Abstract: Apparatus for reducing a particle size of a precursor powder material by fluid energy impact according to one embodiment of the invention may include a housing defining an interior milling cavity therein having a peripheral wall. A powder feed inlet operatively associated with the housing introduces the precursor powder material into the interior milling cavity. A feed gas inlet operatively associated with the powder feed inlet introduces a feed gas into the interior milling cavity. A product discharge outlet operatively associated with the housing removes a milled powder product from the interior milling cavity. An oil injection nozzle assembly operatively associated with the product discharge outlet injects oil into a particle-laden product stream from the product discharge outlet.

Abstract: A method of producing powder product includes the steps of: Feeding a precursor powder material into a jet mill; feeding a gas into the jet mill to initiate a jet milling operation to produce size-reduced particles; and coating size-reduced particles with oil so that newly exposed surfaces of size-reduced particles are coated with oil, wherein the coating step includes one or more of a post-milling oil injection process and a pre-milling oil injection process.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an implantable medical electrode includes roughening the electrode substrate, applying an adhesion layer, and depositing a valve metal oxide coating over the adhesion layer under conditions optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization. The electrode substrate may be a variety of electrode metals or alloys including titanium, platinum, platinum-iridium, or niobium. The adhesion layer may be formed of titanium or zirconium. The valve metal oxide coating is a ruthenium oxide coating sputtered onto the adhesion layer under controlled target power, sputtering pressure, and sputter gas ratio setting optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to methods of treating cardiac pacing dysfunction by administering HCN genes, alone or in combination with other genes.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing a particle size of a precursor powder material by fluid energy impact according to one embodiment of the invention may include a housing defining an interior milling cavity therein having a peripheral wall. A powder feed inlet operatively associated with the housing introduces the precursor powder material into the interior milling cavity. A feed gas inlet operatively associated with the powder feed inlet introduces a feed gas into the interior milling cavity. A product discharge outlet operatively associated with the housing removes a milled powder product from the interior milling cavity. An oil injection nozzle assembly operatively associated with the product discharge outlet injects oil into a particle-laden product stream from the product discharge outlet.

Abstract: A method of producing powder product includes the steps of: Feeding a precursor powder material into a jet mill; feeding a gas into the jet mill to initiate a jet milling operation to produce size-reduced particles; and coating size-reduced particles with oil so that newly exposed surfaces of size-reduced particles are coated with oil, wherein the coating step includes one or more of a post-milling oil injection process and a pre-milling oil injection process.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to methods of treating cardiac pacing dysfunction by administering HCN genes, alone or in combination with other genes.

Abstract: A molybdenum disulfide powder product produced by jet milling a molybdenum disulfide precursor material and substantially continuously combining newly sized-reduced particles with oil to produce said molybdenum disulfide powder product, said molybdenum disulfide powder product having a D50 particle size of less than 4 ?m and an acid number that is less than about 0.5 mg KOH/g. A method for producing powder product includes the steps of: Providing a supply of a precursor powder material; accelerating particles of the precursor powder material by combining them with a flow of gas; confining the accelerated particles in a milling chamber so that they collide with one another to effect a size reduction; and coating newly exposed surfaces of size-reduced particles with oil.

Abstract: Electrical medical leads having active fixation electrodes, particularly helix electrodes intended to be screwed into body tissue, e.g., the heart, are disclosed having selectively applied insulation to optimize exposed electrode surface area and dispose the exposed electrode surface area toward tissue that is less traumatized by injury caused by screwing in the fixation helix. In a preferred fabrication method, an outer helical surface is masked by contact with a masking tube while a dielectric coating is applied to the inner helical surface of the coil turns of the helix, and the masking tube is removed when the dielectric coating has set. In one variation, at least one aperture is formed through the masking tube sidewall exposing an area of the outer helical surface thereby interrupting the uninsulated outer helical electrode.

Abstract: A molybdenum disulfide powder product produced by jet milling a molybdenum disulfide precursor material and substantially continuously combining newly sized-reduced particles with oil to produce said molybdenum disulfide powder product, said molybdenum disulfide powder product having a D50 particle size of less than 4 ?m and an acid number that is less than about 0.5 mg KOH/g. A method for producing powder product includes the steps of: Providing a supply of a precursor powder material; accelerating particles of the precursor powder material by combining them with a flow of gas; confining the accelerated particles in a milling chamber so that they collide with one another to effect a size reduction; and coating newly exposed surfaces of size-reduced particles with oil.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an implantable medical electrode includes roughening the electrode substrate, applying an adhesion layer, and depositing a valve metal oxide coating over the adhesion layer under conditions optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization. The electrode substrate may be a variety of electrode metals or alloys including titanium, platinum, platinum-iridium, or niobium. The adhesion layer may be formed of titanium or zirconium. The valve metal oxide coating is a ruthenium oxide coating sputtered onto the adhesion layer under controlled target power, sputtering pressure, and sputter gas ratio setting optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization.

Abstract: A cardiac ischemic protection system and method for conditioning a patient's heart is provided. The method can include detecting acute myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, silent ischemia, or stunning and providing closed-loop dyssynchronous pacing to the patient's heart to precondition and/or postcondition the patient's heart in order to reduce ischemic damage.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined amount of adhesive weighted tape includes a controller adapted to receive a request for a desired amount of adhesive weighted tape and an elongated track member adapted to receive a supply of the adhesive weighted tape. A sensor is mounted adjacent a second end of the track member. The sensor in communication with the controller is operable to transmit a signal to the controller corresponding to a measured amount of weighted tape passing thereby. A motive apparatus in communication with the controller is adapted to move the weighted tape from a first end to the second end of the track member in response to the signal from the sensor. A cutting member disposed adjacent the second end of the track member is in communication with the controller and is adapted to cut the weighted tape in response to the signal from the sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing nano-particles includes a furnace defining a vapor region therein. A precipitation conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end is positioned with respect to the furnace so that the inlet end is open to the vapor region. A quench fluid supply apparatus supplies quench fluid in a gas state and quench fluid in a liquid state. A quench fluid port positioned within the precipitation conduit is fluidically connected to the quench fluid supply apparatus so that an inlet to the quench fluid port receives quench fluid in the gas state and quench fluid in the liquid state. The quench fluid port provides a quench fluid stream to the precipitation conduit to precipitate nano-particles within the precipitation conduit. A product collection apparatus connected to the outlet end of the precipitation conduit collects nano-particles produced within the precipitation conduit.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing the atrio-ventricular (A-V) delay for efficacious delivery of cardiac resynchronization therapy. In CRT devices, the programmed A-V delay starts with detection of electrical activity in the right atrium (RA). Thus, a major component of the A-V delay is the time required for inter-atrial conduction time (IACT) from the RA to the LA. This IACT can be measured during implantation as the time from the atrial lead stimulation artifact to local electrograms in a coronary sinus (CS) catheter. Assuming that the beginning of LA contraction closely corresponds with the beginning of LA electrical activity, the optimal AV delay should be related to the time between the start of RA electrical activity and the start of LA electrical activity plus the duration of LA atrial contraction. Thus ‘during atrial pacing’ the IACT measured at implantation is correlated with the echocardiographically defined optimal paced AV delay (PAV).

Abstract: Electrical medical leads having active fixation electrodes, particularly helix electrodes intended to be screwed into body tissue, e.g., the heart, are disclosed having selectively applied insulation to optimize exposed electrode surface area and dispose the exposed electrode surface area toward tissue that is less traumatized by injury caused by screwing in the fixation helix. In a preferred fabrication method, an outer helical surface is masked by contact with a masking tube while a dielectric coating is applied to the inner helical surface of the coil turns of the helix, and the masking tube is removed when the dielectric coating has set. In one variation, at least one aperture is formed through the masking tube sidewall exposing an area of the outer helical surface thereby interrupting the uninsulated outer helical electrode.

Abstract: Nano-particle of MoO3. The nano-particle of the present invention has a surface area in the range of 33 to about 68 m2/g as determined by BET. The nano-particle may also have a rod-like non-hollow configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing nano-particles comprises a furnace defining a vapor region therein. A precipitation conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end is positioned with respect to the furnace so that the inlet end is open to the vapor region. A quench fluid port positioned within the precipitation conduit provides a quench fluid stream to the precipitation conduit to precipitate nano-particles within the precipitation conduit. A product collection apparatus connected to the outlet end of the precipitation conduit collects the nano-particles produced within the precipitation conduit.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an implantable medical electrode includes roughening the electrode substrate, applying an adhesion layer, and depositing a valve metal oxide coating over the adhesion layer under conditions optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization. The electrode substrate may be a variety of electrode metals or alloys including titanium, platinum, platinum-iridium, or niobium. The adhesion layer may be formed of titanium or zirconium. The valve metal oxide coating is a ruthenium oxide coating sputtered onto the adhesion layer under controlled target power, sputtering pressure, and sputter gas ratio setting optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization.

Abstract: Electrical medical leads having active fixation electrodes, particularly helix electrodes intended to be screwed into body tissue, e.g., the heart, are disclosed having selectively applied insulation to optimize exposed electrode surface area and dispose the exposed electrode surface area toward tissue that is less traumatized by injury caused by screwing in the fixation helix. In a preferred fabrication method, an outer helical surface is masked by contact with a masking tube while a dielectric coating is applied to the inner helical surface of the coil turns of the helix, and the masking tube is removed when the dielectric coating has set. In one variation, at least one aperture is formed through the masking tube sidewall exposing an area of the outer helical surface thereby interrupting the uninsulated outer helical electrode.