| 44th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 61 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20080269747 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERY, CONFORMATION AND REMOVAL OF INTRAMEDULLARY BONE FIXATION DEVICES - The present invention provides a bone fixation device for implantation into the intramedullary canal of a bone. The bone fixation device may include a support structure and a thermo-chemically activated matrix. The support structure may be radially expandable and contractible, and sufficiently flexible to be inserted into the intramedullary canal through an opening which is not parallel to the intramedullary canal. The matrix may attain a first thermo-chemical state via the addition of energy, and a second thermo-chemical state via the dissipation of energy. While in the first thermo-chemical state, the matrix is deformable and can conform to a shape matching the contours of the intramedullary canal of the bone. As the matrix attains the second thermo-chemical state, it may crystallize and becomes relatively hardened. An implant deformation apparatus may be used to expand the device within the intramedullary canal. The device may include a series of nested telescoping components. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269748 | Deformable Implant Systems and Methods - The present invention provides a deformable implant and a deformation apparatus. The implant has an elongated shape and may be inserted into the intramedullary canal of a fractured bone. The implant may have a support structure and thermo-chemically activated matrix material, deformable at a first state and hardened at a second state, surrounding the support structure. The deformation apparatus is shaped to be inserted co-axially into the implant, and includes a tube co-axially positioned inside a balloon, and a set of hoses connected to the tube and the balloon. A heat source, a cartridge and a pump may be connected to the apparatus to supply heat, and regulate temperature and pressure of a liquid or gas and circulate it through the balloon. Liquid or gas is introduced through the hoses into the balloon to inflate the balloon and cause the surrounding implant to expand radially, providing support to the fractured bone. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269749 | Thermo-Chemically Activated Implantable Apparatus and Method - The present invention provides an implantable device, a portion of which is formed of a material which is a combination of copolymers PCLM-12 and SMC-7, and nucleating agent A-6. The implantable device may be an intramedullary bone fixation device. The implantable device may have a body with a composite portion including a thermo-chemically activated matrix formed from the copolymer material, and a support structure formed from a second material. The body may be deformable at a first thermo-chemical state and hardened at a second thermo-chemical state. The implantable device may be heated to reach the deformable first thermo-chemical state, deformed, inserted into the intramedullary canal of a fractured bone, and cooled to reach the hardened second thermo-chemical state, providing rigid support during healing of the fractures. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269750 | Implantable Composite Apparatus and Method - The present invention provides a bone fixation device for implantation into the intramedullary canal of a bone. The bone fixation device may have a composite portion including a support structure and a thermo-chemically activated matrix, and may have a non-composite portion. The support structure may be radially expandable and contractible, and sufficiently flexible to be inserted into the intramedullary canal through an opening not parallel to the intramedullary canal. The matrix may attain a first thermo-chemical state via the addition of energy, and a second thermo-chemical state via the dissipation of energy. While in the first thermo-chemical state, the matrix is substantially deformable and can conform to a shape matching the contours of the intramedullary canal of the bone. As the matrix attains the second thermo-chemical state, it may crystallize and becomes substantially hardened. An implant deformation apparatus may be used to expand the device within the intramedullary canal. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269751 | PERCUTANEOUS INTRAMEDULLARY BONE REPAIR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - An intramedullary bone repair system and device for insertion into a bone extending along a longitudinal axis of the bone and for use with a plurality of screws. The bone repair device includes an elongate shaft and a head pivotally coupled to the proximal end of the shaft. A locking assembly is carried by the proximal end of the shaft and the head for rigidly coupling the shaft and the head together when the shaft and the head have been desirably positioned within the bone. The shaft and the head are provided with a plurality of threaded bores for receiving the plurality of screws to affix the shaft and head within the bone. A method for repair of a bone fracture using the bone repair device is also disclosed. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269752 | Hip fracture device with barrel and end cap for load control - A hip fracture device providing distance limited dynamization, load controlled dynamization and combinations of both dynamization methods by varying components. The hip fracture device includes a plate having a head portion and a shaft portion. A barrel projects from the head portion of the plate and a screw is inserted in the barrel. A friction pin is slidably connected with the screw, and an end cap is fixed to the head portion of the plate. The friction pin is fixedly connected with the end cap. The screw slides over the friction pin and toward the end cap when a load is applied on the fracture device. The load required for further sliding of the screw over the friction pin increases incrementally as the screw slides towards the end cap. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269753 | DYNAMIC CERVICAL PLATE - A cervical plate assembly having a body, with at least two wings, and a tensioning mechanism for applying a force to the wings. The tensioning mechanism includes a shape memory band and an adjuster for shortening or lengthening the band. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269754 | Preparation Tools and Methods of Using the Same - Various devices and methods for accessing and preparing treatment sites within the intervertebral disc space for subsequent negligible-incision surgical (NIS) or percutaneous procedures to treat disc degeneration and disc related back pain are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for performing a percutaneous spine procedure including preparing a treatment site within the intervertebral disc space for subsequent delivery of a biomaterial to treat disc degeneration and disc related back pain. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269755 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING SAW BLADES AND LIKE CUTTING ACCESSORIES WITH A SURGICAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A system and method for locating cutting accessories such as saw blades that, when actuated by the complementary driver, move relative to the driver. The saw blade is provided with one or more geometric features. The location of these features is identified by a pointer. The pointer is part of a surgical navigation system used to monitor the position of the driver to which the saw blade is attached. Based on the location of the geometric features, data regarding the head of the saw blade are generated. Thus, the surgical navigation has data indicating the position and orientation of the driver and the position of the head of the cutting accessory relative to the driver. Based on these data, the surgical navigation system generates data indicating the position and orientation of the head of the saw blade or like cutting accessory. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269756 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR SPINAL DISC IMPLANTS AND RELATED METHODS - Trials for spinal surgery include: (a) a trial implant portion having a shape corresponding to an implantable spinal disc implant; (b) a shaft connected to the trial implant portion; and (c) at least one axially extending cutting guide slot attached to the shaft at a position that is axially spaced apart from the trial implant portion, the cutting guide slot configured to releasably slidably receive and guide a cutting blade toward vertebral bone. Also described are additional surgical instruments, including, for example, pilot-hole punches, inserters, and methods of cutting keelways. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269757 | ALIGNMENT DEVICE - An alignment device comprises a guide having a tangible guide component, said guide being configured for arranging the guide component at an angle with respect to a reference element; and a positioning means; the positioning means and the guide component being operable to cooperate to position an item at the angle set by the guide component. The alignment device is particularly useful in surgical procedures for the alignment of surgical tools and implants. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269758 | IMPLANTABLE DISTRACTOR - A spinal implant for stabilizing two adjacent vertebrae having a damaged disc therebetween is assembled in situ. An elongated tool is used to insert a flat U-shaped distractor in the disc space through a low profile incision with both legs of the U-shaped distractor contacting both end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. The tool is rotated 90 degrees rotating the distractor 90 degrees so that each leg of the distractor contacts one end plate of the adjacent vertebrae, respectively, to restore intervertebral space. An elliptical bone tray is slid along the tool to seat within the U-shaped distractor. The tool is removed and a retainer replaces it to lock the bone tray and the distractor together. A screw is used to lock the bone tray to the distraction device, the screw slides down the cannula which is the tool inserted over the rod that the distraction implant is attached to. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269759 | Systems and methods for treating bone using expandable bodies - An expandable device is introduced into a cancellous bone volume of a vertebral body through a percutaneous access path. The vertebral body has at least one cortical plate that is depressed due to fracture. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume. An expansion barrier placed in association with the expandable device directs expansion of the expandable device in a desired direction to move the fractured cortical plate toward a desired anatomic position. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269760 | Apparatus, kits, and methods for creating cavities in cancellous bone using an elongated loop structure or bristles - Systems and method create a cavity in cancellous bone by use of a system or kit that includes a cannula having an axis that establishes a percutaneous path leading into bone and a shaft having a distal end portion carrying an elongated loop structure or bristles capable of extension from the shaft to create a cavity forming structure. The shaft is movable relative to the axis of the cannula to move the cavity forming structure when extended within cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone. A tool is sized for passage through the cannula. The tool is capable of dispensing a filling material into the cavity. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269761 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention relates in certain embodiments to systems and methods for treating bone, such as vertebral compression fractures. In one embodiment, a method includes controllably applying energy from an energy source to a bone cement volume outside of a patient's body to selectively accelerate the polymerization rate of the bone fill material volume prior to introduction of the bone fill material into a bone. The method further includes sequentially introducing a plurality of cement carrying structures with said accelerated polymerization rate bone cement volume into the bone. A system for use in said method includes at least one elongated cement-carrying structure sized to carry a bone cement volume therein and an energy source operatively coupleable to the cement-carrying structure. The energy source applies energy to the bone cement volume to selectively accelerate a polymerization rate thereof. An elongated injector is insertable into the bone and has a passageway that removably receives the elongated cement-carrying structure to allow delivery of the accelerated polymerization rate bone cement into the bone. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269762 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REPAIR OF CARTILAGE DEFECTS - Methods for repairing a cartilage defect in a subject, such methods comprising placing a tissue specimen into a container, centrifuging the container to separate the specimen into at least three fractions, drawing a selected fraction from the container, processing the fraction into a therapeutic composition, and treating the cartilage defect with the therapeutic composition. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269763 | IMPLANT TOOL TO FACILITATE MEDICAL DEVICE IMPLANTATION - The disclosure is directed to an implant tool used to facilitate the implantation of a medical device into a patient. The implant tool includes a housing that is held by a user and a needle attached to the housing. The needle is configured so that a cannula may be positioned over the needle and delivered to the target tissue. The implant tool also includes a release mechanism that pushes the cannula off of the needle. The release mechanism may help the user to keep the cannula at the desired location while removing the needle from the cannula. The implant tool may also include a flange that extends from the housing adjacent to a side of the needle such that the user may provide force against the needle during advancement of the needle into the patient. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269764 | SPINAL IMPLANT DISTRACTOR/INSERTER - A vertebral distractor-inserter comprising a housing, a pair of opposing arms in mechanical communication with the housing, a driving rod extending through at least a portion of the housing and between the arms, wherein the driving rod comprises an axis and a surface with a plurality of angled ratchet teeth on at least a portion of the surface, and a ratchet drive mechanism in mechanical communication with the driving rod. A vertebral distractor-inserter comprising a pair of opposing arms, a housing in mechanical communication with the arms and rotatable about an axis extending between the arms, and a driving rod extending through at least a portion of the housing and between the arms. A vertebral distractor-inserter adapted for single-handed use. A vertebral distractor-inserter having an implant depth adjustor. Methods for distracting adjacent vertebrae and inserting an implant using the devices described herein. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269765 | INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTING A PROSTHETIC COMPONENT - A surgical instrument including an inserter having a body and a head. The head is dimensioned for receipt within a cavity formed by a final junction surface, for example a female tapered surface, of a prosthetic component. In one exemplary embodiment, a portion of the head has a scratch hardness that is less than the scratch hardness of the prosthetic component, i.e., is formed from a softer material. This allows for the cover of the head to be received within the cavity formed by the final junction surface of the prosthetic component without substantially scratching or damaging the final junction surface. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269766 | INTRAVERTEBRAL REDUCTION DEVICE WITH RETENTION BALLS - An intravertebral reduction device is disclosed and can include a handle assembly and a shaft assembly extending from the handle assembly. The shaft assembly can be configured to create a space within a bone and deliver one or more retention balls to the space within the bone. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269767 | INTRA-OPERATIVE T-SQUARE - A T-square apparatus that facilitates intra-operative applications of orthogonal alignment to spinal reconstruction. More specifically, at least one cross member is connected orthogonally to a longitudinal member to assist in aligning the hips and pelvis perpendicular to the longitudinal access of the spine and to assist in positioning of the shoulders parallel to the hips and perpendicular to the spine. The T-square apparatus includes radiopaque markers to allow more accurate estimation of this sometimes difficult to appreciate intra-operative alignment. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269768 | Bone screw holding device - A screw holding device has a screw engaging part and a fixation sleeve. The screw for use with the screw holding device has a head and a shaft. The head of the bone screw has a recess and a notch. The screw engaging part has two halves with a hook formed on each half. The hook is shaped to fit in the notch. A fixation sleeve slides over the screw engaging part. When the fixation sleeve is pulled in proximal direction, the two halves of the screw engaging part are able to flex easily towards each other and thereby are insertable in the recess. When the fixation sleeve is moved towards the distal end of the screw engaging part, the two halves of the screw engaging part are prevented from flexing towards each other and thereby rigidly lock the screw and the screw engaging part together. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269769 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREPARING A CORNEAL GRAFT | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269770 | Intraocular Lens Injector Subassembly - An IOL injector subassembly, comprising a lens cartridge, an IOL, and a fastener connected to the lens cartridge arranged to maintain the IOL in a position disposed over at least a portion of the first lumen segment and over at least the second lumen segment. A method for facilitating loading of an IOL injector, comprising removing the fastener, and rotating the first portion relative to the second portion to fold the IOL. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269771 | Method and apparatus for ophthalmic surgery - In one embodiment of the invention, an endothelial keratoplasty device includes a distal portion with first and second holes. A vacuum is applied, via the holes, to stromal tissue of donor ophthalmic tissue. This helps the corneal surgeon insert the donor tissue into the patient's eye and couple the donor tissue to the patient's tissue, all while limiting trauma to the endothelial cells of the donor tissue. Irrigating liquid may also be administered to the patient's eye via the aforementioned holes or additional holes, ports, or voids. The irrigating fluid may remove the need for use of an anterior chamber maintaining device. Also, a protective lip located on the distal portion of the device, or elsewhere, may help protect delicate endothelial cells on the donor tissue as the donor tissue is inserted into eye. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269772 | Apparatus for fixing myoma during performing laparoscopic myomectomy - A myoma screw, for firmly fixing a uterine myoma of a patient to extract the uterine myoma easily during a laparoscopic myomectomy, wherein the apparatus is introduced into an abdominal cavity of the patient through a cannula, includes: a body part having a cross-sectional diameter smaller than that of the cannula; a fixing part, having a shape of a circular cone, for fixing the uterine myoma firmly; and a gripping part for applying traction force to the fixing part fixed into the uterine myoma. By using the apparatus during the laparoscopic myomectomy, the uterine myoma can be extracted safely, while obtaining a sufficient view of an operative field in a restricted space created by the cannula. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269773 | Obstetric Vacuum Extractor - A head for an obstetric vacuum extractor has a convex distal part reconfigurable into a concave suction cup. For example, the head may comprise single-walled distal and proximal parts, wherein the distal part can be deformed to create a double-walled suction cup in cooperation with the proximal part. Thus the head may be inserted into the mother's vagina, the head having a convex distal part upon insertion, whereupon the convex distal part is reconfigured into a concave suction cup for engagement with the baby's head, suction is applied to the cup to attach the cup to the baby's head, and force is applied to the baby's head via the cup to aid delivery. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269774 | Intracorporeal Grasping Device - An intracorporeal grasping device includes a tubular member for entering a lumen of a human body and the tube member having a distal end portion. An elongated core member is disposed with the interior cavity of the tubular member for rotational or slidably movement within the tubular member and the elongated core member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The elongated core member comprises a uniform diameter tube having some flexibility at the proximal end portion and greater flexibility while along a longitudinal axis in a direction towards the distal end portion; and a grasping configuration is provided for capturing an object (e.g., clot or debris) therein and the assembly may have a proximal end secured to the distal end of the elongated core member. The configuration has an expanded and contracted configuration, and distal sections configured to grasp an object. The grasping configuration may be formed by at least one movable jaw attached to the distal end portion of the elongated core member and a length portion of the distal end portion of the tube member. The grasping configuration may include unitarily formed plurality of movable jaws attached to the distal end portion of the elongated core member. Further, the grasping configuration may be formed by a plurality of loop members attached to the distal end portion of the elongated core member. Further, the grasping configuration may be formed by at least one spiral member having a distal tip for penetrating an object to be removed from a human body lumen. The device has the spiral member provided at the distal end portion of the elongated core member. The grasping configuration can be formed by at least one web member for retaining an object to be removed from a human body lumen, the web member being provided at the distal end portion of the elongated core member. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269775 | Method and apparatus for providing medical treatment using visualization components of audio spectrum signals - The present disclosure relates to medical imaging and treatment devices and methods. A system is provided that provides location and treatment of kidney stones or other entities through the use of visual representation of audio signals. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269776 | System and Method for Guidance and Implantation of Implantable Devices - Systems and methods are provided for fixation of a fractured bone with an intramedullary bone fixation device. During an implantation procedure, the fixation device may be guided by a removable guidewire which is not coupled to the fixation device. The guidewire and device may be inserted into an intramedullary canal along a pathway which is not parallel to the intramedullary canal. The fixation device may be composite, formed of a support structure and a matrix material. The matrix material may be thermo-chemically activated, transformable from a deformable first thermo-chemical state to a hardened second thermo-chemical state. The fixation device may be radially expandable to deform to the shape of the intramedullary canal, to provide support to the fractured bone. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269777 | Method And Apparatus For Controlled Insertion and Withdrawal of Electrodes - A system for a controlled insertion and withdrawal of at least one electrode in the anatomy. The system can include a guide device and at least one electrode located within the guide device to at least one of record or stimulate an anatomy. The system can also include an indicator coupled to the electrode to indicate a position of a distal end of an electrode relative to the guide device. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269778 | Optically Orienting an Invasive Medical Device - A method of adjusting an orientation of an apparatus relative to a surface of a sample includes positioning the apparatus in an initial orientation relative to the surface; projecting a reference pattern from the apparatus onto a reference surface, the position of the projected reference pattern on the reference surface being responsive to a change in an angular orientation of the apparatus relative to the initial orientation; on the basis of a position of the projected reference pattern determining an angular deviation of the apparatus from a desired orientation; and adjusting the orientation of the apparatus, such that the position of the reference pattern projected on the reference surface indicates a reduction in the angular deviation. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269779 | SURGICAL ANCHOR AND SYSTEM - The present invention is a device and system for manipulating a surgical tool at an intended location, e.g., a confined or inaccessible space, which includes a surgical anchor having at least one opening, wherein the opening provides a catch for a pin; and at least one anchor point to position and orient a surgical tool inside a human body. The apparatus and system of the present invention allows for the use of multiple intra-abdominal surgical tools inserted through a single incision. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269780 | Epilation Head and Epilation Device - A motor-driven epilation head, and epilation apparatus for use therewith, The epilation head has a rotatable cylinder operable to turn about an axis of rotation. The rotatable cylinder includes clamping devices operable to take hold of and pluck the hairs and actuating elements operable for actuating the clamping devices. The rotatable cylinder has at least one pressure element with a control surface that is at least intermittently contacted by the actuating elements in a sliding fashion. The actuating elements as well as the pressure element are made of a plastic material. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269781 | Surgical Fastener, Surgical Fastener Kit and Removing Tool - The present invention provides an organ fixture having a rod shaped anchoring portion formed by bundling a suturing thread, and a fixing portion made of a suturing thread continuous with the suturing thread of the anchoring portion. By pulling the fixing portion with respect to the anchoring portion with a force larger than a prescribed level, the suturing thread forming the anchoring portion can be loosened. Additionally, the invention provides a type of organ fixture set which pierces and is inserted into the body of the patient while a portion of an anchoring portion and a fixing portion of the organ fixture is accommodated in it, and it can be pulled from the body of the patient while the anchoring portion is left within the stomach wall. Further, the organ fixture set has a unit for removing the organ fixture from the body of the patient. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269782 | Surgical suturing apparatus - A surgical suturing apparatus is described. The suturing apparatus has a needle having at least one pointed end, a channel for releasably receiving the needle, a needle positioning assembly having members for moving the needle and an actuation assembly for actuating the needle positioning assembly. The needle includes a first puncturing point at a proximal end thereof and an engagement section adjacent thereto, a distal end, which may have a second puncturing point, and another engagement section adjacent the distal end. A structure, such as an eye or a slot, is provided to secure a length of suture material to the needle. The members for moving the needle include an engagement member for releasably engaging one of the engagement sections of the needle to effect axial movement of the needle within the channel, a ramp member for effecting movement of the needle in the distal direction along the longitudinal axis of the channel and for urging the proximal end of the needle out of the channel, and a snare axially movable within the channel and having a portion releasably housed within the channel. The snare portion is configured for capturing the proximal engagement section of the needle to guide the needle in a proximal direction when the needle is out of the channel and to guide the return of the needle to the channel. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269783 | Curved needle suturing tool - A needle delivery device is described and includes generally, a needle made of a shape memory alloy pre-formed in an unconstrained configuration, such as, for example, an arc or a curved needle. The needle delivery device also includes a needle delivery guide, a suturing guide and a positioning member. The needle has an eye at its leading tip for holding suture material. The needle delivery guide has a needle channel for passage of the needle therethrough. The needle channel is configured to hold the needle in a constrained configuration, for example, in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the needle channel. The suturing guide is pivotally connected to the delivery guide. The positioning member moves the suturing guide between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein, in the extended position, the suturing guide is configured to stabilize the tissue and guide the needle in its unconstrained configuration and to enable access by, for example, a grasper or other tool, to the suture material. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269784 | Anastomosis device, tools and methods of using - Anastomosis devices, tools and methods of performing sutureless anastomosis. Anastomosis devices are provided for fixing a first conduit to a second conduit in an anastomosis, where the conduits are joined by interfacing their inner walls together. The conduit which is loaded on the anastomosis device may be mounted in such a way that the internal wall of the conduit does not make contact with the anastomosis device. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269785 | SUTURE SECUREMENT APPARATUS - A suture securement apparatus for selectively securing one or more ends of a suture while allowing adjustments in the tension or a full release of the sutures intermittently after a prolonged period of time. The suture securement apparatus can be particularly adapted for use with a purse-string suture to close a percutaneous catheter puncture site without causing puckering or distortion of the skin at the purse string suture site. The suture securement apparatus permits a practitioner to subsequently modify the amount of tensioning or full release of the sutures at the catheter insertion site. A threading assembly for use with the suture securement apparatus and being adapted to facilitate threading of sutures along the length of the suture securement apparatus. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269786 | Suturing Devices and Methods for Closing a Patent Foramen Ovale - Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for closing a patent foramen ovale. Some of the disclosed apparatuses include an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, with first and second suture clasp arms adapted to hold end portions of a suture when in an extended position. A first suture catch mechanism is slidably housed in the elongate body and moves in a proximal-to-distal direction to engage the suture end held by the first suture clasp arm, and a second suture catch mechanism is slidably housed in the elongate body and moves in a distal-to-proximal direction to suture end held by the second suture clasp arm. The first suture clasp arm can be positioned around the septum primum to deliver a suture thereto, and the second suture clasp arm can be positioned around the septum secundum to deliver a suture thereto. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269787 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR COUNTERACTING HYPOTENSION - Devices and methods are disclosed to address blood pressure control. More particularly, the present invention relates to correction of transient low blood pressure. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269788 | Clamp Device to Plicate the Stomach - A medical device for clamping the stomach in morbid obesity surgery consists of a silicone frame that is essentially U-shaped, having opposing legs self-hinged to a bight portion interconnecting the legs. The opposing legs have sufficient stiffness to permit limited bending and have inner surfaces that sealingly carry an inflatable balloon which can be selectively inflated or aspirated after the device has been clamped to the stomach to adjust the gastric restriction stoma. A flexible latch member carried by one of the legs has at least one serration which is inserted into a latch cavity of the opposing leg to lock the opposing legs in fixed spaced relationship. Lumens within the legs communicate with a fluid supply source and respective inflatable balloon for selective inflation or aspiration of the inflatable balloons. The medical device for clamping the stomach may be self-adjusting upon distention and contraction of the proximal stomach. A platform member having finger extensions which are biased to remain in compressive engagement with the anterior surface of the proximal stomach reduce the gastric restriction stoma from its nominal position upon distention of the proximal stomach and enlarge the reduction upon contraction of the proximal stomach to the nominal position. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269789 | Implantable device with miniature rotating portion for the treatment of atherosclerosis, especially vulnerable plaques - A miniature rotating portion, anchored to and used within the human body. Optionally and preferably, the device may be used for one or more of active filtration and removal of plaques in the blood vessel, acting as an active plaque disassembler and lysis accelerator, acting as a localized sensor and/or acting as a hydrokinetic power generator. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269790 | Device for grasping and/or severing - A surgical device ( | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269791 | KINKED LANCET - A device for obtaining body fluid is described which has at least one lancet comprising a lancet body and a tip. The lancet has at least one structure with an altered stiffness which can also be referred to as a bending region. This structure preferably has a lower or reduced stiffness than the remaining lancet body such that the lancet can be bent in this region when a force acts thereon. In this process, the orientation of the tip is changed relative to the remaining lancet body. This change in orientation is preferably out of the lancet body plane. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269792 | Needle Device and Methods of Use - The technology described herein relates to needle devices and related methods. In one aspect, the technology provides a needle device that includes a rotator portion comprising a plurality of needles and a handle portion. The needles can be arranged according to a particular use, and are generally arranged in one or more rows. In various embodiments, the needles are spaced about 6 mm apart from each other, less than about 6 mm apart from each other and more than about 6 mm apart from each other. In various embodiments, the needles can be present in one row or more than one row. In an embodiment, the needles are present on a disposable strip. Also described are a needle device comprising a plurality of needles present on a planar support, in which the needles are arranged into one or more rows, and related methods. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269793 | Surgical Stapling Device with Dissecting Tip - A dissecting tip is provided for use with a surgical stapler or instrument. In one embodiment, the dissecting tip is secured to the end effector of a surgical stapler, e.g., to the anvil assembly or cartridge assembly. The dissecting tip extends distally from the end effector and is configured to dissect or separate target tissue from certain tissue, e.g., adherent, connective, joined or other tissue. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269794 | LOW PROFILE DILATOR FOR ARTERIOTOMY CLOSURE SYSTEM - A low profile, two lumen dilator is provided for an arteriotomy closure system. The dilator includes a first lumen adapted to receive a guidewire and a second lumen having a proximal segment that defines a blood marking lumen and a distal segment that receives the distal ends of stabilizers in a common pocket. The blood marking lumen and pocket are arranged in tandem. The guidewire lumen may extend the full length of the dilator or may be shortened to provide rapid exchange capability. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269795 | Systems and methods for treating bone using expandable bodies - A vertebral body is selected for treatment. The vertebral body has a cortical wall enclosing a cancellous bone volume. The vertebral body also has at least one cortical plate that is depressed due to fracture. At least one maximum dimension for the cancellous bone volume is ascertained, and an expandable device is provided that has a predefined dimension when substantially expanded that is less than the maximum dimension. The expandable device is introduced into the vertebral body through a percutaneous access path while in an unexpanded condition. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume from the unexpanded configuration toward the expanded configuration. An expansion barrier is provided in association with the expandable device that directs expansion of the expandable device in a desired direction to move the fractured cortical plate toward a desired anatomic position. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269796 | Systems and methods for treating bone using expandable bodies - An expandable device is introduced into a cancellous bone volume of a vertebral body through a percutaneous access path. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume to create a cavity. A volume of filling material is placed within the cavity. The filling material includes a therapeutic substance. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269797 | SATIATION DEVICES AND METHODS - A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269798 | EMBOLECTOMY DEVICE - An embodiment is a catheter comprising a first elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a first lumen therethrough, a wire having a proximal end and a distal end at least partially disposed in the first elongate shaft, the distal end extending distally from the first elongate shaft, and a motion control apparatus connected to the proximal end of the wire, further comprising a device attached to the distal end of the wire for changing the shape of an embolus, wherein the device is configured to change the shape of the embolus to unclog a distal catheter lumen. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269799 | MEDICAL TOOL WITH RETRACTIBLE HEADS - A tool, such as a medical instrument that can provide a variety of different functions. Specifically, the present invention includes a variety of heads that each can allow the medical instrument to perform a different function. Each of the heads are operatively coupled to a holding apparatus of the medical instrument such as by the use of a sliding mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the medical instrument is a forceps with heads operatively coupled to each arm. This coupling is done in such a way that a head can fully retract into a position such that no portion of the second medical head extends beyond the holding apparatus when not in use. This means that at most one of the heads extends from the holding apparatus of the medical instrument as any one time. As such, a doctor can use a single tool to perform multiple functions, and thus reduce time spent looking for and/or retrieving the appropriate tool. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269800 | ARTERIOTOMY CLOSURE SYSTEM WITH DUAL LUMENS SHEATH - An arteriotomy closure system includes a double barrel sheath having parallel dedicated lumens that merge at a distal juncture into a single common lumen. One of the dedicated lumens receives a dilator and the other a stapler. One of the dilator or stapler can be advanced from its dedicated lumen distally through the common lumen and beyond the distal end of the sheath while the other of the dilator or stapler is retracted into its dedicated lumen. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269801 | SURGICAL STAPLER - A surgical stapler comprises a hollow shaft | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269802 | SURGICAL STAPLER - A surgical stapler comprises a hollow shaft | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269803 | ARTERIOTOMY STAPLE WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PRONGS - An arteriotomy staple has tissue-engaging prongs arranged in groups each group comprising at least one primary prong and at leas one secondary prong. The secondary prongs are arranged to define a greater transverse span than the primary prongs to provide a back-up for engaging tissue about the arteriotomy in the event that the primary prongs do not work. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269804 | Apparatus and method for flexible spinal fixation - Apparatus for connecting and stabilizing adjacent vertebral segments, comprising a flexible composite connecting rod extending between the segments, and connection devices for connecting the rod to the vertebral segments. The rod comprises a rod member formed of a flexible plastic material having a predetermined compression strength, and a high tensile strength, low stretch, flexible reinforcing element extending longitudinally through the entire length of the rod member. The reinforcing element may be in the form of a single cord, rope, braid or monofilament, a plurality of substantially parallel cords, ropes, braids or monofilaments, or a tubular cord, rope, braid or woven or wire mesh strain relief device extending through the rod member in slidable relation or bonded thereto. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269805 | Methods for correcting spinal deformities - The present application discloses methods for treating spinal deformities. One embodiment includes inserting an elongated corrective member into the patient. During insertion, the corrective member is operatively attached to a first vertebral member that applies a first corrective force to correct a first vertebral member alignment. The corrective member is further inserted into the patient and subsequently operatively attached to a second vertebral member that applies a second corrective force to correct a second vertebral member alignment. The corrective member is further inserted and subsequently operatively attached to a third vertebral member that applies a third corrective force to correct a third vertebral member alignment. The embodiment may further include operatively attaching the corrective member to additional vertebral members to correct further misalignment. In one embodiment, a second member is attached to the vertebral members after they have been aligned to maintain the alignment. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269806 | Prostheses for locking an artificial disc in an intervertebral disc space - A surgical implant for locking a spinal motion segment includes an anterior plate portion with laterally spaced interbody members extending posteriorly therefrom. The plate portion has passages to receive surgical fixing screws or other securing elements engaged in holes drilled in the vertebrae for securing the plate portion to the anterior faces of the vertebrae to be locked. The arms extend into a space between lateral portions of the vertebrae to be locked. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269807 | Hip fracture device with static locking mechanism allowing compression - A bone plate having a plurality of openings for receiving a compression bone screw or a cortical screw. An end cap, threadably insertable in the opening and having a layer of polymeric material interposed between the end cap and the top of the head such that the compression of the polymeric material would allow slight axial movement of the screw. Alternatively, a locking ring adapted to attach to the head of the screw and having shape complimentary to the features formed on the head. The locking ring and the bone screw being assembled together and being insertable in the bone simultaneously using a dedicated instrument. Compression may be applied to a bone fracture by turning the bone screw alone after the locking ring has reached its final axial position. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269808 | Osteosynthetic Implants and Methods of Use and Manufacture - Bone fracture fixation devices, systems and methods of use and manufacture are provided. One such bone fixation device includes an elongate element having a responsive zone. The element is adapted to be coupled to the bone so that the responsive zone is positioned adjacent a fracture or fusion site in the bone. The responsive zone is adapted to apply a desired pressure to the bone when coupled thereto. In some embodiments, the responsive zone comprises a shape memory material, which may be nickel titanium or Nitinol, to apply compressive pressure across the fracture or fusion site for longer periods of time than standard bone screws. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269809 | Bottom-loading pedicle screw assembly - A spine screw assembly is adapted to be loaded from a bottom of a receiver member. The spine screw assembly includes a bone fastener with a head having a groove that removably accepts a clip. The clip acts to retain the head of the bone fastener in the receiver member. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269810 | Orthopedic Fastener for Stabilization and Fixation - The present invention includes an apparatus, kit and method for providing a bone fixation assembly for attachment to a bone to provide augmented support. The bone fixation assembly includes a screw having a screw head and a threaded shank. A first aperture is positioned about the screw head to receive a first longitudinal member and a first compression member that engages the first aperture to secure the first longitudinal member. The screw head has a second aperture positioned to receive a second longitudinal member and a second compression member that engages the second longitudinal member aperture to secure the second longitudinal member and provide augmented support. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269811 | SCHEME FOR OVERWRITING STORED PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - An implantable medical device and associated method store physiological data in response to detecting a physiological event. The medical device includes multiple first memory locations allocated to each of a number of physiological event types and a second single memory location allocated for storing entries of physiological signal data corresponding to each of the plurality of physiological event types. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269812 | Therapy adjustment - Systems and methods for adjusting a therapy delivered to a patient include detecting a value of at least one sensed patient parameter and adjusting a therapy program to accommodate different patient parameter values. A data structure including a plurality of patient parameter values and associated therapy programs may be stored within a medical device or a programming device. Upon detecting a patient parameter value, an associated therapy program from the data structure may be selected. If no therapy program is associated with the detected patient parameter value, an intermediate program that best suits the detected patient parameter value may be generated by interpolating between the most recently implemented therapy program and a stored therapy program. In some embodiments, the rate of shifting between parameters of two stored or interpolated therapy programs may be based on the rate of change of the patient parameter value over time. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269813 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUBCUTANEOUS ECG VECTOR ACCEPTABILITY AND SELECTION - An implantable medical device system and associated method select subcutaneous sensing electrodes for use in monitoring the heart rhythm. A subset of multiple sensing vectors is selected from a number of electrodes positioned at a first subcutaneous location and one electrode positioned at a second subcutaneous location. The subset of sensing vectors includes one vector that includes the electrode positioned at the second location. A signal quality parameter corresponding to each of the sensing vectors of the subset is determined. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269814 | Implantable Bio-Electro-Physiologic Interface Matrix - An implantable device ( | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269815 | Method and Apparatus for Providing Extra Systolic Stimulation - An implantable medical device and associated method control the delivery of extra systolic stimulation by determining a coupling interval, setting an extra systolic interval in response to the coupling interval; and delivering a supraventricular stimulation pulse upon expiration of the extra systolic interval. The supraventricular stimulation pulse evokes a depolarization that is conducted to the ventricles occurring at a ventricular coupling interval relative to a ventricular event. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269816 | Method and Apparatus to Deliver Mechanically Fused Pacing Therapy - A medical device system and method for delivering mechanically fused left ventricular cardiac stimulation. A sensor monitors left ventricular acceleration while left ventricular cardiac stimulation is provided at an AV interval. The left ventricular acceleration is used to calculate a mechanical response interval and the mechanical response interval is compared to a desired mechanical response interval. The AV interval is adjusted until the mechanical response interval is equal to the desired mechanical response interval. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269817 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE FOR BIVENTRICULAR STIMULATION - A heart stimulator for biventricular pacing comprises at least one stimulation pulse generator connected or connectable to a right ventricular or atrial stimulation electrode lead and a left ventricular or atrial electrode lead, respectively. The heart stimulator is adapted to generate right chamber stimulation pulses for a right atrium or ventricle and left chamber stimulation pulses for a left ventricle or atrium. A high rate protection unit connected to said stimulation pulse generator is adapted to trigger, upon any right or left chamber stimulation pulse, a protection time window having a predetermined duration in time and comprising an early part immediately followed by a late part. The protection unit is further adapted to only allow atrial or ventricular stimulation pulses in said early part of said protection time window and to suppress any atrial or ventricular stimulation pulse in said late part. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269818 | Non-Invasive Cardiac Potentiation Therapy - An external cardiac medical device for delivering Cardiac Potentiation Therapy (CPT). Techniques used with the device include initial diagnosis of the patient, delivery of the CPT, and configuration of the external device, so that CPT can be effectively and efficiently provided. In particular, these techniques include initially determining whether a patient should receive CPT, how to set the coupling interval for delivering CPT, how to configure the external medical device to deliver CPT stimulation pulses while not adversely affecting the device's ability to sense a patient's cardiac parameters and/or signals. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269819 | DISCRIMINATION OF SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA FROM VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA - An implantable medical device and associated method discriminate between ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia. Cardiac signals are sensed for detecting ventricular intervals corresponding to a tachycardia. Electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to cardiac neural tissue and verified as being effective in exciting the cardiac neural tissue. If the ventricular intervals corresponding to the tachycardia are increased in response to delivering stimulation pulses to the cardiac neural tissue, the tachycardia is detected as a supraventricular tachycardia. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269820 | Heart Monitoring Device and a System to Detect Vibrations Concerning the Status of the Heart - An implantable heart monitoring system has a control circuit that operates an implanted vibrator to emit a vibration signal that interacts with tissue in vivo. A vibration sensor detects vibrations after interaction with the tissue, and supplies a detection signal to the control circuit. The control circuit analyzes the vibrations in the detected signal relative to the vibration signal, and derives information concerning at least one mechanical property of the heart therefrom, such as stiffness and/or thickness of at least a part of the heart. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269821 | Method and Apparatus For Affecting The Autonomic Nervous System - A method and apparatus for affecting the autonomic nervous system of a subject using stimuli based on separate analysis of the sympathetic and/or parasympathetic branches of the subject's autonomic nervous system. The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for affecting the autonomic nervous system, wherein stimuli is applied in coordination with cyclical activities of the subjects body such as respiration or cardiac cycle. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269822 | Device for Evaluating Positions of an Implantable Medical Device - In a device and method for evaluating positions of a medical lead during an implantation procedure, an IEGM signal and a signal indicative of heart pumping activity are obtained for each of a number of different lead positions, and those signals are stored dependent on the different lead positions. A processor automatically determines a lead position, from among the stored lead positions, that results in most favorable hemodynamics of the heart, based on the IEGM signal and the pumping activity signal. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269823 | Apparatus and Methods for Automatic Determination of a Fusion Pacing Pre-Excitation Interval - Automated adjustment of a pre-excitation interval (PEI) used to deliver hemodynamically efficient fusion pacing therapy. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269824 | System and method for timing synchronized pacing - A device and method for cardiac rhythm management in which a heart chamber is paced in accordance with sense signals from the opposite chamber or other distant cardiac site. The method is particularly useful in delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269825 | Mechanical Ventricular Pacing Non-Capture Detection for a Refractory Period Stimulation (RPS) Pacing Therapy Using at Least One Lead-Based Accelerometer - A system and method for monitoring at least one chamber of a heart (e.g., a left ventricular chamber) during delivery of a refractory period stimulation (RPS) therapy to determine if the desired non-capture (i.e., lack of ventricular mechanical capture due to refractory period stimulation) occurs. The system includes an implantable or external cardiac stimulation device in association with a set of leads such as epicardial, endocardial, and/or coronary sinus leads equipped with motion sensor(s). The device receives and processes acceleration sensor signals to determine a signal characteristic indicative of chamber capture due to pacing stimulus delivery, non-capture due to RPS therapy delivery, and/or contractile status based on the qualities of evoked response to pacing stimulation. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269826 | IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC DEVICE - A heart stimulator is adapted to adapt an atrioventricular delay interval or an interventricular delay interval or both during night time by adding a delay interval to a respective daytime interval, and the device statistics for day and night are calculated, stored, and can be displayed separately. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269827 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A HISTOGRAM OF CARDIAC EVENTS - Systems, devices and methods are provided for displaying statistical distributions of cardiac events. A device embodiment comprises circuitry adapted to communicate with a medical device that is adapted to acquire data regarding cardiac events occurring at two or more cardiac sites, and display means for displaying a histogram of the data as two or more statistical distributions for the two or more cardiac sites. The histogram includes a number of histogram bins. At least one of the histogram bins includes both a representation for at least a portion of a statistical distribution of a cardiac event for a first cardiac site and a representation for at least a portion of a statistical distribution of a cardiac event for a second cardiac site. Other embodiments are provided herein. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269828 | Non-Invasive Battery Recharger for Electronic Cardiac Implants - The present invention refers to a device used to recharge the battery of electronic cardiac implants, like implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. It can be used to recharge the battery after an emergency requirement, such as: defibrillation or in diagnosis and or reprogramming of implants, during which no energy is demanded from the internal battery, seeing that the energy feed becomes guaranteed (accepted) by the proposed device. The invention is composed by three essential components: a generator (A), a transmitter unit (B) and a receptor coil (C). The generator is destined to produce an energy signal with determined amplitude and frequency and that is carried across through a coaxial cable to the transmitter unit (B). The emitted magnetic field is captured by the receptor coil (C) that is implanted inside the human body, generating a voltage with the absence of the Gibbs phenomenon. Furthermore, the battery recharging device guarantees the energetic supply of a communication channel between the exterior for diagnosis and/or implant reprogramming. In this case, there will be no demand of energy from the internal battery. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269829 | Metal injection molded titanium alloy housing for implantable medical devices - The housing of an implantable medical device is made of a titanium alloy that provides improved electrical performance, mechanical strength, and reduced MRI heating. The titanium alloy housing includes portions formed by metal injection molding and welded together. Wall thickness of at least a portion of one major face of the housing is reduced by chemical etching a metal injected molded housing portion. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269830 | MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION LEADS - A medical device lead is presented. The medical device lead includes a lead body, an electrode shaft, and a tip electrode. A magnetostrictive element is coupled to the electrode shaft. The magnetostrictive element comprises either terfenol-D and/or galfenol or any material with sufficient magnetostrictive properties. The magnetostrictive element expands when exposed to magnetic resonance imaging. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269831 | IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR COMPRISING MRI CURRENT LIMITING WINDINGS IN HEADER STRUCTURE - In one embodiment, a pulse generator for generating electrical stimulation for delivery to a patient, comprises: a hermetically sealed housing containing pulse generating circuitry; a header coupled to the housing for receiving one or more stimulation leads, wherein feedthrough wires are provided to conduct electrical pulses from the pulse generating circuitry to the header; the header comprising a plurality of connectors for electrically connecting to each terminal of the one or more stimulation leads, wherein an inductive winding is disposed around or adjacent to each of the connector structures and is electrically connected between the respective connector structure and a corresponding feedthrough wire to limit MRI induced heating of a respective electrode of the one or more stimulation leads. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269832 | Device and method for sleep apnea management using SpO2 - The present invention relates to an anti-sleep apnea device including two electrodes and a pulse oximeter, adapted to be disposed on the user's wrist for releasing electrical pulses to an acupoint of the user, and a method of monitoring and treating sleep-apnea, whereby monitoring occurs via a pulse oximeter and treatment occurs by providing electrical stimulation to specific acupoint on the user. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269833 | Trans-esophageal vagus nerve stimulation - Devices and methods of non-surgically providing vagus nerve therapy trans-esophageally to treat a variety of medical conditions are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an implantable medical device comprises a support member having an outer surface. The support member is adapted to engage the inner wall of an esophagus. The IMD also comprises at least one electrode disposed on the outer surface of the support member. The at least one electrode is capable of applying a trans-esophageal electrical signal to the vagus nerve through the wall of the esophagus from the inner lumen thereof. The implantable medical device further comprises a signal generator coupled to the support member and to the at least one electrode. The signal generator causes the at least one electrode to apply an electrical signal to the vagus nerve to treat a medical condition. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269834 | Non-Surgical Device and Methods for Trans-Esophageal Vagus Nerve Stimulation - The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for providing trans-esophageal electrical signal therapy to a portion of a vagus nerve of a patient to treat a medical condition. An implantable medical device comprising at least one electrode is implanted in an inner lumen of the esophagus of the patient. At least one electrode is electrically coupled to the inner lumen of the esophagus. An electrical signal from the IMD is provided to a target portion of the vagus nerve through at least a portion of the wall of the esophagus for treating the medical condition. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269835 | 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 upon comparisons of long-term and short-term representations of physiological signals. Other embodiments include prediction of seizure activity based upon analysis of physiological signal levels. An embodiment of the invention monitors the quality of physiological signals, and may be able to compensate for signals of low signal quality. A further embodiment of the invention includes detection of seizure activity following the delivery of therapy. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269836 | Apparatus for Treating Neurological Disorders by Means of Chronic Adaptive Brain Stimulation as a Function of Local Biopotentials - An apparatus and a related method for the deep brain stimulation have been invented wherein the parameters of the stimulation supplied at the human nervous system level are adjusted and optimized continuously by the analysis of the bioelectric signals coming from the tissue adjacent the stimulation electrode itself, adapting the therapy continuously and in line to the patient's clinical state. The apparatus is constituted at least by an electro-catheter ( | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269837 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL LEAD FOR IMPLANTATION IN A PATIENT, SUCH AS A PATIENT'S NECK - Implantable leads implantable in a patient, such as patient's neck. The lead includes a first lead segment and a second lead segment. The second lead segment extends from the first lead segment at a first junction point and includes first, second, and third legs each defining a longitudinal length in extension from the first junction point to a distal end. A length of the first leg is greater than a length of the second leg, and a length of the second leg is greater than a length of the third leg. With this configuration, each of the legs are adapted to support at least one electrode at the distal end thereof, and are appropriately dimensioned relative to one another for locating the corresponding electrode at a desired target tissue site in the patient's neck. Targeted tissue can include, for example, muscles of the neck. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269838 | REGULATION OF GENES VIA APPLICATION OF SPECIFIC AND SELECTIVE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALS - Methods and devices for the regulation of gene expression by cells via the application of fields generated by specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals so as to target diseased or injured tissue for treatment. By gene expression is meant the up regulation or down regulation of the process whereby specific portions (genes) of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA and subsequently translated into protein. Methods and devices are provided for the targeted treatment of injured or diseased tissue that include providing specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals and exposing tissue to the fields generated by the signals so as to regulate gene expression. In particular, methods and devices are provided for the targeted treatment of bone defects, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, and other disease states. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269839 | Dosing Limitation for an Implantable Medical Device - A method for limiting patient-initiated electrical signal therapy provided by an implantable medical device (IMD) to a cranial nerve of a patient. At least one electrical signal therapy limit selected from the group consisting of a maximum number of patient-initiated signals to provide a therapeutic electrical signal per a time period, a maximum dose of the therapeutic electrical signal per a time period, a maximum duration of the therapeutic electrical signal per a time period, a maximum rate of change of the number of patient-initiated signals to provide a therapeutic electrical signal per a time period, a maximum rate of change of the dose of the therapeutic electrical signal per a time period, and a maximum rate of change of the duration of the electrical signal therapy per a time period is specified. A patient-initiated signal to begin a therapeutic electrical signal is received. Whether or not said electrical signal therapy limit is exceeded by said step of detecting a patient-initiated signal is determined. An action in response to said step of determining whether or not said limit is exceeded is performed, said action selected from the group consisting of providing a first electrical signal therapy to said cranial nerve, providing a second, reduced electrical signal therapy to said cranial nerve, providing a third, enhanced electrical signal therapy to said cranial nerve, inhibiting an electrical signal therapy to said cranial nerve, providing a background electrical signal to said cranial nerve, and inhibiting a background electrical signal to said cranial nerve. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269840 | Non-surgical device and methods for trans-esophageal vagus nerve stimulation - Devices and methods of non-surgically providing vagus nerve therapy trans-esophageally to treat a variety of medical conditions are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an implantable medical device comprises a support member having an outer surface. The support member is adapted to engage the inner wall of an esophagus. The IMD also comprises at least one electrode disposed on the outer surface of the support member. The at least one electrode is capable of applying a trans-esophageal electrical signal to the vagus nerve through the wall of the esophagus from the inner lumen thereof. The implantable medical device further comprises a signal generator coupled to the support member and to the at least one electrode. The signal generator causes the at least one electrode to apply an electrical signal to the vagus nerve to treat a medical condition. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269841 | Chopper mixer telemetry circuit - This disclosure describes a chopper mixer telemetry circuit for use in a wireless receiver. The receiver may be located in an implantable medical device (IMD) or external programmer. The chopper mixer telemetry circuit may include a mixer amplifier that operates as a synchronous demodulator to provide selective extraction of wireless signals received from a transmitter while suppressing out-of-band noise that can undermine the reliability of the telemetry link between an IMD or programmer and another device. The mixer amplifier may utilize parallel signal paths to convert the received telemetry signal into an in-phase (I) signal component and a quadrature (Q) signal component and recombine the I and Q signal components to reconstruct the total signal independently of the phase mismatch between the transmitter and receiver. Each signal path may include a chopper-stabilized mixer amplifier that amplifies telemetry signals within a desired band while suppressing out-of-band noise. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269842 | Implantable medical device for treating neurological conditions with an initially disabled cardiac therapy port and leadless ECG sensing - An implantable medical device such as an implantable pulse generator that includes EEG sensing for monitoring and treating neurological conditions, and leadless ECG sensing for monitoring cardiac signals. The device includes a connector block with provisions for cardiac leads which may be used/enabled when needed. If significant co-morbid cardiac events are observed in patients via the leadless ECG monitoring, then cardiac leads may be subsequently connected for therapeutic use. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269843 | Therapy adjustment - Systems and methods for adjusting a therapy delivered to a patient include detecting a value of at least one sensed patient parameter and adjusting a therapy program to accommodate different patient parameter values. A data structure including a plurality of patient parameter values and associated therapy programs may be stored within a medical device or a programming device. Upon detecting a patient parameter value, an associated therapy program from the data structure may be selected. If no therapy program is associated with the detected patient parameter value, an intermediate program that best suits the detected patient parameter value may be generated by interpolating between the most recently implemented therapy program and a stored therapy program. In some embodiments, the rate of shifting between parameters of two stored or interpolated therapy programs may be based on the rate of change of the patient parameter value over time. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269844 | Reflective Crib Liner - A reflective crib liner for improving the efficacy of phototherapy is disclosed. The reflective crib liner has a fabric layer having dimensions to accommodate placement of the reflective crib liner in a bassinet used in a phototherapy treatment. The bassinet has at least one wall that defines an interior surface. A reflective layer is formed so as to cover at least a portion of the interior surface. The reflective layer has a first degree of reflectance with respect to visible light and a second degree of reflectance with respect to heat that is substantially lower than the first degree of reflectance. The reflective layer comprises a porous material having a light diffusing surface. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269845 | WAVEGUIDE CONNECTION DEVICE - A connector for interconnecting a waveguide with a light component (e.g., another waveguide) for allowing light communication therebetween. Assemblies for connecting a waveguide can be formed with the connector. In one embodiment, the connector is employed for connecting to a waveguide useful in performing medical applications such as provision of photodynamic therapy. | 2008-10-30 |
| 20080269846 | DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OF BLOOD VESSELS USING LIGHT - Light generating devices for illuminating portions of vascular tissue to administer photodynamic therapy, and usable with, or including a distal protection device. A first device includes a hollow tip, a flushing lumen, a guidewire lumen, and at least one of a light source, and a hollow light transmissive shaft that is adapted to accommodate a light source. If desired, the device can include a balloon, so that a portion of a body lumen between the balloon and the distal protection device is isolated when the balloon is inflated. A second device includes inner and outer catheters, the outer catheter including a balloon, and the inner catheter including a light source encompassed by another balloon. Yet another device is a catheter having two balloons and a sleeve extending there between. Within the sleeve, the catheter includes a light source and an expanding member. | 2008-10-30 |
