Abstract: An implantable cardiac lead, and/or subassembly includes an elongate sheath of insulative material including an insulative first layer and a protective second layer. The insulative first layer has at least one adhesive enhancing activated surface.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongated tube and an elongated rod having a holding member on one end, the holding member is adapted to hold an end of a lead such that the end of the lead can be pulled through the elongated tube resulting in minimal forces on the lead.

Abstract: A cardiac device in which heart rate variability is computed in order to detect changes indicative of cardiac ischemia. In the case where the device is a pacemaker, the device may alter its pacing mode to limit the rate at which paces are delivered when ischemia is detected. Examples of such pacing mode alterations include discontinuing of rate-adaptive pacing, modification of the responsiveness of the rate-adaptive algorithm, or the decreasing of the maximum allowable pacing rate.

Abstract: A medical device having retention means extending along a length of an elongate body of the medical device including a plurality of projections adapted to interfere with a wall of a generally tubular vessel to retain the body within the vessel.

Abstract: A lead assembly includes an inner electrode coupled with a conductor, and an outer electrode disposed over the inner electrode, where the outer electrode is coupled with at least a portion of the inner electrode. Insulative material is disposed between a portion of the inner and outer electrodes, for example within a void between the inner and outer electrodes.

Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.

Abstract: A device and method are presented for prolonging the atrial effective refractory period with pacing therapy. Such refractory period prolongation renders the atrial tissue less susceptible to the onset of atrial fibrillation. A particularly useful application is during the period after application of electrical therapy to the atria.to terminate an episode of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management device includes a dual chamber pacemaker, especially designed for treating congestive heart failure by pacing a plurality of sites. The device incorporates a program microcontroller which is operative to adjust the pacing mode and inter-site delay of the pacemaker so as to achieve optimum hemodynamic performance. Atrial cycle lengths measured during transient (immediate) time intervals following a change in the mode inter-site delay are signal processed and a determination can then be made as to which particular configuration yields the optimum performance. Performance is optimized when the patient is at rest and when the patient exercises so that a rate-adapted dynamic value of the optimum performance can be applied.

Abstract: A stimulation arrangement having a stimulation unit for the delivery of electrical pulses for the stimulation of body tissue and an evaluation unit which receives electrical signals in conjunction with the delivery of a stimulation pulse and evaluates same for checking a stimulation success, wherein the evaluation unit detects in the received signal such signal features which characterize a lack of stimulation success and delivers a corresponding signal.

Abstract: A method and system for providing electrical pulses for neuromodulating a cranial nerve of a patient utilizing an implantable stimulator. The implantable stimulator comprising a pulse generator module and a stimulus receiver module for coupling with an external stimulator. Control circuitry ensures selective operation of one pulse generator module. The external stimulator comprises a telemetry module for remotely activating (or de-activating) programs over the internet, to arrive at the optimal program for each patient. Once the optimal “dose” is titrated using the external stimulator, the implanted pulse generator can then be programmed to such parameters. The external stimulator in conjunction with the implanted stimulus receiver can override the implanted pulse generator, to provide extra dose of therapy or to conserve the implanted battery. The external stimulator is also networked to other computers.

Abstract: A living body stimulating apparatus capable of giving extensive therapeutic effects and softer feeling of stimulation. Rectangular wave pulse groups S containing a plurality of pulse density modulated higher frequency components or on-pulses than a rectangular wave pulse are applied repeatedly from conductor elements 24 to a human body. As a human body has a capacitive impedance, softer stimulation can be applied to the human body as compared with a rectangular wave having the same current and frequency. Furthermore, a pause period between on-pulses is varied by a stimulus generator means 8, so that a charging current to an equivalent electrostatic capacity of a human body is supplied little by little so as to slowly increase a charged quantity. As a result, cenesthesia of softer stimulation can be obtained.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an intraocular implant-type vision stimulating unit which is capable of outputting a bipolar pulse signal in a simple constitution, and is highly sensitive, compact, and low power consumptive. In the invention, an intraocular implant-type vision stimulating unit for artificially generating the vision or a portion of the vision includes: a photoelectric conversion circuit for converting incoming light into an electrical signal; a pulse conversion circuit for converting the electrical signal outputted from the photoelectric conversion circuit into an electric pulse signal of a frequency corresponding to a magnitude thereof, and for outputting the same; a waveform shaping circuit for converting the pulse signal outputted from the pulse conversion circuit into a bipolar pulse signal, and for outputting the same; a power supply circuit for supplying electric power to each of the circuits, wherein the bipolar pulse signal is imparted to a retinal region through an electrode.

Abstract: A non-rigid tether extends distally from an electrode of a medical electrical lead body coupling a tissue anchor to the lead body. The tissue anchor includes a surface to receive a push force from an insertion tool adapted to insert the anchor within a segment of tissue so that the electrode is held in close proximity to the tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for accessing and/or treating spinal cord nerve roots.

Abstract: An implantable stimulation device delivers a stimulation pulse in a chamber of a patient's heart and perform periodic threshold tests for generating a statistical model of the threshold data, to minimize the number of threshold tests required over a given time. Based on this statistical model, the stimulation pulse energy is automatically adjusted to a level that minimizes the risk of loss of capture. The autocapture safety margin is determined by the variability of the threshold data accumulated over time such that a minimum safety margin can be set to ensure that the delivered pulse energy always exceeds the threshold level. The timing of the trigger events is continuously adjusted to be proportional to the variability of the threshold data. If the standard deviation of the threshold measurements increases, the trigger would occur more often. If the standard deviation decreases, the trigger would be adjusted automatically to occur less often.

Abstract: A medical lead and method of treating a patient are provided. The medical lead comprises an electrically insulative membrane, a resilient spring element associated with the insulative membrane, and at least one electrode associated with the insulative membrane. The spring layer is configured to urge that insulative membrane into an expanded geometry. The medical lead is configured to be collapsed into a compact form for percutaneous delivery into the patient, thereby obviating the need to perform an invasive surgical procedure on the patient. The patient can be treated by placing the medical lead into a collapsed state by applying a compressive force to the medical lead, percutaneously delivering the collapsed medical lead into the patient adjacent tissue to be treated, and placing the medical lead into an expanded state by releasing the compressive force.

Abstract: A method of optimizing inter-site delay is disclosed for a cardiac rhythm management device that includes a dual chamber pacemaker, especially designed for treating congestive heart failure by pacing a plurality of sites. A microcontroller is operative to adjust the pacing mode and inter-site delay of the pacemaker so as to achieve optimum hemodynamic performance. Atrial cycle lengths measured during transient (immediate) time intervals following a change in the mode inter-site delay are signal processed and a determination can then be made as to which particular configuration yields the optimum performance. Performance is optimized when the patient is at rest and when the patient exercises so that a rate-adapted dynamic value of the optimum performance can be applied.

Abstract: An implantable microstimulator configured to be implanted beneath a patient's skin for tissue stimulation employs a bi-directional RF telemetry link for allowing data-containing signals to be sent to and from the implantable microstimulator from at least two external devices. Further, a separate electromagnetic inductive telemetry link allows data containing signals to be sent to the implantable microstimulator from at least one of the two external devices. The RF bidirectional telemetry link allows the microstimulator to inform the patient or clinician regarding the status of the microstimulator device, including the charge level of a power source, and stimulation parameter states. The microstimulator has a cylindrical hermetically sealed case having a length no greater than about 27 mm and a diameter no greater than about 3.3 mm. A reference electrode is located on one end of the case and an active electrode is located on the other end of the case.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus providing pacing to improve the hemodynamics of the heart for patients with AV nodal block, right/left bundle branch block, and heart failure. A lead body having at least one conductor with an insulative sleeve is introduced into the right atrium of a heart. A partially masked helical electrode connected to the conductor is then secured preferably into the atrial aspect of the atrioventricular septum. The electrical conductor is then rotated such that an unmasked portion of the electrode is moved to a depth within the heart tissue substantially near the heart's intrinsic conduction system. This method and apparatus allow pacing in a natural manner via low power stimulation of the heart's intrinsic conduction system.

Abstract: A flat capacitor includes a case having a feedthrough hole, a capacitor stack located within the case, a coupling member having a base surface directly attached to the capacitor stack and having a portion extending through the feedthrough hole, the coupling member having a mounting hole, a feedthrough conductor having a portion mounted within the mounting hole, and a sealing member adjacent the feedthrough hole and the feedthrough conductor for sealing the feedthrough hole. Other aspects of the invention include various implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and cardioverters, incorporating one or more features of the exemplary feedthrough assembly.