586 results about "Av conduction" patented technology

A surgical instrument for use with a robotic surgical system is described. The instrument includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. An electrically live wrist member is disposed at the distal end of the shaft. An electrocautery end effector is mounted to the wrist member. An interface is disposed at the proximal end of the shaft. The interface is removably connectable to the robotic surgical system. A conductor extends from the interface to the end effector so as to deliver electrical energy to tissue engaged by the end effector. A tip cover is disposed over the wrist member so that electrical current can only be conducted to tissues through the exposed end effector (e.g., to promote blood coagulation during usage) and not to other parts of the patient's body.

A method of treating hemodynamic disfunction by simultaneously pacing both ventricles of a heart. At least one ECG amplifier is arranged to separately detect contraction of each ventricle and a stimulator is then activated for issuing stimulating pulses to both ventricles in a manner to assure simultaneous contraction of both ventricles, thereby to assure hemodynamic efficiency. A first ventricle is stimulated simultaneously with contraction of a second ventricle when the first fails to properly contract. Further, both ventricles are stimulated after lapse of a predetermined A-V escape interval. One of a pair of electrodes, connected in series, is placed through the superior vena cava into the right ventricle and a second is placed in the coronary sinus about the left ventricle. Each electrode performs both pacing and sensing functions. The pacer is particularly suitable for treating bundle branch blocks or slow conduction in a portion of the ventricles.

An electrode cap for obtaining EPM signals from a head of a subject, the cap comprising: (i) an insulating layer for positioning adjacent to the head of the subject; (ii) an electrically conductive layer comprising ionic conduction means, situated above the insulating layer so that in use, it is separated from the head of the subject by the insulating layer; (iii) a plurality of measurement signal electrodes extending through the electrically conductive layer and the insulating layer for contacting the head of the subject, the measurement signal electrodes being electrically insulated from the electrically conductive layer; and (iv) at least one reference node electrically connected to the electrically conductive layer;

Devices and methods provide for ablation of cardiac tissue for treating cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Although the devices and methods are often be used to ablate epicardial tissue in the vicinity of at least one pulmonary vein, various embodiments may be used to ablate other cardiac tissues in other locations on a heart. Devices generally include at least one tissue contacting member for contacting epicardial tissue and securing the ablation device to the epicardial tissue, and at least one ablation member for ablating the tissue. Various embodiments include features, such as suction apertures, which enable the device to attach to the epicardial surface with sufficient strength to allow the tissue to be stabilized via the device. For example, some embodiments may be used to stabilize a beating heart to enable a beating heart ablation procedure. Many of the devices may be introduced into a patient via minimally invasive introducer devices and the like. Although devices and methods of the invention may be used to ablate epicardial tissue to treat atrial fibrillation, they may also be used in veterinary or research contexts, to treat various heart conditions other than atrial fibrillation and / or to ablate cardiac tissue other than the epicardium.

Methods and systems are provided for neurophysiological assessment, specifically nerve and nerve root conduction frequencies, latencies and amplitudes, with respect to surgical intervention and insult. Real-time trends in waveforms are captured, and warnings of pathological changes reported, displayed and audibilized.

Apparatus comprising a housing; stimulation means mounted to the housing; a biosensor releasably mounted to the housing, the biosensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for detecting a sural nerve response evoked by the stimulation means; acquisition means mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the biosensor for acquiring the sural nerve response; processing means mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the acquisition means for digitizing, processing and storing the acquired sural nerve response; calculation means mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the processing means for calculating the conduction velocity and amplitude of the processed sural nerve response; and display means mounted to the housing for displaying the sural nerve conduction velocity and amplitude; wherein the stimulation means and the biosensor are designed to be placed on a patient's anatomy, in the vicinity of a sural nerve, by manipulating the housing.

A biologic intervention method and apparatus generates a persistent modification to an AV node that is physiologically stable after the agent has matured but is alterable with subsequent application of an agent. Specifically, the generic agent is used to modulate a node in a cardiac conduction system including rate control using one and a combination of a family of K+ channel or equivalent. Specifically, the channel is implemented to slow conduction by generating an outward current during optimization of action potential and repolarization phase thus decreasing the current that is available to excite downstream cells. A Kv 1.3 channel, for example, may be used as the biologic channel. The invention enables reversal of the modulation or adjustment for various heart rates (BPM) based on medical and patient-specific needs.

The invention generally relates to a continuous anesthesia nerve conduction apparatus and method thereof, and more particularly to a method and system for use in administering a continuous flow or intermittent bolus of anesthetic agent to facilitate a continuous or prolonged nerve block. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The sheath also includes an embedded conductive element for transmitting an electrical signal from a proximal portion of the sheath to a distal portion of the sheath. A cannula is arranged in the at least one lumen of the sheath and has a distal end protruding from a distal portion of the sheath. The cannula is electrically coupled to at least a portion of the embedded conductive element and is configured to provide nerve stimulation.

A biatrial and / or biventricular pacing system is used in a diagnostic context. By placing a pacing / sensing lead in three or four chambers of the heart, various conduction sequences can be determined and the originating chamber of various arrhythmias can be identified. This information is stored temporarily in the pacemaker until it is extracted for analysis.

A flexible cardiac catheter for sensing electrical activity within and administering therapy to a patients' heart has a series of flexible, conductive electrode bands positioned in grooves in the catheter's tubular body. The bands consist of alternating flexible and conductive elements, providing flexibility and overall versatility to the catheter. The electrode bands have controllable flexibility due to the elastic properties of the flexible elements and continuous uninterrupted electrical current conductance from the one-piece design of the conductive element. The synergy of the components of the composite flexible and conductive bands will help solve problems current electrode bands have and will allow for a freedom in the design of catheter electrode band configurations in the future.

To control cardiac arrhythmias, various conduction-modifying agents include biopolymers, fibroblasts, neurotoxins, and growth factors are introduced either epicardially or endocardially to the fat pads in proximity to the ganglia therein. Any desired technique may be used for injection, including injection from a catheter inserted percutaneously, or direct injection through the epicardial during open heart surgery. Preferably the patient's heart is beating throughout the Injection.

A hand-operated cooling device for cryotherapy for treating pain, inflammations, muscle tensions or the like, includes a main body and a receptacle, which can be inserted at least partially into the main body, for the exchangeable accommodation and insertion of a gas pressure vessel. The main body includes a gas outlet actuation arrangement, which can effect, by manual actuation, the outflow of a gas from the gas pressure vessel when the receptacle is inserted, and the receptacle includes a cooling surface, which can be cooled by the outflowing gas and by the gas pressure vessel jacket, wherein the gas can be conducted inside the main body and inside the receptacle by a gas conducting arrangement and can exit at the receptacle adjacent to the cooling surface. Commercially available gas pressure vessels, in particular cream dispensing capsules, can be inserted into the cooling device, so that a simple and cost-effective use of therapeutic OT medical cryotherapy having a pleasant cooling effect is made possible.

A method of assessing the cardiac arrhythmia risk in a subject to provide a measure of cardiac or cardiovascular health in that subject is described herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (a) collecting at least one QT and RR interval data set from the subject; (b) separating fluctuations from slow trends in said at least one QT and RR interval data set; (c) comparing said QT and RR fluctuations to one another and (d) generating from the comparison of step (c) partial measures of risk of cardiac arrhythmia in said subject. A greater difference between QT and RR fluctuations indicates greater risk of cardiac arrhythmia in said subject. The data sets are collected in such a manner that they reflect almost exclusively the conduction in the heart muscle and minimize the effect on the data sets of rapid transients due to autonomic nervous system and hormonal control.

The disclosure provides methods and apparatus of left ventricular pacing including automated adjustment of a atrio-ventricular (AV) pacing delay interval and intrinsic AV nodal conduction testing. It includes—upon expiration or reset of a programmable AV Evaluation Interval (AVEI)—performing the following: temporarily increasing a paced AV interval and a sensed AV interval and testing for adequate AV conduction and measuring an intrinsic atrio-ventricular (PR) interval for a right ventricular (RV) chamber. Thus, in the event that the AV conduction test reveals a physiologically acceptable intrinsic PR interval then storing the physiologically acceptable PR interval in a memory structure (e.g., a median P-R from one or more cardiac cycles). In the event that the AV conduction test reveals an AV conduction block condition or if unacceptably long PR intervals are revealed then a pacing mode-switch to a bi-ventricular (Bi-V) pacing mode occurs and the magnitude of the AVEI is increased.

Disclosed is an earphone set using both bone conduction and air conduction. The earphone set includes: a dual earphone which allows a user to selectively hear sounds from the front or rear side of the earphone set; a case cover provided at an end of the dual earphone; a cylindrical reinforcing frame assembled on one side of the case cover; a finishing ring mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical reinforcing frame; a top cover assembled on one side of the cylindrical reinforcing frame and the finishing ring and having an extension projection at one side thereof; a rubber ear cap assembled at a front end of the extension projection to be inserted into an ear hole of a user; and a bone conduction vibrator provided inside the dual earphone.

A method of operating a cardiac pacing device that optimizes the mechanical heart rate using coordinated potentiation therapy while maximizing the opportunity for intrinsic AV conduction to occur. The method may include adjusting the timing of extra stimulus intervals during coupled or paired pacing to promote AV conduction and to effect changes in rate according to certain embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments may include adjusting the atrial pacing rate to achieve a desired target rate consistent with AV conduction. A mode switch to a dual-chamber pacing mode may be provided according to certain embodiments of the invention to ensure a ventricular rate that meets or exceeds a minimum mechanical rate.

A device including circuits able to control the switching of a AAI mode in a DDD mode, and conversely the return of DDD mode to AAI mode, according to predetermined criteria of detection of atrio-ventricular block (AVB) of the first, second, or third degree and of ventricular pause. The device includes moreover circuits for detecting state, able to diagnose at least a specific temporary state of the patient, in particular a state of effort or sleep, and the circuits for mode switching operate in response to these circuits for detecting state to modify selectively, for the length of time when the aforementioned state is diagnosed, the criteria of switching from AAI mode towards DDD mode and / or the criteria of return to AAI mode, and / or the criteria of final commutation in DDD mode.

The disclosure provides methods and apparatus of left ventricular pacing including automated adjustment of a atrio-ventricular (AV) pacing delay interval and intrinsic AV nodal conduction testing. It includes—upon expiration or reset of a programmable AV Evaluation Interval (AVEI)—performing the following: temporarily increasing a paced AV interval and a sensed AV interval and testing for adequate AV conduction and measuring an intrinsic atrio-ventricular (PR) interval for a right ventricular (RV) chamber. Thus, in the event that the AV conduction test reveals a physiologically acceptable intrinsic PR interval then storing the physiologically acceptable PR interval in a memory structure (e.g., a median P-R from one or more cardiac cycles). In the event that the AV conduction test reveals an AV conduction block condition or if unacceptably long PR intervals are revealed then a pacing mode-switch to a bi-ventricular (Bi-V) pacing mode occurs and the magnitude of the AVEI is increased.

The disclosure provides methods and apparatus of left ventricular pacing including automated adjustment of a atrio-ventricular (AV) pacing delay interval and intrinsic AV nodal conduction testing. It includes—upon expiration or reset of a programmable AV Evaluation Interval (AVEI)—performing the following: temporarily increasing a paced AV interval and a sensed AV interval and testing for adequate AV conduction and measuring an intrinsic atrio-ventricular (PR) interval for a right ventricular (RV) chamber. Thus, in the event that the AV conduction test reveals a physiologically acceptable intrinsic PR interval then storing the physiologically acceptable PR interval in a memory structure (e.g., a median P-R from one or more cardiac cycles). In the event that the AV conduction test reveals an AV conduction block condition or if unacceptably long PR intervals are revealed then a pacing mode-switch to a bi-ventricular (Bi-V) pacing mode occurs and the magnitude of the AVEI is increased.

Methods and process for detection of myocardial ischemia involve detection and analysis of changes in electrical conduction velocity within the heart to monitor changes in the condition of the cardiac muscle and indicate possible ischemia. Conduction velocity slows considerably when oxygen supply to the heart is reduced. Analysis of electrical conduction velocity can be used to verify the occurrence of myocardial ischemia in a more reliable manner. Changes in conduction velocity may be monitored based on conduction time between electrodes positioned in the left and right ventricles of the heart. The electrodes may be endocardial or epicardial electrodes. In general, the techniques may involve launching a stimulation waveform at one electrode and sensing a local cardiac depolarization at another electrode to assess conduction time.

An intravenous identification luminaire (IV-ID) and light pipe, and a light conductive intravenous delivery system is described. The light pipe preferably includes a female and male luer fitting, a fluid port, and a light source socket such that the light pipe is configured to be spliced into an IV line, and the IV-ID is coupled to the light pipe. The light pipe allows normal flow of the prescribed fluid through the light pipe while conducting light from the IV-ID, through the light source socket and along a conductive light path. The conductive light path continues into the IV line. The system also includes an indicator panel at the distal end of the IV line configured to reflect and make obvious the color of that particular IV line to a user.

A pedicle access system including a cannula, a stylet, and a removable T-handle. The pedicle access system may be used to percutaneously approach the pedicle, initiate pilot hole formation, and conduct a stimulation signal to the target site for the purposes of performing a pedicle integrity assessment during the pilot hole formation. To do this, the cannula and stylet are locked in combination and inserted through an operating corridor to the pedicle target site, using the T-handle to facilitate easy movement and positioning of the cannula / stylet combination. A stimulation signal may be applied during pilot hole formation to conduct the pedicle integrity assessment. In a significant aspect, the T-handle may be detached from the cannula / stylet combination to facilitate the use of various surgical tools as necessary.

The invention provides an independently researched and developed continuous dynamic blood pressure monitoring device and method based on pulse wave transit time (PWTT) and pulse wave transit velocity (PWV). According to the device, an electrocardiosignal collecting module (104) is arranged on a main case (101) in a wristwatch form, a pulse wave signal collecting module (103) is arranged at the position, corresponding to the wrist radial artery, of a wristband (102), and the electrocardiosignal collecting module (104) and the pulse wave signal collecting module (103) are in signal connection with a control module (105). The device and algorithm can obtain pulse waves in real time, the problem that in-vitro heart pulse waves are inconvenient to obtain is solved, the method for rapidly and accurately obtaining the cardiac ejection time point is provided, and the method is an important part of continuous dynamic blood pressure monitoring.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for an implantable medical device comprising means for selecting between an atrial chamber reset (ACR) test and an atrioventricular conduction (AVC) test to provide atrial capture management and means for switching between an atrial-based pacing mode and a dual chamber pacing mode based on detecting relatively reliable atrioventricular conduction.