Abstract: A delivery system for delivering an implantable stented device to a lumen of a patient, the delivery system including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a driver mechanism positioned at the proximal end of the elongated body, an elongated threaded rod located axially distal to the driver mechanism, and a sheath including an elongated tubular portion having a hollow interior portion with a first diameter that is sized for compression and retention of the implantable stented device in a compressed configuration for delivery to a body lumen.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods deliver implantable medical devices for ventricular-from-atrial (VfA) cardiac therapy. A VfA device may be implanted in the right atrium (RA) with an electrode extending from the right atrium into the left ventricular myocardium. A flexible leed, or another probe, may be advanced to the potential implantation site and used to identify a precise location for implantation of a medical device, such as an electrode, leadlet, lead, or intracardiac device. Some methods may include locating a potential implantation site in the triangle of Koch region in the right atrium of a patient's heart; attaching a fixation sheath to the right-atrial endocardium in the potential implantation site; and implanting the medical device over a guide wire at the potential implantation site. An implantable medical device may include an intracardiac housing and a leadlet, which may be delivered by these methods.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes a tubular graft, a prosthetic valve component, an inflow stent, an outflow stent, and a plurality of body stents disposed between the inflow and outflow stents. Each stent is a sinusoidal patterned radially-expandable ring having a first set of crowns and a second set of crowns, with the first set of crowns disposed closer to an inflow end of the tubular graft than the second set of crowns. The prosthesis is configured to be resistant to backfolding and/or buckling during deployment thereof.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead includes a lead body, a high voltage electrode positioned on the lead body, the high voltage electrode comprising a proximal coated portion, a distal coated portion, and an uncoated portion. Additionally, the medical electrical lead includes a first low voltage electrode and a second low voltage electrode distal to the first low voltage electrode, wherein a first line passes through the first low voltage electrode and the second low voltage electrode, wherein a second line passes through the first low voltage electrode and the uncoated portion, the second line forming a first angle with the first line, and wherein a third line passes through the second low voltage electrode and the uncoated portion, the third line forming a second angle with the first line.

Abstract: A medical device system and method are disclosed for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The system includes a pulse generator and a medical electrical lead including multiple electrodes carried by a distal portion of an elongated lead body. The method includes advancing the distal portion within protrusor muscle tissue below the oral cavity and delivering electrical stimulation pulses via the electrodes to sustain a protruded state throughout a delivery time period to sustain a protruded state of a patient's tongue throughout the therapy delivery time period. The therapy delivery time period may span multiple respiration cycles.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for performing patient parameter measurements. In some examples, a medical device system includes an optical sensor configured to measure ambient light and a tissue oxygen saturation parameter and processing circuitry configured to determine that a current measurement of the tissue oxygen saturation parameter is prompted and control the optical sensor to perform an ambient light measurement associated with the current measurement of the tissue oxygen saturation parameter.

Abstract: An adapter configured to electrically connect a test device to an implantable medical lead comprises a rotational electrical coupling. The rotational electrical coupling is configured to electrically connect a lead electrical connector to an adapter electrical connector. The rotational electrical coupling comprises a first conductive component configured to be electrically connected to the lead electrical connector and rotatable with a proximal portion of the implantable medical lead, and a second conductive component electrically connected to the first conductive component and the adapter electrical connector. The second conductive component may be rotationally fixed. The first and second conductive components may comprise graphite or another soft metal.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques are described for analyzing evoked compound action potentials (ECAP) signals to assess the effect of a delivered electrical stimulation signal. In one example, a system includes a stimulation generator configured to deliver a stimulation pulse to a patient, sensing circuitry configured to sense an evoked compound action potential (ECAP) signal evoked from the stimulation pulse, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to determine a maximum value of a derivative of the ECAP signal, determine a minimum value of the derivative of the ECAP signal, determine, based on the maximum value of the derivative and the minimum value of the derivative, a characteristic value of the ECAP signal, and determine, based on the characteristic value of the ECAP signal, at least one parameter value at least partially defining electrical stimulation therapy to be delivered to the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved user experience with rechargers for implantable medical devices. An external charging device for providing power to a rechargeable implantable device can determine a firmware state of the external charging device during recharging of the rechargeable implantable device, display a searching indication using a light indicator when the firmware state is determined to be in a searching state, display a charging indication using the light indicator when the firmware state is determined to be a charging state, and display an error indication using the light indicator when the firmware state is determined to be an error state. An optional user device application can provide complementary graphical user interfaces according to the firmware states.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surgical device including providing a substrate having opposite first and second sides. The second side having a first section and a second section. Coupling a substrate to a fixture such that the first side faces the fixture and depositing a gel onto the second side such that the gel coats the first section without coating the second section.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for generating representative cardiac information. The representative cardiac information may be based on a plurality of electrode signals monitored, or measured, over a plurality of cardiac cycles or heart beats. The systems and methods may remove unqualified cardiac cycles, remove invalid electrode signals, remove inconsistent cardiac cycles, and removing uncorrelated cardiac cycles, and then generate representative cardiac information based on the remaining cardiac cycles and electrode signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering and implanting heart valves are disclosed. The delivery systems can include an integrated introducer. The integrated introducer can include a sheath having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of a delivery capsule of the delivery system and an outer diameter that is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the delivery capsule. The integrated introducer can include a hub having a hemostatic seal. The hub can have a locking mechanism configured to fix the integrated introducer in place on the delivery system.

Abstract: Methods of forming hermetically-sealed packages are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the hermetically-sealed package can include a housing and a feedthrough assembly that forms a part of the housing. The feedthrough assembly can include a non-conductive substrate and a feedthrough. The feedthrough can include a via from an outer surface to an inner surface of the non-conductive substrate, a conductive material disposed in the via, and an external contact disposed over the via on the outer surface of the non-conductive substrate. The external contact can be electrically coupled to the conductive material disposed in the via. Further, the external contact can be hermetically sealed to the outer surface of the non-conductive substrate by a laser bond surrounding the via.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an enclosure sleeve and a top cap. The enclosure sleeve comprises an enclosure wall with at least a portion of the enclosure wall comprising the grade 5 titanium and having a thickness between 0.007 inches and 0.009 inches. The enclosure sleeve includes an open top end and an open bottom end that is opposite the open top end. The top cap includes a feedthrough block, a first top cap end portion, and a second top cap end portion. The first top cap end portion is configured to couple to the open top end of the enclosure sleeve, and the second top cap end portion configured to be positioned within the enclosure sleeve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for holding and maneuvering a valve during preparation and attachment to patient, providing increased visibility of the prosthetic valve and the sewing ring to prevent suture entanglement. A handle attachment is spaced from the valve for improved visibility of the sewing ring and the outlet end of the valve during attachment. Commissure posts are bent inward at the tips while preventing crashing of the commissure posts into each other causing damage. A release force needed to remove the holder and unthread the holder sutures is reduced. The holder and related methods can provide a kink free holder suture path to reduce suture entanglement and prevent damage to the implanted valve during holder removal by reducing the release force needed to remove the holder sutures by up to 30%.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to cardiac pacing methods and systems, and, more particularly, to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In particular, the present disclosure pertains to determining whether a patient is experiencing atrial fibrillation (AF). If the patient is experiencing AF, the efficacy of CRT is determined. A signal is sensed in response to a ventricular pacing stimulus. Through signal processing, a number of features are parsed from the signal and a determination is made as to whether the ventricular pacing stimulus evoked a response from the ventricle.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for identifying false detection of asystole in a cardiac electrogram that include determining whether at least one of a plurality of false asystole detection criteria are satisfied. In some examples, the plurality of false asystole detection criteria includes a first false asystole detection criterion including a reduced amplitude threshold for detecting cardiac depolarizations in the cardiac electrogram, and a second false asystole detection criterion for detecting decaying noise in the cardiac electrogram.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices include circuitry positioned adjacent to header-related structures, rather than having the header and related structures sitting atop the position of the circuitry within a device housing. A circuit board within the device housing may be positioned adjacently to a lead bore of the header. Feedthrough conductors may extend from the circuitry to conductors of the header while being positioned adjacently to the circuit board. Lead frame conductors may extend to the electrical connectors of the lead bores while also being adjacent to the upper portion of the circuitry. Device height may be reduced by having the circuitry be positioned adjacent to one or more of the various header-related structures.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing a therapy delivery device relative to a burr hole and method for making same. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a base for seating in or near the burr hole. The apparatus may further include a stabilizer that may be engaged with the therapy delivery device. The stabilizer may include a surface coating or treatment operable to enhance frictional engagement with the therapy delivery device.

Abstract: In some examples, an implantable medical device delivery catheter comprises a handle and an elongated member disposed within the handle, the elongated member comprising an elongated member lumen configured to receive an inner tool that is configured to extend through a lumen of the delivery catheter, including the elongated member lumen, and interface with an implantable medical device. The handle further comprises a clamping assembly comprising a button configured to be actuated toward a longitudinal axis of the elongated member in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis to compress the elongated member against the inner tool to restrain movement of the inner tool through the elongated member lumen.