2000 results about "Anesthesia" patented technology

The present invention relates to a method and a system designed to determine an individual's state of attention from an individual's respiratory signal. The method of the invention comprises a first learning step, wherein the characteristics of an individual's normal state are determined by selecting a respiratory signal fragment that is considered to be normal according to a pre-established criterion, and a second analysis phase, wherein the individual's state of attention is determined from parameters extracted from the respiratory signal on the basis of some pre-defined rules and the individual's normal state previously characterised. The method of the invention is implemented in two embodiments. A first embodiment is based on the identification of pre-defined patterns in the respiratory signal and, in the second embodiment, an index indicative of the variability of the respiratory signal is defined.

Methods are provided for treating a subject for a condition caused by an abnormality in the subject's autonomic nervous system. In accordance with the subject methods, at least a portion of a subject's autonomic nervous system is electrically modulated to increase the parasympathetic activity / sympathetic activity ratio in a manner that is effective to treat the subject for the condition. Certain embodiments include electrically modulating at least a portion of a subject's autonomic nervous system by inhibiting and / or increasing activity in at least a portion of the subject's autonomic nervous system. The subject methods find use in the treatment of a variety of different conditions, where such conditions include various disease conditions. Also provided are systems and kits for use in practicing the subject methods.

A stimulation system is disclosed that may include a stimulator unit coupled to electrode contacts on a cuff. In one embodiment, the cuff may be placed at least partially around a nerve. The stimulation system may include at least two electrode contacts disposed on the cuff such that a distance between the at least two electrode contacts various along a length of the electrode contacts. In another embodiment, a plurality of electrode contacts are disposed on the cuff such that distances between at least one electrode contact within the plurality of electrode contacts and each electrode contact immediately adjacent to the at least one electrode contact are different. The stimulator unit may also be implantable.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting and treating sleep respiratory events that includes a plurality of sensors gathering physiological data related to sleep respiratory events. A processor extracts an average cycle length and a frequency of at least one of Cheyne-Stokes respiration and periodic breathing based upon the physiological data, and determines whether therapy is required based on the average cycle length and the frequency.

A desired effect is produced by therapeutically activating tissue at a first site within a patient's body and a corresponding undesired side effect is reduced by blocking activation of tissue or conduction of action potentials at a second site within the patient's body by applying high frequency stimulation and / or direct current pulses at or near the second site. Time-varying DC pulses may be used before or after a high frequency blocking signal. The high frequency stimulation may begin before and continue during the therapeutic activation. The high frequency stimulation may begin with a relatively low amplitude, and the amplitude may be gradually increased. The desired effect may be promotion of micturition or defecation and the undesired side effect may be sphincter contraction. The desired effect may be defibrillation of the patient's atria or defibrillation of the patient's ventricles, and the undesired side effect may be pain.

The present invention is directed to improved systems and methods for processing respiratory signals derived generally from respiratory plethysmography, and especially from respiratory inductive plethysmographic sensors mounted on a garment for ambulatory recording. The systems and methods provide improved signal filtering for artifact rejection, improved calibration of sensor data to produce outputs indicative of lung volumes. Further, this invention provides improved systems and methods directed to processing lung volume signals, however measured or derived, to provide improved determination of respiratory parameters and improved recognition of selected respiratory events.

According to one embodiment, a system for neurological stimulation of peripheral nerve fibers to treat low back pain is provided. The system includes stimulation electrodes adapted to be implanted in tissue proximate a network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating a painful region of the low back area and to deliver electrical stimulation pulses to the network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful region of the low back area. The system also includes a stimulation source adapted for implantation into the person's body and operable to generate electrical stimulation pulses for transmission to the electrodes for delivery to the network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful region of the low back area to relieve pain in the painful region of the low back area.

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 equal to between 1 and 10 seconds, and each of the “off” periods having an “off”duration equal to at least 50% of the “on” duration. Other embodiments are also described.

An arthroscopic surgical temperature control system and method able to monitor and control the temperature within a surgical site during arthroscopic ablation procedures in order to prevent tissue damage is provided.

Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning within a cervical facet joint for distracting the cervical spine, thereby increasing the area of the canals and openings through which the spinal cord and nerves must pass, and decreasing pressure on the spinal cord and / or nerve roots. The implant can be inserted laterally or posteriorly.

A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension with electrostimulation of peripheral nerves. Treatment is performed by periodically stimulating a nerve such as a median nerve. Apparatus for stimulation is permanently implanted in the body. The nerve is stimulated by electric current applied to electrodes that are placed near the target nerve or the muscle innervated by the target nerve.

This invention relates to methods of treating various orofacial diseases involving inflammation, infection and / or pain, using intratissue controlled release drug delivery systems. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for localized or targeted administration of a sustained release formulation of an agent such as an anti-inflammatory agent to a specified tissue location within the orofacial environment.

The devices and methods of placement of such devices disclosed herein are directed to altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of, for instance, an individual having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. More particularly, these devices produce and maintain collateral openings or channels through the airway wall so that oxygen depleted / carbon dioxide rich air is able to pass directly out of the lung tissue to facilitate both the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and / or to decompress hyper-inflated lungs. The medical kits disclosed herein are also directed to produce and maintain collateral openings through airway walls.

Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate nerves to treat medical conditions such as pain, and other conditions, such as, CHF, obesity, incontinence, etc., that could be controlled by the stimulation of the vagal nerves. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the nerve, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the pre-determined nerve site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located in the various regions on or around the nerve that needs to be stimulated. The implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates different nerves and regions of a nerve to provide therapeutic benefit.