A medical device senses electrical activity within a patient and, in some embodiments, delivers stimulation to the patient via a plurality electrical paths, which include electrodes and associated conductors of one or more leads. The medical device determines whether a symptomatic event, such as a seizure, is detected based on the sensed electrical activity, and measures the impedance of one or more of the paths in response to the determination. If the medical device identifies a dysfunctional electrical path based on the measured impedance, the device may, as examples, disable the dysfunctional electrical path, or modify a stimulation or sensing program to not use the dysfunctional electrical path. In this manner, the medical device may identify inaccurate symptomatic event detection and, where the device delivers a therapy in response to such detection, such as stimulation via the electrical paths, avoid inappropriate therapy delivery.

Embodiments of the invention are related to leads with topographic surface features and related methods, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable lead including a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, the lead body including an outer layer defining a lumen, the lead body further including a first electrical conductor disposed within the lumen of the outer layer. The implantable lead can further include a first electrode coupled to the lead body, the electrode in electrical communication with the first electrical conductor. The implantable lead can also include a cellular modulation segment on the external surface of the lead body, the cellular modulation segment comprising topographic surface features configured to modulate cellular responses. Other embodiments are also included herein.

An external processor device for a hearing implant system is described. An audio signal processor is coupled to an audio input providing an electrical audio input signal and develops a corresponding implant stimulation signal output. A stimulation signal transmitter is coupled to the signal processor and receives the implant stimulation signal for transmission to an implanted portion of the hearing implant system. The device includes an audio bypass mode which provides the audio input signal to the stimulation signal transmitter for transmission.

An atraumatic detection/stimulation lead is disclosed. The lead includes at least one microcable having a core cable comprising a plurality of elementary metal strands. One of the microcables has provided at its distal end an atraumatic protection device. The atraumatic protection device includes a protective coating on the distal ends of the elementary strands of the microcable, and the protective coating is covered by a protective cap of deformable material. The protective cap may be a conical distal end adapted to deform and axially flatten out. The microcable may have an overall diameter less than or equal to 1.5 French (0.50 mm).

The present invention relates to a treatment apparatus using high frequency waves, and to a method for controlling same. The treatment apparatus using high frequency waves comprises: a high frequency wave generating unit; a plurality of needles for providing, into the skin of a user, high frequency energy transferred from the high frequency wave generating unit; and a driving unit for inserting the plurality of needles into the skin of the user, wherein the apparatus further comprises a control unit for controlling the driving unit such that the plurality of needles are inserted into a first target point within the skin and then move to a second target point.

A system having a device for neural stimulation of a patient's cochlea, an in-situ device for measuring a patient's response to the neural stimulation of the cochlea, and a programming unit for adjusting the stimulation device; the stimulation device having a stimulation signal unit for generating a stimulation signal formed of pulses having a shape determined by a shape parameter set including at least one shape parameter; a cochlear implant stimulation arrangement with a plurality of stimulation channels for stimulating the cochlea based on the stimulation signal; the measuring device providing patient-specific response data concerning the stimulation response to a programming unit that controls the stimulation signal unit by subsequently supplying a plurality of different test shape parameter sets to the stimulation signal unit for causing the stimulation signal unit to generate corresponding test pulses, the programming unit evaluating each test shape parameter set based on stimulation response data.

An electrical stimulation system for use with a plurality of electrodes implanted within a tissue region comprises a neurostimulator configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters, thereby injecting a charge into the tissue region, a control device configured for receiving user input to modify the set of stimulation parameters, and controller/processor circuitry configured for, in response to the user input computing a charge injection metric value as a function of a physical electrode parameter and an electrical source parameter for a first set of the electrodes, wherein the electrode set comprises at least two electrodes, comparing the computed charge injection metric value to a safety threshold value, and performing a corrective action based on the comparison.

A system including a programmable implantable monitoring device and a programmer for programming the device and a method of use thereof. The programmer may be configured to transmit programming commands responsive to entry of a reason for monitoring to the implantable device including a prioritization of an arrhythmia storage criterion. The implantable may be configured to thereafter store and/or transmit records of the arrhythmia according to the prioritization. The programmer may be configured to transmit the patient's age to the implantable device and the implantable may be configured to thereafter apply arrhythmia detection criteria based upon the patient's age.

Various examples provide devices, systems, and techniques for dissipating electromagnetic interference (EMI) induced energy in a medical device. In one example, an implantable electronic device includes a housing, at least one connector coupled to the housing and configured to at least one of receive first electrical signals or transmit second electrical signals, and an integrated circuit disposed within the housing, wherein the integrated circuit comprises at least one clamp stage coupled to a supply line of the integrated circuit, and wherein the at least one clamp stage is configured to dissipate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) induced energy from the supply line in response to at least one of a voltage or a current on the supply line exceeding a respective predetermined voltage threshold value or a current threshold value.

A medical lead is provided for use in a pulse stimulation system of the type which includes a pulse generator for producing electrical stimulation therapy. The lead comprises an elongate insulating body and at least one electrical conductor within the insulating body. The conductor has a proximal end configured to he electrically coupled to the pulse generator and has a DC resistance in the range of 375-2000 ohms. At least one distal electrode is coupled to the conductor.