Abstract: A system is provided for identifying implanted medical devices, leads and systems, as well as objects in close proximity to a patient having an implanted active medical device, using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having retrievable information relating to the AIMD, lead system and/or patient. An RFID tag communicator includes a circuit for limiting the total continuous transmit time of an interrogation signal, and a time-out circuit for delaying a second and any subsequent interrogation of the RFID tag.

Abstract: An introducer assembly includes a sheath and a dilator. A biodegradable shroud covers the distal portion of the introducer assembly on the surface of both the sheath and the dilator. The biodegradable shroud dissolves in blood after being exposed for a predetermined time. Afterwards, the dilator can be separated from the sheath without breaking the sheath. The shroud improves movement of the introducer assembly through a venous system by preventing body tissue from getting caught in the space between the dilator and the shroud, for example should a “fish mouth” separation occur between them.

Abstract: One or more inductors and one or more capacitors are physically disposed relative to one another in series and are electrically connected to one another in parallel to form a bandstop filter. Chip inductors and chip capacitors having spaced apart conductive terminals are physically arranged in end-to-end abutting relation to minimize electrical potential between adjacent conductive terminals. The bandstop filter may be hermetically sealed within a biocompatible container for use with an implantable lead or electrode of a medical device. The values of the inductors and the capacitors are selected such that the bandstop filter is resonant at one or more selected frequencies, such as an MRI pulsed frequency.

Abstract: A method for providing a header assembly for connecting an implantable medical device to at least one conductor lead terminating within a patient intended to be assisted by the medical device is provided. The implantable medical device is comprised of at least one feedthrough wire extending from the control circuitry and through a wall of the housing. The header assembly is comprised of an insulative body that is mountable on the housing of the medical device. The insulative body supports at least one conductor subassembly comprising a terminal that is directly connectable to the conductor lead, an intermediate conductor comprising a distal end connected to the terminal and a proximal end connected to a connector. Methods for making the header assembly and for connecting the header assembly to the implantable medical device are also disclosed.

Abstract: An introducer assembly includes a sheath having a sheath proximal end and distal end, and a passage therethrough. The introducer assembly further includes a handle assembly that is mechanically and/or bonded coupled with a tubular sheath.

Abstract: An RFID tag is disposed within a hermetically sealed housing of an IMD. Low frequency RFID interrogators and tags are used, and the housing walls are made of materials, and/or are reduced in thickness, to facilitate RF communication between the RFID tag and an RFID reader/interrogator programmer. An RFID reader/interrogator may be used which has a limited transmit time and time-out period to avoid interference with the operation of the IMD.

Abstract: An EMI shielded conduit assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) includes an EMI shielded housing for the AIMD, a hermetic feedthrough terminal associated with the AIMD housing, and an electronic circuit board, substrate or network disposed within the AIMD housing remote from the hermetic feedthrough terminal. At least one leadwire extends from the hermetic feedthrough terminal to the remote circuit board, substrate or network. An EMI shield is conductively coupled to the AIMD housing and substantially co-extends about the leadwire in non-conductive relation thereto.

Abstract: Lead devices and methods for neurostimulation are described. Some of the neurostimulation leads provided have multiple, distal region electrode contacts arranged in an array capable of providing steerable spinal cord stimulation. In one use, a collapsed introducer sheath is disposed over a dilator and advanced to a spinal cord target site through a 14-gauge needle into the epidural space. The dilator is removed and the introducer is expanded to its full width. A neurological lead according to the present invention advanced through the introducer to near the target site and the introducer removed. The lead is wider than it is high and has a row of lower electrodes flanked by right and left side electrodes in groups of three. The lower electrodes serve as cathodes and the right and left electrodes are return anodes.

Abstract: A vertebral dynamic stabilization system is used to fix the positional relationship of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The vertebrae? stabilization system includes at least two pedicle screws(20), with an interconnecting rod (60) disposed therebetween, the pedicle screws each having a threaded shaft (24) to be screwed into a vertebra segment, and a screw head (30) adapted to securely receive the interconnecting rod. The system allows some compression and extension of the vertebrae relative to each other, while still maintaining the overall positional relationship within an appropriate range.

Abstract: An anode assembly for a capacitor is described. The anode assembly comprises a first anode including a first conductive lead disposed in a first groove in a junction bar, a second anode including a second conductive lead disposed in a second groove in the junction bar, and an anode terminal lead disposed in a third groove in the junction bar. The capacitor including the anode assembly is further comprised of a cathode comprising a conductive substrate supporting a cathode active material facing the first and second anodes, and a separator positioned there between to prevent the first and second anodes and the cathode from contacting each other. The anode assembly, the cathode, and the separator are sealed inside of a casing, and the casing is filled with a working electrolyte.

Abstract: In the field of canine humeral osteotomy, an osteotomy plate including a proximal plate portion lying substantially in a first plane for application to the humerus. The proximal plate portion has a bottom surface adapted for application to the surface of the humerus, and the proximal plate portion has at least one overlapping hole formed therein. The osteotomy plate also includes a distal plate portion lying substantially in a second plane for application to the humerus. The distal plate portion has a bottom surface adapted for application to the surface of the humerus, and the distal plate portion has at least one overlapping hole formed therein. The osteotomy plate also includes a transition region connecting the proximal plate portion to the distal plate portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a guided orthopedic bone reamer (10a) for cutting a profile relief shape (21a) into a joint bone (20). The reamer (10a) has a cutting head (30a) and an axial guide assembly (70). The cutting head (30a) has a profile cutting form (24a) with a rim (34) and an apex (38a). The apex (38a) connects to the cutting form (24a) by a set of struts (94). An axial guide assembly (70) has one end (44a) fixed to the apex (38a) and at the other end has a bayonet mechanism (76) connectable to a drive handle. Rim cutting teeth (36a) are set into the rim (34) to cut a cylindrical profile (21a), and bevel cutting teeth (96) integral to the struts (94) cut a bevel (25) onto the cylindrical form (21a) cut into the bone (20). A guide pin bore (12a) passes through the apex (38a) and the guide assembly (70) concentric with the axis of rotation (18) to receive a guide pin (14) to guide the reamer (10a) in cutting alignment relative to the joint bone (20) to be cut.

Abstract: A vascular stent comprising a drug-eluting outer layer of a porous sputtered columnar metal having each column capped with a biocompatible carbon-containing material is described. This is done by placing the stent over a close-fitting mandrel and rotating the assembly in a sputter flux. The result is a coating that is evenly distributed over the outward-facing side of the stent's wire mesh while preventing the sputtered columnar coating from reaching the inward facing side where a smooth hemocompatible surface is required. The stent is then removed from the mandrel, exposing all surfaces, and finally coated with a layer of carbon such as amorphous carbon or diamond-like carbon. The carbonaceous coating enhances biocompatibility without preventing elutriation of a therapeutic drug provided in the porosity formed between the columnar structures. The result is a stent that is adapted to both the hemodynamic and the immune response requirements of its vascular environment.

Abstract: A hybrid battery comprising at least two nonaqueous electrochemical systems is described. The first cell comprises an anode of an alkaline earth metal or alloy thereof, and the second cell comprises an anode of an alkali metal or alloy thereof. The first cell is preferably an alkaline earth metal/oxyhalide cell, more preferably a calcium/oxyhalide cell or cells. The second cell is preferably an alkali metal alloy/oxyhalide cell, more preferably a lithium alloy/oxyhalide cell or cells. Such a cell combination is particularly useful for power a down-hole well tool. The down-hole tool is powered by the first cell during a surface test and as the tool descends into the well until all of the calcium is discharged. Then, the second cell powers the down-hole tool for the remainder of the down-hole procedure.

Abstract: A header assembly for connecting a conductor terminating at a body organ with an implantable medical device is described. The header assembly comprises a base plate, a feedthrough subassembly disposed in the base plate and comprising a ceramic-to-metal seal with first and second feedthrough wires passing through the ceramic-to-metal seal; a first electrically conductive terminal connected to a distal end of the first feedthrough wire and having a first lead opening sized to receive a first portion of a lead for the conductor; a second electrically conductive terminal connected to a distal end of the second feedthrough wire and having a second lead opening sized to receive a second portion of the lead for the conductor; a body of polymeric material molded in a two-part construction to encase the conductive terminals and their feedthrough wires except for a first bore communicating from outside the polymeric body to the first and second lead openings aligned in a first co-axial relationship.

Abstract: A method for making a deflectable catheter includes positioning a flexible element along a catheter liner. A flexible element distal portion extends along at least a portion of a deflectable distal end portion of the catheter liner. At least one anchor is engaged to the flexible element distal portion. The anchor extends at least part way around the flexible element distal portion. An encapsulant is positioned around at least the flexible element distal portion and the deflectable distal end portion.

Abstract: A vascular stent comprising a drug-eluting outer layer of a porous sputtered columnar metal having each column capped with a biocompatible carbon-containing material is described. This is done by placing the stent over a close-fitting mandrel and rotating the assembly in a sputter flux. The result is a coating that is evenly distributed over the outward-facing side of the stent's wire mesh while preventing the sputtered columnar coating from reaching the inward facing side where a smooth hemocompatible surface is required. The stent is then removed from the mandrel, exposing all surfaces, and finally coated with a layer of carbon such as amorphous carbon or diamond-like carbon. The carbonaceous coating enhances biocompatibility without preventing elutriation of a therapeutic drug provided in the porosity formed between the columnar structures. The result is a stent that is adapted to both the hemodynamic and the immune response requirements of its vascular environment.

Abstract: A reamer system is provided which includes a cannulated reamer holder, 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.

Abstract: An acetabular reamer (10, 10?, 10?) is intended in particular for the shaping of the cotyloid cavity in the event of a replacement of a hip joint by total prosthesis. The reamer (10, 10?, 10?) is typically of a truncated hemispherical form and is adapted for attachment to a reamer spindle in order to be driven in rotation about a cutter axis (11). The ability to cut a full, continuous hemisphere to the apex (12) of the hemispherical body (14) is suppressed, so as to attain the principal advantage of the invention, namely, to adequately prepare the acetabulum for receipt of a prosthesis while minimizing the possibility of breakthrough of the fovea/acetabular fossa. The reamer (10, 10?, 10?) has an interface 16 typically made tip of cross bars (20) which a holder engages for rotationally activating the reamer for cutting.

Abstract: A vascular stent comprising a drug-eluting outer layer of a porous sputtered columnar metal having each column capped with a biocompatible carbon-containing material is described. This is done by placing the stent over a close-fitting mandrel and rotating the assembly in a sputter flux. The result is a coating that is evenly distributed over the outward-facing side of the stent's wire mesh while preventing the sputtered columnar coating from reaching the inward facing side where a smooth hemocompatible surface is required. The stent is then removed from the mandrel, exposing all surfaces, and finally coated with a layer of carbon such as amorphous carbon or diamond-like carbon. The carbonaceous coating enhances biocompatibility without preventing elutriation of a therapeutic drug provided in the porosity formed between the columnar structures. The result is a stent that is adapted to both the hemodynamic and the immune response requirements of its vascular environment.