276 results about "Electrode placement" patented technology

Methods and devices for implanting pacing electrodes or other apparatus, or for delivering substances, to the heart of other tissues within the body. A guided tissue penetrating catheter is inserted into a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel) or into a body cavity or space (e.g., the pericardial space) and a penetrator is advanced from the catheter to a target location. In some embodiments, a substance or an apparatus (such as an electrode) may be delivered through a lumen in the penetrator. In other embodiments, a guidewire may be advanced through the penetrator, the penetrating catheter may then be removed and an apparatus (e.g., electrode) may then be advanced over that guidewire. Also disclosed are various implantable electrodes and electrode anchoring apparatus.

A method for fabricating a layer structure in a trench includes: simultaneously forming a dielectric film containing a Si—N bond on an upper surface, and a bottom surface and sidewalls of the trench, wherein a top / bottom portion of the film formed on the upper surface and the bottom surface and a sidewall portion of the film formed on the sidewalls are given different chemical resistance properties by bombardment of a plasma excited by applying voltage between two electrodes between which the substrate is place in parallel to the two electrodes; and substantially removing either one of but not both of the top / bottom portion and the sidewall portion of the film by wet etching which removes the one of the top / bottom portion and the sidewall portion of the film more predominantly than the other according to the different chemical resistance properties.

A number of ear-worn hearing system devices are provided that each include a pair of electrodes to transmit time varying electrical signals therebetween when in contact with skin of a user's body. The devices each include a housing, a sound sensor, and processing circuitry included within the housing. The electrodes are coupled to the circuitry and are spaced apart from one another a distance sufficient to provide capacitance between the electrodes below a desired threshold. The electrodes are disposed along the housing for placement on locations of the user's body where skin contact is not likely to be disrupted by nominal body movements.

A flexible, conformable, sensor assembly is provided, including an electrode array especially adapted for stable, long-term recording of EEG signals from a pre-term or neonatal infant in intensive care. A kit or sterile pack includes guidance for placement of the electrodes over a designated area of the infant's brain, an area likely to be injured. The sensor assembly includes a left-side and a right-side flexible strip bearing at least electrodes and optional temperature, motion, and optical sensors provide for the monitoring of an extended range of parameters including aspects of cerebral perfusion and metabolism. Optional impedance measurements provide an indication of neuronal swelling. Stable performance over from three days to about a week is intended so that progress, effects of treatment, and outcome can be considered.

A garment is used to facilitate the placement of biomedical sensors or other electrodes on the body. The garment is comfortable and allows freedom of movement much like typical clothing. Textile based electrical components are included in the garment which are capable of transmitting an electrical signal to and from various external electrodes placed on the body. A textile based EMI shield protects the signals from electromagnetic interference. The garment may take any form such as a vest, sports bra, long sleeve shirt, bonnet, or other form and may provide access to an electrode placement site without requiring removal of the garment.

Ablative treatment of metastatic bone tumors and relief of pain associated with metastatic bone tumors is achieved by heat ablation of the bone tumor or tissue near the bone tumor by an ablation probe. In one form the probe is an electrode coupled to a high frequency power supply to provide ablative heating of tissue proximate to an electrode that is placed in or near the bone tumor. Cooling of the electrode by fluid circulation from a cooling apparatus outside the patient's body may be used to enlarge the region of high frequency heating around the electrode. Image guidance of the electrode placement may be monitored by an imaging device. Tracking of the electrode by an image-guided navigator helps in placement of the electrode with respect to the configuration of the bone and bone metastasis. A set of tools accommodates biopsy and various shapes of electrodes according to clinical requirements. Several forms of electrodes, energy delivery and cooling apparatus and methods accommodate the specific objectives.

Ablative treatment of metastatic bone tumors and relief of pain associated with metastatic bone tumors is achieved by heat ablation of the bone tumor or tissue near the bone tumor by an ablation probe. In one form the probe is an electrode coupled to a high frequency power supply to provide ablative heating of tissue proximate to an electrode that is placed in or near the bone tumor. Cooling of the electrode by fluid circulation from a cooling apparatus outside the patient's body may be used to enlarge the region of high frequency heating around the electrode. Image guidance of the electrode placement may be monitored by an imaging device. Tracking of the electrode by an image-guided navigator helps in placement of the electrode with respect to the configuration of the bone and bone metastasis. A set of tools accommodates biopsy and various shapes of electrodes according to clinical requirements. Several forms of electrodes, energy delivery and cooling apparatus and methods accommodate the specific objectives.

A lead stimulation / recording system is provided, which is a combination of a permanent DBS stimulating lead and a recording microelectrode. The DBS lead has a lumen extending from the proximal to the distal end of the lead, the lumen having an opening on each end of the lead. The microelectrode is configured and dimensioned to be insertable into the DBS lead from either the distal or proximal opening of the DBS lead, thereby permitting the microelectrode to be placed before, concurrently with, or after placement of the DBS lead. In addition, the system may be used with known microelectrode recording systems and methods of inserting the electrodes, such as the five-at-a-time method, the dual-microdrive method, or the single microdrive method.

The EEG Processing Unit comprises a semi-rigid framework which substantially conforms to the Patient's head and supports a set of electrodes in predetermined loci on the Patient's head to ensure proper electrode placement. The EEG Processing Unit includes automated connectivity determination apparatus which can use pressure-sensitive electrode placement ensuring proper contact with Patient's scalp and also automatically verifies electrode placement via measurements of electrode impedance through automated impedance checking. Voltages generated by the electrodes are amplified and filtered before being transmitted to an analysis platform, which can be a Physician's laptop computer system, either wirelessly or via a set of tethering wires. The EEG Processing Unit includes an automatic artifacting capability which identifies when there is sufficient clean data compiled in the testing session. This process automatically eliminates muscle- or other physical-artifact-related voltages. Clean data, which represents real brain voltages as opposed to muscle- or physical-artifact-related voltages, thereby are produced.

The method for simultaneously and concurrently identifying and quantifying a wide variety of types of facial electromyographic (EMG) and eye movement electrooculargraphic (EOG) activity, which naturally contaminate electroencephalographic (EEG) waveforms in order to significantly improve the accuracy of the calculation in real-time of the amplitude and / or coherence of any brainwave activity for any chosen frequency bandwidth for any number of electrode placements. This multi-level, widely or universally applicable, pre-defined pattern recognition artifact detection and correction system provides a method for enhancing EEG biofeedback training by detecting and eliminating any brief, contaminated epoch of EEG activity from being included in the calculation and analysis of the EEG signal. The method and apparatus disclosed herein make it possible to provide without any interruption visual, auditory and / or tactile feedback of a “true” EEG signal that through operant conditioning learning principles enables individuals to more quickly and easily learn to control their brainwave activity using neurofeedback.

A method of locating the position of a selected neural centre in the central nervous system of an animal is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of (a) stimulating neurons at a first central nervous system position; (b) measuring the field potential evoked at a second central nervous system position; and (c) comparing the evoked field potential against a known evoked field potential from said neural centre.

A method of applying electrotherapy to the heart of a patient includes positioning electrodes in communication with the heart of the patient; monitoring the patient's heart to determine if its fibrillating; and providing a first signal with a current generator to the heart through the electrodes in response to an indication that the heart is fibrillating. The first stimulus signal reduces the amount of fibrillation.

Described herein are systems, devices and methods for guiding placement of electrodes, and particularly ECG electrodes on a patient. A picture of the patient's body the patient can be analyzed to determine where on the patient's body to place electrodes according to a predetermined, conventional or standard placement pattern. The methods, devices and systems may then guide a user in positioning or correcting the position of electrodes on the patient. For example, an image of the patient may be provided showing the correct position of the electrodes, which may act as a patient-specific map or guide. The electrode placement positions can correspond to conventional or standard 12-lead ECG electrode positions.

A simple, non-invasive method and apparatus for treating oropharyngeal disorders provides electrical stimulation to the oropharyngeal region of a patient. The apparatus includes an electrical neuromuscular stimulator that includes a pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses and a processor coupled to the pulse generator for controlling its operation. The apparatus also includes a first electrode and a second electrode, each of which includes a snap eyelet having a connector to which a lead wire may be attached, a conductive film and an adhesive and conductive gel layer that is adapted to be attached to the skin of the patient. The apparatus also includes at least one lead wire for attachment of the electrodes to the pulse generator and at least one adhesively backed tape overlay for securing the first and second electrodes to the skin of the patient. According to the method, the electrodes are placed on the skin of the patient's throat, and the electrodes are secured to the skin of the patient's throat by applying at least one adhesively backed tape overlay to the patient's skin over at least a portion of each of the electrodes. The lead wires are attached to the connectors of the snap eyelets of the electrodes and to the output jack of the pulse generator, and a series of electrical pulses is generated using the pulse generator so as to apply the series of electrical pulses to the patient's throat using the electrodes.

Methods and devices for implanting pacing electrodes or other apparatus, or for delivering substances, to the heart of other tissues within the body. A guided tissue penetrating catheter is inserted into a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel) or into a body cavity or space (e.g., the pericardial space) and a penetrator is advanced from the catheter to a target location. In some embodiments, a substance or an apparatus (such as an electrode) may be delivered through a lumen in the penetrator. In other embodiments, a guidewire may be advanced through the penetrator, the penetrating catheter may then be removed and an apparatus (e.g., electrode) may then be advanced over that guidewire. Also disclosed are various implantable electrodes and electrode anchoring apparatus.

Described herein are methods, devices and system for selecting an optimum position of a stimulation electrode, and particularly methods, devices and systems for optimizing the position of a stimulation electrode for stimulating the inflammatory reflex and thereby inhibiting inflammation. The methods, devices and systems described herein may generally include the analysis of one or more artifact modalities arising after the application of a stimulation pulse. One or more of these artifact modalities (e.g., EMG, ECG, etc.) may be detected and used to generate a comparable indicator of the fitness of the position of the electrode relative to a target, such as a portion of the inflammatory reflex like the vagus nerve.

A system and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure are disclosed. The method includes applying an active electrode to a patient and placing a return electrode on the patient so as to create a current path in tissue of the patient between the active electrode and the return electrode. A conductive element, which is operatively coupled to the active electrode, is coupled to a reference voltage with a low impedance path and a voltage is imparted to the active electrode so as to generate current in the current path. Any undesirable current flow that would otherwise flow from the active electrode to the reference voltage through the patient is limited to reduce a risk of harm to the patient.

Embodiments receive images of a body area of a patient; identify abnormal tissue in the image; generate a data set with the abnormal tissue masked out; deform a model template in space so that features in the deformed model template line up with corresponding features in the data set; place data representing the abnormal tissue back into the deformed model template; generate a model of electrical properties of tissues in the body area based on the deformed and modified model template; and determine an electrode placement layout that maximizes field strength in the abnormal tissue by using the model of electrical properties to simulate electromagnetic field distributions in the body area caused by simulated electrodes placed respective to the body area. The layout can then be used as a guide for placing electrodes respective to the body area of the patient to apply TTFields to the body area.

A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) acceleration sensing device, formed of a sensing element having first and second substantially planar and parallel spaced apart opposing surfaces and being suspended for pendulous motion about a hinge axis oriented along a minor axis of the sensing element; and one or more substrates each having a face spaced from one of the opposing surfaces of the sensing element, each of the substrates having pluralities of electrodes arranged substantially crosswise to the hinge axis of the sensing element symmetrically to a longitudinal axis of the sensing device and forming respective first and second capacitors with the moveable sensing element. Each of the one or more substrates optionally including a clearance relief for extending the rotational range of motion of the sensing element.

An electrode wearable or harness permits for easy, quick, and unsupervised administration or self-administration of a resting 12-or-more-lead ECG. Various advantageous features of the electrode wearable or harness include: inflatable or padded cushions at the lateral sides of the torso that function to press LA and RA electrodes mounted on the cushions against the downward-resting arms of the subject, permitting good electrode abutment with distal electrode placement without the need for adhesives, straps, bands, bracelets, or gloves on the arms; padding over the sternum to avoid tenting in the V1, V2, V3 and V3R electrodes whenever present, easy-to-don, one-piece design with an adjustable single point of connection and an adjustable shoulder strap; Lund or modified Lund placement; dry electrodes; and various other features. Methods of use are also described.

A catheter adapted or high density mapping and / or ablation of tissue surface has a distal electrode matrix having a plurality of spines arranged in parallel configuration on which a multitude of electrodes are carried in a grid formation for providing uniformity and predictability in electrode placement on the tissue surface. The matrix can be dragged against the tissue surface upon deflection (and / or release of the deflection) of the catheter. The spines generally maintain their parallel configuration and the multitude of electrodes generally maintain their predetermined relative spacing in the grid formation as the matrix is dragged across the tissue surface in providing very high density mapping signals. The spines may have free distal ends, or distal ends that are joined to form loops for maintaining the spines in parallel configuration.

A method for treating an oropharyngeal disorder in a patient by neuromuscular electrical stimulation includes selectively placing a plurality of electrodes in electrical contact with tissue of a pharyngeal region of the patient. The method also includes the steps of providing a pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, and attaching the plurality of electrodes to the pulse generator so that the series of electrical pulses may be provided to the patient through the plurality of electrodes. According to the method, a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, is generated, and said series of electrical pulses is provided to the patient through the plurality of electrodes. An apparatus for generating a series of electrical pulses for application of electrical neuromuscular stimulation to a patient through a plurality of electrodes for treatment of oropharyngeal disorders includes a pulse generator which generates a series of electrical pulses, each of which pulses comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases. The apparatus includes an intensity control circuit for regulating the series of electrical pulses such that the intensity of the electrical pulses does not exceed a predetermined value, a frequency controller for controlling the frequency at which the series of electrical pulses is generated so that such pulses are generated at a predetermined frequency, and a duration control circuit for controlling the duration of each such electrical pulse.

A noninvasive trans-catheter method and apparatus for remote suture placement can be used in a variety of inner cardiac applications. For example, a method of non-invasive transcatheter atrial septal defect repair comprises the steps of: advancing a positioning member along a catheter into the Atrial Septal Defect, wherein at least one suture deploying lumen is coupled to the positioning member with a piercing member within the suture deploying lumen; deploying the positioning member within the Atrial Septal Defect to align each suture deploying lumen with tissue adjacent the Atrial Septal Defect; and piercing the tissue adjacent the Atrial Septal Defect with the piercing member to secure a suture line through the tissue. A repair patch may be advanced along suture lines to repair the defect and secured into place with the suture lines. The apparatus is also applicable for left atrial appendage closure, mitral valve repair and pacemaker electrode placement.

Methods, computer systems and apparatus are provided for neurophysiological assessment, specifically evaluation of mixed and dermatomal nerve conduction latencies and amplitudes, as well as electrophysiological evaluation of spontaneous electromyogram. Software guides the user through protocol selection, electrode placement, baseline determinations, comparisons to normal data, post-manipulation comparisons, displayed warning of pathological changes, archiving of data and report generation.

Electrode placement and connection systems are described which allow for the electrical connection and maintenance of one or more electrodes positioned on a substrate which is subjected to a variety of mechanical stresses. Such a system may include an imaging hood having an aperture through which transparent fluid is flowed and one or more electrodes positioned along or about the hood. As the hood is configured between a low-profile and opened configuration, these electrodes may remain electrically coupled despite the mechanical stresses subjected to the electrodes and the connections thereto.

Electrode placement and connection systems are described which allow for the electrical connection and maintenance of one or more electrodes positioned on a substrate which is subjected to a variety of mechanical stresses. Such a system may include an imaging hood having an aperture through which transparent fluid is flowed and one or more electrodes positioned along or about the hood. As the hood is configured between a low-profile and opened configuration, these electrodes may remain electrically coupled despite the mechanical stresses subjected to the electrodes and the connections thereto.

Electrical stimulation is applied to the inferior colliculus or colliculi (IC), in order to diminish tinnitus by revising auditory pathway neuronal activity. This intervention diminishes tinnitus and treats other neurological and otological disorders. The locations and methods of electrode placement and anchoring and the structure of the electrodes are an advance over prior treatments. Other treatment locations in the nearby region of the IC, including the superior colliculi (SC) and Peri-aqueductal gray (PAG), provide treatments for other disorders and symptoms such as partial hearing loss and pain. The IC is a unique choice for the treatment of tinnitus and other disorders because an electrode placed in that region enables minimal invasiveness. The anchoring location also uniquely minimizes invasiveness by providing the option of residing in the meninges instead of the brain tissue. The shape of the electrode and its anchoring process uniquely match the brain's anatomy in order to provide greater specificity in diagnosis and treatment. Stimulation of areas near the IC, particularly the superior colliculus and peri-aqueductal gray, can be used to treat various neurological disorders. Customized feedback from the implantable system enables the creation of customized treatment programs.

Bender devices are demonstrated by developing non-uniform fields within a homogeneous, non-planar single slab active member material of non-uniform thickness through geometrical constraints and electrode placement. Single slab actuators are demonstrated for semiconductor designs including MEMS applications. Single slab bender periodic designs are demonstrated to be well suited for MEMS fabrication. Shaped actuators having a topological pattern formed across at least one portion are demonstrated to induced strain at the patterned portion of the actuator, causing the patterned portion to flare into open and close positions upon application of an external field. Voltage transformers, spark generators, power sources, and sensors are developed using the non-planar, homogeneous, single slab active member material of non-uniform thickness. Last, semiconductor process design techniques are demonstrated for periodic and other non-planar single slab actuators.