Abstract: A multi-directional track and trolley system for movably supporting wall panels in which the track includes spaced track flanges forming a track slot and at least one track intersection having a curved track element with a curved edge and the trolley includes radial support wheels rotatably mounted in laterally spaced tandem pairs on a plate, frame or rigid trolley body for rotation about spaced parallel horizontal axes. The trolley is provided with guide rollers adjacent each end thereof and a centrally disposed panel supporting member which depend from the trolley body and are positioned in the track slot with the guide rollers mounted for rotation about generally vertical axes to guide the trolley.

Abstract: The cardiac pacing system includes a cardiac pacer and a multiconductor pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end. The pacer comprises a metal case with insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to the top side of the metal case. The neck is made of a soft pliable material and spring contacts are provided in the neck for connecting the cardiac pacer with the pacing lead.

Abstract: The pacing lead stylet includes a proximal end, a stylet wire, a decreasing taper, a flat, an increasing taper and a tip. The decreasing taper is connected to the stylet wire and extends in a distal direction away from the wire distal end for a decreasing taper distance. The decreasing taper has a decreasing cross section which is reduced from the stylet cross sectional area to a decreased cross sectional area at a decreasing taper distal end of the decreasing taper. The flat is connected to the decreasing taper and extends in a distal direction away from the decreasing taper distal end for a flat distance to a flat distal end. The increasing taper is connected to the flat and extends in a distal direction away from the flat distal end for an increasing taper distal. The increasing taper has an increasing cross section from the minimum extension to the stylet cross section area.

Abstract: The multi-conductor lead assembly comprises a first lead, a second lead and a connector assembly for connecting the leads together. The first lead includes a lead body having a distal end portion with a plurality of electrodes thereon, a proximal end portion with a plurality of sleeve electrodes thereon and a plurality of insulated wire conductors within the lead body and electrically connecting the electrodes on the distal end portion with the sleeve electrodes on the proximal end portion. The second lead includes a lead body with a proximal end, a proximal end portion, a distal end and a distal end portion, and a plurality of insulated wire conductors therein. Each of the one wire conductors has a proximal end and a proximal end portion extending out of the proximal end of the lead body. A sleeve connector is mounted on each wire conductor proximal end portion, and a needle is connected to the proximal ends of the wire conductors.

Abstract: The multi-conductor lead assembly comprises a first lead, a second lead and a connector assembly for connecting the leads together. The first lead includes a lead body having a distal end portion with a plurality of electrodes thereon, a proximal end portion with a plurality of sleeve electrodes thereon and a plurality of insulated wire conductors within the lead body and electrically connecting the electrodes on the distal end portion with the sleeve electrodes on the proximal end portion. The second lead includes a lead body with a proximal end, a proximal end portion, a distal end and a distal end portion, and one wire conductor therein.

Abstract: The finned pervenous lead electrically connects an electrical generator with an internal organ and comprises a flexible electrically conductive insulated lead with proximal and distal ends. The proximal end has an electrical connection for connecting the lead to the electrical generator and a distal electrode assembly connected to the distal end of said lead. A distal portion of the lead proximal to the distal electrode assembly has an axis and at least two tissue-engaging, thin, flexible, flat fins which are circumferentially sidewise deflectible and which project radially outwardly from different radial locations on the lead at about the same axial location on the lead. Each fin extends outwardly in a plane which includes the axis of the lead distal portion and each fin is attached to the lead at a fold line extending substantially parallel to the axis of the lead distal portion.

Abstract: The cardiac pacing system comprises a cardiac pacer, and a multiconductor pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end having a plurality of spaced apart ring electrodes thereon. The pacer comprises a metal case mounting electronic/electrical circuitry, and a power supply therein and having a top side. A soft pliable elongate neck is mounted to the top side of the case. A connector assembly is located inside said neck for connecting the cardiac pacer with the proximal end of the pacing lead and comprises a plurality of spaced-apart U-shaped electrical contacts and insulated conductors extending through the top side for coupling the electrical contacts to electrical circuitry in the case. The neck has at least one elongate lumen therein into which extend the electrical contacts and has an open end for receiving the proximal end of the pacing lead.

Abstract: A connector assembly for use in a cardiac pacer system comprising a cardiac pacer including a pacer case having a top wall and a pacing lead having a distal end, a distal end portion, a proximal end and a proximal end portion with at least one connector band mounted on said proximal end portion. A neck assembly is mounted to the top wall of the pacer case. The connector assembly comprises an elastomeric neck mounted on the top wall of the pacer case and forms part of the neck assembly. The neck has a lumen therein for receiving the proximal end portion of the pacing lead. A resilient conductive member is mounted in the neck and is positioned to contact the connector band on the proximal end portion of the lead received in the lumen. The neck assembly further includes a removable wedge for urging the resilient conductive member against the connector band.

Abstract: A method is provided for constructing a mechanically strong and fluid tight assembly of an electrode along the length of an implantable lead, such as those leads suitable for cardiac pacing and diagnosis and the like. In the preferred embodiment, a short annular sheath polymeric tube is closely positioned over a coiled insulated conductor, an electrode is positioned over the short annular sheath, and a section of the insulating sheath of the lead is positioned over a flange of the electrode and sealed to a shape that is substantially isodiametric with the electrode surface.

Abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid is drained from a ventricle of the brain of a fetus and into the amniotic cavity in an antenatal procedure that does not require a hysterotomy, such being carried out by a shunt and introducer system. The introducer portion of the system includes a plurality of components that are slidably assembled and that provide a guiding sheath through which the shunt is passed with the aid of a pushing tool and a stylet that passes through the pushing tool and into the shunt. The hydrocephalus valve within the shunt is radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the shunt in order to permit stylet passage therethrough.

Abstract: A lead for effecting either or both of ventricular or atrial cardiac pacing and an assembly method are provided. The lead has a portion that is molded with a prebent condition which enables the proper positioning of the atrial electrode and of the ventricular electrode within the heart, while also enhancing the maintenance of such leads at their respective implanted positions. The lead includes an unbranched length along which are mounted both at least one ventricular electrode and at least one atrial electrode, each electrode being secured to respective distal ends of coil conductors of a multifilar coil within an insulating sheath.

Abstract: A lead for connecting an electrical stimulation generator to an internal organ of the body via the vascular system includes a small diameter nonhollow multifilament lead body surrounded by a guide sleeve. The guide sleeve pushes against a sleeve stop at the distal end of the lead to impart axial motion to the lead with stylet-like action. After the lead electrode is properly positioned, the sleeve is removed by severing it longitudinally as it is pulled off of the lead. A plurality of radially deployable folding fins are arranged on the distal portion of the lead so that they can be wrapped around the lead body without overlap even though the combined length of the fins in one embodiment is greater than the circumference of the lead body. The electrically conductive core of the lead is preferably comprised of thousands of carbon filaments embedded in a resin matrix.

Abstract: The telescoping catheter shunt system comprises first and second telescoping tubings, the first tubing being connected to an anchoring connector mounted in a burr hole, the connector being connected to a catheter adapted to be inserted into a body cavity to be drained and being received within the second tubing which has a larger diameter than the first tubing. A valve assembly is connected to the second tubing and has a control mechanism for controlling the drainage of fluid from the cavity in response to pressure of the draining fluid. The first tubing has a flange at the proximal end thereof which has an outer diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of the second tubing in which it is received to establish a friction fit between the outer surface of the flange and the inner surface of the second tubing that defines a primary seal for keeping body fluids other than the draining fluid out of the system.

Abstract: A lead for effecting either or both of ventricular or atrial cardiac pacing is provided with a portion that is molded with a prebent condition which enhances the proper positioning of the atrial electrode and of the ventricular electrode within the heart, while also enhancing the maintenance of such leads at their respective implanted positions.

Abstract: An implantable medication dispensing system includes an integral reservoir from which medicament is dispensed by a manually actuated micro-infusion pump system. Medicament is added to and removed from the reservoir as required through a liquid-sealed fill port having a integral needle-actuated safety valve. Upon introduction of the needle through a self-sealing septum, the safety valve is actuated open to allow medicament to be introduced and withdrawn by the needle. Upon removal of the needle the septum is closed by radial compression and the safety valve is actuated closed to prevent pressure flow through the fill port.

Abstract: An implantable manually-actuated dispensing system includes a housing wherein a reservoir and dispensing port are provided. Medicament within the reservoir is urged through the dispensing port in predetermined uniform dosages by a fluid circuit which serially includes a safety pump and a metering pump. The safety pump is first actuated and released to cause a quantity of medicament to be advanced through the fluid circuit into the chamber of the metering pump. The metering pump is next actuated to cause a predetermined dosage from the advanced medicament to be dispensed through the dispensing port. Check valves prevent reverse flow through the circuit and prevent medicament from entering the metering pump except upon actuation and release of the safety pump.

Abstract: An implantable microinfusion pump system for dispensing medication at a prescribed infusion rate within the human body includes a hermetically sealed housing in which a power source and circuitry for actuating the pump are contained. A permanently magnetized piston is mounted for reciprocative fill and pump strokes within a pump chamber defined by a pump body member which extends between parallel-spaced walls of the housing. The body member communicates at one end with an expandable medicament reservoir adjacent one wall of the housing, and at the other end with a catheter for conveying medicament to the body. A two stage valve arrangement causes medicament to enter the pump chamber during fill strokes of short duration and to be dispensed from the pump chamber at the prescribed infusion rate during longer duration pump strokes.

Abstract: A lead for connecting a source of electrical signals to an internal organ of the body. The lead includes a small diameter lead body of carbon filaments surrounded by a stiffening sheath. The stiffening sheath allows the lead with an attached electrode to be guided to the desired internal organ through the vascular system. After the electrode is properly positioned, the sheath is peeled away from the carbon filament lead means of longitudinal grooves extending the length of the lead. The external stiffening sheath eliminates the need for the carbon lead to have a hollow interior for accepting a stylet. The disclosed lead is of small diameter which is particularly advantageous for multiple lead systems.

Abstract: A suture forming surgical tool particularly useful in attaching an epicardial pacer electrode to the heart. The tool has an elongate body and a manually operable plunger slidable in the body. The electrode is releasably secured to a distal end of the tool. In a first portion of its travel, the plunger acts on a pair of pusher wires that each drive lengths of malleable sutures through tubular dies that have curved central bores which impart curvatures of essentially predetermined radii to the sutures. As the curved sutures are ejected from the dies they pass through the adjacent heart tissue and form circular loops which securely attach the electrode to the heart. In a second portion of its travel, the plunger detaches the electrode and its lead wire from the tool.