Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for manufacturing active fixation helices for the stimulation and/or sensing of organs. A first embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention for making a helix comprises a first step of producing an elongated helix precursor body comprising one or more electrical conductors surrounded by an insulating material. This helix precursor body is then shaped into a helix, material removed in predetermined places in order to expose the areas of the conductors which will be used as electrodes in the final product. The body is coated with an electrically conducting biocompatible coating which is subsequently partly removed in continuous loops from around the electrodes in order to electrically insulate them from each other and to ensure that the electrically active areas of the electrodes are of the correct dimensions.

Abstract: A pulse generating implantable medical device comprises a power source , a control unit, a plurality of switching units, a timing unit, a pulse generating unit adapted to generate one or more stimulation pulses to be applied to human or animal tissue via one or more stimulation electrodes, and a coupling capacitor in series with each stimulation electrode. A stimulation pulse is adapted to be applied during a stimulation pulse timing cycle that includes a stimulation phase and a recharge phase, and that the timing of a stimulation pulse timing cycle is controlled by the control unit via the timing unit and the switching units. The implantable medical device further comprises an energy storage unit and that, during the recharge phase, one or more of the switching units is adapted to establish electrical connection between the one or many stimulation electrodes and the energy storage unit in order to collect and store energy from applied stimulation pulses.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing active fixation helices for the stimulation and/or sensing of organs, an elongated helix precursor body is produced that has one or more electrical conductors surrounded by an insulating material. This helix precursor body is then shaped into a helix, material removed in predetermined places in order to expose the areas of the conductors which will be used as electrodes in the final product. The body is coated with an electrically conducting biocompatible coating which is subsequently partly removed in continuous loops from around the electrodes in order to electrically insulate them from each other and to ensure that the electrically active areas of the electrodes are of the correct dimensions.

Abstract: A battery discharge measurement device for determining the state of discharge for a battery has a battery voltage measurement unit adapted to measure and store a battery voltage and a battery usage activity detector for detecting a predefined battery usage activity draining current from the battery and triggering a voltage recovery period. A processor unit is provided for estimating a battery voltage of the battery during the voltage recovery period based on the measured and stored battery voltage and the number of predefined battery usage activities detected since the battery voltage measurement unit measured the battery voltage of the battery.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing active fixation helices for the stimulation and/or sensing of organs, an elongated helix precursor body is produced that has one or more electrical conductors surrounded by an insulating material. This helix precursor body is then shaped into a helix, material removed in predetermined places in order to expose the areas of the conductors which will be used as electrodes in the final product. The body is coated with an electrically conducting biocompatible coating which is subsequently partly removed in continuous loops from around the electrodes in order to electrically insulate them from each other and to ensure that the electrically active areas of the electrodes are of the correct dimensions.

Abstract: An implantable medical device can be made more durable and long-lasting by providing a silane coating on at least a portion of a metal or metal alloy outer surface of an electrically conductive device, upon which silane coating is placed an insulating layer.