Abstract: A biomedical polymer has a substantially linear base polymer; and branched polyethylene oxide covalently bonded to the base polymer as surface active end groups. The branched polyethylene oxide has at least two, more particularly at least four, and still more particularly at least six branches. Suitable base polymers include epoxies, polyurethanes, polyurethane copolymers, fluoropolymers, polyolefins and silicone rubbers. Biologically active agents may be attached to the branched polyethylene oxide. Suitable biologically active agents include microbial peptide agents, detergents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cations, amine-containing organosilicones, diphosphonates, fatty acids, fatty acid salts, heparin and glucocorticosteroids. The biological polymer may be used as a casing for a medical unit of an implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker. In this case, the casing at least partially encloses the medical unit.

Abstract: The control for an ablation catheter provides increased ablation catheter operation feedback and increased options for programmable control of the ablation catheter for clinicians. The control for an ablation catheter has a microcontroller containing memory, an input and output coupled to the microcontroller, a movement program, a comparison program, and an annunciating program. The movement program processes position information from the input to calculate ablation catheter movement. The comparison program compares ablation catheter movement to a predetermined control data.

Abstract: An implantable component including a feedthrough assembly and a method for forming the feedthrough assembly wherein a coating forming a fluid barrier over an insulator, an insulator-to-terminal pin interface and an insulator-to-ferrule interface is incorporated.

Abstract: A catheter body of a catheter assembly includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal portion, a distal portion extending from the intermediate portion, and a locating device including a distal tip extending from the distal portion of the catheter body. The intermediate portion defines a longitudinal axis and the distal portion forms a loop including one or more loop segments formed around a central loop axis. The central loop axis is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis and the one or more loop segments include at least one ablation electrode coupled thereto and adapted to create a lesion, the lesion electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber for treatment of a cardiac arrhythmia. The distal tip of the locating device is substantially parallel with the central loop axis.

Abstract: A method of pacing opposing chambers of a heart with a pacing system is provided. The pacing system comprises a first unipolar medical electrical lead having at least one first electrode configured for positioning in a first opposing chamber of the heart, a second unipolar medical electrical lead having at least one second electrode configured for positioning in a second opposing chamber of the heart, an implantable pulse generator operably connected to the first and second unipolar medical electrical leads. The implantable pulse generator further comprises an hermetically sealed housing capable of serving as a can electrode, and means for switching electrode configurations between the first electrode and the can electrode, between the second electrode and the can electrode, between the first electrode and the second electrode and between the second electrode and the first electrode. A primary electrode configuration is determined.

Abstract: A steerable catheter and methods of fabrication including a catheter body formed of a continuous wire braid formed of wires braided over a delivery lumen liner and a pull wire lumen liner distal to a pull wire jacket port, braided around the pull wire jacket port to form a braid port, and over at least a portion of the delivery lumen liner proximal to the pull wire jacket port. A pull wire extends from a pull wire proximal end through the pull wire lumen port and through the pull wire lumen to a pull wire distal end. A band is attached to the pull wire distal end and fitted over a distal segment of the wire braid proximal to the catheter body distal end to fix the pull wire distal end to the catheter body and restrain the wire distal end from flaring away from the delivery lumen liner.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for accurately estimating blood oxygen saturation independent of tissue encapsulation of the optical sensor. The method includes determining a tissue overgrowth correction factor that accounts for the optical properties of the tissue that cause scattering of the emitted light to a light detector and the relative amplitudes of the emitted light wavelengths. A corrected time interval measured for infrared light is based on an infrared signal returned from fluid with no tissue overgrowth. A corrected time interval for red light is determined by subtracting a red light signal attributed to the presence of tissue overgrowth. The amount of red light signal attributed to the presence of tissue overgrowth is proportional to the total infrared signal less the nominal infrared signal. Oxygen saturation is estimated based on standard calibration factors and the ratio of the corrected infrared time interval and the corrected red time interval.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying implantable medical device data that includes translating means for translating data written in a first predetermined format that is not compatible with SVG-formatted data into SVG-formatted data, and formatting means for receiving the SVG-formatted data and for providing a user-comprehensible representation of the SVG-formatted data. In this way, session data is converted from a first format to a second format, and the converted session data is rendered to enable multiple display and control of the converted session data so that the rendered data is displayed using the multiple display and layout control to provide a user with multiple display of a single set of session data.

Abstract: An electrical lead includes an elongate body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a first electrode disposed adjacent and joined to the distal end portion of the elongate body. Current flow within the first electrode is limited when a predetermined condition occurs, such as the generation of an electromagnetic field having a predetermined frequency range. The medical electrical lead may further comprise one or more second electrodes disposed adjacent the first electrode and joined to the elongate body to shunt current to body tissue when the predetermined condition occurs.

Abstract: Curves and dynamic shapes are imparted in distal segments of medical instruments e.g., catheters, through use of a temperature-activated actuator coupled to distal segment of the instrument body. The actuator comprises includes members extending side-by-side in substantially a common plane and configured to move in opposite directions when independently activated. A first heating device is coupled to a first actuator member and configured to deliver thermal energy to the first actuator member to activate the first actuator member and cause the first actuator member to move the distal segment in a first direction. A second heating device is coupled to a second actuator member and configured to deliver thermal energy to the second actuator member to activate the second actuator member and cause the second actuator member to move the distal segment in a second direction opposed to the first direction.

Abstract: An electrical lead equipped with cathode and anode active succession electrodes for positioning in the vicinity of the His bundle tissue. The lead includes a lead body for carrying conductors coupled between electrodes located at or near the distal lead end and a connector assembly located at the proximal lead end for connecting to an implantable pacemaker. The electrode is shaped, at the distal end, for positioning and attachment in the His bundle and branches thereof, cathode and anode electrodes co-extensive with the lead body. The cathode and anode electrodes may be helical screw-in type or equivalent electrodes adapted for secure fixation deep within the His bundle tissue or the tissue in the vicinity of the His bundle.

Abstract: Techniques for detection and treatment of myocardial ischemia are described that monitor both the electrical and dynamic mechanical activity of the heart to detect and verify the occurrence of myocardial ischemia in a more reliable manner. The occurrence of myocardial ischemia can be detected by monitoring changes in an electrical signal such as an ECG or EGM, and changes in dynamic mechanical activity of the heart. Dynamic mechanical activity can be represented, for example, by a heart acceleration signal or pressure signal. The electrical signal can be obtained from a set of implanted or external electrodes. The heart acceleration signal can be obtained from an accelerometer or pressure sensor deployed within or near the heart. The techniques correlate contractility changes detected by an accelerometer or pressure sensor with changes in the ST electrogram segment detected by the electrodes to increase the reliability of ischemia detection.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for inserting electrical leads within a heart. In one aspect of the present invention, a method for positioning a medical electrical lead in a cardiac vein is disclosed. The method comprises inserting a lead within a coronary sinus, dispersing at least one vasodilating agent to dilate at least one cardiac vein, and inserting the lead into a dilated cardiac vein.

Abstract: A brazing fixture for fabricating a feed-through assembly during a brazing process and a method for forming a brazing fixture are provided. The brazing fixture includes a holding tray and a nesting plate removably mounted on the holding tray. The nesting plate has a surface with at least one nest disposed at the surface. The nest has a first well disposed at the surface of the nesting plate, the first well having first walls. A second well is disposed adjacent to and in concentric relationship with the first well, the second well having second walls. An orifice is disposed adjacent to the second well, the orifice having third walls. A release coating overlies the first walls of the first well and is absent from the third walls of the orifice.

Abstract: In a system that provides bi-atrial and/or bi-ventricular pacing, the system adjusts an interval between paces delivered to the atria, and/or an interval between paces delivered to the ventricles, as a function of pressure data from the heart. In an exemplary embodiment, the system uses the pressure data from the ventricles to identify the times that each ventricle begins ejection of blood. The system may adjust the interval between paces to cause the ventricles to begin ejection at the same time, or to cause one ventricle to commence blood ejection prior to the other ventricle with a desired time offset. The system may further adjust the interval in response to changing conditions, such as a changing heart rate.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body having a lead body lumen and an electrode head assembly having an inner wall and an electrode head assembly lumen adjacent to the lead body lumen. The lead further includes a drive shaft that extends through the lead body lumen and the electrode head assembly lumen, and a sealing member, having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner wall of the electrode head assembly lumen. The sealing member includes an inner lumen that receives the drive shaft, an outer sealing member that is fixedly engaged with the inner wall of the electrode head assembly, and an inner sealing member engaged with the drive shaft to provide a low friction seal.

Abstract: An implantable lead system includes an elongated device slideably engaged within a lumen of a lead body. A distal portion of the elongated device is slidable through a helix tip coupled to a distal end of the lead body by passing through a pierceable fluid-tight seal disposed in proximity to the distal end of the lead body; the seal prevents ingress of bodily fluid into the lumen of the lead body.

Abstract: A coaxial cable antenna for use in an external device, such as a programmer or monitor, to enhance communication between the external device and an implanted medical device (IMD). The coaxial cable antenna provides the external device with polarization diversity. For example, the coaxial cable antenna includes a first portion and a second portion that are substantially perpendicular to one another. Each of the portions of the coaxial cable antenna has a different polarization orientation, thus providing the programmer with polarization diversity. Further, the external device may include more than one coaxial cable antenna to provide the external device with spatial diversity as well as polarization diversity provided by the coaxial cable antenna design. The coaxial cable antenna configurations reduce problems associated with polarization mismatches, antenna nulls, and multi-path propagation interference.

Abstract: Steerable electrophysiology catheters for use in mapping and/or ablation of accessory pathways in myocardial tissue of the heart wall and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The catheter comprises a catheter body and handle, the catheter body having a proximal section and a distal section and manipulators that enable the deflection of a distal segment of the distal tip section with respect to the independently formed curvature of a proximal segment of the distal tip section through a bending or knuckle motion of an intermediate segment between the proximal and distal segments. A wide angular range of deflection within a very small curve or bend radius in the intermediate segment is obtained. At least one distal tip electrode is preferably confined to the distal segment which can have a straight axis extending distally from the intermediate segment. The curvature of the proximal segment and the bending angle of the intermediate segment are independently selectable.

Abstract: A system and method for acquiring and processing an EGM signal during a pacing event, wherein a unique converter code is generated upon digitizing of the EGM signal and encrypted in the EGM signal to demarcate a transient event. The system further provides dynamic filtering of the EGM signal and subsequent detection of an intrinsic event signal during the pacing event, from which rhythm events may be diagnosed and classified.