Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a polymer substrate and at least one nanofiber. The polymer substrate includes a surface portion extending into the polymer substrate from a surface of the substrate. The at least one nanofiber includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is interpenetrated with the surface portion of the substrate, and mechanically fixed to the substrate. The second portion projects from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a polymer substrate and at least one nanofiber. The polymer substrate includes a surface portion extending into the polymer substrate from a surface of the substrate. The at least one nanofiber includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is interpenetrated with the surface portion of the substrate, and mechanically fixed to the substrate. The second portion projects from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a polymer substrate and at least one nanofiber. The polymer substrate includes a surface portion extending into the polymer substrate from a surface of the substrate. The at least one nanofiber includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is interpenetrated with the surface portion of the substrate, and mechanically fixed to the substrate. The second portion projects from the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A heart valve anchor has a body that includes a distal portion, a distal end, a proximal portion, and a proximal end. The distal end and the proximal end define a longitudinal axis. The body has an expandable portion that includes a first radially expandable portion at the distal portion of the body, a second radially expandable portion at the proximal portion of the body, and a root portion disposed between the first and second radially expandable portions. The body has a first configuration adapted to be housed at least partially within a tissue penetrating device, and a second configuration in which the first and second radially expandable portions are partially or fully expanded such that the anchor engages tissue in a region between the first and second radially expandable portions.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a catheter shaft. An expandable balloon may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The balloon may be capable of shifting between a folded configuration and an expanded configuration. A plurality of elongate electrode assemblies may be disposed on the balloon. A cover layer may be deposited on the electrode assemblies. Portions of the electrode assemblies may be free of the cover layer.

Abstract: A method of preventing infection resulting from implanting a medical device. The method includes installing a polymer device at least substantially within a subcutaneous pocket formed to contain a housing of the medical device, and installing the medical device housing in the subcutaneous pocket. The polymer device includes a bioresorbable polymer structure and an antimicrobial agent configured to elute from the polymer structure. The polymer device covers less than about 20% of the surface area of the medical device housing.

Abstract: A catheter adapted to determine a contact force, the catheter including a proximal segment, a distal segment, and an elastic segment extending from the proximal segment to the distal segment. The distal segment includes a plurality of tip electrodes including at least three radial electrodes disposed about a circumference of the distal segment. The radial electrodes are configured to output electrical signals indicative of a contact vector of the contact force. The elastic segment includes a force sensing device configured to output an electrical signal indicative of a magnitude of an axial component of the contact force, wherein the contact force is determined by scaling the magnitude of the axial component of the contact force by the contact vector.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter comprising a tip assembly, the tip assembly having a plurality of electrodes and the plurality of electrodes are configured to measure electrical signals. The system also includes a processing unit configured to: receive a first electrical signal sensed by a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes and a second electrical signal sensed by a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes. A first vector is determined based on the first electrical signal that corresponds to the first electrode. A second vector is determined based on the second electrical signal that corresponds to the second electrode. A resultant vector is determined by summing at least the first vector and the second vector, wherein the resultant vector is indicative of the orientation of the tip assembly.

Abstract: An implantable drug eluting medical device includes a polymer substrate having a surface, a first plurality of nanofibers, and at least one antimicrobial drug. Each of the first plurality of nanofibers includes a first portion interpenetrated with the surface of the substrate to mechanically fix the nanofiber to the substrate, and a second portion projecting from the surface. The at least one antimicrobial drug is disposed within or among the second portion of the first plurality of nanofibers.

Abstract: A tissue modification apparatus includes at least a first plurality of grippers aligned in a plane adapted to secure a first edge of a patch of tissue. The plurality of grippers are each secured to a first force actuator. The first plurality of grippers are each adapted to pivot relative to the first force actuator about an axis perpendicular to the plane. In some cases, a plurality of grippers are attached to a force actuator by a passive force transfer mechanism. In some cases, individual force actuators are attached by pivoted connections to individual grippers. Methods of treating tissue can secure tensioned tissue to a frame to retain the tension during a treatment (e.g., cross-linking the tissue with a chemical cross-linker).

Abstract: A coating for a roughened metal surface of an implantable medical device includes a poly(ethylene glycol) disposed on at least a portion of the roughened metal surface, wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) is covalently bonded directly to the roughened metal surface.

Abstract: A heart valve anchor has a body that includes a distal portion, a distal end, a proximal portion, and a proximal end. The distal end and the proximal end define a longitudinal axis. The body has an expandable portion that includes a first radially expandable portion at the distal portion of the body, a second radially expandable portion at the proximal portion of the body, and a root portion disposed between the first and second radially expandable portions. The body has a first configuration adapted to be housed at least partially within a tissue penetrating device, and a second configuration in which the first and second radially expandable portions are partially or fully expanded such that the anchor engages tissue in a region between the first and second radially expandable portions.

Abstract: A method of preventing infection resulting from implanting a medical device. The method includes installing a polymer device at least substantially within a subcutaneous pocket formed to contain a housing of the medical device, and installing the medical device housing in the subcutaneous pocket. The polymer device includes a bioresorbable polymer structure and an antimicrobial agent configured to elute from the polymer structure. The polymer device covers less than about 20% of the surface area of the medical device housing.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, a retrieval catheter assembly for retrieving an intragastric balloon may include a tubular member configured to pass through a wall of the intragastric balloon. The retrieval catheter assembly may also include a retrieval member coupled to the tubular member and movable between an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the undeployed configuration the retrieval member may be substantially aligned with the tubular member. In the deployed configuration at least a portion of the retrieval member may diverge from the tubular member and may be configured to engage the wall of the intragastric balloon.

Abstract: An electrophysiology system includes a catheter having a flexible catheter body with a distal portion; and electrodes disposed on the distal portion. The system includes a signal generator configured to generate an electrical signal by driving one or more currents between a first set of the electrodes, where a second set of the electrodes is configured to obtain an impedance measurement based on the electrical signal. A mapping processor is configured to receive the impedance measurement from the second set of electrodes; determine at least one impedance metric; and determine at least one lesion characteristic based on the at least one impedance metric.

Abstract: A tissue modification apparatus includes at least a first plurality of grippers aligned in a plane adapted to secure a first edge of a patch of tissue. The plurality of grippers are each secured to a first force actuator. The first plurality of grippers are each adapted to pivot relative to the first force actuator about an axis perpendicular to the plane. In some cases, a plurality of grippers are attached to a force actuator by a passive force transfer mechanism. In some cases, individual force actuators are attached by pivoted connections to individual grippers. Methods of treating tissue can secure tensioned tissue to a frame to retain the tension during a treatment (e.g., cross-linking the tissue with a chemical cross-linker).

Abstract: An apparatus including a header mountable to an implantable housing; and an electrically conductive connector block located within the header, wherein the conductive connector block is formed from a substantially non-metallic material.

Abstract: A tissue modification apparatus includes at least a first plurality of grippers aligned in a plane adapted to secure a first edge of a patch of tissue. The plurality of grippers are each secured to a first force actuator. The first plurality of grippers are each adapted to pivot relative to the first force actuator about an axis perpendicular to the plane. In some cases, a plurality of grippers are attached to a force actuator by a passive force transfer mechanism. In some cases, individual force actuators are attached by pivoted connections to individual grippers. Methods of treating tissue can secure tensioned tissue to a frame to retain the tension during a treatment (e.g., cross-linking the tissue with a chemical cross-linker).

Abstract: A method for producing an antimicrobial coating on a surface. The method includes mixing a parylene dimer and an antimicrobial agent to form a mixture, heating the mixture to sublimate the parylene dimer and suspend the antimicrobial agent within the sublimated parylene dimer, pyrolyzing the sublimated parylene dimer to form a parylene monomer while the antimicrobial agent is suspended within the parylene monomer, and condensing the parylene monomer and the antimicrobial agent together on the surface to polymerize the parylene monomer and form a coating containing a parylene polymer and the antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for enhanced dielectric properties for electrolytic capacitors to store energy in an implantable medical device. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for manufacturing a capacitor adapted to be disposed in an implantable device housing. An embodiment of the method includes providing a dielectric comprising aluminum oxide and doping the aluminum oxide with an oxide having a dielectric constant greater than aluminum oxide. Doping the aluminum oxide includes using sol-gel based chemistry, electrodeposition or atomic layer deposition (ALD) in various embodiments.