Semi-autonomous vehicle apparatus which is controlled by a plurality of control sources includes a vehicle which may function autonomously and apparatus for control of the vehicle by either an onboard driver or a driver not situated onboard. The vehicle may also be controlled by an off-vehicle computational device. Hierarchy setting apparatus determines which one or combination of the possible control entities take priority. Persons using the apparatus are identified by either a password or, preferably by providing identification based on a biologic feature. Management of impaired vehicle operators is provided for.

A system includes at least one medical device (7), a remote monitoring server (RMS, 1) and at least one patient remote device (PR, 5). The the PR is configured to establish a first bidirectional communication connection (12, 14) of the PR and the RMS and a second bidirectional communication connection (13, 14) of the PR and one chosen medical device, wherein the PR is further configured to manage remote processes associated with the chosen medical device comprising remote interrogation of the chosen medical device and remote programming of the chosen medical device using the second bidirectional communication connection as well as data exchange with the RMS concerning interrogation data and/or program data with regard to the chosen medical device using the first bidirectional communication connection.

Systems, devices, and methods for remote monitoring and managing of patients with chronic pain are discussed. A remote monitoring system comprises one or more sensors to sense physiological or functional information from the patient, a cloud-computing device communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, and a remote device. The cloud-computing device receives patient data including physiological or functional information, and provides on-demand cloud-based services including storing the received patient data in a cloud storage, detecting a patient behavior, and generating a sensor operation recommendation based on the detected patient behavior. The remote device can access the cloud storage and the cloud-based services, and adjust operations of the one or more sensors in accordance with the sensor operation recommendation.

Systems, devices, and methods for remote monitoring and managing of patients with chronic pain are discussed. A remote monitoring system comprises a cloud-computing device and a remote device. The cloud-computing device receives patient data including physiological or functional information sensed by sensors, and provides on-demand cloud-based services including establishing a correspondence between one or more physiological or functional states and one or more pain levels, detecting patient physiological or functional state, predicting a pain level, detecting a patient behavior, generating a recommendation for adjusting sensor operations based on the patient behavior, and storing patient data and other information in a cloud storage. The remote device can access the cloud storage and the cloud-based services, provide the stored information to an authorized user or the patient, control an implantable device to initiate or adjust a neuromodulation therapy, or adjust sensor operations.

A system and methods of maintaining communication with a medical device for exchange of information, instructions, and programs, in a highly reliable manner. Apparatus and methods for accomplishing this task include: 1) The inclusion of a locating device in the system, in close proximity to an implanted device, but which does not drain the implanted device battery. The locating device may be implanted or external to the body. 2) The use of motion detection and global positioning system devices to locate elements within a communicating system for the medical device; 3) The assessment of received signal quality by elements of the system; 4) The use of a notification system for a device user who is moving out of range of communications; and 5) Documenting the absolute and functional integrity of instructions received by the medical device.

A system includes at least one medical device (7), a remote monitoring server (RMS, 1) and at least one patient remote device (PR, 5). The the PR is configured to establish a first bidirectional communication connection (12, 14) of the PR and the RMS and a second bidirectional communication connection (13, 14) of the PR and one chosen medical device, wherein the PR is further configured to manage remote processes associated with the chosen medical device comprising remote interrogation of the chosen medical device and remote programming of the chosen medical device using the second bidirectional communication connection as well as data exchange with the RMS concerning interrogation data and/or program data with regard to the chosen medical device using the first bidirectional communication connection.

A stimulation system includes a device programmed with user-specified routines for operation of a pulse generator, where the user-specified routines are activatable in response to information received from a source external to the pulse generator, The device includes a memory, a communication unit, and at least one processor coupled to the memory and the communication unit and configured to perform actions, including receiving, using the communication unit, information provided from the source external to the pulse generator and external to the patient, when the information meets an activation criterion for a one of the user-specified routines, activating the user-specified routine to deliver or halt delivery of stimulation to the patient according to the user-specified routine, and upon completion of the user-specified routine or meeting a termination condition, halting the user-specified routine.

Damaged, diseased, abnormal, obstructive, cancerous or undesired neural tissue treated by delivering specialized pulsed electric field (PEF) energy to target tissue areas. In some instances, the target tissue includes a tumor, a benign tumor, a malignant tumor, a cyst, or an area of diseased tissue. Most brain and spinal cord tumors develop from glial cells. These tumors are sometimes referred to as a group called gliomas. They arise from the supporting cells of the brain, called the glia. These cells are subdivided into astrocytes, ependymal cells and oligodendroglial cells (or oligos). One difficulty in the treatment of gliomas is that they are behind the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-tumor barrier (BTB) which leads to poor delivery of anti-cancer drugs or immune agents to the tumor-infiltrated brain. Devices, systems and methods are provided that treat the tumor directly, such as by ablation, and optionally transiently disrupt the BBB coupled with adjuvant antibody, biologic, or other pharmaceutical interventions.

Certain embodiments described herein related to methods, devices, and systems that provide improved communications between first and second IMDs remotely located relative to one another and capable of communicating using both conductive communication and RF communication. Such a method can include the first IMD using conductive communication to transmit message(s) intended for the second IMD, without using RF communication, during a first period of time that a first trigger event is not detected. The method can also include the first IMD detecting the first trigger event, and in response thereto, the first IMD using RF communication to transmit message(s) intended for the second IMD during a second period of time. Thereafter, in response to first IMD detecting a second trigger event, the first IMD uses conductive communication to transmit one or more messages intended for the second IMD, without using RF communication, during a third period of time.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided herein providing electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). In some instances, an EMS device may be provided. The EMS device may be compact, light, and unobtrusive such that it can be used by a person going about his or her daily activities. In some instances, the EMS device may comprise additional sensors for increased functionality and may be capable of interacting with additional devices or platforms to provide a full-fledged EMS device capability.