Abstract: A band stop filter is provided for a lead wire of an active medical device (AMD). The band stop filter includes a capacitor in parallel with an inductor. The parallel capacitor and inductor are placed in series with the lead wire of the AMD, wherein values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the band stop filter is resonant at a selected frequency. The Q of the inductor may be relatively maximized and the Q of the capacitor may be relatively minimized to reduce the overall Q of the band stop filter to attenuate current flow through the lead wire along a range of selected frequencies. In a preferred form, the band stop filter is integrated into a TIP and/or RING electrode for an active implantable medical device.

Abstract: The traditional method of pressing CFx, screen and SVO sheet assembly results in an electrode that is cupped and not flat. This results in the reduction of the effective volumetric energy density of the electrode or the addition of a process step of flattening of the cathode if at all possible. The new method of assembly effectively eliminates the cupping behavior and produces a flat electrode. In addition, the physical density of the cathode is also increased.

Abstract: An adaptor/holder (40) is described which attaches to the front (18) of an existing orthopedic inserter/impactor handle (10) via the handle's existing threaded interface mechanism (22). The adaptor/holder (40) has an annular housing (42) that snaps onto the front (18) of the existing inserter (10), and has an internal yoke and pin assembly (70) that attached to the handle's interface mechanism (22). The holder (40) adapts the inserter (10) to much more easily and quickly release from a prosthetic component (12) after the component (12) is surgically implanted in a patient, and with less mechanical manipulation than could otherwise be accomplished using the inserter (10) alone. The adaptor/holder utilizes the inserter's existing mount tensioning (draw piston) mechanism (30) to quickly engage and disengage the prosthetic component (12). Upon activation of the inserter's tensioning mechanism (30), the holder (10) receives and fixes a prosthetic component (12) to the end (18) of the inserter (10).

Abstract: A multilayer helical wave filter having a primary resonance at a selected RF diagnostic or therapeutic frequency or frequency range, includes an elongated conductor forming at least a portion of an implantable medical lead. The elongated conductor includes a first helically wound segment having at least one planar surface, a first end and a second end, which forms a first inductive component, and a second helically wound segment having at least one planar surface, a first end and a second end, which forms a second inductive element. The first and second helically wound segments are wound in the same longitudinal direction and share a common longitudinal axis. Planar surfaces of the helically wound segments face one another, and a dielectric material is disposed between the facing planar surfaces of the helically wound segments and between adjacent coils of the helically wound segments, thereby forming a capacitance.

Abstract: An acetabular inserter (10) aids a surgeon in controlling the installation of an acetabular cup prosthesis (11) having a central, female aperture (13). The inserter includes an inserter head (20), a housing (12) and a locking mechanism. The housing (12) is attached to the inserter head, the housing enclosing a drive train (14) having, at a far end (134), a prosthesis engaging thread (124), and at the opposite end (42?), a handle (20) which facilitates turning of the drive train by the operator. The locking mechanism is associated with the housing which selectively locks the drive train, and thus the prosthesis, in position. The opposite end (42?) of the drive train has a latch device which enables quick removal from the housing for cleaning and sterilization.

Abstract: A torque-limiting driver (10) for orthopedic surgical use has a housing (16) to which a torque force may be applied and transferred to a driver output shaft (18). The housing (16) encloses a cam bearing assembly (52) having a ball cage (54) disposed so that balls (56) of the ball cage (54) moves along a first vector path (Vr) radial to the axis of rotation (20). The bearing assembly also has an inner race (58) abutting the ball (56) and which inner race (58) travels along a second vector path (F) parallel to the axis of rotation (20). The first vector path (Vr) and the second vector path (F) are not co-axial. A bearing load assembly (70) applies a bias force (F) to the inner race (58) of the cam bearing assembly (52) to set the calibrated maximum amount of torque that can be transmitted via the housing (16) through the cam bearing assembly (52) to output shaft (18) of the torque-limiting driver (10).

Abstract: The use of type V phosphodiesterase inhibitors as a novel independent therapeutic modality in the treatment of exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in equine is described. The type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor is injected into the horse intravenously as a stand-alone agent from about one-half hour to about seven (7) days prior to the onset of strenuous exercise.

Abstract: Decoupling circuits are provided which transfer energy induced from an MRI pulsed RF field to the housing for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) which serves as an energy dissipating surface. This is accomplished through broadband filtering or by resonant filtering. In a passive component network for an AIMD, a frequency selective energy diversion circuit is provided for diverting high-frequency energy away from an AIMD lead to the AIMD housing for dissipation of said high-frequency energy.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter body that extends from a distal end to a proximal end. The catheter body includes a delivery lumen, and an actuator lumen, where the actuator lumen extends from a position near or at the distal end to an intermediate portion that does not extend through the proximal end of the catheter body. The catheter body optionally includes an accessory lumen that extends from at or near the distal end and terminates at an intermediate portion that does not extend through the proximal end surface of the catheter body, for example, on a side wall.

Abstract: An energy management system facilitates the transfer of high frequency energy coupled into an implanted abandoned lead at a selected RF frequency or frequency band, to an energy dissipating surface. This is accomplished by conductively coupling the implanted abandoned lead to the energy dissipating surface of an abandoned lead cap through an energy diversion circuit including one or more passive electronic network components whose impedance characteristics are at least partially tuned to the implanted abandoned lead's impedance characteristics.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode comprised of a first current collector, a first cathode active material having a first energy density and a first rate capability, and a second cathode active material having a second energy density and a second rate capability, and an electrolyte activating the anode and the cathode. The first rate capability of the first cathode active material is greater than the second rate capability of the second cathode active material, and the first energy density of the first cathode active material is greater than or equal to the second energy density of the second cathode active material as a result of the addition of one or more diluents to the second cathode active material. A preferred configuration for the cathode is SVO/current collector/CFx with the SVO facing a lithium anode.

Abstract: A reamer system is provided which includes a cannulated reamer handle, and a corresponding cannulated reamer, which, when assembled and operated over a drill pin secured in a manner axially aligned with the stem of the femoral joint, enables the accurate and controlled reshaping of the femoral joint. The reamer is made up of a cutting form and a central guide, in which the guide is supported at the center of the cutting form by a bar structure. The bar structure includes portions which connect to and extend radially between the central guide and a peripheral edge of the cutting form. Optionally, the central guide includes a surface offset from a plane of the bar structure to a degree which enables that surface to contact an associated surface referenced to the bone, in order to prevent the cutting form from plunging so far over the bone as to potentially damage the femoral stem.

Abstract: An implantable monitoring device includes a flexible lead body that includes at least one sensing element. The device also includes a rigid main body connected to the flexible lead body at an attachment point. The rigid main body is generally centered about a longitudinal axis defined by the flexible lead body when the lead body is unflexed. The device further includes a measurement circuit, which is housed within the rigid main body and electrically coupled to the at least one sensing element of the flexible lead body and at least another sensing element on an outside surface of the rigid main body. The measurement circuit is configured to measure a potential difference between the at least one sensing element of the flexible lead body and the at least another sensing element of the main body.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter terminal for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), an insulated and shielded RF telemetry pin is provided to prevent re-radiation of unwanted stray signals, including the telemetry signal itself, to adjacent sensitive circuits or lead wires. The invention provides for an EMI filter terminal assembly for an AIMD including a radio frequency (RF) telemetry pin antenna extending therethrough. The RF telemetry pin antenna includes a conductive shield extending over a portion of the RF telemetry pin antenna in non-conductive relation with the telemetry pin, and conductively connected to a ground associated with the AIMD. The assembly may also include an insulation tube between the RF telemetry pin antenna and the conductive shield covering a portion of the RF telemetry pin antenna.

Abstract: An implantable electrical lead having a plurality of insulated conductor strands and a plurality of non-conductor strands braided together to maintain the spacing of the conductors from each other to prevent the crossing of the insulated conductor strands. The non-conductor strands are often polymeric strands. In some leads, the conductor strands and non-conductor strands are braided in opposite clockwise directions from each other. The conductor strands may travel adjacent each other in a clockwise direction, crossing non-conductors alternately over then under, with the immediately adjacent conductor strand doing the same but being out of phase. A diamond braid pattern is used in some embodiments. Braids may be formed over a removable mandrel, or a non-removable shaft or tube. Braiding can provide a structure which maintains its configuration after removal from a mandrel without requiring undue stress application to the strands.

Abstract: A new design for a cathode having a configuration of: SVO/first current collector/CFx/second current collector/SVO is described. The two cathode current collectors are vertically aligned one on top of the other in a middle region or zone of the cathode. This coincides to where a winding mandrel will be positioned to form a wound electrode assembly with an anode. The overlapping region of the two current collectors helps balance the expansion forces of the exemplary SVO and CFx active material layers. This, in turn, helps maintain a planar cathode that is more amenable to downstream processing. The use of two current collectors on opposite sides of an intermediate cathode active material also provides for enhanced reliability when cathodes are wound from the center as they lend structural integrity to outer portions of the wind.

Abstract: The traditional method of building a CFx/current collector/SVO assembly is by the application of a static pressing force. However, the density of the electrode and, particularly the CFx component, can be increase by using a cyclic pressing protocol. That is where the active materials are formed into a blank or contacted to a current collector by the use of at least two pressing events separated by a period when the pressure is removed. Not only does this cyclic pressing protocol increase the density of the CFx material, it also provides an electrode that is relatively flat, and not cupped. Conventional pressing techniques often result in badly cupped electrodes, especially when disparate active materials are contacting opposite sides of the current collector. Cupping consequently reduces the effective volumetric energy density of the electrode or necessitates the addition of a process step of flattening of the cathode, if at all possible.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patellar cutting jig for use in a knee joint surgical procedure. The jig grips and holds a patella in situ in spatial reference to the femur to enable the appropriate cut to be made to the patella to accurately accommodate the patello-femoral gap at the replacement knee joint. The patella jig has a referencing component that provides a landmark connection between the patella jig and the femur which enables the patella clamp of the jig to be oriented relative to the reference feature prior to gripping the patella. Thus a patella held in the clamp is fixed in the cutting jig an appropriate orientation relative to the femur prior to its resection. Cutting the patella while it is referenced to the patellar groove on the femur increases the accuracy of the resection.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a lithium anode, a cathode comprising a blank cut from a free-standing sheet of a silver vanadium oxide mixture contacted to a current collector. The active material has having a relatively lower surface area and an electrolyte activating the anode and the cathode is described. By optimizing the cathode active material surface area in a SVO-containing cell, the magnitude of the passivating film growth at the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and its relative impermeability to lithium ion diffusion is reduced. Therefore, by using a cathode of an active material in a range of from about 0.2 m2/gram to about 2.6 m2/gram, and preferably from about 1.6 m2/gram to about 2.4 m2/gram, it is possible to eliminate or significantly reduce undesirable irreversible Rdc growth and voltage delay in the cell and to extend its useful life in an implantable medical device.

Abstract: A lithium oxyhalide cell electrically connected in parallel with a lithium ion cell is described. Importantly, the open circuit voltage of the freshly built primary lithium oxyhalide cell is equal to or less that the open circuit voltage of the lithium ion cell in a fully charged state. This provides a power system that combines the high capacity of the primary cell with the high pulse power of the secondary cell. This hybrid power system exhibits increased rate capability, higher capacity and improved safety in addition to elimination of voltage delay in comparison to a comparable lithium oxyhalide cell discharge alone.