Abstract: Seals used within lead bores of implantable medical devices for creating a seal to implantable medical leads inserted into the lead bores include an inner cylinder that engages the lead body. The inner cylinder is surrounded by a gap to either an outer cylinder of the seal or to surrounding structures of the implantable medical device. The inner cylinder has freedom of movement within the gap such that movement of the lead body that is off-axis relative to a centerline of the lead bore causes movement of the inner cylinder that is providing the seal. In this manner, the seal engagement to the lead body is maintained during this off-axis movement of the lead body.

Abstract: A medical lead may be fabricated using an electrode fixture configured to facilitate circumferential and axial alignment between electrodes of the lead. In one example, a method may include positioning an electrode fixture around at least one conductor of a plurality of conductors for a medical lead, wherein the electrode fixture at least partially retains an electrode assembly. The method may also include 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: Implantable medical devices that include a battery to power circuitry utilize a battery connector to electrically interconnect the battery to the circuitry. The battery connector may be mounted directly to a device housing to have the battery connector a fixed position within the device. Battery terminals of the battery are electrically connected to terminals on the battery connector, and the terminals on the battery connector are electrically connected to power terminals of the circuitry. The battery connector may include various features such as mounting grooves formed in a connector body, tapered pins to connect to power terminals on a circuit board, as well as plates to engage the battery terminals. The device housing may provide mounting features that allow the battery connector to be affixed directly to the device housing.

Abstract: A one-piece electrical contact ring for use in a lead receptacle of an implantable medical device includes (i) a tubular body defining a cavity extending through the body and (ii) a plurality of resiliently deflectable elements extending from the tubular body into the cavity. The deflectable elements have a lead contacting portion configured to contact the lead when received by the cavity. The lead contacting portions of the deflectable elements in a relaxed state are located in a plane that intersects the tubular body and are configured to deflect along the plane towards the tubular body as the lead is inserted in the contact ring. The contact ring may further include a plurality of stops, each configured to (i) engage a stop portion of the elements when the elements are sufficiently outwardly deflected and (ii) inhibit further outward deflection of the elements when the stops engage the stop portions.

Abstract: A method of forming a medical device contact element includes annealing an elongated rod of Ti-15Mo alloy material to form an annealed rod having a Young's Modulus of less than 13.5 Mpsi and an elastic range or strain of at least 0.7%. Then forming a contact ring element from the annealed rod and assembling the contact ring element into a medical device. Contact rings and lead receptacles including the same are also described.

Abstract: A one-piece electrical contact ring for use in a lead receptacle of an implantable medical device includes (i) a tubular body defining a cavity extending through the body and (ii) a plurality of resiliently deflectable elements extending from the tubular body into the cavity. The deflectable elements have a lead contacting portion configured to contact the lead when received by the cavity. The lead contacting portions of the deflectable elements in a relaxed state are located in a plane that intersects the tubular body and are configured to deflect along the plane towards the tubular body as the lead is inserted in the contact ring. The contact ring may further include a plurality of stops, each configured to (i) engage a stop portion of the elements when the elements are sufficiently outwardly deflected and (ii) inhibit further outward deflection of the elements when the stops engage the stop portions.

Abstract: A method of forming a medical device contact element includes annealing an elongated rod of Ti-15Mo alloy material to form an annealed rod having a Young's Modulus of less than 13.5 Mpsi and an elastic range or strain of at least 0.7%. Then forming a contact ring element from the annealed rod and assembling the contact ring element into a medical device. Contact rings and lead receptacles including the same are also described.

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: The disclosure is directed to a pressure sensor of an implantable medical device. The pressure sensor may utilize detect fluid pressure based on a changing capacitance between two capacitive elements. The pressure sensor may define at least a portion of a fluid enclosure of the IMD. In one example, the pressure sensor has a self-aligning housing shape that occludes an opening in the pump bulkhead of the IMD. An operative surface of the pressure and the portion of the fluid enclosure may be formed of a corrosion resistant and/or biocompatible material. A first capacitive element of the pressure sensor may be a metal alloy diaphragm that deflects in response to external fluid pressure. A second capacitive element of the pressure sensor may be a metal coating on a rigid insulator sealed from the fluid by the diaphragm and a housing of the sensor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hermetic lead connector includes fixing an electrically insulating ring between an electrically conducting contact ring and an electrically conducting spacer ring to form a hermetic ring subassembly, and fixing a plurality of the hermetic ring subassemblies in axial alignment to form a hermetic lead connector. The hermetic lead connector includes an open end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a lead aperture. The hermetic lead connector provides a hermetic seal between the outer surface and the inner surface.

Abstract: An implantable segmented electrode structure may be configured to conduct electrical signals between elongated conductors of an implantable medical lead and respective portions of tissue of a patient. The implantable medical lead may extend from an implantable medical device that is implanted within the patient. The segmented electrode structure includes a plurality of separate electrode surfaces. The electrode surfaces are at a plurality of different axial positions and angular positions within the implantable segmented electrode structure. The segmented electrode structure additionally includes a plurality of prongs. The prongs extend axially from a proximal end of the segmented electrode structure through the segmented electrode structure. Each prong may electrically connect to one of the electrode surfaces. The prongs may terminate distally at respective electrode surfaces. Each prong may be configured to electrically connect to one of the elongated conductors.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a pressure sensor of an implantable medical device. The pressure sensor may utilize detect fluid pressure based on a changing capacitance between two capacitive elements. The pressure sensor may define at least a portion of a fluid enclosure of the IMD. In one example, the pressure sensor has a self-aligning housing shape that occludes an opening in the pump bulkhead of the IMD. An operative surface of the pressure and the portion of the fluid enclosure may be formed of a corrosion resistant and/or biocompatible material. A first capacitive element of the pressure sensor may be a metal alloy diaphragm that deflects in response to external fluid pressure. A second capacitive element of the pressure sensor may be a metal coating on a rigid insulator sealed from the fluid by the diaphragm and a housing of the sensor.

Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure relates to a medical device comprising a lead including an electrically conductive lead wire; and an electrode electrically coupled to the lead wire, the electrode including a substrate and a coating on an outer surface of the substrate, wherein the lead wire is formed of a composition comprising titanium or titanium alloys, wherein the substrate is formed of a composition comprising one or more of titanium, tantalum, niobium, and alloys thereof, wherein the coating comprises at least one of Pt, TiN, IrOx, and poly(dioctyl-bithiophene) (PDOT). In some examples, the lead wire may be coupled to the lead wire via a weld, such as, e.g., a laser weld.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hermetic lead connector includes fixing an electrically insulating ring between an electrically conducting contact ring and an electrically conducting spacer ring to form a hermetic ring subassembly, and fixing a plurality of the hermetic ring subassemblies in axial alignment to form a hermetic lead connector. The hermetic lead connector includes an open end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a lead aperture. The hermetic lead connector provides a hermetic seal between the outer surface and the inner surface.

Abstract: A medical device lead connection assembly includes an end connector element including a plurality of fixed connection element tabs extending from the end connector element to a tab distal end. A lead body includes a plurality of lead filars extending through the lead body and coupled to a corresponding fixed connection tab. A tubular guide hub extends from a hub proximal end to a hub distal end. The tubular guide hub includes a plurality of guide elements circumferentially disposed about an outer surface of the guide hub. The hub distal end is disposed within the lead body and the hub proximal end received within connection element tabs, and selected guide elements contact selected lead filars.

Abstract: A medical device lead assembly includes an end connector element having a plurality of fixed connection element tabs each respectively extending from the end connector element to a tab distal end, and a lead body having a plurality of lead filars extending through the lead body and forming a filar coil. Each of the plurality of lead filars is coupled to a corresponding fixed connection tab. Each of the plurality of lead filars have a diameter of less than 150 micrometers or less than 125 micrometers, or from 50 to 125 micrometers or from 50 to 100 micrometers. The filar coil having an outer diameter value being less than 1.5 mm and a first pitch within the lead body and a second pitch adjacent to the end connector element and the second pitch is greater than the first pitch.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for crimping a medical device are disclosed. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for reducing the diameter of a collapsible heart valve prosthesis to be loaded onto a delivery device. The devices, systems, and methods using at least one funnel to crimp the heart valve prosthesis and load it onto the delivery system.

Abstract: A method of forming a medical device lead connection element is described. The method includes positioning an end portion of a lead filar to overlap a lead end connection element such that the positioning creates mutual interference between the lead filar and the lead end connection element, and forming an interference configuration. Then melting the end portion of the lead filar to form a weld joint and allowint the end portion of the lead filar to move towards the end connection element.

Abstract: Medical devices include deformable structures that contact a lead upon being compressed. A grip that a clinician may grasp and manipulate is engaged with a nose structure of a header block of the medical device, and manipulation of the grip causes compression of the deformable structure to ultimately create fixation of the lead within the header block.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a housing that is configured to enclose internal components including at least a processor and a power source. The housing defines two major surfaces that are generally parallel to each other and one or more channels that are each configured to receive a lead and electrically couple the respective lead to the internal components, where each of the channels extend substantially straight in to the housing along an axis generally parallel to the two major surfaces. The housing may be configured to be mounted to a cranium of a patient such that at least one of the two major surfaces approximates a curvature of the cranium. The IMD may include one or more funneling walls that define a rounded and smooth transition from a sidewall of the housing to a surface that defines one or more mouths to the channels.