Abstract: An intrathecal drug delivery system configured to monitor one or more physiological conditions of the patient to look for opportunities to time medicament delivery to coincide with patient activity inferring heightened cerebrospinal fluid oscillations, thereby improving dispersion of the medicament within the intrathecal space of the patient. The intrathecal drug delivery system includes an implantable medical pump, one or more physiological sensors, and an external programmer configured to program the implantable medical pump with a treatment protocol specifying at least one period of time during which a specified quantity of medicament is to be administered during which the implantable medical pump utilizes data from the one or more physiological sensors to time delivery of the medicament.

Abstract: An intrathecal drug delivery system includes: an intrathecal drug delivery device configured to deliver a fluid containing one or more pharmaceutical agents intrathecally to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within a spinal canal of a patient and a deep brain catheter having an elongated body, extending from a distal end implanted within a deep brain structure of a patient and a proximal end positioned within the subarachnoid space directly adjacent to the brain to provide a passageway, via an inner lumen, between the subarachnoid space and the deep brain structure. The drug delivery system is configured to transport the pharmaceutical agent(s), using diffusion and the pulsatile flow of the CSF, through the deep brain catheter from the subarachnoid space to the deep brain structure.

Abstract: A medical system configured to aid a user in locating an access port of an implantable medical device, the medical system including an implantable port comprising a medicament chamber accessible through a septum, a localizer base operably coupled to the implantable port comprising an array of electromagnetic field emitting coils, an antenna array comprising a plurality of electromagnetic field sensing coils, and a user interface adapted to display data received from the antenna array to visually depict a relative position of the antenna array relative to the localizer base.

Abstract: An intrathecal drug delivery system configured to improve dispersion of medicament with cerebral spinal fluid in a subarachnoid space of a patient. The intrathecal drug delivery system including an implantable medical pump and a catheter having a wall defining a lumen extending between a proximal end in fluid communication with the implantable pump and structure defining a medicament exit positionable within the subarachnoid space of the patient, the wall further defining at least one feature configured to generate vortices within the cerebrospinal fluid for the purpose of improving intrathecal drug dispersion.

Abstract: A method of determining a local cerebrospinal fluid flow rate. The method including the steps of positioning a distal end of the catheter in a flow of cerebrospinal fluid of the patient, the catheter including an infusion port and at least one temperature sensor positioned at a fixed distance from the infusion port, infusing a bolus of a temperature controlled fluid through the infusion port into the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, and monitoring a temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor, wherein a change in the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor over time is representative of a local cerebrospinal fluid flow rate in proximity to the infusion port.

Abstract: A medical device configured to restrict medicament dispersion within a cerebrospinal fluid flow of the patient. The medical device including an implantable catheter having a distal end configured to be positioned within a flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, a proximal end, a body defining a lumen extending lengthwise along the implantable catheter configured to enable a flow of medicament from the proximal end to an infusion port located in proximity to the distal end, and a contoured surface defined by an exterior of the body in proximity to the infusion port configured to inhibit dispersion of the medicament within the cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: An intrathecal drug delivery system including an intrathecal drug delivery device configured to deliver a fluid containing one or more pharmaceutical agents intrathecally to CSF within a spinal canal of a patient, a deep brain catheter having an elongated body extending from distal end is configured implanted within a deep brain structure of a patient and a proximal end positioned within the subarachnoid space directly adjacent to the brain to provide a passageway via an inner lumen between subarachnoid space and the deep structure. The drug delivery system configured to transport the pharmaceutical agent using diffusion and pulsatile flow of the CSF through the deep brain catheter from the subarachnoid space to the deep brain structure.

Abstract: An medical system configured to aid a user in locating an access port of an implantable medical device, the medical system including an implantable port comprising a medicament chamber accessible through a septum, a localizer base operably coupled to the implantable port comprising an array of electromagnetic field emitting coils, an antenna array comprising a plurality of electromagnetic field sensing coils, and a user interface adapted to display data received by the antenna array to visually depict a relative position of the antenna array relative to the localizer base.

Abstract: An implantable drug delivery system that includes a drug delivery device configured to deliver a fluid containing one or more pharmaceutical agents to a patient, a plurality of treatment catheters configured to be implanted within the body of a patient and transport the fluid to the two or more treatment sites, and a flow control hub including an inlet connector that fluidically connects to the drug delivery device to receive the fluid, a plurality of outlet connectors that couple to a respective catheter of the plurality of treatment catheters, and one or more flow restrictors that impede the flow of the fluid from the inlet connector to the plurality of outlet connectors to regulate a flow of the fluid through the plurality of treatment catheters under a selected flow distribution.

Abstract: An intrathecal drug delivery system configured to monitor one or more physiological conditions of the patient to look for opportunities to time medicament delivery to coincide with patient activity inferring heightened cerebrospinal fluid oscillations, thereby improving dispersion of the medicament within the intrathecal space of the patient. The intrathecal drug delivery system includes an implantable medical pump, one or more physiological sensors, and an external programmer configured to program the implantable medical pump with a treatment protocol specifying at least one period of time during which a specified quantity of medicament is to be administered during which the implantable medical pump utilizes data from the one or more physiological sensors to time delivery of the medicament.

Abstract: An intrathecal drug delivery system configured to monitor one or more physiological conditions of the patient to look for opportunities to time medicament delivery to coincide with patient activity inferring heightened cerebrospinal fluid oscillations, thereby improving dispersion of the medicament within the intrathecal space of the patient. The intrathecal drug delivery system includes an implantable medical pump, one or more physiological sensors, and an external programmer configured to program the implantable medical pump with a treatment protocol specifying at least one period of time during which a specified quantity of medicament is to be administered during which the implantable medical pump utilizes data from the one or more physiological sensors to time delivery of the medicament.

Abstract: A medical device configured to restrict medicament dispersion within a cerebrospinal fluid flow of the patient. The medical device including an implantable catheter having a distal end configured to be positioned within a flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, a proximal end, a body defining a lumen extending lengthwise along the implantable catheter configured to enable a flow of medicament from the proximal end to an infusion port located in proximity to the distal end, and a contoured surface defined by an exterior of the body in proximity to the infusion port configured to inhibit dispersion of the medicament within the cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: A method of determining a local cerebrospinal fluid flow rate. The method including the steps of positioning a distal end of the catheter in a flow of cerebrospinal fluid of the patient, the catheter including an infusion port and at least one temperature sensor positioned at a fixed distance from the infusion port, infusing a bolus of a temperature controlled fluid through the infusion port into the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, and monitoring a temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor, wherein a change in the temperature sensed by the at least one temperature sensor over time is representative of a local cerebrospinal fluid flow rate in proximity to the infusion port.

Abstract: A medical device configured to improve medicament dispersion within a cerebrospinal fluid of a patient. The medical device including an implantable catheter having a distal end configured to be positioned within a flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, a proximal end, a body defining a lumen extending lengthwise along the implantable catheter configured to enable a flow of medicament from the proximal end to an infusion port located in proximity to the distal end, and a piezoelectric element positioned in proximity to the infusion port configured to selectively oscillate during medicament administration to improve dispersion of the medicament within the cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: An intrathecal drug delivery system configured to improve dispersion of medicament with cerebral spinal fluid in a subarachnoid space of a patient. The intrathecal drug delivery system including an implantable medical pump and a catheter having a wall defining a lumen extending between a proximal end in fluid communication with the implantable pump and structure defining a medicament exit positionable within the subarachnoid space of the patient, the wall further defining at least one feature configured to generate vortices within the cerebrospinal fluid for the purpose of improving intrathecal drug dispersion.

Abstract: An intrathecal drug delivery system configured to monitor one or more physiological conditions of the patient to look for opportunities to time medicament delivery to coincide with patient activity inferring heightened cerebrospinal fluid oscillations, thereby improving dispersion of the medicament within the intrathecal space of the patient. The intrathecal drug delivery system includes an implantable medical pump, one or more physiological sensors, and an external programmer configured to program the implantable medical pump with a treatment protocol specifying at least one period of time during which a specified quantity of medicament is to be administered during which the implantable medical pump utilizes data from the one or more physiological sensors to time delivery of the medicament.

Abstract: A lead assembly includes a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and the lead body includes two or more conductors disposed therein. The second conductor is disposed within the first conductor, and the first conductor has a coating of insulation disposed on a portion thereof. In another option, a sleeve of insulative material is disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac lead, and/or subassembly includes an elongate sheath of insulative material including an insulative first layer and a protective second layer. The insulative first layer has at least one activated surface to which the protective second layer is coupled.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a lead body extending longitudinally along a lead axis, a driver axially displaceable relative to the lead body, and a driven member coupled to the lead body and displaceable away from the lead axis. The driven member at least partially defines an expandable passage having at least one internal dimension. The driver is displaceable into the expandable passage and has at least one outer dimension that is larger than the at least one internal dimension of the expandable passage. An example method includes disposing a first member having a first cross-section in a lead assembly having a lead axis, an expandable passage, and a displaceable member proximate the expandable passage. The method further includes urging the first member into the expandable passage in the lead assembly, and urging the displaceable member away from the lead axis to expand the expandable passage.

Abstract: A lead assembly comprises a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion with at least one conductor disposed therein. A lead lumen extends within the lead body and is dimensioned and configured to removably and rotatably seat a driver therein. The driver includes a driver body extending from a driver proximal end to a driver distal end and having a stylet or guidewire lumen disposed therein. An extendable and retractable active fixation mechanism is disposed at the lead distal end portion. The active fixation mechanism is actuatable by rotation of the driver. In one example, the at least one conductor includes a first conductor and a second conductor, in which the first conductor is co-radial with the second conductor. In another example, the driver distal end includes a portion extractably engagable with the lead distal end portion.