fitting an implantable cochlear stimulator to a patient include an interface unit configured to display a graphical representation of an implant fitting line as part of a graphical user interface. The implant fitting line has a slope and a horizontal position and represents a mapping relationship between a... Agent: Advantedge Law Group , LLC

20080033508 - Clustering of recorded patient neurological activity to determine length of a neurological event: Apparatus and method detect a detection cluster that is associated with a neurological event, such as a seizure, of a nervous system disorder and update therapy parameters that are associated with a treatment therapy. The occurrence of the detection cluster is detected when the maximal ratio exceeds an intensity threshold.... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd And Attorneys For Client Number 011738

20080033510 - Method and apparatus for stimulating a nerve of a patient: Single-use electrical leads for a nerve stimulator are disclosed. The leads include a status flag element such as a fuse, which is deliberately blown after use of the leads has begun to indicate that the leads are not to be reused. The nerve stimulator has a “test mode” that determines... Agent: Cyr & Associates, P.A.

20080033509 - Stimulation of the otic ganglion for treating medical conditions: Apparatus is provided including one or more electrodes, adapted to be applied to an otic-ganglion site of a patient selected from the group consisting of: an otic ganglion, an associated neural tract of the otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, and an efferent fiber going out... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20080033511 - Dynamic nerve stimulation employing frequency modulation: Described are apparatus and methods for electrically modulating a nerve in a mammal. An electrical signal that includes a signal intensity pattern and a signal frequency pattern is delivered to a nerve. The combination of the signal intensity pattern and the signal frequency pattern is effective to result in weight... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20080033514 - Device for optically stimulating collagen formation in tissue: A polarization based medical device for optically stimulating the formation of collagen in tissue comprises a light source for providing a beam of light. A polarizer polarizes the beam of light. A first beam shaping optics directs the polarized beam of light to a spatial light modulator. A second beam... Agent: Susan L. Parulski Patent Legal Staff

20080033515 - Device for optically stimulating collagen formation in tissue: A polarization based medical device for optically stimulating the formation of collagen in tissue comprises a light source for providing a beam of light. A polarizer polarizes the beam of light. A first beam shaping optics directs the polarized beam of light to a spatial light modulator. A second beam... Agent: Susan L. Parulski Patent Legal Staff

20080033513 - Directed energy for point oriented medical treatment: The present invention discloses a system (1) for administering medical therapy by means of directing energy radiation onto a patient's body. The novel system comprising the following: an assembly for directing said energy in a predetermined measure comprising a means for emitting energy to be directed toward the patient's body,... Agent: Schweitzer Cornman Gross & Bondell LLP

20080033516 - Methods and apparatus for performing photobiostimulation: The present invention provides methods and devices for modulating the efficacy and/or increasing the efficiency of treatment of disease and/or cosmetic conditions through photobiostimulation combined with heating and/or cooling of the treatment region. In one aspect, methods and devices of the present invention are directed to modulating the efficacy of... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080033517 - Garment for therapeutic comfort to women experiencing breast discomfort: A garment for therapeutic comfort to women experiencing breast discomfort. The garment including an inner side having a first vertical side adjacent a second vertical side. A first layer is attached to the first vertical side and to the second vertical side such that each first layer is disposed over... Agent: Gary K. Price, Esq. Bowers Harrison, LLP

20080033518 - Thermoregulating units: A thermoregulating unit for increasing metabolism of at least a portion of a human body, the thermoregulating unit comprises a support surface configured for supporting at least a portion of a human body, and at least one thermoregulating chamber juxtaposed on said support surface, said at least one thermoregulating chamber... Agent: Martin D. Moynihan Prtsi, Inc.

20080033519 - Light generating device for intravascular use: Light sources are incorporated into a guidewire for enabling the ability to render light therapy be added to catheters that do not have that capability. In one exemplary embodiment, a solid guidewire includes a conductive core, and light sources are added to compartments formed in a distal end of the... Agent: Law Offices Of Ronald M Anderson

20080033520 - Implantable neuro-stimulation electrode with drug elution material: An implantable electrode with a fluid reservoir is described. An implantable electrode carrier has an outer surface including electrode contacts for electrically stimulating nearby neural tissue. A fluid reservoir within the electrode carrier stores a volume of therapeutic fluid. At least one fluid delivery port connects the fluid reservoir to... Agent: Bromberg & Sunstein LLP