Abstract: An implantable medical electrical lead includes an electrode assembly in which an electrical junction between a first conductor and an inner surface of a first electrode of the assembly is wedged within a first channel of at least one core member of the assembly, around which the first electrode extends. The at least one core member is formed from an insulating material, and the first channel may be one of a plurality of longitudinally extending channels arrayed around a circumference of a central lumen of the assembly, which is defined by the at least one core member. The first conductor extends along a length of the assembly, for example, defined between the first electrode and a second electrode thereof, in a helical path that travels around the central lumen.

Abstract: An implantable medical electrical lead includes an electrode assembly in which an electrical junction between a first conductor and an inner surface of a first electrode of the assembly is wedged within a first channel of at least one core member of the assembly, around which the first electrode extends. The at least one core member is formed from an insulating material, and the first channel may be one of a plurality of longitudinally extending channels arrayed around a circumference of a central lumen of the assembly, which is defined by the at least one core member. The first conductor extends along a length of the assembly, for example, defined between the first electrode and a second electrode thereof, in a helical path that travels around the central lumen.

Abstract: An implantable medical electrical lead includes an electrode assembly in which an electrical junction between a first conductor and an inner surface of a first electrode of the assembly is wedged within a first channel of at least one core member of the assembly, around which the first electrode extends. The at least one core member is formed from an insulating material, and the first channel may be one of a plurality of longitudinally extending channels arrayed around a circumference of a central lumen of the assembly, which is defined by the at least one core member. The first conductor extends along a length of the assembly, for example, defined between the first electrode and a second electrode thereof, in a helical path that travels around the central lumen.

Abstract: An implantable medical electrical lead includes an electrode assembly in which an electrical junction between a first conductor and an inner surface of a first electrode of the assembly is wedged within a first channel of at least one core member of the assembly, around which the first electrode extends. The at least one core member is formed from an insulating material, and the first channel may be one of a plurality of longitudinally extending channels arrayed around a circumference of a central lumen of the assembly, which is defined by the at least one core member. The first conductor extends along a length of the assembly, for example, defined between the first electrode and a second electrode thereof, in a helical path that travels around the central lumen.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body having a lead body lumen, an electrode head assembly fixedly engaged with the lead body and having an electrode head assembly lumen communicating with the lead body lumen, and a conductor extending within the lead body lumen and the electrode head assembly lumen. An insulating member extends through the electrode head assembly lumen and the lead body lumen to electrically isolate the conductor.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body having a lead body lumen, an electrode head assembly fixedly engaged with the lead body and having an electrode head assembly lumen communicating with the lead body lumen, and a conductor extending within the lead body lumen and the electrode head assembly lumen. An insulating member extends through the electrode head assembly lumen and the lead body lumen to electrically isolate the conductor.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead includes an elastomeric multi-lumen tube, which includes a lumen having a substantially elliptical cross-section through which a conductor having a substantially circular cross-section may extend. The substantially elliptical cross-section of the lumen includes a minor axis having a first length and being deformable such that the first length of the minor axis extends to a second length.

Abstract: A medical lead includes a lead body and an electrode formed by a plurality of coil turns and positioned about the lead body. A portion of a conductor extends from an internal lumen of the lead body, through an opening, to an external surface of the lead body, to electrically couple with the electrode; the portion of the conductor is press fit between at least one of the plurality of turns of the electrode and the lead body thereby making direct electrical contact with the electrode.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead is provided that is readily manufactured using a minimal number of parts, has a reduced size and improved reliability during implantation and extraction. The lead includes a modular electrode head assembly that is joined to a lead body at a butt joint. The butt joint is stabilized in at least four possible ways: insulation tubing that spans the joint is bonded to the electrode head assembly; two cabled conductors extending the length of the lead body are coupled to the electrode head assembly; an electrode head alignment peg interlocks with and is bonded to the lead body; and a coil electrode is positioned across the butt joint on the outer diameter of the assembly and the lead body. The lead size is minimized by using a compact retraction stop mechanism, a low-friction, press-fit drive shaft seal, and a small diameter coiled conductor insulated by a thin-walled insulating tube.

Abstract: A multi-conductor lead body having improved mechanical characteristics and improved manufacturability is disclosed. The lead body includes multiple conductors wound around a generally cylindrical or tubular, insulative core member. Ones of the conductors are spaced from other ones of the conductors by means of insulative strands or tubes wound around the core intermediate the conductors. The conductors may be stranded or cabled conductors. The core may be an insulative cylindrical or tubular member having a centrally located tensile reinforcement member, or may take the form of an insulated coiled conductor, allowing the use of a centrally located stylet to place the lead. Preferably, conductors and insulative strands or tubes separating the conductors are sized relative to the core member such that a gap is allowed between the conductors and associated insulative strands or tubes.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead is provided that is readily manufactured using a minimal number of parts, has a reduced size and improved reliability during implantation and extraction. The lead includes a modular electrode head assembly that is joined to a lead body at a butt joint. The butt joint is stabilized in at least four possible ways: insulation tubing that spans the joint is bonded to the electrode head assembly; two cabled conductors extending the length of the lead body are coupled to the electrode head assembly; an electrode head alignment peg interlocks with and is bonded to the lead body; and a coil electrode is positioned across the butt joint on the outer diameter of the assembly and the lead body. The lead size is minimized by using a compact retraction stop mechanism, a low-friction, press-fit drive shaft seal, and a small diameter coiled conductor insulated by a thin-walled insulating tube.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body having a lead body lumen, an electrode head assembly fixedly engaged with the lead body and having an electrode head assembly lumen communicating with the lead body lumen, and a conductor extending within the lead body lumen and the electrode head assembly lumen. An insulating member extends through the electrode head assembly lumen and the lead body lumen to electrically isolate the conductor.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead with a tip-ring assembly optimized to resist damage during extraction. The lead includes an elongated plastic tube and at least two elongated conductors mounted in the plastic tube. A tip-ring assembly is mounted to the distal end of the tube, the tip-ring assembly including a ring electrode coupled to one of the conductors, a tip electrode located distal to the ring electrode and coupled to another of the conductors and two molded plastic components separately fabricated of a plastic harder than the plastic tube, adhered to one another and together defining a circumferential groove in which the ring electrode is located and mechanically coupled to the tip electrode. The tip electrode may be provided with a proximally extending electrode shank covered by a tine sleeve which is fabricated of a plastic softer than the molded plastic components and is adhered to more distally located molded plastic component.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead with a tip-ring assembly optimized to resist damage during extraction. The lead includes an elongated plastic tube and at least two elongated conductors mounted in the plastic tube. A tip-ring assembly is mounted to the distal end of the tube, the tip-ring assembly including a ring electrode coupled to one of the conductors, a tip electrode located distal to the ring electrode and coupled to another of the conductors and two molded plastic components separately fabricated of a plastic harder than the plastic tube, adhered to one another and together defining a circumferential groove in which the ring electrode is located and mechanically coupled to the tip electrode. The tip electrode may be provided with a proximally extending electrode shank covered by a tine sleeve which is fabricated of a plastic softer than the molded plastic components and is adhered to more distally located molded plastic component.

Abstract: A method of producing a lead which is isodiametric or nearly so over the region in which an elongated coiled electrode is located and which can optionally be manufactured starting from a single extruded tubular lead body of constant diameter and the lead so produced. Rather than molding the electrode into the surface of the lead or machining the electrode so that it is flush with the surface of the lead, the present invention instead employs an extruded, multiple lumen lead body of circular cross-section which has material cut away or otherwise removed in one or more regions spaced from one another around the lead body and extending longitudinally along the region of the lead body where the coil electrode is to be located or a lead body which is so molded. The areas in which material is removed or is absent are preferably located in regions where the lead body wall is thickest, for example between adjacent lumens.

Abstract: An improved lead body for implantable leads comprising a longitudinally extending core section provided with longitudinally extending grooves in which conductors are located and an outer tubular member, encasing the core and conductors.

Abstract: An implantable electrical lead having a lead body with a longitudinal lumen therein and a stranded electrical conductor located in the lumen and which exits the lumen at a distal portion of the lead body, the distal end of the conductor being curved to form a loop and reentering the lumen, terminating within the lumen alongside a more proximal portion of the conductor. The portion of the conductor exterior to the lumen is wound around the lead body to form a coiled electrode. In some embodiments the distal end of the conductor is coupled to a more proximal portion of the conductor to form a loop and the loop is wound around the lead body to form a bifilar coil. In other embodiments the conductor is wound around the lead body to form a mono-filar coil. The distal end of the conductor is mechanically and electrically coupled to a more proximal portion of the conductor, within the lumen.

Abstract: An implantable medical electrical lead having a lead body including a stranded or cabled conductor extending therein and an electrical connector mounted to a proximal end of the lead body and coupled to the stranded or cabled conductor and having a fabric tube molded into a proximal portion of the lead body adjacent the electrical connector. The fabric may be a polyester mesh formed or rolled into a tube and is preferably molded into the proximal portion of said lead body adjacent its exterior surface. The proximal portion of the lead body may be fabricated of silicone rubber or polyurethane.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead having an elongated lead body provided with an internal longitudinally extending lumen carrying an elongated stranded or cabled conductor and an electrode coil, located on said lead body. The coil is coupled to the conductor by a conductive sleeve having a tubular portion which has an internal lumen through which the conductor passes and a groove or bore which engages only a portion of a turn or turns of the electrode coil, such that the coil is oriented generally perpendicular to the internal lumen of said sleeve and to the conductor.

Abstract: An implantable drug infusion pump filling system includes a filling syringe, a pressure control valve, a filling tube, and an implantable drug infusion pump. The pressure of the drug or agent loaded into the pump is prevented from exceeding a selected maximum pressure by the pressure control valve. The pressure control valve comprises a valve body that has an inlet passage coupled to the filling syringe, an internal chamber, and a discharge passage coupled to the pump. The inlet passage, the internal chamber, and the discharge passage form a flow passage for the flow of the drug. A mandrel is slidably disposed in the valve body. The mandrel is coupled to a flexible membrane, which is, in turn, coupled to a biasing member. When the pressure of the drug or agent acting on the flexible membrane exceeds the spring constant of the biasing member, the mandrel moves to a closed position, shutting off the flow passage.