Abstract: An implantable medical lead has a torsional stiffness and is rotationally coupled to a stylet. Applying rotation directly to the lead in turn causes rotation of the stylet. Where the stylet has a bent tip for purposes of steering the lead, the rotation applied to the lead rotates the bent tip so that the lead can be steered by rotating the lead rather than rotating a hub of the stylet. The rotational coupling may be achieved through one or more features provided for the lead and/or the stylet, such as a feature within a lumen of the lead that mates to a feature along the stylet or a feature of the stylet hub that engages the proximal end of the lead. The torsional stiffness of the lead may be provided by adding a feature within the lead body, such as a braided metal wire or an overlapping foil.

Abstract: Grounding of a shield that is located in an implantable medical lead may be done in many ways. The shield may be grounded directly to tissue from the lead body at one or more points along the lead body. The pathway for grounding may be a direct current pathway or be capacitively coupled. The pathway for grounding may utilize an exposed or nearly exposed shield at one or more points along the lead body. A jacket forming the lead body may have an outer layer removed at these points to provide the RF pathway to ground. Alternatively, the jacket may be doped with conductive particles at these points. Metal conductors such as ring electrodes and/or lead anchors may be attached to the lead at one or more points to provide the RF pathway to ground.

Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways. The shield may be terminated by butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. For lap joints, a portion of an outer insulation layer may be removed and a replacement outer insulation layer is positioned in place of the removed outer insulation layer, where the replacement layer extends beyond an inner insulation layer and the shield. The replacement layer may also lap onto a portion of the insulation extension. Barbs may be located between the replacement layer and the inner insulation layer or the insulation extension. The shield wires have ends at the termination point that may be folded over individually or may be capped with a ring located within one of the insulation layers of the jacket.

Abstract: Grounding of a shield that is located in an implantable medical lead may be done in many ways. The ground pathway may couple to the shield at a point that is outside of a header of an implantable medical device to which the implantable medical lead is attached. The ground pathway may couple to the shield at a point that is within the header of the implantable medical device. The ground pathway may terminate at the metal can of the implantable medical device. As another option, the ground pathway may terminate at a ground plate that is mounted to the header. The ground pathway may be direct current coupled from the shield to the can or ground plate. Alternatively, the ground pathway may include one or more capacitive couplings that provide a pathway for induced radio frequency current.

Abstract: A medical lead is configured to be implanted into a patients body and comprises a lead body, and an electrode coupled to the lead body. The electrode comprises a first section configured to contact the patient's body, and a second section electrically coupled to the first section and configured to be capacitively coupled to the patient's body.

Abstract: Changes in electrical stimulation therapy delivered via a medical device are coordinated with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans. In one example, a medical device delivers electrical stimulation therapy to a patient in an MRI unit, where the medical device is configured to cycle electrical stimulation therapy between a plurality of stimulation states. An indication that the medical device will cycle the electrical stimulation therapy or has cycled the electrical stimulation therapy while the patient is in the MRI unit or being imaged by the MRI unit is generated, and an MRI scan of the patient via an MRI workstation is initiated based on the indication. In another example, a medical device detects activation of an MRI scan and automatically switches stimulation states based upon the detection of the MRI scan, such that the scan is associated with a particular stimulation state.

Abstract: A medical lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and comprises a lead body, and an electrode coupled to the lead body. The electrode comprises a first section configured to contact the patient's body, and a second section electrically coupled to the first section and configured to be capacitively coupled to the patient's body.

Abstract: Low profile inlet valve embodiments for a piston pump therapeutic substance infusion device are disclosed that reduce dead volume, occupies little residential space, operates rapidly, and have many other improvements. The therapeutic substance infusion device has a housing, a therapeutic substance reservoir, a power source carried in the housing, electronics, a piston pump, and an inlet valve. The piston pump is configured for pumping therapeutic substance from the therapeutic substance reservoir through an infusion port at a programmed rate. The inlet valve is in fluid communication with a reservoir outlet to control the flow of therapeutic substance into the piston pump. The inlet valve has a substantially coplanar valve surface and valve spring. Many embodiments of the low profile inlet valve and its methods of operation are possible.

Abstract: A neurostimulation lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and has at least one distal electrode. The lead comprises at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal electrode, a jacket for housing the conductive filer and a shield surrounding at least a portion of the filer for reducing electromagnetic coupling to the filer.

Abstract: A miniature drug delivery pump utilizes a shape memory Ni—Ti alloy. A flow restrictor is provided and the pump is refillable.

Abstract: A medical lead is provided for use in a pulse stimulation system of the type which includes a pulse generator for producing electrical stimulation therapy. The lead comprises an elongate insulating body and at least one electrical conductor within the insulating body. The conductor has a proximal end configured to be electrically coupled to the pulse generator and has a DC resistance in the range of 375-2000 ohms. At least one distal electrode is coupled to the conductor.

Abstract: A medical lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and comprises a lead body, and an electrode coupled to the lead body. The electrode comprises a first section configured to contact the patient's body, and a second section capacitively coupled to the first section and configured to be electrically coupled to the patient's body.

Abstract: A stimulation lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and includes at least one distal stimulation electrode and at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal stimulation electrode. A jacket is provided for housing the conductive filer and providing a path distributed along at least a portion of the length of the lead for conducting induced RF energy from the filer to the patient's body.

Abstract: A neurostimulation lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and has at least one distal electrode. The lead comprises at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal electrode, a jacket for housing the conductive filer and a shield surrounding at least a portion of the filer for reducing electromagnetic coupling to the filer.

Abstract: A medical lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and comprises a lead body, and an electrode coupled to the lead body. The electrode comprises a first section configured to contact the patient's body, and a second section capacitively coupled to the first section and configured to be electrically coupled to the patient's body.

Abstract: A stimulation lead to be implanted into a patient's body includes at least one distal stimulation electrode and at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal stimulation electrode. A jacket houses the conductive filer and provides a path distributed along at least a portion of the length of the lead for conducting induced RF energy from the filer to the patient's body.

Abstract: A medical lead is provided for use in a pulse stimulation system of the type which includes a pulse generator for producing electrical stimulation therapy. The lead comprises an elongate insulating body and at least one electrical conductor within the insulating body. The conductor has a proximal end configured to be electrically coupled to the pulse generator and has a DC resistance in the range of 375-2000 ohms. At least one distal electrode is coupled to the conductor.

Abstract: An implantable lead has a lead body construction designed to accommodate loading forces exerted on the lead body during patient movement. The lead body is sufficiently stretchable to resist forces that could otherwise cause lead failure, axial migration of the electrodes, anchor damage, or tissue damage. The lead body may include a variety of features that reduce the axial stiffness of the lead without significantly impacting the operation and structural integrity of lead components, such as electrodes, conductors and insulators.

Abstract: A container for housing a fluid therapeutic composition includes a rigid housing, a collapsible bag and a seal. The housing has an opening and an interior surface. The interior surface forms a cavity having a volume. The bag is disposed in the housing and is expandable to contact the interior surface of the housing and occupy the entire volume of the cavity when filled with the fluid therapeutic composition. The bag has an opening that is fixed in proximity to the opening of the housing. The seal is configured to prevent air from entering the bag via the bag opening and to prevent air from entering the cavity of the housing via the housing opening.

Abstract: A drug delivery system (10) has a positive pressure drug reservoir (15). A pump (19) is in fluid communication with the reservoir (15) via a first fluid passageway (18). The outlet (19b) of the pump (19) is in fluid communication with a first regulator (21). The regulator (21) includes a housing (24) that has a first subchamber (24a) and a second subchamber (24b). The second subchamber (24b) is divided into a lower chamber (28a) and a middle chamber (28b) by a diaphragm (28). A third fluid passageway (32) is positioned between the lower chamber (28a) and the drug reservoir (15), whereby accidental flow from the reservoir (15) to an outlet (21b) is prevented.