Abstract: An epidural space is cleared of fat and scar tissue in preparation for implantation of a medical lead by utilizing a clearing tool. The clearing tool has an outer body and an inner body present within a lumen of the outer body. The outer body may be malleable and have a pre-set deflection or may be flexible and achieve deflection when being inserted into the epidural space. Once in the epidural space, the inner body is extended distally from the lumen of the outer body such that a distal tip on the inner body extends further into the epidural space to provide clearing to the target site without requiring further ingress of the outer body. The inner body is retracted and the clearing tool is removed. The medical lead is then inserted through the window and cleared epidural space until reaching the target site.

Abstract: A medical system for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment includes therapy delivery circuitry configured to output one or more electrical stimulation signals to a tongue of a patient; sensing circuitry configured to sense one or more compound muscle action potential (CMAP) signals, wherein the one or more CMAP signals are generated in response to the delivery of the one or more electrical stimulation signals; and processing circuitry configured to: cause the therapy delivery circuitry to output the one or more electrical stimulation signals to the tongue; receive information indicative of the one or more CMAP signals from the sensing circuitry; determine, based on the one or more CMAP signals, one or more therapeutic stimulation parameters for the OSA treatment; and cause the therapy delivery circuitry to deliver therapeutic electrical stimulation signals according to at least the determined one or more therapeutic stimulation parameters.

Abstract: An insulative body of a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes a pre-formed channel having a section extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body. An electrode portion of a conductive component has an electrode contact surface facing outward from a first side of the body and a coupling portion embedded in the body. A conductor, which is coupled to the coupling portion of the component, is disposed in the channel.

Abstract: Seals used within lead bores of implantable medical devices for creating a seal to implantable medical leads inserted into the lead bores include a cylinder that engages the lead body. The length of contact of the cylinder to the lead body is at least 0.010? long while average contact pressure is no greater than (10 pounds per inch)/(contact length). Adequate electrical isolation is achieved, even when a debris particle is present between the inner cylinder and the lead body while insertion force remains acceptable.

Abstract: Seals used within lead bores of implantable medical devices for creating a seal to implantable medical leads inserted into the lead bores include an inner cylinder that engages the lead body. The inner cylinder is surrounded by a gap to either an outer cylinder of the seal or to surrounding structures of the implantable medical device. The inner cylinder has freedom of movement within the gap such that movement of the lead body that is off-axis relative to a centerline of the lead bore causes movement of the inner cylinder that is providing the seal. In this manner, the seal engagement to the lead body is maintained during this off-axis movement of the lead body.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads and/or lead extensions include a band that encapsulates a portion of conductors of the lead and/or lead extension. The band may be reflowed in order to provide the encapsulation of the conductors. The band may further be used to create a seal together with the surrounding lead body and an additional object such as a stiffener rod, stylet tube, and/or molding stylet, to allow a proximal area of a lumen of the lead body to be injection molded while prevent the injection molding material from proceeding past the band. When a stiffener rod is present in a proximal area of the lead and/or lead extension, additional stiffness is provided to the lead body to resist buckling of the lead body during insertion of the proximal end. The band may be bonded to the stiffener rod to fix the position of the stiffener rod relative to the conductors.

Abstract: A sleeve for a medical lead includes a tubular body having a first open end and a second open end, a tubular wall extending between the first and second ends and defining a hollow center, and a longitudinal axis extending through the hollow center. A first pocket is disposed in the tubular wall and having a curved transverse cross section and a first access opening at the first open end of the tubular body. A medical lead system includes a medical lead and the sleeve configured to slide over the medical lead and be adjacent to the electrode region.

Abstract: A medical lead includes a lead body, an electrical connector, an electrical conductor, and a sleeve. The lead body includes a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis of the lead body. The electrical connector is positioned near the proximal end of the lead body. The electrical conductor extends about the longitudinal axis of the lead body. The sleeve is coupled to an insulative material of the lead body and positioned around the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the electrical connector. The sleeve is not fixed to the electrical conductor. In response to bending of the medical lead, the conductor may move within the sleeve to relieve strain created by the bending.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads and/or lead extensions include a band that encapsulates a portion of conductors of the lead and/or lead extension. The band may be reflowed in order to provide the encapsulation of the conductors. The band may further be used to create a seal together with the surrounding lead body and an additional object such as a stiffener rod, stylet tube, and/or molding stylet, to allow a proximal area of a lumen of the lead body to be injection molded while prevent the injection molding material from proceeding past the band. When a stiffener rod is present in a proximal area of the lead and/or lead extension, additional stiffness is provided to the lead body to resist buckling of the lead body during insertion of the proximal end. The band may be bonded to the stiffener rod to fix the position of the stiffener rod relative to the conductors.

Abstract: A medical lead includes a main body having a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a longitudinal axis parallel to the length, and a proximal portion adjacent to the proximal end and a distal portion adjacent to the distal end; a plurality of electrodes defining an electrode region; and an imaging marker positioned between the electrode region and the proximal end and separated from the electrode region by a distance in an axial direction. The imaging marker may include one or more marker segments. The imaging marker may be disposed in a pocket of a sleeve at least partially surrounding the main body and comprising one or more pockets for receiving the imaging marker. The medical lead may be operatively connected to an implantable medical device.

Abstract: A medical lead system includes a lead body, a plurality of electrical conductors, and a plurality of electrodes. The lead body may include a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis of the lead body. The plurality of electrical conductors extending about the longitudinal axis of the lead body. The plurality of electrodes is positioned around an outer perimeter of the lead body. An inner surface of each of the plurality of electrodes defines an inner perimeter. Each respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes is electrically coupled to a respective electrical conductor of the plurality of electrical conductors. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes includes at least one electrode locking feature extending into the lead body from the inner perimeter.

Abstract: A medical lead system includes a lead body, a plurality of electrical conductors, and a plurality of electrodes. The lead body may include a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis of the lead body. The plurality of electrical conductors extending about the longitudinal axis of the lead body. The plurality of electrodes is positioned around an outer perimeter of the lead body. An inner surface of each of the plurality of electrodes defines an inner perimeter. Each respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes is electrically coupled to a respective electrical conductor of the plurality of electrical conductors. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes includes at least one electrode locking feature extending into the lead body from the inner perimeter.

Abstract: A medical lead system includes a lead body, a plurality of electrical conductors, and a plurality of electrodes. The lead body may include a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis of the lead body. The plurality of electrical conductors extending about the longitudinal axis of the lead body. The plurality of electrodes is positioned around an outer perimeter of the lead body. An inner surface of each of the plurality of electrodes defines an inner perimeter. Each respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes is electrically coupled to a respective electrical conductor of the plurality of electrical conductors. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes includes at least one electrode locking feature extending into the lead body from the inner perimeter.

Abstract: Seals used within lead bores of implantable medical devices for creating a seal to implantable medical leads inserted into the lead bores include a cylinder that engages the lead body. The length of contact of the cylinder to the lead body is at least 0.010? long while average contact pressure is no greater than (10 pounds per inch)/(contact length). Adequate electrical isolation is achieved, even when a debris particle is present between the inner cylinder and the lead body while insertion force remains acceptable.

Abstract: An assembly for forming a medical lead includes a lead body, a plurality of electrical conductors extending about a longitudinal axis of the lead body, and at least one segmented electrode preform that includes an electrically conductive ring and an insulator portion within the electrically conductive ring. The electrically conductive ring includes a plurality of electrode portions and a plurality of raised portions that alternate continuously around the ring. Each of the plurality of electrode portions is continuous at a radius from a center of the electrically conductive ring that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the medical lead. The insulator portion has a plurality of projections each extending into a respective raised portion of the ring beyond a radius that corresponds to the outer perimeter of the medical lead. Each respective electrode portion is electrically coupled to a respective electrical conductor of the plurality of electrical conductors.

Abstract: An epidural space is cleared of fat and scar tissue in preparation for implantation of a medical lead by utilizing a clearing tool. The clearing tool has an outer body and an inner body present within a lumen of the outer body. The outer body may be malleable and have a pre-set deflection or may be flexible and achieve deflection when being inserted into the epidural space. Once in the epidural space, the inner body is extended distally from the lumen of the outer body such that a distal tip on the inner body extends further into the epidural space to provide clearing to the target site without requiring further ingress of the outer body. The inner body is retracted and the clearing tool is removed. The medical lead is then inserted through the window and cleared epidural space until reaching the target site.

Abstract: Seals used within lead bores of implantable medical devices for creating a seal to implantable medical leads inserted into the lead bores include an inner cylinder that engages the lead body. The inner cylinder is surrounded by a gap to either an outer cylinder of the seal or to surrounding structures of the implantable medical device. The inner cylinder has freedom of movement within the gap such that movement of the lead body that is off-axis relative to a centerline of the lead bore causes movement of the inner cylinder that is providing the seal. In this manner, the seal engagement to the lead body is maintained during this off-axis movement of the lead body.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads and/or lead extensions include a band that encapsulates a portion of conductors of the lead and/or lead extension. The band may be reflowed in order to provide the encapsulation of the conductors. The band may further be used to create a seal together with the surrounding lead body and an additional object such as a stiffener rod, stylet tube, and/or molding stylet, to allow a proximal area of a lumen of the lead body to be injection molded while prevent the injection molding material from proceeding past the band. When a stiffener rod is present in a proximal area of the lead and/or lead extension, additional stiffness is provided to the lead body to resist buckling of the lead body during insertion of the proximal end. The band may be bonded to the stiffener rod to fix the position of the stiffener rod relative to the conductors.

Abstract: A medical lead includes a lead body, an electrical connector, an electrical conductor, and a sleeve. The lead body includes a distal end and a proximal end defining a longitudinal axis of the lead body. The electrical connector is positioned near the proximal end of the lead body. The electrical conductor extends about the longitudinal axis of the lead body. The sleeve is coupled to an insulative material of the lead body and positioned around the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the electrical connector. The sleeve is not fixed to the electrical conductor. In response to bending of the medical lead, the conductor may move within the sleeve to relieve strain created by the bending.

Abstract: An epidural space is cleared of fat and scar tissue in preparation for implantation of a medical lead by utilizing a clearing tool. The clearing tool has a flexible body that allows the clearing tool to deflect when entering the epidural space through a window in the vertebral bone and ligaments. The clearing tool is guided into the epidural space and to a target site by a guidewire present in the epidural space. Upon removal of the guidewire and clearing tool, the medical lead is inserted through the window and cleared epidural space until reaching the target site. The clearing tool may include a distal tip with a shape and size that aids in the clearing of the epidural space. The distal tip may be integral to the clearing tool or may be removable so as to allow for different sizes of the distal tip to be installed as needed.