Abstract: A medical lead may be fabricated using an electrode fixture ((130A)-(130D)) configured to facilitate circumferential and axial alignment between electrodes of the lead. In one example, a method includes positioning an electrode fixture around at least one conductor of a plurality of conductors (122) for a medical lead, wherein the electrode fixture at least partially retains an electrode assembly. The method also includes electrically coupling a portion of the at least one conductor with at least a portion of the electrode assembly at an attachment area defined by the electrode assembly when the electrode assembly is at least partially retained by the electrode fixture.

Abstract: A system and method are described for testing communication through a patient during implantation using telemetry coupling electrodes on a delivery catheter. In one example, at least two telemetry coupling electrodes may be placed on or within a delivery catheter to test conductive communication with external body electrodes during implantation. In some instances, the telemetry coupling electrodes of the delivery catheter may approximate the spacing of telemetry electrodes on an IMD. In this manner, testing conductively coupled communication with telemetry coupling electrodes of the catheter may be used to mimic the telemetry electrodes on the IMD and determine a target position and/or orientation of an electrode or electrodes of the IMD for successful conductive communication through the body.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for extension of longevity of implantable medical devices (IMDs) are provided. An apparatus includes a battery, a first communication component configured to provide a first communication type and to be powered by the battery, a second communication component configured to provide a second communication type, and a processor configured to switch on the first communication component or the second communication component to perform communication based, at least, on a defined condition being satisfied. In one embodiment, the first component is a radio frequency (RF) component and the second component is a component that requires less battery power than the RF component. The second component can include a component configured to perform communication based on inductive coupling or based on tissue conductance communication.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) adjusts a sensing configuration of a sensing module prior to or immediately subsequent to entering an environment having an external source that generates the interfering signal. The IMD may, for example, adjust a sampling frequency, resolution, input range, gain, bandwidth, filtering parameters, or a combination of these or other sensing parameters of the sensing module. These adjustments enable the sensing module to obtain a more detailed representation of the sensed signals, including the noise components of the sensed signals caused by the interfering signal. Without having an adequate representation of the noise components of the sensed signal, it is difficult to separate the noise components of the sensed signal from the cardiac electrical signal.

Abstract: A method for producing a battery includes providing a battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte that includes a solvent and a salt. The capacity of the negative electrode is less than that of the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes an active material having an average potential versus a lithium reference electrode of greater than approximately 0.2 volts. The method also includes applying an initial charge to the battery at a voltage that is greater than a fully charged voltage of the battery for a sufficient amount of time to cause at least a portion of the solvent to undergo a reduction reaction. The step of applying an initial charge to the battery acts to increase the irreversible capacity loss of the battery during the initial charge and provides the battery with enhanced tolerance to deep discharge conditions.

Abstract: Monopolar electrosurgery devices adapted for resecting tonsil and adenoid tissue. The devices minimize thermal injury by employing a plasma generated by pulsed electrical signals to precisely and effectively cut or coagulate the tissues. Suction may also be applied to the tissues to enhance the cutting, coagulation, and tissue manipulation functions. The devices include an interchangeable tip that may be switched for another tip, depending on which tip may be more suitable for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an optical sensor capable of measuring two analytes simultaneously with a single indicator system. In preferred embodiments, the sensor comprises a fluorescent dye having acid and base forms that facilitate ratiometric pH sensing, wherein the dye is further associated with a glucose binding moiety and configured to generate a signal that varies in intensity with the concentration of glucose.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the mapping of electrical signals and the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter that has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be transformed from a compact, linear configuration to a helical configuration, such as to map and ablate pulmonary vein ostia.

Abstract: Delivery catheters useable to deliver substances, articles or devices to target locations within the bodies of human or animal subjects. The delivery catheter generally comprises a catheter having a tissue penetrating distal tip member on the distal end and one or more delivery aperture(s) whereby a substance, article or device may be delivered through the lumen of the catheter body and out of the delivery aperture(s). In some applications, the substance delivery catheter is used in combination with a transluminal tissue penetrating catheter having a penetrator that is advanced to a first location. The delivery catheter is then advanced through (or over) the penetrator, through intervening tissue, to a desired target location.

Abstract: A medical device and associated method for classifying an unknown cardiac signal that includes sensing a cardiac signal over a plurality of cardiac cycles, determining a template of a known cardiac signal in response to the cardiac signal sensed over the plurality of cardiac cycles, sensing an unknown cardiac signal over an unknown cardiac cycle, determining a fourth order difference signal, determining a template alignment point and an unknown cardiac signal alignment point in response to the fourth order difference signal; determining an R-wave onset and an R-wave offset in response to the fourth order difference signal of the unknown cardiac cycle signal, determining an R-wave width as the difference between the R-wave onset and the R-wave offset, determining a morphology analysis window in response to the R-wave width, and determining a first morphology match metric across the morphology analysis window.

Abstract: A medical device and associated method for monitoring a patient's heart rhythm sensing a cardiac signal determine whether a cardiac signal is noise corrupted by obtaining cardiac signal pulses and generating a pulse amplitude threshold in response to the plurality of signal pulses. The number of signal sample points exceeding the pulse amplitude threshold in each of the of signal pulses is computed. The cardiac signal is determined to be noise corrupted or non-corrupted in response to the computed number of signal sample points.

Abstract: A method for monitoring blood glucose concentration in a patient in need thereof is disclosed. The method comprises deploying an equilibrium glucose sensor within interstitial fluid in the patient in need and coupling the equilibrium glucose sensor to a monitor configured to detect a signal and configured to display the blood glucose concentration.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is configured with a pressure sensor arranged within the device to reliably and accurately measure the pressure within a propellant gas chamber at least partially surrounding a therapeutic fluid reservoir of the device. In one example, a housing of the IMD includes a protrusion that is configured to provide clearance for fluid communication between a propellant gas chamber pressure sensor and the propellant gas chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure, hypertension and renal failure by stimulating the renal nerve. The goal of therapy is to reduce sympathetic activity of the renal nerve. Therapy is accomplished by at least partially blocking the nerve with drug infusion or electrostimulation. Apparatus can be permanently implanted or catheter based.

Abstract: A system and method for sealing a capacitor bottom in a filtered feedthrough. The feedthrough comprises a ferrule, a capacitor, at least one terminal pin and a support structure. The support structure includes at least one projection that extends into an aperture of the capacitor. The projection includes an opening through which the at least one terminal pin extends such that, in an assembled state, the terminal pin extends through the opening of the projection and the aperture of the capacitor.

Abstract: An electronic injector including an electronic on-body injector for use with a patient to deliver a fluid through an injection device. The electronic on-body injector includes a fluid reservoir; a MEMS pump; a bolus injection needle, the bolus injection needle having a bolus injection needle tip aligned with the injection port, the bolus injection needle being slideably biased away from the injection port to define a gap; and a bolus needle button operably connected to the bolus injection needle to slide the bolus injection needle along the injection axis. The bolus needle button is operable to advance the bolus injection needle tip to close the gap and advance the bolus injection needle tip into the injection port to form a bolus injection flow path. The bolus needle button is further operable to activate the MEMS pump to deliver a predetermined bolus volume.

Abstract: An on-body injector and method of use including an on-body injector for use with an injection device. The on-body injector includes a bolus reservoir; a bolus injection needle in fluid communication with the bolus reservoir, the bolus injection needle having a bolus injection needle tip aligned with the injection port, the bolus injection needle being slideably biased away from the injection port to define a gap between the bolus injection needle tip and the injection port; and a button operably connected to the bolus injection needle to slide the bolus injection needle along the injection axis. The button is operable to advance the bolus injection needle tip to close the gap and advance the bolus injection needle tip into the injection port. The button is further operable to advance a plunger through the bolus reservoir to deliver a predetermined bolus volume to the patient through the injection flow path.

Abstract: An antenna for an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided including a monolithic structure derived from a plurality of discrete dielectric layers having an antenna embedded within the plurality of dielectric layers. The antenna includes antenna portions formed within different layers of the monolithic structure with at least one conductive via formed to extend through the dielectric layers in order to provide a conductive pathway between the portions of the antenna formed on different layers, such that an antenna is formed that extends between different vertical layers. The dielectric layers may comprise layers of ceramic material that can be co-fired together with the antenna to form a hermetically sealed monolithic antenna structure. The antenna embedded within the monolithic structure can be arranged to have a substantially spiral, helical, fractal, meandering or planer serpentine spiral shape.

Abstract: Endovascular catheters and control wires for operating the catheters and associated systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed include a catheter apparatus having an elongated shaft, a therapeutic assembly at a distal portion of the shaft, and a handle at a proximal portion of the shaft. An actuator is located at the handle and operably coupled to the therapeutic assembly via a tuned control member extending through the shaft. The tuned control member includes a control wire and a tuning component attached to one another within the shaft. The tuned control member is configured to achieve a desired tuned force-displacement response by modifying the stress-strain response that a non-tuned control wire would ordinarily provide without the intervening tuning component.