Abstract: A tool for manipulating a catheter interface protection device includes a base, a first arm extending from the base, and a second arm extending from the base. The first arm includes an outwardly projecting first hook configured to engage a first vent of a catheter interface protection device. The second arm includes an outwardly projecting second hook configured to engage a second vent of the catheter interface protection device. A method of manipulating a catheter interface protection device includes positioning the base around the catheter interface protection device so that the first arm is on a first side of a slot of the catheter interface protection device and the second arm on a second side of the slot of the catheter interface protection device opposite the first side, and bending the catheter interface protection device from the slot towards and around the first hook to create an opening.

Abstract: A device for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: a shield having a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient; and an opening at the shield for allowing an umbilical catheter to extend therethrough. A method for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: providing a device having a shield with a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient, and wherein the device further includes an opening at the shield; shielding the umbilical stump from an environment using the shield; and accommodating an umbilical catheter using the opening at the shield.

Abstract: A device for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: a shield having a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient; and an opening at the shield for allowing an umbilical catheter to extend therethrough. A method for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: providing a device having a shield with a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient, and wherein the device further includes an opening at the shield; shielding the umbilical stump from an environment using the shield; and accommodating an umbilical catheter using the opening at the shield.

Abstract: A catheter interface protection device can include a shield. The shield can include an open bottom, a transparent upper surface, sidewalls, and a cavity at least partially defined by the bottom, the upper surface, and the sidewalls. The device can include a vent. The device can include a clip, a tether, and a latch. A non-therapeutic method of protecting a catheter interface can include extending a catheter in the subject through a slot in a catheter interface protection device, wrapping the catheter at least partially around a clip of the catheter interface protection device, and securing a latch of the catheter interface protection device around the clip. A device for positioning a subject in a prone position can include a padded area including an opening configured to accommodate a catheter interface protection device.

Abstract: A device for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: a shield having a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient; and an opening at the shield for allowing an umbilical catheter to extend therethrough. A method for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: providing a device having a shield with a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient, and wherein the device further includes an opening at the shield; shielding the umbilical stump from an environment using the shield; and accommodating an umbilical catheter using the opening at the shield.

Abstract: A device for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: a shield having a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient; and an opening at the shield for allowing an umbilical catheter to extend therethrough. A method for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: providing a device having a shield with a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient, and wherein the device further includes an opening at the shield; shielding the umbilical stump from an environment using the shield; and accommodating an umbilical catheter using the opening at the shield.

Abstract: A device for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: a shield having a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient; and an opening at the shield for allowing an umbilical catheter to extend therethrough. A method for protecting an umbilical stump-catheter interface, includes: providing a device having a shield with a wall that defines a cavity for accommodating an umbilical stump, wherein the shield further includes a base for attachment to a patient, and wherein the device further includes an opening at the shield; shielding the umbilical stump from an environment using the shield; and accommodating an umbilical catheter using the opening at the shield.

Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body; and a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals. To reduce or redistribute current induced in the conductors during an MRI procedure, an internal conductive structure, such as a dummy coil or hollow metal tube, or non-therapeutic electrodes may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, a multi-layer region of the conductors may extend beneath the electrodes or terminals or the electrodes or terminals may vary in size or surface area.

Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes electrodes and terminals disposed on opposing ends of the lead. A liner extends along a longitudinal length of the lead and has at least two different outer diameters. Conductors are coiled around the liner and electrically-couple the electrodes to the terminals. The conductors include a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor includes alternating first and second coiled regions. The first coiled regions have tighter pitches than the second coiled regions. The second conductor includes alternating third and fourth coiled regions. The third coiled regions have tighter pitches than the fourth coiled regions. The conductors are arranged into repeating adjacent winding geometries disposed along the longitudinal length of the lead. The repeating adjacent winding geometries each include one of the first coiled regions and one of the third coiled regions axially disposed adjacent to one another.

Abstract: An implantable control module for an electrical stimulation system includes a header coupled a sealed body. The header includes at least one connector assembly. The control module also includes a conductive shield disposed over at least a portion of the connector assembly or connector assemblies of the header. The conductive shield is provided to hinder generation of current in the header or in a portion of a lead received in the header in response to application of an external radiofrequency (RF) or magnetic field. A similar shield can also be used to shield a connector assembly disposed on the end of a lead extension or any other component of the electrical stimulation system.

Abstract: A method of estimating response of a medical lead to an electromagnetic field includes providing a medical lead having a proximal end, a distal end, a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end, a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end, and a plurality of conductors extending along the medical lead and electrically coupling the electrodes to the terminals; individually applying a test field at each of a plurality of test positions along the medical lead using at least one excitation probe; for each application of the test field, determining a response to the application of the test field at one or more of the electrodes or terminals; generating a transfer function using a combination of the responses determined for the applications of the test field; and using the transfer function to estimate a response of the medical lead to an electromagnetic field.

Abstract: An implantable control module for an electrical stimulation system includes a header coupled a sealed body. The header includes at least one connector assembly. The control module also includes a conductive shield disposed over at least a portion of the connector assembly or connector assemblies of the header. The conductive shield is provided to hinder generation of current in the header or in a portion of a lead received in the header in response to application of an external radiofrequency (RF) or magnetic field. A similar shield can also be used to shield a connector assembly disposed on the end of a lead extension or any other component of the electrical stimulation system.

Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes electrodes and terminals disposed on opposing ends of the lead. A liner extends along a longitudinal length of the lead and has at least two different outer diameters. Conductors are coiled around the liner and electrically-couple the electrodes to the terminals. The conductors include a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor includes alternating first and second coiled regions. The first coiled regions have tighter pitches than the second coiled regions. The second conductor includes alternating third and fourth coiled regions. The third coiled regions have tighter pitches than the fourth coiled regions. The conductors are arranged into repeating adjacent winding geometries disposed along the longitudinal length of the lead. The repeating adjacent winding geometries each include one of the first coiled regions and one of the third coiled regions axially disposed adjacent to one another.

Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes a plurality of conductors disposed in a lead body, the plurality of conductors each electrically coupling at least one electrode to at least one terminal. The plurality of conductors includes a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor includes a plurality of alternating first and second coiled regions. The first coiled regions have tighter pitches than the second coiled regions. The second conductor includes a plurality of alternating third and fourth coiled regions. The third coiled regions have tighter pitches than the fourth coiled regions. The plurality of conductors are arranged into repeating adjacent winding geometries disposed along a longitudinal length of the lead body. The repeating adjacent winding geometries each include one of the plurality of first coiled regions and one of the plurality of third coiled regions axially disposed adjacent to one another.

Abstract: An implantable stimulation lead includes a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body, and a plurality of conductors disposed in the lead body and including a first conductor and a second conductor. Each conductor electrically couples at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. The first conductor has a RF impedance that is at least 25% greater in magnitude than the second conductor.

Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes a plurality of conductors that extend along a lead body and that electrically couple electrodes to terminals. A first tissue coupler is electrically coupled to a first conductor of the plurality of conductors. The first tissue coupler includes a conductive first inner member, a non-conductive member disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the first inner member, and a conductive outer member disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the non-conductive member such that at least a portion of the non-conductive member is sandwiched between the first inner member and the outer member. The first inner member is electrically coupled to the first conductor. The outer member is disposed along a portion of an outer surface of the lead body such that the conductive outer member is exposed to patient tissue when the lead is implanted in a patient.

Abstract: An implantable lead includes a lead body and at least one safety element. The lead body has a distal end and a proximal end. The lead body defines at least one lumen extending along at least a portion of the lead body. The lead body includes a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body, a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body, and a plurality of conductors disposed in the lead body, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. The at least one safety element is disposed along at least a portion of the lead body and is configured and arranged to reduce damage to patient tissue adjacent to the plurality of electrodes due to heating, induced electrical signals, or both when the lead is exposed to radio frequency irradiation.

Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body; and a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals. To reduce or redistribute current induced in the conductors during an MRI procedure, an internal conductive structure, such as a dummy coil or hollow metal tube, or non-therapeutic electrodes may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, a multi-layer region of the conductors may extend beneath the electrodes or terminals or the electrodes or terminals may vary in size or surface area.