Abstract: One aspect is a method of forming a lead for implantation. The method includes forming a distal end assembly, forming a proximal end assembly, and forming a flexible circuit coupling the distal end assembly to the proximal end assembly. The distal end assembly, the proximal end assembly and the flexible circuit are formed over an inner member. An outer member is placed over the combination of the distal end assembly, the proximal end assembly and the flexible circuit. The outer member and circuit are fused adjacent the distal end assembly to the proximal end assembly.

Abstract: One example provides a ferrule for an implantable medical device including a frame body having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, an interior perimeter surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces for attachment to an insulator body, and an exterior perimeter surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces for attachment to a housing. A flange extends from the exterior perimeter surface and has an upper surface facing the upper surface of the frame body, the upper surface of the flange to engage an interior surface of a housing of the implantable medical device to limit a position of the housing along the exterior perimeter surface in a direction toward the bottom surface of the frame body, wherein a distance of the top surface of the flange from the top surface of the frame body is greater than and proportional to a thickness of the housing.

Abstract: One aspect is a method of forming a wire, including providing a first wire section comprising a first material, providing a second wire section comprising a second material different from the first material, cooling a joining section that comprises a superelastic material, inserting the first and second wire sections into the joining section, and allowing the joining section to warm such that it compresses on to both the first and second wire section thereby joining them together.

Abstract: One aspect provides a fiducial marker for use with an implantable lead, the fiducial marker having a structure extending along and about a longitudinal axis, the structure having an asymmetrical shape about the longitudinal axis when viewed in any radial direction from the longitudinal axis so as to provide a unique radioscopic silhouette in any radial direction.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a biocompatible wire, a biocompatible wire comprising a biocompatible metallic material and a medical device comprising such wire. The method for manufacturing a biocompatible wire comprises providing a workpiece of a biocompatible metallic material, cold working the workpiece into a wire, and annealing the wire, wherein a cold work percentage is 97 to 99%, wherein the cold working is a drawing with a die reduction per pass ratio in a range of 6 to 40%, and wherein the annealing is done in a range of 850 to 1100° C.

Abstract: One aspect is a bi- or multipolar lead for a medical device including: a) a cable comprising an outer insulation having at least two first openings near a distal end of the cable; an inner lumen, wherein the inner lumen is arranged coaxially to the outer insulation and extends in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end to the distal end of the cable; at least two conducting channels, wherein the at least two conducting channels are arranged between the outer insulation and the inner lumen of the cable, wherein each one of the at least two conducting channels is formed by at least one insulated conductor comprising a conductor and an insulation layer, and wherein the insulation layer of the at least one insulated conductor of each one of the at least two conducting channels comprises a second opening, which is aligned with one of the at least two first openings; b) at least two ring electrodes, wherein each one of the at least two ring electrodes surrounds the cable at a position of one of the at least tw

Abstract: One aspect provides a medical guidewire including a core wire extending from a proximal tip of a proximal end section to a distal tip of a distal end section. A polymer layer covers a perimeter surface of at least a portion of the distal end section, the polymer layer covering the distal tip and extending proximally to a proximal end portion defining a proximal edge. A strengthening feature is disposed about a perimeter surface of at least the core wire at the proximal end portion of the polymer layer, the strengthening feature beginning at a location proximally spaced from the proximal edge of the polymer layer and extending distally at least until the proximal edge of the polymer layer, the strengthening feature to prevent damage to the proximal end portion of the polymer layer.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to medical catheters, including electrophysiological catheters, comprising a catheter maintaining at least one electrode including a plurality of electrode segments. The catheter can include a plurality of slots in which the electrodes can be secured so that the electrodes are at least partially positioned within a center lumen of the catheter. Methods of manufacturing medical catheters are also disclosed. In various methods of assembling a catheter, a hollow, tubular catheter made of a compliant material having a very small, micro or nano outside diameter is provided. Then, the slots are formed in the catheter and the electrode segments are positioned within the slots.

Abstract: On example provides a ferrule for an implantable medical device including a first frame body having a first perimeter surface to make a brazed connection to a first medical device component, and a second frame body having a first perimeter surface to make a welded connection to a second medical device component. A spacer flange connects a second perimeter surface of the first frame body to a second perimeter surface of the second frame body, a thickness between a top surface and bottom of the spacer flange being less than a thickness between a top surface and a bottom surface of the first frame body such that the spacer flange is to deflect relative to the first frame body in response to forces being applied to the second frame body so as to reduce transmission of weld strain from the second frame body to the first frame body.

Abstract: One aspect is a medical guidewire including a core wire with a proximal end extending out to a distal end and a resilient portion coupled to the distal end of the core wire at a distal tip section of the guidewire. The resilient portion includes a superelastic material.

Abstract: One aspect is a device for processing a filament in a process stream, including at least one processing beam source, designed and arranged for emitting at least one processing beam which is suitable for processing a segment of the filament by interaction of the at least one processing beam with the segment of the filament, thereby obtaining a processed filament. The device includes a guide, including a filament feed which is arranged upstream of the at least one processing beam source, and is designed to feed the filament from a feed reel. The guide is designed and arranged to guide the filament so that during the processing the segment of the filament inclines an angle with a vertical axis in the range from 0 to 45°.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a catheter system, a use of such catheter system and a manufacturing method for such catheter system. The catheter system includes an at least partially flexible catheter body, at least a ring electrode, and at least a strain gauge. The ring electrode surrounds at least a portion of the flexible catheter body. The strain gauge is allocated to the ring electrode and the strain gauge is configured to measure a deformation of the flexible catheter body at a position allocated to the ring electrode to detect a contact between the ring electrode and tissue.

Abstract: An electrical conductor has a first layer, wherein the first layer is electrically conducting, and has micro protrusions, macro protrusions, wherein the micro protrusions are arranged on the macro protrusions, a first set of depressions, wherein the first set of depressions comprises at least two longitudinal depressions; the macro protrusions and the at least two longitudinal depressions are arranged in an alternating pattern, at least one coating layer, wherein the at least one coating layer comprises an electrically conducting polymer, touches the first layer, at least partially covers the first layer; wherein at least 50% of the macro protrusions have a width, measured along a first direction in the range of 2.0 mm to 40.0 mm and at least 50% of the micro protrusions have a width, measured along the first direction, in the range of 0.001 mm to 1.000 mm.

Abstract: A lead body for implantation includes a first set of conducting sections, a second set of conducting sections, a strain relief coupler having a axial length with a plurality of tines extending along the axial length and extending radially thereby defining a plurality of axially-extending channels, a plurality of joints located within the plurality of channels, each joint coupling one conducting section from the first set of conducting sections to one conducting section from the second set of conducting sections, and an outer layer at least partially surrounding the first and second set of conducting sections, the plurality of joints and the strain relief coupler.

Abstract: One aspect is forming a medical lead for implantation. The method includes forming a plurality of non-ground electrodes, at least one non-ground electrode having a plurality of segments. Overmold portions are formed for the at least one of the plurality of non-ground electrodes, including keys and tabs. One of a plurality of conductors is attached to one segment of the at least one non-ground electrode using the keys and tabs. The non-ground electrodes and plurality of conductors are assembled into electrode assembly and the overmold portions are reflowed. The reflowed electrode assembly is then ground to form the medical lead.

Abstract: One aspect is a method for producing an ablated conductor, including providing a coated conductor including an inner layer that is electrically conducting and at least one coating layer that at least partially covers the inner layer, and providing at least one laser beam. The method includes at least partially removing the at least one coating layer in a first section by moving the at least one laser beam and the coated conductor with respect to each other along at least one scan line in the first section. A first energy density of a first radiation, produced by the at least one laser beam, that irradiates a surface of the first section is adjusted according to a first ablation depth of the first section.

Abstract: A microcatheter includes an inner polymeric tube defining an inner lumen. It includes a proximal section with an inner wire layer helically wound in a constricted state over the inner polymeric tube and includes an outer wire layer helically wound over the inner wire layer in a constricted state within the proximal section. It includes a distal section with a distal wire layer helically wound in a constricted state and having an outer diameter. The proximal and distal sections are joined. The outer diameter of the outer wire layer is substantially the same as the outer diameter of distal wire layer at the location where the proximal and distal sections are joined.

Abstract: One aspect pertains to a method for producing an ablated wire, including providing a coated wire having a circumference and a length. The coated wire has a core, an outermost coating layer, and an outer surface. The outermost coating layer at least partially surrounds the core. A plurality of laser beams are provided. The coated wire and the plurality of laser beams are arranged with respect to each other. At least two of the plurality of laser beams are arranged at different angular positions with respect to the circumference of the coated wire. The outermost coating layer is at least partially removed by moving at least one of the plurality of laser beams with respect to the coated wire to obtain the ablated wire. At least two of the plurality of laser beams are independent of each other.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a stretchable electrode assembly for a stimulation, modulation or sensing implant comprising an electrical conductor segment comprising at least one electrical conductor which is an electrically insulated wire or cable, and at least one electrode which is adjacent to the electrical conductor segment, wherein the electrical conductor segment is at least partially embedded in a biocompatible substrate and the electrical insulation of the at least one electrical conductor comprises one or more opening(s) suitable for mechanically and electrically connecting the at least one electrode to the at least one electrical conductor of the electrical conductor segment. One aspect also relates to a stimulation, modulation or sensing implant comprising the stretchable electrode assembly as well as a method for preparing such a stretchable electrode assembly.

Abstract: One aspect is a bi- or multipolar lead for a medical device including: a) a cable comprising an outer insulation having at least two first openings near a distal end of the cable; an inner lumen, wherein the inner lumen is arranged coaxially to the outer insulation and extends in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end to the distal end of the cable; at least two conducting channels, wherein the at least two conducting channels are arranged between the outer insulation and the inner lumen of the cable, wherein each one of the at least two conducting channels is formed by at least one insulated conductor comprising a conductor and an insulation layer, and wherein the insulation layer of the at least one insulated conductor of each one of the at least two conducting channels comprises a second opening, which is aligned with one of the at least two first openings; b) at least two ring electrodes, wherein each one of the at least two ring electrodes surrounds the cable at a position of one of the at least tw