ICD lead failure detection in chronic soaked leads.

Abrasion-induced insulation breach is a common failure mode of silicone-body, transvenous, implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads. It is caused either by external compression or internal motion of conducting cables. The present method of monitoring lead integrity measures low frequency conductor impedance. It cannot detect insulation failures until both the silicone lead body and inner fluoropolymer insulation have been breached completely, exposing conductors directly to blood or tissue. Even then the resistance changes are usually swamped by the baseline values. Thus the first clinical presentation may be either failure to deliver a life-saving shock or painful, inappropriate shocks in normal rhythm. We have previously presented a method for identifying early lead failure based on high frequency transmission line impedance measurements. That work used fresh leads in a liquid simulation bath; we have now demonstrated similar effects in leads soaked for 32 days and hence with saline-saturated silicone lead bodies.

Distance bounded energy detecting ultra-wideband impulse radio secure protocol.

We present a demonstration of a novel protocol for secure transmissions on a Ultra-wideband impulse radio that includes distance bounding. Distance bounding requires radios to be within a certain radius to communicate. This new protocol can be used in body area networks for medical devices where security is imperative. Many current wireless medical devices were not designed with security as a priority including devices that can be life threatening if controlled by a hacker. This protocol provides multiple levels of security including encryption and a distance bounding test to prevent long distance attacks.

ICD lead failure detection through high frequency impedance.

Abrasion-induced insulation breach is a common failure mode of silicone-body, transvenous, implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads. It is caused either by external compression or internal motion of conducting cables. The present method of monitoring lead integrity measures low frequency conductor impedance. It cannot detect insulation failures until both the silicone lead body and inner fluoropolymer insulation have been breached completely, exposing conductors directly to blood or tissue. Thus the first clinical presentation may be either failure to deliver a life-saving shock or painful, inappropriate shocks in normal rhythm. We present a new method for identifying lead failure based on high frequency impedance measurements. This method was evaluated in 3D electromagnetic simulation and bench testing to identify insulation defects in the St. Jude Medical Riata® lead, which is prone to insulation breach.

VCSEL based, wearable, continuously monitoring pulse oximeter.

We present the development of a novel pulse oximeter based on low power, low cost, Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology. This new design will help address a need to perform regular measurements of pulse oximetry for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. VCSELs with wavelengths suitable for pulse oximetry were developed and packaged in a PLCC package for a low cost solution that is easy to integrate into a pulse oximeter design. The VCSELs were integrated into a prototype pulse oximeter that is unobtrusive and suitable for long term wearable use. The prototype achieved good performance compared the Nonin Onyx II pulse oximeter at less than one fifth the weight in a design that can be worn behind the ear like a hearing aid.

Indoor magnetic navigation for the blind.

Indoor navigation technology is needed to support seamless mobility for the visually impaired. This paper describes the construction of and evaluation of a navigation system that infers the users' location using only magnetic sensing. It is well known that the environments within steel frame structures are subject to significant magnetic distortions. Many of these distortions are persistent and have sufficient strength and spatial characteristics to allow their use as the basis for a location technology. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a prototype magnetic navigation system consisting of a wireless magnetometer placed at the users' hip streaming magnetic readings to a smartphone processing location algorithms. Human trials were conducted to assess the efficacy of the system by studying route-following performance with blind and sighted subjects using the navigation system for real-time guidance.