Abstract: Electrical stimulation is applied to a patient at least in part via a pulse generator. A motor fiber component of an action potential that is evoked in response to the electrical stimulation is measured. A sensory fiber component of the action potential is also measured. A relationship between the motor fiber component and the sensory fiber component is determined. For example, a ratio between the sensory fiber component and the motor fiber component may be calculated, or the absolute sizes of the sensory fiber component and the motor fiber component may be compared. Based on the determined relationship between the motor and sensory fiber components, a paresthesia of the patient is estimated.

Abstract: Tantalum powders produced using a tantalum fiber precursor are described. The tantalum fiber precursor is chopped or cut into short lengths having a uniform fiber thickness and favorable aspect ratio. The chopped fibers are formed into a primary powder having a controlled size and shape, narrow/tight particle size distribution, and low impurity level. The primary powder is then agglomerated into an agglomerated powder displaying suitable flowability and pressability such that pellets with good structural integrity and uniform pellet porosity are manufacturable. The pellet is sintered and anodized to a desired formation voltage. The thusly created capacitor anode has a dual morphology or dual porosity provided by a primary porosity of the individual tantalum fibers making up the primary powder and a larger secondary porosity formed between the primary powders agglomerated into the agglomerated powder.

Abstract: A magnetic pulse welding process for joining a current collector to a terminal pin in the construction of electrochemical cells is described. The magnetic pulse welding process utilizes a pulsed direct current and an electrically conductive coil to generate an electro-magnetic force that causes two work pieces to collide with each other and form a bond therebetween. Preferably, the method is used to bond the terminal pin to the cathode current collector. This method of attachment is suitable for either primary or secondary cells, particularly those powering implantable biomedical devices.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus includes a neurostimulation interconnection apparatus including an elongate lead body including a lead proximal end and a lead distal end. The lead proximal end includes a first connector portion. A stimulation device includes a header. The header includes a second connector portion including a shape complementary to a shape of the first connector portion. The first connector portion is mateably engageable with the second connector portion, wherein one of the first connector portion and the second connector portion includes a plurality of pins and the other of the first connector portion and the second connector portion includes a plurality of sockets. There are an equal number of sockets and pins, wherein, with the first connector portion mateably engaged with the second connector portion, the pins align and electrically couple with the sockets.

Abstract: A transseptal needle assembly comprised of a cannula, a handle assembly and a stylet is described. The cannula of the needle assembly is of a uniform body construction such that the cannula main portion and needle portion are fluidly connected in one-piece. The handle assembly comprises a handle housing, a handle sleeve and a handle slug. The handle slug provides ballast which improves tactile feel of the needle assembly. In addition, the stylet comprises a stylet housing having a hinged designed that allows for easier control of the stylet.

Abstract: An improved splittable medical device introducer designed to introduce a medical device such as a lead or catheter, into a patient's vasculature without loss of blood or introduction of air is described. The introducer assembly is designed with a notch provided at the proximal end of the introducer housing. The notch, which may comprise a multitude of cross-sectional geometries, is designed to reduce the force required to separate the housing and the introducer sheath, thereby minimizing the possibility of unintentional dislodgement during separation. The notch also increases the repeatability and consistency of the amount of force required to separate the introducer housing and sheath.

Abstract: An autoclavable electrochemical cell that may be used in an implantable or external medical device is described. The anode active material comprises lithium or other material from groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table. The cathode active material comprises carbon monofluoride, silver vanadium oxide, copper vanadium oxide, transition metal oxides, and combinations thereof. The solvent for the electrolyte has a boiling point greater than about 100° C. and is capable of wetting a surfactant free polymeric separator material such that the cell may be dimensionally and chemically stable during repeated exposures to an autoclave environment.

Abstract: An electrolytic capacitor comprising an anode comprised of cryogenically milled anode material is described. The cryogenic milling process prepares the active anode material for anode fabrication. The capacitor further comprises a casing of first and second casing members secured to each other to provide an enclosure. A feedthrough electrically insulated from the casing and from the casing and extending there from through a glass-to-metal seal, at least one anode electrically connected within the casing, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The cathode is of a cathode active material deposited on planar faces of the first and second casing members.

Abstract: An elevated feedthrough is attachable to a top or a side of an active implantable medical device. The feedthrough includes a conductive ferrule and a dielectric substrate. The dielectric substrate is defined as comprising a body fluid side and a device side disposed within the conductive ferrule. The dielectric substrate includes a body fluid side elevated portion generally raised above the conductive ferrule. At least one via hole is disposed through the dielectric substrate from the body fluid side to the device side. A conductive fill is disposed within the at least one via hole forming a hermetic seal and electrically conductive between the body fluid side and the device side. A leadwire connection feature is on the body fluid side electrically coupled to the conductive fill and disposed adjacent to the elevated portion of the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: A co-fired hermetically sealed feedthrough is attachable to an active implantable medical device. The feedthrough comprises an alumina dielectric substrate comprising at least 96 or 99% alumina. A via hole is disposed through the alumina dielectric substrate from a body fluid side to a device side. A substantially closed pore, fritless and substantially pure platinum fill is disposed within the via hole forming a platinum filled via electrically conductive between the body fluid side and the device side. A hermetic seal is between the platinum fill and the alumina dielectric substrate, wherein the hermetic seal comprises a tortuous and mutually conformal interface between the alumina dielectric substrate and the platinum fill.

Abstract: A tunneling tool for implanting a medical device into body tissue is described. The tunneling tool comprises a first leg and a second leg. An intermediate portion of the second leg is shaped to nest a medical device therein. A hub connects the first and second distal leg ends together. A sheath providing a lumen extends from the hub to an open end distal of the first and second legs. The first and second legs are manipulatable to separate the hub and the sheath into two portions, a first split portion connected to the first leg and a second split portion connected to the second leg. When a medical device is nested in the tunneling tool, breaking the tunneling tool apart enables the first and second split portions to be removed from body tissue, leaving the implanted medical device behind.

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: A hermetic terminal assembly for an AIMD includes a shielded three-terminal flat-through EMI energy dissipating filter and a hermetically sealed feedthrough configured to be attachable to the ferrule or AIMD housing. The flat-through filter includes a first shield plate, an active electrode plate, and a second shield plate where the shield plates are electrically coupled to a metallization which in turn is coupled either to the ferrule or AIMD housing. The feedthrough includes an alumina substrate comprised of at least 96% alumina and a via hole with a substantially closed pore and substantially pure platinum fill. The platinum fill forms a tortuous and mutually conformal knitline or interface between the alumina substrate and the platinum fill, wherein the platinum fill is electrically coupled to at least one active electrode plate in non-conductive relationship to the at least one first and second shield plates.

Abstract: A current collector in the form of a conductive substrate subjected to a special chemical etch to provide the current collector having a multi-thickness structure, is described. The multiple-thickness current collector structure provides an electrochemical cell with increased charge capacity per volume while enabling a robust weld connection thereto. The current collector has a frame and comprises within an inner perimeter of the frame, first strand structures that intersect second strand structures to provide a plurality of openings or interstices bordered by the strands. At least one tab portion having a thicker distal portion spaced from a thinner proximal tab portion that extends from an outer perimeter of the frame.

Abstract: A process for creating a laser braze weld joint between a current collector and a terminal pin in the construction of electrochemical cells is described. The laser braze welding process utilizes a laser weld instrument to create a braze-like joint between two work pieces. The weld joint is created by controlling the amount of laser heat and energy imparted to the work pieces through proper control and positioning of the laser beam with respect to the work pieces. Preferably, the method is used to bond the terminal pin to the cathode current collector. This method of attachment is suitable for either primary or secondary cells, particularly those powering implantable biomedical devices.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly for an AIMD includes an electrically conductive ferrule with an electrically conductive extension at least partially extending into the ferrule opening. An electrically non-conductive insulator hermetically seals the ferrule opening. An electrically conductive pathway is hermetically sealed and disposed through the insulator between a body fluid and device side. A filter capacitor is located on the device side. A first low impedance electrical coupling is between a first metallization of the filter capacitor and the pathway. A ground conductor is disposed through the filter capacitor in non-conductive relation with the at least one active and ground electrode plates, where the ground conductor is electrically coupled to the extension of the ferrule. An oxide-resistant metal addition is disposed on the device side and electrically couples the ground conductor to the second metallization of the filter capacitor.

Abstract: A method of establishing a stimulation treatment protocol includes delivering electrical stimulation to a nerve site of the patient. The electrical stimulation is delivered using a stimulation configuration with respect to one or more of the following: activation of a subset of a plurality of electrodes on a lead, electrode polarity for the activated electrodes, stimulation pulse width, and stimulation pulse amplitude. An action potential evoked from the nerve site in response to the electrical stimulation is measured. The action potential includes a sensory fiber contribution and a motor fiber contribution. Both the sensory fiber contribution and the motor fiber contribution are measured. The delivering and the measuring are repeated for a plurality of cycles. Each cycle is performed using a different stimulation configuration.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus includes a needle assembly including an outer cannula including a tubular sidewall disposed around a lumen. At least a portion of the sidewall includes an exterior including a polymeric material configured to inhibit skiving of an interior of a dilator with movement of the outer cannula within the dilator. An inner cannula is disposed within the lumen and is selectively slidable with respect to the outer cannula. A handle is disposed at a proximal portion of the needle assembly. The handle includes a first handle portion coupled to and movable with the outer cannula. A second handle portion is coupled to and movable with the inner cannula, wherein the first handle portion is selectively movable with respect to the second handle portion to extend a distal end of the inner cannula from within the lumen of the outer cannula.

Abstract: A co-connected hermetic feedthrough, feedthrough capacitor, and leadwire assembly includes a dielectric substrate with a via hole disposed through the dielectric substrate from a body fluid side to a device side. A conductive fill is disposed within the via forming a hermetic seal and is electrically conductive between the body fluid side and the device side. A feedthrough capacitor is attached to the dielectric substrate and includes a capacitor dielectric substrate, an unfilled capacitor via hole including an inner metallization, a set of capacitor active electrode plates electrically coupled to the inner metallization, an outer metallization disposed and a set of capacitor ground electrode plates electrically coupled to the outer metallization. A conductive leadwire is disposed within the unfilled capacitor via hole. An electrical joint connects the conductive fill, the capacitor inner metallization along with the capacitor active electrode plates and the conductive leadwire.

Abstract: A header for an active implantable medical device includes a header block body and at least one active connector cavity configured to be attachable to an active lead. A first conductive leadwire has a first and second end, where the first end of the first conductive leadwire is electrically connected to the at least one active connector cavity and the second end of the first conductive leadwire is connectable to a hermetic terminal of the active implantable medical device. At least one abandoned connector cavity is located within the header block body configured to attachable to an abandoned lead. A second conductive leadwire has a first and second end, where the first end of the second conductive leadwire is electrically connected to the at least one abandoned connector cavity and the second end of the second conductive leadwire is connectable to the active implantable medical device housing.