Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080269830 | MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION LEADS - A medical device lead is presented. The medical device lead includes a lead body, an electrode shaft, and a tip electrode. A magnetostrictive element is coupled to the electrode shaft. The magnetostrictive element comprises either terfenol-D and/or galfenol or any material with sufficient magnetostrictive properties. The magnetostrictive element expands when exposed to magnetic resonance imaging. | 10-30-2008 |
20080269855 | MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION LEADS - A medical device lead is presented. The medical device lead includes a lead body, an electrode shaft, and a tip electrode. A magnetostrictive element is coupled to the electrode shaft. The magnetostrictive element comprises either terfenol-D and/or galfenol or any material with sufficient magnetostrictive properties. The magnetostrictive element expands when exposed to magnetic resonance imaging. | 10-30-2008 |
20080281390 | MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION LEADS - A medical device lead is presented. The medical device lead includes a lead body, an electrode shaft, and a tip electrode. A magnetostrictive element is coupled to the electrode shaft. The magnetostrictive element comprises either terfenol-D and/or galfenol or any material with sufficient magnetostrictive properties. The magnetostrictive element expands when exposed to magnetic resonance imaging. | 11-13-2008 |
20090054946 | EVALUATING THERAPEUTIC STIMULATION ELECTRODE CONFIGURATIONS BASED ON PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES - A medical system comprises a plurality of electrodes; at least one sensor configured to output at least one signal based on at least one physiological parameter of a patient; and a processor. The processor is configured to control delivery of stimulation to the patient using a plurality of electrode configurations. Each of the electrode configurations comprises at least one of the plurality of electrodes. For each of the electrode configurations, the processor is configured to determine a first response of target tissue to the stimulation based on the signals, and a second response of non-target tissue to the stimulation based on the signals. The processor is also configured to select at least one of the electrode configurations for delivery of stimulation to the patient based on the first and second responses for the electrode configurations. As examples, the target tissue may be a left ventricle or vagus nerve. | 02-26-2009 |
20090054947 | ELECTRODE CONFIGURATIONS FOR DIRECTIONAL LEADS - A system includes an implantable electrical stimulation lead configured for intravenous introduction into a vessel proximate to a heart and an electrical stimulator. The lead comprises a lead body and at least three electrode segments. The electrical stimulator is coupled to the electrode segments and configures a first of the electrode segments as a first anode, a second of the electrode segments as a cathode, and a third of the electrode segments as a second anode, and delivers electrical stimulation to the heart via the cathode and first and second anodes. Additional techniques for delivering electrical stimulation include using multiple electrode segments as cathodes and electrically isolating other electrode segments. Other examples are directed to techniques for directing electrical therapy to a vagus nerve of a patient. | 02-26-2009 |
20090082655 | MEDICAL ELECTRICAL LEADS AND CONDUCTOR ASSEMBLIES THEREOF - A conductor assembly for a medical electrical lead includes a web and plurality of conductors. The web includes a plurality of longitudinally extending elements, or sidewalls, each of which define a longitudinally extending lumen, and a plurality of longitudinally extending connectors, each of which join a pair of adjacent sidewalls. Each of the plurality of conductors extends within a corresponding lumen, and each may include an insulative jacket. If each conductor includes an insulative jacket, the jacket is preferably formed from one or more of the following materials: PEEK, PVDF and polysulfone. One or more of the connectors of the web may be flexible to allow for a connected separation, or a gap between adjacent sidewalls; and one or more of these connectors may further include a discrete wall section adapted to facilitate widening of the corresponding gap. Preferably the conductor assembly is coiled for incorporation into the lead. | 03-26-2009 |
20090187236 | MEDICAL ELECTRICAL ELECTRODES WITH CONDUCTIVE POLYMER - A medical electrical electrode includes an elongated conductive coil located over a lead body, and a conductive polymer material in contact with the lead body and located between individual coils of the elongated conductive coil. In certain embodiments, the conductive polymer is a polymer (e.g., silicone) implanted with a conductive filler (e.g., carbon black). In certain embodiments, the conductive polymer material is generally isodiametric with an outer diameter of the individual coils of the elongated conductive coil. A medical electrical electrode is fabricated by sliding an elongated conductive coil over a length of a lead body, dispersing a conductive polymer on the helical coil, inserting a tubing over the elongated conductive coil, distributing the polymer material between individual turns of the elongated conductive coil, heating the tubing so the tubing shrinks around the elongated conductive coil, and removing the tubing. | 07-23-2009 |
20090204194 | MEDICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING A NOVEL BIPOLAR PACING PAIR - A medical system includes a first low voltage electrode adapted for intimate contact with tissue at an implant site, in order to provide pacing stimulation in conjunction with a second low voltage electrode. A porous layer is formed over the second electrode; the porous layer allows conduction therethrough while preventing contact between the second electrode and tissue in proximity to the implant site. | 08-13-2009 |
20090234402 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARDIAC LEAD SHIELDING - An implantable medical device (IMD) can include a cardiac pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Various portions of the IMD, such as a device body, a lead body, or a lead tip, can be provided to reduce or dissipate a current and heat induced by various external environmental factors. According to various embodiments, features can be incorporated into the lead body, the lead tip, or the IMD body to reduce the creation of an induced current, or dissipate the induced Current and heat created due to an induced current in the lead. For example, an IMD can include at least one outer conductive member and a first electrode. The first electrode can be in electrical communication with the at least one outer conductive member. The first electrode can dissipate a current induced in the at least one outer conductive member via a first portion of the anatomical structure. | 09-17-2009 |
20090259282 | EXTENDABLE IMLPANTABLE ELONGATED MEMBER - An extendable medical lead comprises a lead body and a sheath defining a cavity that encloses a length of the lead body. The length of the lead body enclosed within the sheath may be coiled or otherwise gathered such that when extended, the length of the enclosed section of the lead body is greater than the length of the sheath. The sheath may include a seal to help prevent contaminant entry into the cavity in order to help reduce tissue in growth around the length of the lead body disposed within the sheath. A portion of the length of the lead body enclosed within the sheath exits the cavity through an aperture defined by the seal when a tensile force is applied to the lead body. | 10-15-2009 |
20100030147 | APPARATUS FOR GUIDING THE PLACEMENT OF A SUBCUTANEOUS DEVICE - An apparatus for guiding the placement of a subcutaneous device that includes a strap having an indentation configured for a fold of skin and fat layer to be positioned within the indentation as the subcutaneous device is advanced to a desired implantation site. | 02-04-2010 |
20100174350 | NOVEL MEDICAL DEVICE CONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS - A method for making an elongate medical device includes coupling a conductive fitting to an elongate conductor and providing an opening through an insulative layer in proximity to the fitting in order to expose the fitting. | 07-08-2010 |
20100305675 | LEADS FOR SELECTIVE SENSING AND VIRTUAL ELECTRODES - Selective sensing implantable medical leads include pulsing and sensing portions and pulsing and not sensing portion. Leads and electrodes may be used in defibrillation and as integrated bipolar defibrillation electrodes. An entire electrode can pass charge while a valve metal or valve metal oxide portion of the electrode prevents the entire electrode from sensing, effectively rejecting unwanted signals. Differential conduction pathways, due to the valve metal and/or oxides thereof, cause the portions of the electrodes to conduct differently when used anodically and cathodically. Complex intracardiac electrical gradient can be formed along with a number of virtual electrodes within the tissue. Reentrant loops can thereby be pinned following defibrillation shock. | 12-02-2010 |
20110202117 | MEDICAL ELECTRICAL LEAD INCLUDING AN INDUCTANCE AUGMENTER - A medical electrical lead includes an inductance augmenter assembly. The assembly includes an inductor coil formed of an insulated wire, which is wound about a non-conductive core and is electrically coupled in series between a conductor coil of the lead and an electrode of the lead. | 08-18-2011 |
20120209365 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING COMPATIBLE MEDICAL ELECTRICAL LEAD AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - This disclosure describes an implantable medical lead, and method of making such a lead or components of the lead, that reduces the undesirable effects the fields generated by an MRI device may have on the implantable medical lead and the implantable medical device. The implantable medical lead includes an RF filter placed in series with an electrical path to an electrode of the lead. In one example, the RF filter may comprise a conductor wound in such a manner that it provides an inductance and capacitance that provides the RF filter with a resonant frequency, and in some instances, multiple resonant frequencies. At frequencies around the resonant frequency of the RF filter, the RF filter presents a high impedance, thereby blocking the signal from or at least attenuating the signal propagating to the electrode. At frequencies far from the resonant frequency, the RF filter presents a low impedance. | 08-16-2012 |
20130006332 | EVALUATING THERAPEUTIC STIMULATION ELECTRODE CONFIGURATIONS BASED ON PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES - A medical system comprises a plurality of electrodes; at least one sensor configured to output at least one signal based on at least one physiological parameter of a patient; and a processor. The processor is configured to control delivery of stimulation to the patient using a plurality of electrode configurations. Each of the electrode configurations comprises at least one of the plurality of electrodes. For each of the electrode configurations, the processor is configured to determine a first response of target tissue to the stimulation based on the signals, and a second response of non-target tissue to the stimulation based on the signals. The processor is also configured to select at least one of the electrode configurations for delivery of stimulation to the patient based on the first and second responses for the electrode configurations. As examples, the target tissue may be a left ventricle or vagus nerve. | 01-03-2013 |
20130289643 | LEAD RECOGNITION FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL SYSTEM - The disclosure describes implantable medical systems that respond to occurrence of a lead-related condition by utilizing an elongated coil electrode in defining an alternative pacing therapy vector to maintain optimal drain of an IMD power supply. An exemplary system includes a medical electrical lead having an elongated electrode and an improved sensing and therapy delivery circuitry to provide the alternative pacing therapy vector responsive to the lead-related conditions. The system includes circuitry for recognition of the lead type in order to respond to the occurrence of the lead-related condition. | 10-31-2013 |
20130289644 | FAULT TOLERANT IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL SYSTEM - The disclosure describes implantable medical systems that respond to occurrence of a lead-related condition by utilizing an elongated coil electrode in defining an alternative pacing therapy vector to maintain optimal drain of an IMD power supply. An exemplary system includes a medical electrical lead having an elongated electrode and an improved sensing and therapy delivery circuitry to provide the alternative pacing therapy vector responsive to the lead-related conditions. The system reconfigures the operation of the sensing and therapy delivery circuitry triggered by the switch to the alternative pacing therapy vector. | 10-31-2013 |