Patent classifications
A61B5/6886
Methods of assessing contact between an electrode and tissue using complex impedance measurements
A system and method measures impedance across a plurality of electrodes and assesses proximity or contact between electrodes of a medical device and patient tissue. Contact is assessed between individual electrodes and cardiac tissue using bipolar electrode complex impedance measurements. Initially, baseline impedance values are established for each of the individual electrodes based on the responses of the electrodes to the applied drive signals. After establishing the baseline impedance values a series of subsequent impedance values are measured for each electrode. For each electrode, each subsequent impedance value may be compared to a previous baseline impedance value for that electrode. If a subsequent impedance value is less than the baseline impedance value for a given electrode, the baseline impedance value may be reset to the subsequent impedance value. Such systems and method are particularly applicable to medical devices having numerous electrodes.
ASSESSING TISSUE CONTACT WITH CATHETER USING PAIRS OF ELECTRODES AND COMMON REFERENCE GROUND ESTABLISHED USING DESIGNED CIRCUIT-BOARD CAPACITANCE
An apparatus includes a current source, an electronic circuit and a circuit board. The current source is configured to flow an electrical current having a selected frequency between a pair of electrodes coupled to a medical probe. The electronic circuit is configured to measure a single-ended voltage relative to ground that is formed on at least one of the electrodes in the pair in response to the electrical current, and, based on the measured voltage, to assess physical contact between the at least one of the electrodes and tissue. The circuit board includes the current source and the electronic circuit, and includes a layout that produces, at the selected frequency, a predefined capacitance between the current source and ground, thus forming a reference for measurement of the single-ended voltage.
Endoscope proximity sensor
An endoscope (1) with a shaft (2), a grip (3) connected to the shaft (2) at a proximal end region of the shaft (2), and a viewing region (4) formed in a distal end region of the shaft (2) by optical elements. The shaft (2) has at least one proximity sensor (5), of which the measuring region lies at least outside the viewing region (4), preferably in such a way that the measuring region of the proximity sensor (5) covers at least the distance of the lateral region of the distal end region. The endoscope has an evaluation device (6) which is configured to generate a warning signal when a definable distance threshold value is undershot.
Medical imaging device and methods of use
Embodiments related to medical imaging devices including rigid imaging tips and their methods of use for identifying abnormal tissue within a surgical bed are disclosed.
Positioning of sensors for sensor enabled wound monitoring or therapy
Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for determining an emplacement of sensors in a wound dressing are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wound dressing includes a plurality of sensors configured to measure wound or patient characteristics. One or more processors are configured to receive wound or patient characteristics data as well as emplacement data. The received data can be used to determine an emplacement of the plurality of sensors, the wound dressing, or a wound. The sensors can include a set of nanosensors. The wound dressing can include pH sensitive ink which can be utilized for determining a placement of the wound dressing and determining a pH associated with the wound. The wound dressing can be used in a negative pressure wound therapy system.
USE OF FLUOROPHORE COMPOUNDS OF THE AZA- BODIPY TYPE AS CONTRAST AGENTS IN THE SHORT WAVE INFRARED REGION
The present invention relates to the use of an aza-BODIPY fluorophore compound as a contrast agent in the optical window ranging from 1000 to 1700 nm. The invention also relates to the use, as a contrast agent, of a composition comprising said fluorophore compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and/or a solvent, in a kit comprising an injection system and said fluorophore or said composition, and also to a method for identifying a biological target (such as a healthy or tumour cell, a protein, DNA, RNA, for example).
SAFETY LOGIC FOR SURGICAL SUTURING SYSTEMS
A surgical suturing tracking system is disclosed. The surgical suturing tracking system is configured to detect and guide a suturing needle during a surgical suturing procedure. The surgical suturing track system comprises a control circuit configured to predict a path of a needle suturing stroke after receiving an input from a clinician, detect an embedded tissue structure, and assess proximity of the predicted path and the detected embedded tissue structure.
Lesion formation assessment and display
Systems and methods for facilitating assessment and convenient display of graphical output indicative of lesion formation and outputting data indicative of lesion formation to a 3D mapping system to display on a 3D model are disclosed herein.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF ELECTRICALLY EVOKED COMPOUND ACTION POTENTIALS (eCAPS), ESTIMATING SURVIVAL OF AUDITORY NERVE FIBERS, AND DETERMINING EFFECTS OF ADVANCED AGE ON THE ELECTRODE-NEURON INTERFACE IN COCHLEAR IMPLANT USERS
Disclosed herein are of systems, methods, and computer-program products for determining if a response is an electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP), refining raw data of an eCAP amplitude growth function (AGF) and utilizing maximum (i.e., steepest) slope from moving linear regression to effectively estimate cochlear nerve function, and determining quality of an electrode-neuron interface (ENI) using a model developed from eCAP attributes.
SENSOR STABILIZER
A sensor-retention structure includes a sensor-support arm configured to hold a sensor device and a stabilizer structure associated with the sensor-support arm and configured to project away from the sensor-support arm and provide stabilizing support for the sensor-support arm.