Abstract: An implantable drug eluting medical device includes a polymer substrate having a surface, a first plurality of nanofibers, and at least one antimicrobial drug. Each of the first plurality of nanofibers includes a first portion interpenetrated with the surface of the substrate to mechanically fix the nanofiber to the substrate, and a second portion projecting from the surface. The at least one antimicrobial drug is disposed within or among the second portion of the first plurality of nanofibers.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for enhanced dielectric properties for electrolytic capacitors to store energy in an implantable medical device. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for manufacturing a capacitor adapted to be disposed in an implantable device housing. An embodiment of the method includes providing a dielectric comprising aluminum oxide and doping the aluminum oxide with an oxide having a dielectric constant greater than aluminum oxide. Doping the aluminum oxide includes using sol-gel based chemistry, electrodeposition or atomic layer deposition (ALD) in various embodiments.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter and a control system. The catheter includes an elongate catheter body and a catheter tip coupled to a distal end of the elongate catheter body. The catheter tip includes a plurality of openings corresponding to a plurality of lumens extending through the elongate catheter body. The control system is configured to initiate a source of vacuum pressure to at least one of the plurality of lumens, receive an indication of a vacuum seal, and in response to the indication of the vacuum seal, initiate a source of ablation energy.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a polymer substrate and at least one nanofiber. The polymer substrate includes a surface portion extending into the polymer substrate from a surface of the substrate. The at least one nanofiber includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is interpenetrated with the surface portion of the substrate, and mechanically fixed to the substrate. The second portion projects from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A coating for a roughened metal surface of an implantable medical device includes a poly(ethylene glycol) disposed on at least a portion of the roughened metal surface, wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) is covalently bonded directly to the roughened metal surface.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a medical device including a surface that has been roughened to provide a roughened surface that inhibits the adhesion of microorganisms on the roughened surface.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter with an elongate catheter body, a catheter tip coupled to a distal end of the catheter body, and at least one light-emitting element configured to emit light to excite flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) molecules. The catheter system further including at least one light sensor configured to sense a light emitted by the excited FAD molecules.

Abstract: Catheters and methods are provided for determining a fluid flow rate of fluid located near a tip assembly of the catheter and providing an indication of the fluid flow condition and/or controlling one or more functions of the catheter based on the determined fluid rate. A method includes receiving a signal from a sensor located on a tip assembly of a catheter, the signal being indicative of a fluid flow condition of fluid located near the tip assembly. A processing device determines the fluid flow condition using the signal. Based on the determined fluid flow rate, the processor causes a device to output an indication of the determined fluid flow condition.

Abstract: An implantable or insertable medical device can include a silicone substrate and a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition coating on the silicone substrate. The coating may include a silicon-containing compound. A method of forming the coating is also provided.

Abstract: A catheter adapted to determine a contact force, the catheter including a proximal segment, a distal segment, and an elastic segment extending from the proximal segment to the distal segment. The distal segment includes a plurality of tip electrodes including at least three radial electrodes disposed about a circumference of the distal segment. The radial electrodes are configured to output electrical signals indicative of a contact vector of the contact force. The elastic segment includes a force sensing device configured to output an electrical signal indicative of a magnitude of an axial component of the contact force, wherein the contact force is determined by scaling the magnitude of the axial component of the contact force by the contact vector.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter comprising a tip assembly, the tip assembly having a plurality of electrodes and the plurality of electrodes are configured to measure electrical signals. The system also includes a processing unit configured to: receive a first electrical signal sensed by a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes and a second electrical signal sensed by a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes. A first vector is determined based on the first electrical signal that corresponds to the first electrode. A second vector is determined based on the second electrical signal that corresponds to the second electrode. A resultant vector is determined by summing at least the first vector and the second vector, wherein the resultant vector is indicative of the orientation of the tip assembly.

Abstract: A catheter including expandable electrode assembly having a distal cap that mechanically engages a locking feature provided on the distal ends of each of two or more flexible splines forming a portion of the expandable electrode assembly is described. The distal cap defines an atraumatic distal tip of the catheter. The catheter may be used in a cardiac mapping and/or ablation procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus including a header mountable to an implantable housing; and an electrically conductive connector block located within the header, wherein the conductive connector block is formed from a substantially non-metallic material.

Abstract: A tissue modification apparatus includes at least a first plurality of grippers aligned in a plane adapted to secure a first edge of a patch of tissue. The plurality of grippers are each secured to a first force actuator. The first plurality of grippers are each adapted to pivot relative to the first force actuator about an axis perpendicular to the plane. In some cases, a plurality of grippers are attached to a force actuator by a passive force transfer mechanism. In some cases, individual force actuators are attached by pivoted connections to individual grippers. Methods of treating tissue can secure tensioned tissue to a frame to retain the tension during a treatment (e.g., cross-linking the tissue with a chemical cross-linker).

Abstract: A catheter including expandable electrode assembly having a distal cap that mechanically engages a locking feature provided on the distal ends of each of two or more flexible splines forming a portion of the expandable electrode assembly is described. The distal cap defines an atraumatic distal tip of the catheter. The catheter may be used in a cardiac mapping and/or ablation procedure.

Abstract: A method for producing an antimicrobial coating on a surface. The method includes mixing a parylene dimer and an antimicrobial agent to form a mixture, heating the mixture to sublimate the parylene dimer and suspend the antimicrobial agent within the sublimated parylene dimer, pyrolyzing the sublimated parylene dimer to form a parylene monomer while the antimicrobial agent is suspended within the parylene monomer, and condensing the parylene monomer and the antimicrobial agent together on the surface to polymerize the parylene monomer and form a coating containing a parylene polymer and the antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: A polymer device configured to be implanted into a subcutaneous pocket to prevent infection, the pocket formed to contain an implantable medical device housing. The polymer device includes a structure made of a bioresorbable polymer, and an antimicrobial agent configured to elute from the structure. The polymer device is configured to cover less than about 20% of the surface area of the implantable medical device housing when implanted into the subcutaneous pocket.

Abstract: Devices provided herein can include implantable transseptal flow control components adapted to be implanted in an opening in a septal wall. In a closed configuration, the implantable transseptal flow control components provided herein prevent blood from flowing through the opening. In an open configuration, the implantable transseptal flow control components provided herein allow blood to flow from the left atrium to the right atrium. In a closed configuration, implantable transseptal flow control components provided herein can be configured such that blood does not stagnate at a location proximate to a left atrium flow control component side when the pressure differential is below a second predetermined threshold pressure value. Implantable transseptal flow control components provided herein can remain in a closed configuration when a pressure differential between the left atrium and the right atrium is less than a first non-zero predetermined threshold pressure value.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for enhanced dielectric properties for electrolytic capacitors to store energy in an implantable medical device. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for manufacturing a capacitor adapted to be disposed in an implantable device housing. An embodiment of the method includes providing a dielectric comprising aluminum oxide and doping the aluminum oxide with an oxide having a dielectric constant greater than aluminum oxide. Doping the aluminum oxide includes using sol-gel based chemistry, electrodeposition or atomic layer deposition (ALD) in various embodiments.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for enhanced dielectric properties for electrolytic capacitors to store energy in an implantable medical device. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for manufacturing a capacitor adapted to be disposed in an implantable device housing. An embodiment of the method includes providing a dielectric comprising aluminum oxide and doping the aluminum oxide with an oxide having a dielectric constant greater than aluminum oxide. Doping the aluminum oxide includes using sol-gel based chemistry, electrodeposition or atomic layer deposition (ALD) in various embodiments.