Abstract: A small diameter, shielded, fine wire glass fiber conductor which is capable of transmitting optical and electrical signals in environments with electromagnetic interference or radio frequency interferences. The conductor includes a fiber core, a first insulation layer, a conductive layer, a second insulation layer, a shielding layer, and an outer coating. Applications include use in aerospace, automotive, and other vehicles as well as potential use in electrostimulation devices, such as pacemaker leads, vascular guidewires and other medical applications.

Abstract: A small diameter, shielded, fine wire glass fiber conductor which is capable of transmitting optical and electrical signals in environments with electromagnetic interference or radio frequency interferences. The conductor includes a fiber core, a first insulation layer, a conductive layer, a second insulation layer, a shielding layer, and an outer coating. Applications include use in aerospace, automotive, and other vehicles as well as potential use in electrostimulation devices, such as pacemaker leads, vascular guidewires and other medical applications.

Abstract: A system including an implantable defibrillation electrode includes a first layer of porous Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) adjacent to at least one surface of the defibrillation electrode, the first layer of porous PTFE having a fibril length adapted to bleed gas away from the at least one surface of the defibrillation electrode, and a second layer of porous PTFE formed over the first layer, the second layer of porous PTFE having a fibril length adapted to prevent substantially all tissue in-growth.

Abstract: An improved system and method for deploying medical electrical leads is disclosed. The system includes a guiding device such as a guidewire used to navigate the vascular system of a body. The guiding device includes a fixation member that can be deployed to maintain the guiding device at a desired location within the vascular system. The fixation member may be an inflatable device such as a balloon, or alternatively, may be an expandable device constructed of flexible fibers that has both an expanded and a contracted state. The system may further include a coupling member located adjacent to the guiding device. The coupling member may be a rail extending distally from a proximal end of the guiding device to a point proximal the fixation member. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the coupling member is a channel included in the body of the guiding device adapted to slidably engage an electrode assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved system and method to selectively promote tissue in-growth on, or adjacent to, an implantable medical device. In one embodiment, at least one surface of the housing of a medical device is in contact with a first portion of a porous PTFE having a pore size adapted to prevent substantially all tissue in-growth. This first portion, or layer, of porous PTFE material is further in contact at predetermined locations with an additional porous PTFE layer having a pore size adapted to selectively promote tissue in-growth only at the predetermined locations. Each of the PTFE layers may be formed of porous PTFE tubing or tape. Alternatively, the two layers may comprise a single composite structure that has a more porous material exposed on a first surface, and a less porous, more dense, material on a second surface. Another embodiment of the invention involves forming the layers of PTFE into a removable member that is adjacent to at least one surface of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: An implantable device including an elastically compressible member coupled to a distal end of a lead and further coupled to at least one electrode. The compressible member is in a contracted state when the electrode is being delivered to an implant site. At the implant site, the compressible member is expanded to urge the electrode into contact with tissue. Compressible member further includes a keyed structure to engage a stiffening member such as a stylet. The stiffening member is used both to deliver the electrode to the implant site, and to rotate the compressible member, if necessary, so that the electrode contacts predetermined body tissue. According to one aspect of the invention, an introducer having an inner lumen with a diameter that is smaller than that of the compressible member may be used to disengage the stiffening member from the compressible member.

Abstract: An implantable device including an elastically compressible member coupled to a distal end of a lead and further coupled to at least one electrode. The compressible member is in a contracted state when the electrode is being delivered to an implant site. At the implant site, the compressible member is expanded to urge the electrode into contact with tissue. Compressible member further includes a keyed structure to engage a stiffening member such as a stylet. The stiffening member is used both to deliver the electrode to the implant site, and to rotate the compressible member, if necessary, so that the electrode contacts predetermined body tissue. According to one aspect of the invention, an introducer having an inner lumen with a diameter that is smaller than that of the compressible member may be used to disengage the stiffening member from the compressible member.