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Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application June archived by invention type 06/08

20080154317 - Fiber optic probe tip: The invention described here is an improved fiber optic probe and methods of making such fiber optic probe. The tip of the probe is made from a transparent fill material that is connected to the end of a conventional optical fiber. The optical fiber is tapered, the fill material is... Agent: Dobrusin & Thennisch Pc

20080154319 - Flat capacitor having staked foils and edge-connected connection members: A method of joining a connection member to a capacitor foil using a staking tool having a tip of less than 0.030″ (0.762 mm) in diameter. Another embodiment couples multiple connection members of a capacitor together by edge-connecting each connection member to its substantially flush neighboring connection members. In one... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080154318 - Implantable medical device: An implantable medical device has an atrial fibrillation detector adapted to detect an atrial fibrillation. A telemetry unit is adapted to transmit an AF message to an external receiver. A control unit is connected to the atrial fibrillation detector and said telemetry unit and is adapted to only indicate an... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.c.

20080154321 - Battery design for implantable medical devices: An improved battery design which is particularly suitable for use in an implantable medical device is disclosed. The design utilizes a two-part case for the battery contents which allows freedom with respect to feedthrough locations and battery shape.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.a.

20080154320 - Method and apparatus for solid state pulse therapy capacitor: One embodiment includes an apparatus that includes an implantable device housing, a capacitor disposed in the implantable device housing, the capacitor including a dielectric comprising CaCu3Ti4O12 and BaTiO3, the dielectric insulating an anode from a cathode and pulse control electronics disposed in the implantable device housing and connected to the... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080154322 - Gradually synchronized simultaneous atrial and ventricular pacing for cardiac rhythm discrimination: A cardiac medical device used for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing in both the atrial and ventricular regions in a simultaneous manner, while preventing potential of inducing atrial arrhythmia. The pacing pulses may be synchronized in a gradual manner so that simultaneous delivery of the pulses is ultimately achieved at reduced risk... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080154323 - Method and apparatus to implement multiple parameter sets in an implantable device: An implantable cardiac function management device including a programmable controller can be used to include a user-specifiable therapy control parameter set. The therapy control parameter set may then be configured to include at least one therapy control parameter that is user-configurable to automatically switch from a first parameter value to... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080154324 - Cardiac response classification using multiple classification windows: Methods and devices for classifying a cardiac response to pacing involve establishing a plurality of classification windows relative to and following a pacing pulse. One or more characteristics of a cardiac signal sensed following the pacing pulse are detected within one or more particular classification windows. The characteristics may be... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, Llc Suite 125

20080154325 - Method and apparatus for protecting a function mode of a medical device: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for protecting a function mode of a medical device, the method comprising steps of: when an operator selects to use a function mode that needs protection in the medical device, presenting the operator information on a specified operation for entering the selected... Agent: Mindray C/o Stoel Rives LLP

20080154327 - Flexible hermetic enclosure for implantable medical devices: A flexible, hermetically sealed enclosure device allows for the controlled insertion of an implantable device into the body of a patient. A series of bellows can be used to interconnect a number of rigid containers, each containing electronic or other components necessary for the implantable device. The bellows provide flexibility,... Agent: Stallman & Pollock LLP

20080154326 - Method and apparatus for providing a radiopaque anchoring sleeve: The invention relates to an anchoring sleeve for a lead of an implantable device, including a tube being of flexible material having a first end and a second end, the tube being adapted to permit the lead to extend from the first end to the second end, and where the... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, Llc

20080154328 - Universal connector for implantable medical device: Implantable connector arrangements are provided for allowing a plurality of electrode leads to be connected to an implantable device through a single port in the device. Also provided are leads that include the same, implantable pulse generators that include the leads, as well as systems and kits having components thereof,... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (proteus Biomedical, Inc)

20080154329 - Method of using spinal cord stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders or conditions: The present invention involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead that is in communication with predetermined thoracic vertebral segments to cause spinal nervous tissue stimulation, thus treating a wide variety... Agent: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.

20080154330 - Device and method to treat flow limitations: A device and method for detecting and treating airflow limitations in a subject is provided. Levels of flow limited breathing may be differentiated. Obstruction versus flow limited breathing may be differentiated as well. The EMG complex characteristics may be used to detect obstruction or flow limited breathing. The power spectral... Agent: Rmx, L.l.c.

20080154331 - Device for multicentric brain modulation, repair and interface: A brain stimulation device, including: a cranial chip that is configured to be surgically implanted between a patient's scalp and skull; at least three stimulation leads connected to the cranial chip, wherein each lead has a plurality of stimulation electrodes thereon; control circuitry in the cranial chip for controlling the... Agent: Gordon & Rees LLP

20080154332 - Modulation of the brain to affect psychiatric disorders and functions: Methods of treating psychiatric activity by placing a device in contact with a target site in the brain of a patient and operating the device to modulate the brain to treat the psychiatric activity.... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080154333 - Neural blocking therapy: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a variety of conditions include treating a disorder associated with neural activity near a region of a brain. In such condition, the method includes placing an electrode to create a field near said region, creating said field with parameters selected to at... Agent: Merchant & Gould Pc

20080154334 - Method of pain relief in patients after abdominal/pelvic surgery: The method of reducing pain in a patient by combining a traditional pharmacological treatment with electro-acupuncture or percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy. The pharmacological treatment consists of using analgesics such as morphine sulfate and hydromorphine provided to patients around the clock or as needed for pain. The patient controlled analgesia... Agent: Stas Gavronsky

20080154335 - Portable assemblies, systems and methods for providing functional or therapeutic neuromuscular stimulation: Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods make possible the providing of short-term therapy or diagnostic testing by providing electrical connections between muscles or nerves inside the body and stimulus generators or recording instruments mounted on the surface of the skin outside the body. Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods may... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080154338 - Method and system for training a visual prosthesis: A method for training a visual prosthesis includes presenting a non-visual reference stimulus corresponding to a reference image to a visual prosthesis patient. The visual prosthesis including a plurality of electrodes. Training data sets are generated by presenting a series of stimulation patterns to the patient through the visual prosthesis.... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080154336 - Visual prosthetic apparatus for retinal stimulation: A visor for retinal stimulation of visually impaired subjects is shown. The visor comprises a frame, an external coil, a camera and a mounting system. A connector allows the external coil to be positioned along a first direction. A sliding device allows the external coil to be positioned along a... Agent: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080154337 - Visual prosthetic apparatus for retinal stimulation: A visor for retinal stimulation of visually impaired subjects is shown. The visor comprises a frame, an external coil, a camera and a mounting system. A connector allows the external coil to be positioned along a first direction. A sliding device allows the external coil to be positioned along a... Agent: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20080154339 - Electrically nonconductive occludent for tissue openings: An electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to forcefully infill a tissue opening so as to effectively prevent transport of electrical current, fluid and bacteria through the tissue opening. A cochlear implant comprising: an elongate electrode carrier member having at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the carrier member is... Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP

20080154341 - Brain stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods: This document discusses, among other things, brain stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods, such as for deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other electrical stimulation. A model computes a volume of influence region for a simulated electrical stimulation using certain stimulation parameters, such as amplitude, pulsewidth, frequency, pulse morphology, electrode contact... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.a.

20080154340 - User interface with toolbar for programming electrical stimulation therapy: The disclosure is directed to a user interface with a menu that facilitates stimulation therapy programming. The user interface displays a representation of the electrical leads implanted in the patient and at least one menu with icons that the user can use to adjust the stimulation therapy. The user may... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert , P.a

20080154342 - Implantable medical device comprising magnetic field detector: An implantable medical device comprises an electronic control unit and a magnetic resonance imaging magnetic field detector that is connected to the control unit. The magnetic resonance imaging magnetic field detector is adapted to generate a signal being characteristic for a magnetic field as used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.c.

20080154343 - Eustachian tube treatment systems: Eustachian tube treatment systems are described herein. One method for reducing or removing any obstructions within the Eustachian tube is to apply laser energy to the underlying tissue. One instrument may be used to deliver laser energy and to optionally provide an infusion or injection of a fluid directly into... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20080154344 - System and method for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia: A method for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia using a laser is provided. The method includes emitting, in proximity to prostatic tissue, laser light at a wavelength that is controlled to be within at least one of (i) a range between about 1275 nm and about 1475 nm or (ii) a... Agent: Christopher W. Elswick

20080154345 - Multi-port light delivery catheter and methods for the use thereof: Methods of advancing a laser catheter across an occlusion are described. They may include the steps of advancing a guidewire through a first proximal lumen and a distal lumen of the catheter into a first region of the occlusion, retracting the guidewire from the distal lumen, and advancing a diagnostic... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080154346 - Medical leads with frequency independent magnetic resonance imaging protection: A medical device having a diode configuration in a lead assembly that substantially reduces induced currents in a lead assembly and at a tissue interface. The diodes configure an electrical path such that a stimulation pulse travels from the medical device to a selected tissue, and a current induced by... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080154347 - Method for applying pulsed charge to living matter: A treatment method for inducing electrically charged alignment changes in biological tissue by placing a generally flat translucent cavity containing a volume of gas that includes water vapor, carbon dioxide and other similarly common molecules adjacent the tissue and thereafter producing a charge at one surface of the cavity by... Agent: I. Michael Bak-boychuk Attorney At Law

20080154349 - Connection structures for extra-vascular electrode lead body: Connection structures on an extra-vascular electrode lead body improve strain relief and strengthen the transition region where electrical conductors carried by the lead body are joined to individual electrodes at the distal end of the lead. The electrodes include structure or mechanisms for externally securing the electrode assembly to a... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080154348 - Mri compatible implantable devices: The present invention is directed to a novel implantable lead design which ensures safe magnetic resonance imaging of patients with active metallic implants such as pacemakers, neurostimulators and implantable cardio defibrillators. It is known that radio frequency and gradient fields of the MRI scanners may induce harmful currents on the... Agent: Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott

20080154350 - Implantable cardiac stimulus devices and methods with input recharge circuitry: An illustrative embodiment includes an implantable cardiac stimulus device comprising input circuitry configured to reduce the time required to return to small signal operation after a disturbance of small signal operation. In another illustrative embodiment, the present invention includes methods for operating an implantable cardiac stimulus device to reduce the... Agent: Ari Pramudji Pramudji Wendt & Tran, LLP

20080147130 - Adaptive cardiac resyncronization therapy and vagal stimulation system: An adaptive feed-back controlled system for regulating a physiological function of a heart in which a hemodynamic sensor continuously monitors the physiological performance of the heart. Three implanted electrodes sense and pace the right atrial, right ventricle and left ventricle. A learning neural network module receives and processes information for... Agent: Yoram Tsivion

20080147131 - Method for muscle delivery of drugs, nucleic acids and other compounds: A method is disclosed for delivering molecules such as pharmaceutical drugs and nucleic acids into skeletal muscle in vivo. The molecule is first injected into the muscle at one or multiple sites. Immediately or shortly after injection, electrodes are placed flanking the injection site and a specific amount of electrical... Agent: Biotechnology Law Group C/o Portfolioip

20080147132 - Method and apparatus for rate accuracy enhancement in ventricular tachycardia detection: An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) executes a rate accuracy enhancement algorithm to select measured atrial and ventricular intervals for classifying a detected tachycardia based on average atrial and ventricular rates calculated from the selected atrial and ventricular intervals. The detected tachycardia is classified as ventricular tachycardia (VT) if the average ventricular... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080147133 - Implantable medical device: An implantable medical device for processing picked-up electric heart signals and to a method of controlling sensitivity of a sensing stage of the device. The sensing stage is connected to an electrode picking up electric potentials inside the heart, has an adjustable sensitivity and generates a detect signal indicating detection... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.c.

20080147134 - Methods and apparatus for treating fibrillation and creating defibrillation waveforms: Methods and apparatus for treating fibrillation utilize biphasic waveforms. A cardiac stimulator includes a defibrillation circuit that uses a pulse width modulated capacitive discharge to generate various biphasic waveforms, one or more of which may be delivered to the heart to treat the fibrillation.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080147135 - Filter circuit with variable capacitance for use with implantable medical devices: An implantable medical device (IMD) as described herein includes an input filter circuit having variable capacitor elements that can be electronically adjusted based upon current operating conditions (such as electromagnetic conditions, noise conditions, and/or environmental conditions). The variable capacitor elements can be adjusted to accommodate pre-designated operating modes of the... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080147136 - Method and apparatus for automatic self-test of medical device: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for automatic self-test of a medical device, the method comprising steps of: detecting whether the medical device has reached a automatic self-test time set in the last time, when the medical device is in an power-off state; if the result of the... Agent: Mindray C/o Stoel Rives LLP

20080147137 - Inhibition of sympathetic nerves: Apparatus (18) for treating a condition of a subject is provided. An electrode device (100) is adapted to be coupled to longitudinal nervous tissue (40) of the subject, and a control unit (50) is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nervous tissue a current which is... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20080147138 - Cardiac stimulation device for sinus rate modulation: A system comprising an implantable electrical cardiac signal sensing circuit, an implantable sinoatrial cardiac action potential detector circuit, and an implantable electrical stimulation circuit in electrical communication with the electrical cardiac signal sensing circuit and the sinoatrial cardiac action potential detector circuit. The electrical cardiac signal sensing circuit is configured... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080147139 - Treatment of obesity by sub-diaphragmatic nerve stimulation: A method and apparatus for treating obese or other patients with compulsive overeating disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one... Agent: Cyberonics, Inc.

20080147143 - Device for the transcutaneous electrical stimulation of motor nerves and/or sensory nerves: The invention relates to a device for the transcutaneous electrical stimulation of motor nerves and/or sensory nerves, having an electrode assembly which can be attached to the human body, for example, in the area of the back muscles and/or abdominal muscles, and a stimulation device capable of being operated to... Agent: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, P.c. Pacwest Center, Suite 1900

20080147141 - Method and apparatus for assisting deglutition: Artificially stimulated deglutition methods and systems including providing a portable system born by a user for controlling a component of a complete swallowing act without substantial aspiration. The system includes a controller, a signal generator, and a subcutaneously positioned electrode array with at least one electrode. The electrode array is... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, Pllc Attn: Md Matters

20080147142 - Method and apparatus for assisting deglutition: Methods and systems for artificially stimulating user deglutition without substantial aspiration are provided. Methods and systems include artificially stimulating user deglutition according to various specialized programs, including passive user secretion maintenance programs, active feeding programs, proprioceptive feedback programs, and others.... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, Pllc Attn: Md Matters

20080147140 - Neural stimulation systems, devices and methods: Various system embodiments comprise circuitry to determine when an arrhythmia has terminated, and a neural stimulator adapted to temporarily deliver a neural stimulation therapy to assist with recovering from the arrhythmia in response to termination of the arrhythmia.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080147144 - Cochlear implant: A totally implantable cochlear implant system forming a single implantable unit (40). The unit (40) has an implantable power source (43) that provides the power requirements of the implantable unit (40). The unit (40) also has an on board microphone (42) that detects external sounds, such as speech, and outputs... Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP

20080147145 - Failsafe programming of implantable medical devices: A watchdog unit receives stay-alive signals from a programming device during programming of an implantable medical device. The watchdog unit maintains a watchdog timer, and resets the timer upon receipt of each stay-alive signal. If the watchdog timer expires, the watchdog unit changes a mode of operation of the implantable... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert , P.a

20080147146 - Electrode patch and method for neurostimulation: A system for stimulating a nerve or nerves in a patient includes an electrode patch having an array of equally spaced concentric electrodes each having a central cathode and a concentrically surrounding anode. The electrode array patch is used to determine the location of the nerve or nerves to be... Agent: Bodner & O'rourke, LLP

20080147147 - Vein locating device for vascular access procedures: A device for detecting a venous structure or vessels in a patient or animal. The device includes an optical source for transmitting optical energy into the tissue of the patient, an optical detector for detecting at least a portion of the optical energy that is transmitted into and reflected by... Agent: Gregory L Bradley Medrad Inc

20080147148 - Device for human body treatment by electromagnetic waves: The object of the present invention is a device (1) for human body treatment, for example the treatment of alopecia, rheumatic disorders, or for stimulating the vasodilatation of the penis capillaries. The device comprises a seating body (2), a handling case (20), a plurality of separate emitters (30) suitable for... Agent: Kilyk & Bowersox, P.l.l.c.

20080147149 - Device and method for stabilization of eye during eye surgery: An eye-fixation device is provided having an eyecup and a source of light within the eyecup. The device can further include an eyecup fixation element, a power supply, and electric, fiber-optic or chemical light sources. A control circuit can cyclically vary the intensity of the light produced by the electric... Agent: Christopher & Weisberg, P.a.

20080147150 - Medical laser device: A medical laser device comprises the laser sources, output ports, a group of optic fibers and a laser beam spatial distribution apparatus. Wherein the device has at least two optic fibers or optic fiber cores to transmit the laser energy from the laser sources to the distal end and a... Agent: Lau & Associates, Llc Michael N. Lau

20080147152 - Self-activated warming device: A warming device for placement against a body part or object includes a shell member having an outer face and an inner face disposed against a surface to be warmed. A first warming substrate is disposed within the shell member and is an absorbent web having a generally uniform application... Agent: Dority & Manning, P.a.

20080147151 - Thermal cooling apparatus and related methods: A thermal cooling apparatus is provided that includes a thermal pack and a flexible band conformable into an annulus. The flexible band includes outer and inner layers made of thermally insulating material. The inner and outer layers are connected to one another to establish a pocket including a mouth sized... Agent: Berenato, White & Stavish, Llc

20080147153 - Self-activated cooling device: A cooling device for placement against a body part or object includes a shell member having an outer face and an inner face disposed against a surface to be cooled. A first cooling substrate is disposed within the shell member and is an absorbent web having a generally uniform application... Agent: Dority & Manning, P.a.

20080147154 - Medical leads with frequency independent magnetic resonance imaging protection: A medical device having a frequency independent circuit that substantially reduces induced currents in a lead assembly and at a tissue interface. The frequency independent circuit configures an electrical path such that a stimulation pulse travels from the medical device to a selected tissue, and a current induced by an... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080147155 - Braided electrical lead: An implantable electrical lead having a plurality of insulated conductor strands and a plurality of non-conductor strands braided together to maintain the spacing of the conductors from each other to prevent the crossing of the insulated conductor strands. The non-conductor strands are often polymeric strands. In some leads, the conductor... Agent: Greatbatch Ltd.

20080147156 - Grouped leads for spinal stimulation: Devices, systems and methods are provided for simultaneously stimulating the spinal anatomy at various target locations, such as spinal levels, along the spinal cord. In some embodiments, the devices, systems and methods stimulate the various spinal levels at specific nerve anatomies, such as the dorsal root DR or more specifically... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080147157 - Cardiac lead implantation system: Cardiac lead implantation systems and methods including an electronics arrangement provided with a user interface and a coupler assembly. A coupler body is configured to detachably grasp a cardiac lead and couple with electrical contacts of the cardiac lead. A user interface includes an output indicative of sensed cardiac parameters,... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, Llc

20080147158 - Implantable medical lead having coil electrode: Medical electrical leads including coil electrodes having polymeric material between but not over the coil turns. Some leads can be used for neurological sensing and/or stimulation applications. The coil electrodes are more flexible, bendable, and stretchable relative to corresponding cylindrical band electrodes. The polymer fill between the coil turns provides... Agent: Greatbatch Ltd.

20080140137 - Control and integration of sensory data: A sensory data integration system for integrating sensory data generated by a first sensory substitution device and sensory data generated by a second sensory substitution device. The system includes a processor configured to generate an orientation signal indicative of a difference between a subject's orientation and an acceptable orientation. The... Agent: Fish & Richardson Pc

20080140138 - Inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production by stimulation of brain muscarinic receptors: Methods for inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine release or inflammation in a vertebrate are provided. The methods comprise activating a brain muscarinic receptor of the vertebrate, or directly stimulating a vagus nerve pathway in the brain of the vertebrate. Also provided are methods for conditioning a vertebrate to inhibit the release of... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080140139 - Apparatus for detecting and treating ventricular arrhythmia: A system and method for long-term monitoring of cardiac conditions such as arrhythmias is disclosed. The invention includes a pulse generator including means for sensing an arrhythmia. The pulse generator is coupled to at least one subcutaneous electrode or electrode array for providing electrical stimulation such as cardioversion/defibrillation shocks and/or... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert , P.a

20080140140 - Defibrillator event data with time correlation: A defibrillator records event data with an elapsed time marker. Upon transfer of the event data to an event data recorder the elapsed time markers are used to time-stamp the event data with actual location time. The event date can be analyzed with a display of both elapsed time and... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080140141 - Intermittent electrical stimulation: Apparatus is provided including an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a site of a subject; and a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply a current to the site intermittently during alternating “on” and “off” periods, each of the “on” periods having an “on” duration... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20080140142 - Electrical muscle controller and pacing with hemodynamic enhancement: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber is provided. A non-excitatory electric field of given duration is applied, at a delay after an activation of the heart, which increase the force of contraction by at least 5%. Apparatus is also... Agent: Wolf, Block, Shorr And Solis-cohen LLP

20080140143 - Rate aberrant beat selection and template formation: A cardiac rhythm management system can be used to detect episode beats associated with cardiac events in a subject's body. These events may be monitored and depolarization morphology information can be derived for candidate arrhythmic beats in an arrhythmia episode. An arrhythmic beat morphology template may be formed from selecting... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080140144 - Cardiac stimulation at high ventricular wall stress areas: An apparatus and method for reversing ventricular remodeling with electro-stimulatory therapy. A ventricle is paced by delivering one or more stimulatory pulses in a manner such that a stressed region of the myocardium is pre-excited relative to other regions in order to subject the stressed region to a lessened preload... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, Llc

20080140145 - Selection of cardiac signal features detected in multiple classification intervals for cardiac pacing response classification: Cardiac devices and methods involve the detection of cardiac signals features in adjacent classification intervals. Portions of the cardiac signal features detected in adjacent classification intervals are associated and are used to classify the cardiac response to a pacing pulse. Associating the portions of the cardiac signal features may be... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, Llc

20080140146 - Heart stimulator: A heart stimulator provides a reliable automatic capture threshold search feature. A stimulation pulse generator is connected to at least a ventricular stimulation electrode for delivering electric stimulation pulses to at least the ventricle of the heart. The stimulation pulses generated have a strength depending on a control signal. A... Agent: Dalina Law Group, P.c.

20080140147 - Cardiac device interface to reduce ventricular pacing: A cardiac interface device helps program an implantable cardiac rhythm or function management device, such as to reduce unnecessary ventricular pacing to avoid contributing to the advancement of heart failure disease progression. An intrinsic conducted AV interval is measured for at least one heart rate, and is predicted or measured... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080140148 - Miniaturized feedthrough: Formation of a feedthrough in a substrate for use in an implantable medical device is presented. A substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, and a via that extends through the first and the second surfaces. A dielectric layer is formed over one of a first surface of... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080140149 - Functional ferrule: Described here are intracranial ferrules, systems, and methods for sensing and stimulating neural tissues. The ferrules are generally designed to include a holding area for retaining an implantable device. In some variations, the ferrule itself may perform the sensing and stimulating functions. In other variations, the ferrule may function to... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20080140150 - Methods and apparatus for the regulation of hormone release: A method and apparatus for delivering corrective therapy through hormone regulation is provided. Inhibition of sympathetic fibers by spinal cord stimulation is used to regulate the levels of hormones such as catecholamines, renin, and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The invention utilizes a closed or open loop feedback system in which physiological... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080140153 - Expandable stimulation leads and methods of use: Devices, systems and methods are provided for stimulating a target tissue, particularly a dorsal root ganglion. The devices and systems have one or more electrodes, wherein the electrodes are positionable in disperse locations within the specific target area. In some embodiments, the position of at least some of the electrodes... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080140152 - Implantable flexible circuit leads and methods of use: Devices, systems and methods are provided for stimulation of tissues and structures within a body of a patient. In particular, implantable leads are provided which are comprised of a flexible circuit. Typically, the flexible circuit includes an array of conductors bonded to a thin dielectric film. Example dielectric films include... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080140151 - Nerve stimulation apparatus and method for the treatment of head pain: Nerve stimulation apparatus and methods particularly suited to the treatment of head pain (cephalgia) facilitate bilateral stimulation of the spine with a single protruding lead. The instrumentation includes an electrode assembly formed on/in a biocompatible substrate having a front surface, a back surface, a top edge and a bottom edge... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20080140154 - Flexible communication and control protocol for a wireless sensor and microstimulator network: A novel system and method for restoring functional movement of a paralyzed limb(s) or a prosthetic device. Stimulating one or more muscles of a patient using an implanted neuromuscular implants and sensing the response of the stimulated muscle by the implants, wherein the sensing the response is not limited to... Agent: Marc E. Brown Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20080140155 - Excessive fibrous capsule formation and capsular contracture apparatus and method for using same: An apparatus comprising an electromagnetic signal generating means for emitting signals comprising bursts of at least one of sinusoidal, rectangular, chaotic, and random waveforms, having a frequency content in a range of about 0.01 Hz to about 100 MHz at about 1 to about 100,000 waveforms per second, having a... Agent: Len Taylor, Patent Attorney

20080140156 - Electrode-bearing guide, cochlear implant comprising said guide and production method thereof: The invention relates to an electrode-bearing guide, a cochlear implant comprising said guide and the production method thereof. According to the invention, the long and essentially flat guide comprises a plurality of electrodes (2) which are connected to corresponding contacts (3) by means of tracks (4). The inventive guide also... Agent: Kramer & Amado, P.c.

20080140157 - Programming a medical device with a general purpose instrument: An apparatus including a processor configured to selectively load a first operating system that controls general purpose computer functionality of the apparatus; and a second operating system different from the first operating system. The second operating system controls medical device programming functionality of the apparatus, enabling the apparatus to program... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert , P.a

20080140158 - Foot-operated control console for wirelessly controlling medical devices: A wireless foot control apparatus allows an operator to control multiple medical devices during an endoscopic medical procedure. The apparatus comprises a control console with controls designed for foot operation to control various medical devices. The controls include one or more foot pedals and foot switches to control the devices,... Agent: Flynn, Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.c.

20080140159 - Implantable device for monitoring biological signals: An implantable device to be implanted into a body of a patient includes a monitoring system configured to monitor biological signals of the patient, and generate corresponding waveform data. The implantable device includes a first buffer for continually storing the waveform data, a second buffer, and a controller configured to... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.c.

20080140160 - Intelligent discovery of medical devices by a programming system: Techniques for automatically identifying medical devices, e.g., implantable medical device, using wireless communications in order to communicate with the medical devices are described. For instance, a programming system securely discovers a set of medical devices which have the capacity to communicate using wireless communication links. The programming system may then... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20080140161 - Medical device programming safety: Techniques for increasing the safety of medical device programming using general purpose hardware, such as a general purpose personal computer, are described. Some embodiments include a watchdog module that is serviced by the general purpose hardware, a mediator module that monitors programming instructions from the general purpose hardware, and/or a... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert , P.a

20080140162 - Medical device programming safety: Techniques for increasing the safety of medical device programming using general purpose hardware, such as a general purpose personal computer, are described. In some embodiments, a system includes an intermediate computing device comprising an applications module. Information from the applications module, such as instructions for an implantable medical device (IMD),... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert , P.a

20080140163 - Telemetry device for a medical device programmer: In general, the disclosure is directed towards a small telemetry device with a limited user interface that allows a patient to program an implantable medical device. The user interface may comprise a safe mode button. In some embodiments, a consumer electronic device with a more complex user interface may communicate... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert , P.a

20080140164 - Light emitting therapeutic devices and methods: A light emitting device for providing therapy to a user includes a light source configured to generate optical energy having a wavelength in a range of from about 400 nm to about 1100 nm. The device further includes a user interface configured to be placed into contact with a treatment... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080140166 - Therapeutic pack: A therapeutic pack provides effective therapeutic heating or cooling to an area of a body. The therapeutic pack comprises a fabric bag, such as taffeta or a spandex material, and a plurality of therapeutic modules within the bag. In one example, the bag is tubular. In another example, the bag... Agent: Christopher Paradies, Ph.d.

20080140165 - Thermal grill for heating articles: The present disclosure provides an article adapted to produce heat, the article including an outer surface having a skin-facing surface, the outer surface enclosing a heat generator; and a thermal grill disposed on the skin-facing surface. The present disclosure also provides an article for delivering a heating sensation, the article... Agent: Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc. Catherine E. Wolf

20080140167 - Implantable electrode assembly having reverse electrode configuration: Methods and apparatus for generating an electric field inside a patient include at least a first electrode and a second electrode on a common implantable substrate. Each of the electrodes has a respective proximal end and a respective distal end. Electrical energy can be applied that causes electrical current to... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080140169 - Delivery devices, systems and methods for stimulating nerve tissue on multiple spinal levels: Devices, systems and methods are provided for simultaneously stimulating the spinal anatomy at various locations, such as spinal levels, along the spinal cord. By stimulating multiple levels of the spinal column with the use of a single device, a single access path is created to an implantable pulse generator (IPG)... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080140168 - Electrode arrangements for tissue stimulation and methods of use and manufacture: A lead has a paddle body with a non-conductive material and multiple electrodes disposed within the non-conductive material. At least one of the electrodes includes one or more anchoring arrangement, such as opening(s) through the electrode through which the non-conductive material can pass; anchors that extend away from the electrode... Agent: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corp. C/o Darby & Darby P.c.

20080140170 - Electrode apparatus having deformable distal housing: An apparatus for delivering energy to tissue, comprising an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a sheath disposed over at least a portion of the flexible shaft; a resilient housing near the distal end of the flexible shaft, the housing adapted to deflect so as... Agent: Cierra, Inc. & Townsend & Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080140171 - Electric- or magnetic-field based detection of when electrode pads have been handled or removed from their package: Handling or removal of a pair of defibrillator electrode pads from their package is detected in order to effectively time the issuance of prompts to guide the user. One plate of a capacitor is embedded in the package, the electrode pads and lead wires serving as the other plate. Impedance... Agent: Philips Medical Systems Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080132961 - Implant tool for use with a microstimulator: A stimulation system is described that includes an implantable microstimulator. A tail may be coupled to a distal end of the implantable microstimulator. In one embodiment, the stimulation system includes an implantation tool that includes an insertion cannula, a handle, a bushing, and a detachable blunt dissector tip. The bushing... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.c.

20080132962 - System and method for affecting gatric functions: A device for transcutaneous electrical stimulation device for affecting gastric function in a patient and a method for performing the same is provided. The device includes a first waveform generator adapted to generate a first waveform having a first frequency capable of stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient at... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080132963 - Method and apparatus for treating tumors using low strength electric fields: A method of treating tumor tissue of an individual is provided. The method is effected by applying to cells of the tumor tissue electrical field pulses having a strength, a repetition frequency and a pulse width selected capable of inducing endocytosis mediated cell death thereby treating the tumor tissue.... Agent: Martin D. Moynihan Prtsi, Inc.

20080132964 - Selective nerve fiber stimulation for treating heart conditions: Apparatus is provided that includes an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a vagus nerve of a subject, and a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the vagus nerve a current that reduces heart rate variability of the subject. Also provided is a method... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20080132965 - Method for discriminating between ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias: The present invention is directed toward a detection architecture for use in implantable cardiac rhythm devices. The detection architecture of the present invention provides methods and devices for discriminating between arrhythmias. Moreover, by exploiting the enhanced specificity in the origin of the identified arrhythmia, the detection architecture can better discriminate... Agent: Ari Pramudji Pramudji Wendt & Tran, LLP

20080132966 - Stimulation of coronary artery baroreceptors: A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension by electric stimulation of coronary artery baroreceptors wherein stimulation electrodes are implanted in the left coronary artery, periarterialy or in an adjacent coronary vein. Stimulation is non excitatory and does not cause heart contractions. Stimulation can be applied during the ventricular refractory... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, Pc

20080132967 - Techniques for blood pressure measurement by implantable device: An implantable cardiac device is configured and programmed to collect blood pressure waveforms from one or more implantable pressure sensors. Techniques are described for extracting features and reducing noise in the pressure waveforms by averaging waveforms which are aligned with a detected cardiac cycle. Noise can also be reduced by... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.a.

20080132968 - Cardiac activity control of gastric electrical stimulator: Methods and systems for stimulating a gastrointestinal system and for modifying a stimulation signal based on an indicator of autonomic nervous system function are described. One indicator of autonomic nervous system described is cardiac activity, including heart rate variability. Methods for selecting candidate patients for gastrointestinal stimulation therapy based on... Agent: Campbell Nelson Whipps, Llc

20080132969 - 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 coupling the lead to an external pulse generator. If desired results are achieved, the external pulse generator is removed and an implantable pulse generator is implanted in an anterior pelvic... Agent: Thomas J. Krumenacher Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080132970 - Method and system for treatment of intractable scrotal and/or testicular pain: A system and method is provided for the implantation and treatment of pain, such as scrotal and/or testicular pain, using electrical stimulation. The implanted portion of the system includes an implantable pulse generator that provides an electrical current through an implantable lead that extends to at least one electrode or... Agent: Sheridan Ross Pc

20080132971 - Electromagnetic apparatus for respiratory disease and method for using same: A method for altering the electromagnetic environment of respiratory tissues, cells, and molecules comprising establishing baseline thermal fluctuations in voltage and electrical impedance at a respiratory target pathway structure depending on a state of the respiratory tissue, configuring at least one waveform to have sufficient signal to noise ratio to... Agent: Len Taylor, Patent Attorney

20080132974 - Implantable systems and methods for acquisition and processing of electrical signals for therapeutic and/or functional restoration purposes: Improved assemblies, systems, and methods provide an electrical signal processor for acquisition and processing of electric signals from tissue. The electrical signal processor is sized and configured to be implanted in subcutaneous tissue. The electrical signal processor includes an electrically conductive case of a laser welded titanium material. Control circuitry... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080132972 - Method and device for cardiac vasoactive therapy: A method and device for treating myocardial ischemia in which an implantable pulse generator delivers electrical stimulation to electrodes disposed near a coronary artery. The stimulation parameters may be adjusted to produce vasodilation and/or vasoconstriction of the artery. The device may be configured to operate in a vasodilation and/or vasoconstriction... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080132973 - Method, apparatus and system for assigning remote control device to ambulatory medical device: A method for assigning a remote control to an ambulatory medical device includes generating and transmitting user inputs from a remote control to an ambulatory medical device, and receiving and processing the user inputs to determine whether the user inputs represent a sequence authorizing an assignment of the remote control... Agent: Henricks Slavin And Holmes, LLP Advanced Bionics Corporation

20080132975 - Techniques for minimizing radiofrequency-induced tissue heating: Methods and systems are provided for wirelessly powering a medical device in a living subject using external radiofrequency energy. A radiofrequency driving unit outside the subject irradiates the medical device. A passive antenna is positioned outside the subject, generally opposing the driving unit to redirect the field generally toward the... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080132976 - Methods and apparatus for adjusting blood circulation: Embodiments of the invention include a method and a device for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal by applying a desired pressure to extremities of a mammal. The device generally includes one or more collapsible and pliant body elements, capable of expanding from a first volume... Agent: Patterson & Sheridan, L.l.p.

20080132977 - Device for providing instant cooling, particularly for treating parts of the human body or items in general: A device for providing instant cooling, particularly for treating parts of the human body or items in general, comprising a diffuser which is adapted to be charged with a gas, the diffuser being provided with a plurality of holes for releasing the gas, the diffuser being accommodated in a container... Agent: K.f. Ross P.c.

20080132978 - Outer eyelid heat and pressure treatment for treating meibomian gland dysfunction: A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction. Heat is applied to the outside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands. The application of heat assists in the expression of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands to restore sufficient sebum flow to the lipid layer... Agent: Withrow & Terranova, P.l.l.c.

20080132979 - Method of implanting a medical lead: A method for implanting one or more implantable medical leads of an electrical stimulation system proximate to an occipital region of a patient comprises utilizing a needle to define an insertion path through tissue of the patient to a target tissue site. The insertion path may be dilated to a... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20080132980 - Attached implantable medical elongated members: An assembly comprises at least two elongated members that are attached together via one or more attachment elements such that the elongated members each define unattached distal branches. The elongated members are configured to deliver a therapy from a medical device to at least one target tissue site within a... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20080132983 - Electrode assembly for nerve control: Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing, configured to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve. At least one electrode is fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode does not come in direct physical contact with the nerve when the... Agent: Cooper & Dunham, LLP

20080132981 - Implantable medical device including a conductive fixation element: A system comprises an implantable medical device and an actively deployable clip attached to the implantable medical device to restrict movement of the implantable medical device once the clip is deployed within a body of a patient. The clip includes an electrically conductive portion. The implantable medical device may be... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20080132982 - Method of implanting a medical device including a fixation element: A system comprises an implantable medical device and an actively deployable clip attached to the implantable medical device that restricts movement of the implantable medical device once the clip is deployed within a body of a patient. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device is a lead and a clip... Agent: Shumaker & Sieffert, P. A.

20080132984 - Lead having composite insulative coating: A lead assembly includes a flexible lead body which extends from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead body includes one or more conductors. The lead assembly further includes an electrode assembly, and at least one coating of insulative material coated directly on at least one conductor.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.a.

20080132987 - Medical lead system utilizing electromagnetic bandstop filters: Medical lead systems utilizing electromagnetic bandstop filters are provide which can be utilized in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment for patients who have implanted medical devices. Such lead systems may be advantageously used in left ventricle cardiac stimulation systems, neuro-stimulation systems, and deep brain electrodes used for the treatment... Agent: Kelly Lowry & Kelley, LLP

20080132986 - Resonance tuning module for implantable devices and leads: An implantable medical assist device includes a medical device. The medical device has a housing and electronics contained therein. A lead provides an electrical path to or from the electronics within the medical device. A resonance tuning module is located in the housing and is connected to the lead. The... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20080132985 - Rf rejecting lead: A lead assembly for an implantable medical device. The lead assembly comprises a lead body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is adapted for coupling to a pulse generator and the second portion is adapted for implantation in or near a heart. First and second... Agent: Faegre & Benson, LLP 32469