An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte, such as blood glucose. An inserter having a retractable introducer is provided for subcutaneously implanting the sensor in a predictable and reliable fashion.

The present invention relates to a method of replenishing a system for injecting a substance into the patient's body, when the system is implanted in the patient's body. The method involves replenishing the implanted reservoir by a replenishing needle penetrating the patient's skin and injecting infusion liquid comprising the substance through the replenishing needle directly or indirectly into the reservoir.

A stylet for use in guiding a distal tip of a catheter to a predetermined location within the body of a patient. In one embodiment the stylet is configured for use within a lumen of the catheter and comprises a core wire, an ECG sensor, and a magnetic assembly. The ECG sensor senses an ECG signal of a patient when the stylet is disposed within the lumen of the catheter and the catheter is disposed within the body of the patient. The magnetic assembly includes at least one element capable of producing a magnetic or electromagnetic field for detection by a sensor external to the patient. In another embodiment, the stylet includes a pre-shaped distal segment that is deflected with respect to a more proximal portion of the stylet, which in turn causes a distal segment of the catheter to be deflected when the stylet is received within the lumen.

An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte, such as blood glucose. An inserter having a retractable introducer is provided for subcutaneously implanting the sensor in a predictable and reliable fashion.

Systems and methods disclosed provide ways for Health Care Professionals (HCPs) to be involved in initial patient system set up so that the data received is truly transformative, such that the patient not just understands what all the various numbers mean but also how the data can be used. For example, in one implementation, a CGM device is configured for use by a HCP, and includes a housing and a circuit configured to receive a signal from a transmitter coupled to an indwelling glucose sensor. A calibration module converts the received signal into clinical units. A user interface is provided that is configured to display a measured glucose concentration in the clinical units. The user interface is further configured to receive input data about a patient level, where the input data about the patient level causes the device to operate in a mode appropriate to the patient level.

The invention generally relates to heart pump systems. In some embodiments, a pressure sensor is provided with a heart pump, either at the inflow or the outflow of the blood pump. The heart pump may further include a flow estimator based on a rotor drive current signal delivered to the rotor. Based on the rotor drive current signal, a differential pressure across the pump may be calculated. The differential pressure in combination with the pressure measurements from the pressure sensor may be used to calculate pressure on the opposite side of the pump from the pressure sensor. In some embodiments, the pressure sensor is located at the outflow of the pump and the pump is coupled with the left ventricle. The differential pressure and pressure measurement may be used to calculate a left ventricular pressure waveform of the patient. With such a measurement, other physiological parameters may be derived.

Mechanical circulatory assist systems and related methods produce a pulsatile blood flow in synchronization with heart activity. A mechanical circulatory assist system includes a continuous-flow pump and a controller. The continuous-flow pump is implantable in fluid communication with a left ventricle of a heart of a patient and an aorta of the patient to assist blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. The controller includes a sensor that generates a signal indicative of an activity of the heart. The controller is operatively connected to the continuous-flow pump and configured to operate the continuous-flow pump in an artificial pulse mode in synchronization with the activity of the heart.

A method of treating a patient by implanting a system comprising an infusion device for injecting a substance, at least one reservoir comprising at least one compartment which accommodates and preserves the substance to be injected, and an active cooling device adapted to cool the reservoir and thereby keep the substance within said at least one compartment of the reservoir at a temperature below 37 C. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin, dissecting free at least one area within the patient's body, placing the infusion device and the at least one reservoir inside the patient's body along with the cooling device, such that the at least one reservoir is in fluid connection with the infusion device to supply to the infusion device the substance to be injected into the patient's body, and closing at least the skin after implantation of at least parts of the system.

The present disclosure generally relates to medical devices and methods for navigating a catheter shaft into the body of a subject during an intracoronary or other medical procedure and controlling the distal end of the catheter shaft. The present disclosure includes the use of an introducer positioning device that may be used in combination with an introducer. The introducer positioning device when used in combination with an introducer allows a catheter shaft to be inserted therethrough and into the introducer shaft located in the introducer where a distal end of the catheter shaft is aligned with the distal end of the introducer shaft.

Disclosed is a self-cleaning catheter system for fluid passage including a catheter, configured to be implanted in a body cavity of a subject and including at least one aperture fluidly coupling the catheter to the outside thereof, a cleaning unit configured for motion in the catheter such as to at least one of mechanically prevent, remove and mitigate occlusion in the at least one aperture, and an implantable controller. The cleaning unit is functionally associated with the controller, which is configured to (i) receive at least one signal indicative of a state of occlusion in the catheter, and (ii) provide an indication of the state of occlusion at least if the at least one signal indicates a blockage in the catheter and/or (iii) activate the cleaning unit if the at least one signal indicates a blockage of the catheter.