Abstract: A temperature monitoring system for a medical device comprises an optical transmit/receive unit, an elongate optical fiber having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner core extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and one or more fiber Bragg grating elements formed in the inner core of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is operably coupled to the transmit/receive unit at the proximal end. At least a portion of the optical fiber is also operably coupled to a medical device and is structured to measure temperature at one or more temperature sensing locations on the medical device.

Abstract: A lead assembly for an implantable medical device includes a lead body having a first portion adapted for coupling to a pulse generator and a second portion adapted for implantation. First and second co-radial conductive coils are electrically isolated from each other and include a first and second number of coil turns. The first and second number of coil turns include a number of matched turns and a number of unmatched turns, and the number of unmatched turns is less than approximately 2.0% of the total number of unmatched and matched turns. First and second electrodes located at the second portion are respectively coupled to the first and second conductive coils. At least one capacitor element is connected in parallel with one or both of the first and second conductive coils and/or between the first and second conductive coils.

Abstract: A lead assembly for an implantable medical device. The lead assembly comprises a lead body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is adapted for coupling to a pulse generator and the second portion is adapted for implantation in or near a heart. First and second co-radial conductive coils are positioned within the lead body and electrically isolated from each other. The first and second conductive coils include a first and second number of coil turns and the first number is substantially equivalent to the second number. A ring electrode is located at the second portion and a tip electrode is located distal to the ring electrode and coupled to the second conductive coil.

Abstract: An MRI compatible electrode circuit construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter at or near an electrode/wire interface that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include one or more non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter. The non-resonant filter(s) may also attenuate the RF current reflected from the resonant LC filter thereby resolving the issue of the strong reflected power from the resonant filter and the associated dielectric heating.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can include a method for reducing MRI interference from a physiological electrical signal received in an implantable medical device. The method can include the steps of amplifying the physiological electrical signal with a high bandwidth amplifier and sampling the amplified physiological electrical signal at a sampling frequency of at least 8 kHz to obtain a first high-frequency sequence of samples. The method can further includes the steps of processing the first high-frequency sequence of samples to identify a signal artifact that is characteristic of MRI interference and creating a second high-frequency sequence of samples by reducing the signal artifact characteristic of MRI interference from the first sequence of samples. Embodiments can also include a method of determining a heart rate from a physiological electrical signal received in an implantable medical device.

Abstract: A lead assembly for an implantable medical device. The lead assembly comprises a lead body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is adapted for coupling to a pulse generator and the second portion is adapted for implantation in or near a heart. First and second co-radial conductive coils are positioned within the lead body and electrically isolated from each other. The first and second conductive coils include a first and second number of coil turns and the first number is substantially equivalent to the second number. A ring electrode is located at the second portion and a tip electrode is located distal to the ring electrode and coupled to the second conductive coil.

Abstract: A lead assembly for an implantable medical device. The lead assembly comprises a lead body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is adapted for coupling to a pulse generator and the second portion is adapted for implantation in or near a heart. First and second co-radial conductive coils are positioned within the lead body and electrically isolated from each other. The first and second conductive coils include a first and second number of coil turns and the first number is substantially equivalent to the second number. A ring electrode is located at the second portion and a tip electrode is located distal to the ring electrode and coupled to the second conductive coil. The first conductive coil extends past the ring electrode and transitions to a non-coiled region, which extends back to and couples to the ring electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can include a method for reducing MRI interference from a physiological electrical signal received in an implantable medical device. The method can include the steps of amplifying the physiological electrical signal with a high bandwidth amplifier and sampling the amplified physiological electrical signal at a sampling frequency of at least 8 kHz to obtain a first high-frequency sequence of samples. The method can further includes the steps of processing the first high-frequency sequence of samples to identify a signal artifact that is characteristic of MRI interference and creating a second high-frequency sequence of samples by reducing the signal artifact characteristic of MRI interference from the first sequence of samples. Embodiments can also include a method of determining a heart rate from a physiological electrical signal received in an implantable medical device.

Abstract: A lead assembly for an implantable medical device. The lead assembly comprises a lead body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is adapted for coupling to a pulse generator and the second portion is adapted for implantation in or near a heart. First and second co-radial conductive coils are positioned within the lead body and electrically isolated from each other. The first and second conductive coils include a first and second number of coil turns and the first number is substantially equivalent to the second number. A ring electrode is located at the second portion and a tip electrode is located distal to the ring electrode and coupled to the second conductive coil. The first conductive coil extends past the ring electrode and transitions to a non-coiled region, which extends back to and couples to the ring electrode.

Abstract: An implantable and extractable sensor is used for monitoring blood flow and vessel characteristics within a patient. The sensor includes a structurally supportive shuttle that has an angularly offset shelf. A transducer is mounted to this shelf and offset at the same angle so as to utilizes the Doppler effect. Silicone is injection molded around the assembly to provide a housing having a plurality of cutouts that expose portions of release wires running through the housing. The sensor is attached to the vessel by suturing around the exposed portions of the release wires. When the wires are retracted, the sensor can be extracted from the patient without having to reopen the surgical wound. The shuttle provides a consistent location to mount a transducer and also provides the structural support for the silicone housing.