A system for measuring sensation or sensory responses of a tissue of a subject (or patient) by delivering air pulses of controlled pressure, duration, and frequency to the tissue surface. The system can include an endoscope having a range finder component to determine the distance between the distal end of the endoscope and a target tissue surface. When it is determined that the endoscope has been positioned at a predetermined distance from the tissue surface, the air pulses can be administered to the tissue surface.

Biomaterials, such as hydrogels, can be mechanically secured to electrodes of an implantable device, such as electrodes made of noble metals. The hydrogel can be mechanically secured via anchoring features of the electrode. Anchoring features can include apertures, voids, textures, or other patterns created in or on the electrode. The hydrogel can incorporate into the anchoring features to mechanically hold the hydrogel against the electrode. The anchoring features, by being located in or on the electrode, can further increase the surface area of the electrode that is exposed to the hydrogel, which can facilitate the conduction of electrical signals between the electrode and surrounding biological tissue. The substrate supporting the electrode can include additional anchoring features that further assist in mechanically securing the hydrogel.

Methods and devices useful for determining the analyte concentration of a sample using output currents obtained from an input potential in the kinetic potential region of a redox mediator are disclosed. Preferably, the input potential used to generate the output currents from the kinetic potential region of the redox mediator is continually increasing with time after initiating the analysis. A method of selecting an initial input potential within the kinetic potential region of a redox mediator based on the sensitivity of an individual or batch of subcutaneously insertable test sensors also is described. A method of selecting an analysis input potential within the kinetic potential region of redox mediator based on the sensitivity of an individual subcutaneously inserted test sensor also is described where the analysis input potential is increased with insertion time.

A universal implantable integrated circuit medical device platform having integral and monolithic circuit traces. The platform allows for implanting into a mammalian body single and multi-functional interface devices for sensing, monitoring stimulating and/or modulating physiological conditions within the body. Microelectronic circuitry may be integrated onto the platform or may be joined as modular components to the platform.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for confirming cardiac events based on heart sounds. An implantable medical device includes a sensing component configured to acquire a signal, and a processing component communicatively coupled to the sensing component, the processing component configured to receive the signal from the sensing component, analyze the received signal to detect the presence or absence of at least one heart sound, and confirm whether an initial detection of a cardiac event is accurate based on the detected presence or absence of the at least one heart sound.

An example implantable connector for connecting an electronics package and a neural interface is made by way of a compressible contacts (e.g., a spring) that physical contacts a corresponding exposed bond pad. The compressible contact is held in compression with the exposed bond pad using a mechanical coupler. The compressible contact is physically separated and electrically isolated from other contacts by way of a compressible gasket. The compressible gasket is also held in compression using the mechanical coupler.

An optoelectronic electrode element includes an electrode module (40) having at least a first and second electrodes (41, 42) each having an electrode surface (41s, 42s). An an optoelectronic module (20) is provided and having a photovoltaic cell (21a) suitable for transforming optical energy into electrical energy. A feeding fibre optic (31a) is also provided. A coupling module (10) is provided and having a circuit receiving portion (12) for inserting, positioning, and rigidly fixing the optoelectronic module (20) to the coupling module (10); and a feeding fibre cavity (11a) for inserting and coupling the feeding fibre optic to bring it in optimal optical communication with the photovoltaic cell. The coupling module (10) is coupled directly to a fixing area of the electrode module (40), such that the photovoltaic cell be in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes (41, 42).

The objective of the invention is to make the use of a cannula belonging to a bioimpedance sensor easier in a medical procedure after defining the bioimpedance. The bioimpedance sensor (300) comprises a cannula (200) and a stylet (100) moveable in relation to it and is characterized in that: the cannula (200) comprises a needle tube (1), consisting of or containing electrically conductive material so that the cannula (200) is available for use as a needle electrode (1, 2) or as a part of it; the stylet (100) has a bevelled head and comprises a number of stylet electrodes (5) surrounded by electrical insulation (13) in such a manner that the beveled head is left free from electrical insulation so that the advance of the needle tip can be characterized by measuring the impedance between the needle electrode (1,2) and the number of stylet electrodes (5); the stylet (100) is additionally equipped with at least one coupling piece (6) for the electrical coupling of the stylet (100) to the needle electrode (1, 2) inside the cannula (200), whereby the impedance between the needle electrode (1, 2) and at least one of the stylet electrodes (5) can be measured inside the bioimpedance sensor (300) and exclusively through the stylet (100). The patent application contains independent claims also for the stylet, the cannula and the method for measuring bioimpedance.

An electrode device is disclosed comprising: an elongate, implantable body comprising elastomeric material, a plurality of electrodes positioned along a length of the implantable body; an electrical connection comprising one or more conductive elements extending through the elastomeric material and electrically connecting to the electrodes; and a reinforcement device extending through the elastomeric material. The length of the implantable body is extendible by placing the implantable body under tension. The reinforcement device limits the degree by which the length of the implantable body can extend under tension. At least one of the electrodes can extend circumferentially around a portion of the implantable body. A delivery device and method of delivery for an electrode device is also disclosed.

A therapeutic pelvic region analyzer and method of use thereof that includes an expandable device sized and shaped for insertion into an opening in a pelvic region of a user and a collapsible reservoir fluidly coupled to the expandable device. The collapsible reservoir is configured to temporarily retain and expel an amount of fluid. A tube defining a fluid-flow path for the amount of fluid is between the expandable device and the collapsible reservoir. The therapeutic pelvic region analyzer also includes fluid-flow control valve disposed between the expandable device and the collapsible reservoir. The fluid-flow control valve is operable to provide a selectively variable level of resistance as the amount fluid passes from the expandable device to the collapsible reservoir.