Abstract: A delivery needle apparatus in which a sleeve is fitted over an exterior surface of a delivery needle and methods of manufacturing the same. An elongate medical device may be delivered through the interior of the delivery needle and out of an opening in the distal end of the delivery needle (i.e., the delivery opening). The sleeve may cover a proximal portion of the delivery opening and may align an elongate medical device during insertion and/or withdrawal through the delivery opening.

Abstract: Radiopaque markers represent that a lead is suitable for a particular medical procedure such as a magnetic resonance image scan and are added to the lead or related device. The markers may be added after implantation of the lead in various ways including suturing, gluing, crimping, or clamping a radiopaque tag to the lead or to the device. The markers may be added by placing a radiopaque coil about the lead, and the radiopaque coil may radially contract against the lead to obtain a fixed position. The markers may be added by placing a polymer structure onto the lead where the polymer structure includes a radiopaque marker within it. The polymer structure may include a cylindrical aperture that contracts against the lead to fix the position of the structure. The polymer structure may form a lead anchor that includes suture wings that can be sutured to the lead.

Abstract: A delivery needle apparatus in which a sleeve is fitted over an exterior surface of a delivery needle and methods of manufacturing the same. An elongate medical device may be delivered through the interior of the delivery needle and out of an opening in the distal end of the delivery needle (i.e., the delivery opening). The sleeve may cover a proximal portion of the delivery opening and may align an elongate medical device during insertion and/or withdrawal through the delivery opening.

Abstract: Medical leads include a lumen body at an end of the lead, and the lumen body includes multiple filar lumens. The lumen body is joined to a lead body, and electrical connectors are longitudinally spaced along the lumen body. Filars within the filar lumens are directed through filar passageways within the lumen body to attach to the electrical connectors on the lumen body. The filar passageways may be aligned with the filar lumens, and slots within the electrical connectors may be aligned with the filar passageways to facilitate assembly. The lumen body may provide additional stiffness to the end of the lead where the lumen body is located to facilitate lead insertion into the medical device. The filar lumens of the lumen body may have a longitudinally straight configuration so that the portions of filars within the filar lumens are held in a longitudinally straight configuration.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads and implantable lead extensions include a shield. The implantable medical lead is coupled to the implantable lead extension. Stimulation electrodes of the implantable medical lead contact stimulation connectors within a housing of the implantable extension to establish a conductive pathway for stimulation signals from filars of the implantable extension to filars of the implantable medical lead. Continuity is established between the shield of the implantable medical lead and the implantable extension by providing a radio frequency conductive pathway within the housing. The radio frequency conductive pathway extends from a shield of the implantable extension to a shield connector that contacts a shield electrode of the implantable medical lead. The radio frequency conductive pathway may have various forms such as a jumper wire or an extension of the shield within the implantable extension.

Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways at a metal connector. The shield may be terminated by various joints including butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection to a single metal connector. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by passing between an overlapping pair of inner and outer metal connectors. The metal connectors may include features such as teeth or threads that penetrate the insulation layers of the lead. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by exiting a jacket of a lead adjacent to a metal connector and lapping onto the metal connector.

Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways. The shield may be terminated by butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. For lap joints, a portion of an outer insulation layer may be removed and a replacement outer insulation layer is positioned in place of the removed outer insulation layer, where the replacement layer extends beyond an inner insulation layer and the shield. The replacement layer may also lap onto a portion of the insulation extension. Barbs may be located between the replacement layer and the inner insulation layer or the insulation extension. The shield wires have ends at the termination point that may be folded over individually or may be capped with a ring located within one of the insulation layers of the jacket.

Abstract: An extensible implantable medical device includes a body defining a lumen extending through the body. The lumen is configured to receive at least a portion of an implantable medical lead. The body includes a non-rectilinearly shaped portion. The non-rectilinearly shaped portion has a first shape spanning a first distance in a relaxed state. The non-rectilinearly shaped portion has a second, more rectilinear, shape spanning a second distance when subjected to a stretching force. The second distance is greater than the first distance. The non-rectilinearly shaped portion returns to the relaxed first shape upon release of the stretching force and is configured to assume the first shape when the lead is inserted into the lumen and no load is placed on the lead or the shaped body portion.

Abstract: Medical leads included coiled filars that have longitudinally straight ends. The coiled filars may be coiled at a constant pitch until reaching the point where the filars become longitudinally straight. The coiled filars may reside within a central lumen of the lead body, while the longitudinally straight portions may reside in a region where electrical connectors are present and where filar passageways provide a pathway for the filars to exit the central lumen and bond with the electrical connectors. The coiled filars may be created with longitudinally straight ends using a body that includes longitudinally straight holes that receive the filars and maintain the longitudinally straight configuration while the remaining portion of the filars is being coiled.

Abstract: An anchor deployment apparatus for deploying an anchor about a therapy delivery element includes an anchor receiving element having an elongate member having a distal opening and a lumen extending proximally in the elongate member from the distal opening. The lumen of the elongate member is configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a therapy delivery element. The anchor deployment tool further includes an anchor engagement element having (i) a body forming a channel in which the elongate member of the anchor receiving element is axially movable, and (ii) an engagement feature forming at least a part of the channel. The engagement feature is configured to engage the anchor when the anchor is disposed about the elongate member and the elongate member is moved distally relative to the engagement element, and to cause the anchor to move distally along the elongate member when the feature is engaged with the anchor and the elongate member is moved distally relative to the engagement element.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for increasing bone production and/or decreasing bone fracture healing time in a subject, by administering an effective amount of periostin and/or active peptides and/or fragments thereof.

Abstract: A delivery needle apparatus in which a sleeve is fitted over an exterior surface of a delivery needle and methods of manufacturing the same. An elongate medical device may be delivered through the interior of the delivery needle and out of an opening in the distal end of the delivery needle (i.e., the delivery opening). The sleeve may cover a proximal portion of the delivery opening and may align an elongate medical device during insertion and/or withdrawal through the delivery opening.

Abstract: Siding is provided for protective use on a structure. The siding simulates log construction and includes one or more panels which each include a top section, mounting section, flat section, female locking flange section, bowed section and male locking flange section. Each panel may be textured to simulate real logs. A film can be adhesively attached to the surface of the panels to simulate wood grain, as well.

Abstract: Siding is provided for protective use on a structure. The siding simulates log construction and includes one or more panels which each include a top section, mounting section, flat section, female locking flange section, bowed section and male locking flange section. Each panel may be textured to simulate real logs. A film can be adhesively attached to the surface of the panels to simulate wood grain, as well.