Abstract: A temporary backup mechanism for electrical conduction within an implantable medical device (IMD) is provided. In an IMD such as lead or catheter having a cable conductor for conducting an electrical signal is provided with a safety cable for conducting an electrical signal if the primary cable conductor fails. In one embodiment, the conductor is a cable positioned adjacent to the safety cable so that the cable is in electrical contact with the conductor along various points on the conductor. In another embodiment, the conductor and cable are electrically isolated from one another except at proximal and distal ends where the two are mechanically coupled. In the latter embodiment, a change in impedance signals a potential conductor failure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating and selecting therapies, or hierarchies of therapies, that may be used to treat episodes of atrial or ventricular tachycardia. A characteristic of a detected tachycardia event is determined, and a hierarchy of therapies to treat the detected tachycardia event is selected in response to the determined characteristic.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter (120) is suitable for use in an implantable medical device (5) and includes N capacitors (160, 170) and a controller (140). N is a whole number greater than one. The controller (140) is coupled to each of the N capacitors (160,170) and to an output voltage terminal (142) and has N+1 phases. During a first phase of the N+1 phases the controller (140) couples selected ones of the N capacitors (160, 170) to the output voltage terminal (142). During successive N phases of the N+1 phases the controller (140) couples other selected ones of the N capacitors (160, 170) selectively between an input voltage terminal, a power supply voltage terminal, and the output voltage terminal (142). Voltages across each capacitor of the N capacitors (160, 170) and at the output voltage terminal (142) assume respective uniquely determined values during all of the N+1 phases.

Abstract: A medical device shaft includes a first longitudinal edge joined to all or a portion of a second longitudinal edge, and an inner surface forming a plurality of lumens separated by a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending along a length of the shaft; wherein a base of each rib is spaced apart from one another and each rib is joined to one another in proximity to a peak of each rib. Each of a plurality of elongated members extends within one of the plurality of lumens of the shaft.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a programmer for communication with different medical devices that utilize different telemetry communication techniques. The programmer receives telemetry signals from a given medical device, and selects an appropriate communication mode, which can be pre-programmed into the programmer as one of a plurality of possible communication modes. The programmer can configure itself for communication with a given medical device based on the telemetry signal it receives. Specifically the programmer is implemented as a software based, power efficient receiver/transmitter based upon an inexpensive, simple motor-controller DSP.

Abstract: A minimally invasive, implantable monitor and associated method for chronically monitoring a patient's hemodynamic function based on signals sensed by one or more acoustical sensors. The monitor may be implanted subcutaneously or submuscularly in relation to the heart to allow acoustic signals generated by heart or blood motion to be received by a passive or active acoustical sensor. Circuitry for filtering and amplifying and digitizing acoustical data is included, and sampled data may be continuously or intermittently written to a looping memory buffer. ECG electrodes and associated circuitry may be included to simultaneously record ECG data. Upon a manual or automatic trigger event acoustical and ECG data may be stored in long-term memory for future uploading to an external device. The external device may present acoustical data visually and acoustically with associated ECG data to allow interpretation of both electrical and mechanical heart function.

Abstract: A method and system incorporated into an IMD that detects changes in ventricular afterload using the morphology of a ventricular blood pressure wave. A peak positive pressure value Pb, peak positive and peak negative derivative pressures dP/dtPP and dP/dtNP, and a decreasing pressure Pc are determined. The sample times tb, at Pb, ta at dP/dtPP and tc at dP/dtNP are determined. An index &agr; of the relative timing of peak positive pressure Pb in the blood ejection phase is calculated from, &agr;=(tb−ta)/(tc−ta), the severity of ventricular afterload is proportional to the value &agr; in the range between 0 and 1. The slope of the early ejection pressure in the blood ejection phase is calculated from &bgr;=(Pc−Pb)/(tc−tb), wherein the severity of ventricular afterload is proportional to the magnitude of the index &bgr;.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for cutting bone and other tissue. The surgical instrument includes a motor assembly, a collet, a locking nut, and an attachment. The motor assembly includes a cavity having a groove on an inner surface that corresponds to a groove on an outer surface of the collet. The corresponding grooves form an aperture when the collet is inserted into the cavity. The insertion of a pin into the aperture prevents rotation of the collet relative to the cavity. The locking nut is placed over the collet and fastened to the motor assembly to secure the collet to the motor assembly. The attachment is fastened to the collet by placing protuberances on the attachment into corresponding apertures on the collet. The consistent alignment provided by the locking and indexing system enables the motor assembly and attachment to receive alignment markings before the surgical instrument is assembled.

Abstract: A method for forming a stackable wafer for use in an implantable device is provided. The method comprises forming an opening extending substantially through the wafer. Thereafter, conductive material is deposited within the opening to substantially fill the opening. A bump is then formed on an upper surface of the wafer adjacent the conductive material, and a contact pad is formed on a lower surface of the wafer adjacent the conductive material. A second wafer formed using substantially the same process may then be stacked on top of the first wafer with the bump of the first wafer being in contact with the contact pad of the second wafer. A soldering process may then be used to couple the adjacent pad and wafer for physically mounting the wafers and providing electrical connectivity therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention is an implantable medical device comprising an outer housing, electronics within the outer housing, the electronics located in on a substrate circuit board, and a rechargeable thin-film microbattery within the outer housing. The rechargeable thin-film microbattery of the present invention is a solid-state battery that is devoid of liquids or other volatile materials from which the electronics must be protected. In one embodiment, the rechargeable thin-film microbattery has a straight first side that is adjacent to the substrate circuit board, and a curved second side that is adjacent to the outer housing. In one embodiment, the rechargeable thin-film microbattery lies in a plane that is parallel to the substrate circuit board containing the electronics.

Abstract: Integrated devices for performing external chest compression (ECC) and defibrillation on a person and methods using the devices. Integrated devices can include a backboard, at least one chest compression member operably coupled to the backboard, and a defibrillator module operably coupled to the backboard. The integrated devices can include physiological sensors, electrodes, wheels, controllers, human interface devices, cooling modules, ventilators, cameras, and voice output devices. Methods can include defibrillating, pacing, ventilating, cooling, and performing ECC in an integrated, coordinated, and/or synchronous manner using the full capabilities of the device. Some devices include controllers executing methods for automatically performing the coordinated activities utilizing the device capabilities.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and software implementing those methods for providing communicating external chest compression (ECC) devices and defibrillation (DF) devices, where the ECC and DF devices can be physically separate from each other. Both ECC and DF devices are able to operate autonomously, yet able to communicate with and cooperate with another device when present. Some ECC and DF devices are adapted to be physically and/or electrically coupled to each other. One ECC device includes a backboard, a chest compression member, a communication module, controller, and at least one sensor, electrode lead or electrode. One DF device includes a defibrillator module, a controller, and a communication module that can communicate with the ECC communication module. The communicating ECC and DF devices may deliver ECC, pacing, defibrillation, ventilation, and cooling therapies, and may deliver instructions to human assistants, in a coordinated and cooperative fashion.

Abstract: An implantable lead includes an insulative sheath and a coil member; the coil member including a conductor wound from a proximal end of the coil member to a distal end and reverse wound back toward the proximal end to form an electrode on an outer diameter of the coil member adjacent and distal to the insulative sheath.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for reliably indicating that an implantable medical device is in need of replacement. The system and method measures the operational characteristics of the battery and the operational parameters of the implantable device itself. When these characteristics and parameters reach a defined level, the implantable medical device starts a replacement indicator timer. The replacement indicator timer starts and counts a replacement time period, with the replacement time period ending at a determined replacement date. The determined replacement date is the date at which the implantable medical device should be replaced.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices, small interfering RNA, and methods for treating a neurodegenerative disorder comprising the steps of surgically implanting a catheter so that a discharge portion of the catheter lies adjacent to a predetermined infusion site in a brain, and discharging through the discharge portion of the catheter a predetermined dosage of at least one substance capable of inhibiting production of at least one neurodegenerative protein. The present invention also provides valuable small interfering RNA vectors, and methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and/or dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy.

Abstract: A liquid electrolyte for use in an electrochemical cell having an alkali metal anode is provided. The liquid electrolyte comprises an additive formed of at least one selected from the group comprising: a tautomer; an alcohol having the formula R—OH, where R is one selected from the group comprising an unsaturated carbon chain having at least two carbon atoms, a saturated carbon chain having at least one carbon atom, and an aromatic carbon chain; a sugar; and an acid selected from the group comprising nitric acid, sulfuric acid and sulfuric acid partially substituted with an ion of said alkali metal material.

Abstract: Coating an implantable device, such as micro electromechanical devices, is highly desirable to protect the implantable device from corrosion. A coating method includes depositing, preferably by plasma glow discharge, a reactant monomer on at least one surface of an implantable device, preferably at ambient temperature. The method will likely decrease the manufacturing time required for assembling such devices because completely assembled devices can be coated.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell (10) suitable for use in an implantable medical device (110) includes a case (12) and a cover (30) attached to the case. The cover (30) is formed of a first material and has an outer surface (41) and an inner surface (42) defining a thickness thereof. The cover (30) also has a fluid fill hole (34) formed therein. The fluid fill hole (34) has an outer diameter (44) at the outer surface and a smaller inner diameter (45) at the inner surface. A hermetic seal (62) is formed within the fluid fill hole (34) of a second material that is softer than the first material and that is deformed to assume the approximate shape of the fluid fill hole (34).

Abstract: An elongated coronary vein lead having a variable stiffness lead body and most preferably adapted to be advanced into a selected coronary vein for delivering a pacing or defibrillation signal to a predetermined region of a patient's heart, such as the left ventricle is disclosed. A method of pacing and/or defibrillating a patient's heart using the lead is also described. The method of pacing or defibrillating the heart includes advancing the coronary vein lead through both the coronary sinus and into a selected coronary vein of a patient's heart, connecting the lead to an electrical pacing source and applying electrical stimulation to a particular chamber of the patient's heart via the implanted lead. The lead includes a variable stiffness lead body that enhances the ability of the lead to be retained in a coronary vein after the lead has been implanted therein.

Abstract: A system for monitoring trends in lead impedance includes collecting data from various sources in an implantable medical device system. Lead impedance, non-physiologic sensed events percentage of time in mode switch, results of capture management operation, sensed events, adversion pace counts, refractory sense counts and similar data are used to determine the status of a lead. A set of weighted sum rules are implemented by a software system to process the data and provide displayable information to health care professionals via a programmer. The lead monitoring system includes a patient alert system for patients to seek help in the event a serious lead condition is identified.