Abstract: One or more inductors and one or more capacitors are physically disposed relative to one another in series and are electrically connected to one another in parallel to form a bandstop filter. Chip inductors and chip capacitors having spaced apart conductive terminals are physically arranged in end-to-end abutting relation to minimize electrical potential between adjacent conductive terminals. The bandstop filter may be hermetically sealed within a biocompatible container for use with an implantable lead or electrode of a medical device. The values of the inductors and the capacitors are selected such that the bandstop filter is resonant at one or more selected frequencies, such as an MRI pulsed frequency.

Abstract: A transient voltage/surge current protection system is provided for electronic circuits associated with implanted leads. In particular, a transient voltage suppressor such as a diode, a zener diode, a transorb, a surge protector, varistor components or the like, is placed in parallel with the electronic circuits to thereby divert harmful surge current and bypass the electronic circuit during an external defibrillation event or during an applied therapeutic shock, such as from an ICD.

Abstract: A cabled lead comprising a first conductor cable having outer strands and a core strand is described. Each of the outer strands and core strand has outer wires that surround a core wire. The outer wires are made of a first material. The core wires have a tube, which may be in the form of a layer, and a core, and the core is disposed in the tube. The tube is made of the first material and the core is made of a second material. The first conductor cable is positioned in a first conductor sheath. The cabled lead has a second conductor cable which may be substantially structurally identical to the first conductor cable and is positioned in a second conductor sheath. The first and second conductor cables are helically coiled to form the cabled lead. In other embodiments, there may be one or more than two conductor cables.

Abstract: A shielded three-terminal flat-through EMI/energy dissipating filter includes an active electrode plate through which a circuit current passes between a first terminal and a second terminal, a first shield plate on a first side of the active electrode plate, and a second shield plate on a second side of the active electrode plate opposite the first shield plate. The first and second shield plates are conductively coupled to a grounded third terminal. In preferred embodiments, the active electrode plate and the shield plates are at least partially disposed with a hybrid flat-through substrate that may include a flex cable section, a rigid cable section, or both.

Abstract: Devices and methods for placing medical leads using minimally invasive techniques. One lead includes a lead body connected to a lead head having an aperture for providing fiber optic access to the interior of a helical electrode. The fiber optic shaft may be disposed within or along-side a drive shaft releasably coupled to the head to rotate the head. The drive shaft and lead body may be delivered using a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter can be advanced though a small incision to the target tissue site, and the site remotely visualized through the fiber optic scope extending through the lead head aperture. Some catheters include a distal mapping electrode readable from the catheter proximal portion or handle. The lead head can be rotated, rotating the helical electrode into the tissue, and the catheter, drive shaft, and fiber optic probe removed.