Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to implantable chemical sensors for detecting a physiological analyte and medical devices including the same. In an embodiment, an implantable medical device is included. The implantable medical device can include a chemical sensor configured to detect an ion concentration in a bodily fluid. The chemical sensor can include a sensing element. The sensing element can include an outer barrier layer forming a top, a bottom, and opposed sides of the sensing element and a structural reinforcing element contacting the outer barrier layer. The top of the outer barrier layer of the sensing element can include a polymeric matrix permeable to analytes.

Abstract: A method of making a feed-thru connector assembly includes inserting a conductor within an opening within a housing of a pulse generator and dispensing a sealant in a gap between the conductor and portions of the housing adjacent to the conductor that define the opening of the housing and curing the sealant to form a seal comprising a polyisobutylene cross-linked network.

Abstract: An access device for surgical procedures includes a multiport end cap having a rigid body with a flexible support sealingly mounted to the rigid body with a plurality of separate access ports for accommodating introduction of individual surgical instruments into a body of a patient. At least one of the access ports is sealingly attached to the flexible support and extends in a proximal direction therefrom. The flexible support is of a material more flexible than those of the rigid body and access ports to provide for relative angular movement of at least one of the access ports to provide flexibility for positioning surgical instruments introduced through the access ports. The flexible support can include at least one flexible bellow.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to medical devices including volume filling leads and methods of use to treat cancerous tumors within a bodily tissue. In an embodiment, a lead for a cancer treatment system is described. The lead can include a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, where the lead body can define a lumen. The lead can include an expandable lead head connected to the distal end of the lead body, where the lead head can be configured to be expanded between a first non-expanded position and a second expanded position in order to fill an intracorporeal void. The lead can include two or more electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the lead head and two or more electrical conductors configured to provide electrical communication between the two or more electrodes and the proximal end of the lead body. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: An access device for surgical procedures includes an end cap having a rigid body with a flexible support sealingly mounted to the rigid body with at least one separate access port for accommodating introduction of individual surgical instruments into a body of a patient. The at least one access port is sealingly attached to the flexible support and extend in a proximal direction therefrom. The flexible support is of a material more flexible than those of the rigid body and the at least one access port to provide for relative angular movement of the at least one access port to provide flexibility for positioning surgical instruments introduced through the at least one access port.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to medical device systems including electric field shaping elements for use in treating cancerous tumors within a bodily tissue. In an embodiment, a medical device system for treating a cancerous tumor is described. The medical device system can include one or more electric field generating electrodes and an electric field shaping element configured to be implanted along with the one or more electric field generating electrodes. The electric field shaping element can be made from a material that alters the spatial area of tissue exposed to the electric field. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to medical device systems including electric field shaping elements for use in treating cancerous tumors within a bodily tissue. In an embodiment, a method for treating a cancerous tumor is provided. The method can include implanting one or more electrodes within a patient and measuring the impedance of tissue within the patient along a vector passing through or near a cancerous tumor. The method can also include administering an electric field to the cancerous tumor of the patient based on the measured impedance. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to medical devices including electric field shaping leads and methods for using the same to treat cancerous tumors within a bodily tissue. In an embodiment, an implantable lead for a cancer treatment system is disclosed. The lead can include a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end, where the lead body can define a lumen. The lead can also include a paddle disposed at the distal end of the lead body, the paddle having a width that is greater than a width of the lead body. The paddle can include one or more electrodes disposed on the paddle and one or more electrical conductors disposed within the lumen of the lead body to provide electrical communication between the one or more electrodes and the proximal end of the lead body. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include medical devices and methods for using the same to treat cancerous tumors within a bodily tissue. In an embodiment, a medical device is included. The medical device can include an electric field generating circuit configured to generate one or more electric fields and control circuitry in communication with the electric field generating circuit. The control circuitry can be configured to control the generation of one or more electric fields from the electric field generating circuit. The control circuitry can cause the electric field generating circuit to deliver one or more electric fields at one or more frequencies selected from a range of between 10 kHz to 1 MHz to a cancerous tumor located within a bodily tissue. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: An access device for surgical procedures includes a multiport end cap including a plurality of separate access ports for accommodating introduction of individual surgical instruments into the body of a patient. The access ports extend in a proximal direction. The end cap includes a distally extending seal ring. A bottom body has a distally extending tubular body with an access channel defined therethrough for accommodating surgical instruments from the access ports into the body of a patient. The bottom body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart teeth, wherein the seal ring of the end cap is received inside and seals against a proximal rim of the bottom body. The end cap includes at least one flexible tab with distal teeth thereon configured to engage and disengage the teeth of the bottom body to selectively permit or prevent relative axial rotation of the multiport end cap.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for implantation into a patient may include a housing, a pulse generation circuit disposed at least partially within the housing, a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuit, the plurality of electrodes being exposed external to the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the pulse generation circuit. The controller may be configured to command the pulse generation circuit to deliver a phasic conducted communication pulse via at least two of the plurality of electrodes. Additionally, the phasic conducted communication pulse may comprise a first phase having a first polarity followed by a second phase having an opposite second polarity, wherein the second phase may have a duration of less than 60 microseconds, and wherein the first phase having may have a duration of between five percent and eighty percent of the duration of the second phase.

Abstract: An electrical connector for detachably connecting an electrical lead to an implantable medical device includes a conductive housing and a plurality of spring contacts. The conductive housing extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The conductive housing has an interior surface forming a hollow cylinder. The plurality of spring contacts projects from the interior surface of the conductive housing and toward the proximal end. The plurality of spring contacts is at least partially contained within the conductive housing and configured to form an electrical connection to an electrical lead inserted within the conductive housing. The conductive housing and the plurality of spring contacts are integrally formed by an additive manufacturing process such that the electrical connector is a unitary structure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining occurrences of a tamponade condition are disclosed. One exemplary method includes monitoring an accelerometer signal of a leadless cardiac pacemaker attached to a heart wall, determining if a tamponade condition of the patient's heart is indicated based at least in part on the monitored accelerometer signal, and in response to determining that the tamponade condition is indicated, providing a notification of the tamponade condition for use by a physician to take corrective action.

Abstract: A method includes placing a plastic connector block housing portion into a connector block cavity of a header; placing a coil spring into the connector block housing portion; and connecting a metallic termination member to the coil spring and positioning the metallic termination member to be exposed outside the plastic housing portion.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for determining occurrences of myocardial infarctions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of sensing for an occurrence of a myocardial infarction may include sensing a baseline accelerometer signal during a baseline, determining a baseline template based on one or more characteristics of the baseline accelerometer signal, and storing the baseline template in a memory. The method may further include sensing an accelerometer signal during a test period subsequent to the baseline, determining a test template based on one or more characteristics of the accelerometer signal during the test period, and comparing the baseline template with the test template, and based on the comparison, determining if a myocardial infarction occurred in the patient's heart. If it is determined that a myocardial infarction occurred in the patient's heart, the method may further include displaying an indication on a display that a myocardial infarction occurred.

Abstract: Methods and devices for testing and configuring implantable medical device systems. A first medical device and a second medical device communicate with one another using test signals configured to provide data related to the quality of the communication signal to facilitate optimization of the communication approach. Some methods may be performed during surgery to implant one of the medical devices to ensure adequate communication availability.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) is configured with a pressure sensor. The IMD includes a housing and a diaphragm that is exposed to the environment outside of the housing. The diaphragm is configured to transmit a pressure from the environment outside of the housing to a piezoelectric membrane. In response, the piezoelectric membrane generates a voltage and/or a current, which is representative of a pressure change applied to the housing diaphragm. In some cases, only changes in pressure over time are used, not absolute or gauge pressures.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for implantation into a patient may include a housing, a pulse generation circuit disposed at least partially within the housing, a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuit, the plurality of electrodes being exposed external to the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the pulse generation circuit. The controller may be configured to command the pulse generation circuit to deliver a phasic conducted communication pulse via at least two of the plurality of electrodes. Additionally, the phasic conducted communication pulse may comprise a first phase having a first polarity followed by a second phase having an opposite second polarity, wherein the second phase may have a duration of less than 60 microseconds, and wherein the first phase having may have a duration of between five percent and eighty percent of the duration of the second phase.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for detecting dislodgment of an implantable device are disclosed. In one example, a method for determining a dislodgement status may comprise collecting, by the implantable device operating in a first operating mode, a first number of accelerometer signal samples during a cardiac cycle of the heart and using the first number of accelerometer signal samples to determine a first patient parameter and collecting, by the implantable device operating in a second operating mode, a second number of accelerometer signal samples during a cardiac cycle of the heart and using the second number of accelerometer signal samples to determine a dislodgment status of the implantable device, wherein the first number is smaller than the second number. In some further embodiments, the method may further include providing a notification of the dislodgment status to a remote device that is remote from the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A filter cartridge for surgical gas delivery systems includes a filter housing configured to be seated in a filter cartridge interface of a surgical gas delivery system. A first filter element is seated in a first end portion of the filter housing. A second filter element is seated in a second end portion of the filter housing opposite the first end portion. A third filter element is seated in the filter housing between the first and second filter elements. The third filter element can include an activated carbon material, such as an activated carbon disc.