Abstract: A sensor guide wire for intravascular measurements of at least one physiological or other variable in a living body, comprising a proximal region, a distal sensor region, and a tip region, and at least one sensor element arranged in said sensor region and configured to measure the variable and to generate a sensor signal in response to the variable. The sensor guide wire further comprises a core wire, with a tip core wire portion, wherein at least part of the tip core wire portion comprises a shape memory material, and the composition of the shape memory material is such that the transformation temperature of the shape memory material is above the body temperature of the living body.

Abstract: A tube for an intravascular medical device has a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis. The tube comprises a tube wall having a specified thickness and a plurality of through-going slots, wherein each slot has an essentially elongated shape along a main extension extending along the circumference of the tube. At least two slots are provided in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the main extension of the at least two slots are in the perpendicular plane. The lengths of the slots in the same perpendicular plane P are essentially the same, and the lengths L of the slots in different planes vary along the longitudinal extension of the tube according to a predefined pattern. A sensor guide wire for an intravascular measurement of at least one variable in a living body may comprise such a tube.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing stimulation of a heart of a patient are disclosed. The method comprises: determining recommended pacing settings including recommended AV delays and/or recommended VV delays based on IEGM data. Further, at least one hemodynamical parameter is determined based on measured at least one hemodynamical signal. Reference pacing settings are determined including reference AV delays and/or reference VV delays based on said hemodynamical parameters. An AV delay correction value and a VV delay correction value are calculated as a difference between recommended AV and/or VV delays and reference AV and/or VV delays, respectively. The correction values are used for updating recommended AV and/or VV delays, respectively.

Abstract: A medical implantable lead of the type being adapted to be implanted into a human or animal body and attached with a distal end to an organ inside the body, has a helix of a helical wire in the distal end which is adapted to be screwed into the organ. In addition to the first helix, the lead also has a second helix of a helical wire, the second helix having the same diameter, the same pitch and being intertwined with the helical wire of the first helix and which, upon rotation of the first helix, will be rotated and screwed into the tissue. The first helix is electrically non-conductive whereas the second helix is electrically conductive. In a method for attaching a medical implantable lead to an organ inside a human or animal body, such a medical lead is employed and fixed to tissue in vivo.

Abstract: An implantable active fixation lead includes an outer sheath, a protector member having a peripheral surface extending between its distal and proximal end surfaces with a helical groove formed in the peripheral surface, and a fixation helix integral with the outer sheath. The fixation helix includes a tip end engageable with body tissue and slidably engaged with the helical groove for relative translation and rotation. A longitudinal force on the lead firmly engages the protector member's distal end surface with the body tissue. With the fixation helix initially retracted proximally of the protector member's distal end surface and disengaged from the body tissue, upon application of torque to the outer sheath, the distal end surface of the protector member is moved proximally with respect to the fixation helix which, simultaneously, is extended distally beyond the distal end surface of the protector member to an extended position into engagement with the body tissue.

Abstract: A connector for an implantable medical lead that is electrically and mechanically connectable to an implantable medical device, has a connector pin made of a first conducting material. A tubular insulator made of an insulating material concentrically surrounds at least a portion of the pin. A connector ring made of a second conducting material is concentrically positioned around at least a portion of the insulator. The insulator is connected to the connector ring by spark plasma sintering in the case of an active fixation lead, and is connected to the ring and the pin by spark plasma sintering in the case of a passive fixation lead.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead has a distal lead portion with a tubular header and a fixation helix provided in a lumen of the tubular header. The fixation helix is connected to a shaft attached to a conductor coil. A tubular coupling is connected to the tubular header and is coaxially arranged relative the shaft, with the shaft in its lumen. Rotation of the conductor coil causes rotation of the shaft and the fixation helix and longitudinal movement of the fixation helix out of the implantable medical lead by a rotation-to-translation transforming element. A friction device is arranged between the shaft and the tubular coupling or between the tubular header to oppose rotation of the shaft relative the tubular header and the tubular coupling.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices for electrode positioning during implantation procedures. A cardiac signal measuring device measures cardiac signals sensitive to inherent differences between cardiac tissue and blood using at least one electrode of a medical lead arranged at a distal tip of the medical lead and at least a second electrode arranged at a distance from the distal electrode and being connectable to the measuring unit. An analyzing module acquires cardiac signals measured during predetermined measurement sessions. The analyzing module determines at least one cardiac signal value based on the cardiac signals for each measurement session and analyzes changes of the cardiac signal values between different measurement sessions to determine a position of the electrode relative a tissue border. A maximum of the change of the cardiac signal values between two successive measurement sessions indicates that the electrode has reached the tissue border.

Abstract: A medical implantable lead has a header in a distal end, a fixation arrangement and an electrode arranged in the header. The lead also has a connector in a proximal end that includes a connector pin and is adapted to be connected to a monitoring and/or controlling device, and an inner coil, which extends inside an outer casing of the lead and is adapted to transmit electrical signals between the monitoring and/or controlling device and the electrode. The inner coil is attached to the connector pin. The inner coil extends through a bore inside the connector pin and is attached to the connector pin in its proximal end. A method for manufacturing such a lead is also provided.

Abstract: A sensor guide wire for intravascular measurements of at least one physiological or other variable in a living body, comprising a proximal region, a distal sensor region, and a tip region, and at least one sensor element arranged in said sensor region and configured to measure the variable and to generate a sensor signal in response to the variable. The sensor guide wire further comprises a core wire, with a tip core wire portion, wherein at least part of the tip core wire portion comprises a shape memory material, and the composition of the shape memory material is such that the transformation temperature of the shape memory material is above the body temperature of the living body.

Abstract: A connector for an implantable medical lead that is electrically and mechanically connectable to an implantable medical device, has a connector pin made of a first conducting material. A tubular insulator made of an insulating material concentrically surrounds at least a portion of the pin. A connector ring made of a second conducting material is concentrically positioned around at least a portion of the insulator. The insulator is connected to the connector ring by spark plasma sintering in the case of an active fixation lead, and is connected to the ring and the pin by spark plasma sintering in the case of a passive fixation lead.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices for electrode positioning during implantation procedures. A cardiac signal measuring device measures cardiac signals sensitive to inherent differences between cardiac tissue and blood using at least one electrode of a medical lead arranged at a distal tip of the medical lead and at least a second electrode arranged at a distance from the distal electrode and being connectable to the measuring unit. An analyzing module acquires cardiac signals measured during predetermined measurement sessions. The analyzing module determines at least one cardiac signal value based on the cardiac signals for each measurement session and analyzes changes of the cardiac signal values between different measurement sessions to determine a position of the electrode relative a tissue border. A maximum of the change of the cardiac signal values between two successive measurement sessions indicates that the electrode has reached the tissue border.

Abstract: In a medical implantable lead and method for monitoring and/or controlling of an organ inside a human or animal body, the lead has a helix in a distal end that is rotatable by an inner wire coil (5), which is disposed inside of and along essentially the entire length of the lead and which is rotatably arranged in relation to an outer sleeve, such that the helix is attachable to the organ by being screwed into the tissue inside the body. The lead is provided with a connector in a proximal end which is connectible to an electronic device for monitoring or controlling the function of the organ, the connector having a connector pin that is in engagement with the wire coil and that is rotatably journaled inside a connector housing. During mounting of the medical implantable lead to the organ, the inner wire coil is rotatable by rotating the connector pin in relation to the connector housing with a suitable tool. The connector is provided with a friction brake between the connector pin and the connector housing.

Abstract: A medical implantable lead has a header in a distal end, a fixation arrangement and an electrode arranged in the header. The lead also has a connector in a proximal end that includes a connector pin and is adapted to be connected to a monitoring and/or controlling device, and an inner coil, which extends inside an outer casing of the lead and is adapted to transmit electrical signals between the monitoring and/or controlling device and the electrode. The inner coil is attached to the connector pin. The inner coil extends through a bore inside the connector pin and is attached to the connector pin in its proximal end. A method for manufacturing such a lead is also provided.

Abstract: A medical implantable lead to be inserted into a human or animal body and attached to an organ inside the body for monitoring and/or controlling the function of the organ has a header in a distal end, a fixation arrangement and an electrode arranged in the header. The fixation arrangement attaches the distal end of the lead to the organ and the electrode is arranged to transmit or receive electrical signals to or from the organ. The lead also has a connector in a proximal end that includes a connector pin and is adapted to be connected to a monitoring and/or controlling device, and an inner coil, which extends inside an outer casing of the lead and is adapted to transmit electrical signals between the monitoring and/or controlling device and the electrode. The inner coil is attached to the connector pin. The inner coil extends through a bore inside the connector pin and is attached to the connector pin in its proximal end. A method for manufacturing such a lead is also provided.

Abstract: A tube for an intravascular medical device has a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis. The tube comprises a tube wall having a specified thickness and a plurality of through-going slots, wherein each slot has an essentially elongated shape along a main extension extending along the circumference of the tube. At least two slots are provided in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the main extension of the at least two slots are in the perpendicular plane. The lengths of the slots in the same perpendicular plane P are essentially the same, and the lengths L of the slots in different planes vary along the longitudinal extension of the tube according to a predefined pattern. A sensor guide wire for an intravascular measurement of at least one variable in a living body may comprise such a tube.

Abstract: An implantable lead is provided that includes a lead body configured to be implanted in a patient. The lead body has a distal end and a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal and proximal ends and includes a connector assembly provided at the proximal end of the lead body. The connector assembly is configured to connect to an implantable medical device and includes an electrode provided proximate to the distal end of the lead body with the electrode configured to at least one of deliver stimulating pulses and sense electrical activity. A multi-layer coil is located within the lumen and extends at least partially along a length of the lead body. The coil includes a first winding formed with multiple winding turns, the winding turns being segmented in an alternating pattern of insulated segments and non-insulated segments along the length of the lead body.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for implantable medical devices and more particularly to methods for optimizing stimulation of a heart of a patient. The method comprises: determining recommended pacing settings including recommended AV delays and/or recommended W delays based on IEGM data. Further, at least one hemodynamical parameter is determined based on measured at least one hemodynamical signal. Reference pacing settings are determined including reference AV delays and/or reference W delays based on said hemodynamical parameters. An AV delay correction value and a W delay correction value are calculated as a difference between recommended AV and/or VV delays and reference AV and/or W delays, respectively. The correction values are used for updating recommended AV and/or VV delays, respectively.

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: An assembly includes a medical implantable lead adapted to be attached with a distal end of the lead to an organ inside a human or animal body, the medical implantable lead being formed with an inner lumen extending along essentially the entire length of the lead. The assembly also includes a support core that has a desirable stiffness and a suitably cross sectional dimension such that it is insertable into the lumen (7) in order to increase the stiffness of the lead along its length during its working life when being implanted into a body. A method for implanting a medical implantable lead into a human or animal body makes use of such an assembly.