Intermedics Inc.

Other

Inflow Dynamics, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Sulzer Intermedics, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

Scicotec Gmbh

Sulzer Medica USA Inc.

Eckhard U Alt

Lawrence J Stotts

Torsten Scheuermann

Axel Stemberger

Michael Kühling

Richard V Calfee

Thilo Fliedner

D F Regulla

Robert Alter

Edgar Mestre

Marcus Matula

Ross G Baker, Jr

Richard S Sanders

Joseph W Vandegriff

Matthias Schmidt

Maik Gollasch

Robert A Adkins

Drury L Woodson

Russ Auger

Nicola Osypka Rubenstein

Andreas Poesel

John Philip Brinkmann

John Philip Brinkman

John Garcia

Michael K&uuml;hling

Michael Lee

Kai Pinkernell

Juergen Jaekel

A system and method for communicating data and signals through the Medical Implant Communication Service Band using a repeater or base station in the proximity to an implantable device within a patient is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device is capable for early detection and monitoring of congestive heart failure in a patient. Impedance measurements, or other health parameters depending on the type of implantable device or sensor used, are sent using a bi-directional low-power radio operating in the MICS band to a nearby base station which may provide signal processing and analysis. The base station may have an interface to one or more communications networks to connect to a remote location. The system and method of the present invention permits a healthcare professional to monitor an ambulatory patient's condition at a remote location and to program the implanted device.

Remote control of implantable device through medical implant communication service band

A method is described for repairing tissue of a selected organ from among heart, brain, liver, pancreas, kidney, and glands in a patient's body. In the method, stem cells that have the capability to repair tissue of the selected organ are intraluminally applied through a designated natural body vessel or duct leading to a predetermined target site of the tissue of the selected organ to be repaired. The stem cells are delivered into the respective vessel or duct through a catheter having a proximal portion of relatively larger central lumen diameter and outer diameter, and a distal portion of relatively smaller central lumen diameter and outer diameter, the two portions being integral with one another so that stem cells delivered into the central lumen of the proximal portion will flow through and exit the central lumen of the distal portion, the lumen diameter and length of each of the two portions being selected to minimize the pressure drop across the catheter during flow of the stem cells.

Method for control of stem cell injection into the body

An implanted device-implemented method of detecting and monitoring congestive heart failure in a patient includes performing ongoing measurements of changes in local impedance of a portion of the patient's body between at least two electrodes on the exterior of the implanted device, the changes representing ventilation of the patient, and including measuring the patient's respiratory rate and respiratory amplitude. A body-implantable device is adapted to detect and monitor congestive heart failure in a patient, and includes a circuit module coupled to plural surface electrodes of the device arranged and adapted, when the device is implanted, for contacting tissue in a portion of the patient's body generally occupied by the lungs, to monitor changes in local impedance of said body portion, and to detect the patient's EKG.

Congestive heart failure monitor and ventilation measuring implant

A device for connecting abutting ends () of two blood vessels () that will be continuous after being mutually connected (anastomosis), the device primarily and substantially including a supporting part () that can be inserted in the two ends () of the blood vessel () to be connected, made, for example, of plastic or metal, particularly in the form of a mesh, grid, or cage. The supporting part () can be inserted into the blood vessels () far enough that the faces () of the blood vessel ends () can be brought into contact with each other and are in contact with each other in the usage position. The outer cross-section of the supporting part () in the usage position is thereby approximately the same as the inner cross-section of the blood vessel () in question and has an inner pass-through cross-section (lumen), so that blood can flow unhindered, but the blood vessels () in contact with each other are fixed at the same height to each other on the inside, and secured against sideways deflection relative to each other or sideways deflection of the blood vessel walls. The supporting part () can be made from one or two pieces.

Device for connecting two blood vessels

A vascular or endoluminal stent is adapted to be implanted in a vessel, duct or tract of a human body to maintain an open lumen. The stent includes a base layer of a biologically compatible metal. An intermediate metal particle layer of substantial greater radiopacity overlies the base layer, with particles bonded to the base layer and to each other to leave interstices therebetween as a repository for retaining and dispensing drugs or other agents for time release therefrom. The particles are composed primarily of a noble metal. Exposed surfaces of the particle layer are coated with ceramic-like iridium oxide or titanium nitrate, as a biocompatible material to inhibit irritation of tissue at the inner lining of the vessel when the stent is implanted.

Drug-releasing stent with ceramic-containing layer

A stent is adapted to be implanted in a duct of a human body to maintain an open lumen at the implant site, and to allow viewing body tissue and fluids by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) energy applied external to the body. The stent constitutes a metal scaffold. An electrical circuit resonant at the resonance frequency of the MRI energy is fabricated integral with the scaffold structure of the stent to promote viewing body properties within the lumen of the stent.

Vascular stent with composite structure for magnetic resonance imaging capabilities

A method and a device are disclosed for evaluating the cardio-circulatory and pulmonary condition of a patient, including determining the patient's thoracic impedance based on information solely derived from the electrical energy generated by the patient's own heart.

Method and device for using impedance measurements based on electrical energy of the heart

A vascular or endoluminal stent is adapted to be implanted in a vessel, duct or tract of a human body to maintain an open lumen at the site of the implant. The sidewall of the open-ended tubular structure of the stent is a base layer of a metal biologically compatible with blood and tissue of the human body. An intermediate metal particle layer of substantial greater radiopacity overlies the base layer, with particles bonded to the base layer and to each other to leave interstices therebetween as a repository for retaining and dispensing drugs or other agents for time release therefrom after the stent is implanted, to assist the stent in maintaining the lumen open. The particles are composed primarily of a noble metal&#x2014;an alloy of platinum-iridium. The sidewall has holes extending therethrough, and the particle layer resides along the outward facing and inward facing surfaces, and the edges of the through holes and open ends of the sidewall. The larger particles are bonded to surfaces of the sidewall and progressively smaller particles are bonded to those and to each other up to the outer portion of the particle layer. Exposed surfaces of the particle layer are coated with ceramic-like iridium oxide or titanium nitrate, as a biocompatible material to inhibit irritation of tissue at the inner lining of the vessel when the stent is implanted. One or more anti-thrombotic, anti-platelet, anti-inflammatory and/or anti-proliferative drugs are retained in the interstices, together with a biodegradable carrier for time release therefrom. In an alternative embodiment, the intermediate layer is solid and the biodegradable carrier and drugs or agents therein are applied to the surface of the ceramic-like coating. Gene transfer is alternatively used to control tissue proliferation.

An expandable tubular endoluminal prosthesis for maintaining the patency of a bodily vessel has a plurality of axially spaced serpentine bands. Each serpentine band has a proximal and distal end and a plurality of interconnected struts. Serpentine bands which are adjacent one another are connected one to the other. The prosthesis has a flow path therethrough and is capable of radial outward expansion from a first diameter to a second enlarged diameter. In a cross-section perpendicular to the flowpath, the struts have thicker portions with a narrower portion therebetween and have a greater width than thickness.

Tubular stent with oval struts

A stent for delivering a therapeutic dose of the immnuosupressant tacrolimus is disclosed.

Stent device and method

In a process of fabricating a stent composed primarily of niobium alloyed with a trace amount of zirconium, tantalum, or titanium for hardening, the stent is annealed under vacuum in a substantially oxygen-free environment. The vacuum is preferably maintained at pressure less than 10millibars, oxygen-content less than about 80 parts per million, and the annealing temperature exceeds 400&#xb0; C. for at least one hour, and is preferably kept in a range from about 1100-1200&#xb0; C. for several hours. This may be followed by applying a surface layer of oxide, such as iridium oxide, with a thickness of 299-300 nm to the stent.

Primarily niobium stent

A method for repairing tissue of a selected organ from among heart, brain, liver, pancreas, kidney, glands, and muscles in a patient's body. Adult stem cells that have the capability to repair tissue of the selected organ are recovered by harvesting from the patient's body. The harvested stem cells are then intraluminally applied through a designated natural body vessel. During the time the stem cells are being applied to the targeted tissue downstream, the designated vessel or duct is selectively occluded to increase concentration and pressure of the applied adult stem cells by the vessel.

Growing community of inventors

Munich, Germany

Eckhard U Alt