Abstract: A connector terminal of a medical electrical lead or adapter includes a strut member supporting at least one electrical contact element and at least one seal zone element, which is positioned adjacent to the contact element.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body having a lead body lumen and an electrode head assembly having an inner wall and an electrode head assembly lumen adjacent to the lead body lumen. The lead further includes a drive shaft that extends through the lead body lumen and the electrode head assembly lumen, and a sealing member, having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner wall of the electrode head assembly lumen. The sealing member includes an inner lumen that receives the drive shaft, an outer sealing member that is fixedly engaged with the inner wall of the electrode head assembly, and an inner sealing member engaged with the drive shaft to provide a low friction seal.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead is provided that is readily manufactured using a minimal number of parts, has a reduced size and improved reliability during implantation and extraction. The lead includes a modular electrode head assembly that is joined to a lead body at a butt joint. The butt joint is stabilized in at least four possible ways: insulation tubing that spans the joint is bonded to the electrode head assembly; two cabled conductors extending the length of the lead body are coupled to the electrode head assembly; an electrode head alignment peg interlocks with and is bonded to the lead body; and a coil electrode is positioned across the butt joint on the outer diameter of the assembly and the lead body. The lead size is minimized by using a compact retraction stop mechanism, a low-friction, press-fit drive shaft seal, and a small diameter coiled conductor insulated by a thin-walled insulating tube.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead is provided that is readily manufactured using a minimal number of parts, has a reduced size and improved reliability during implantation and extraction. The lead includes a modular electrode head assembly that is joined to a lead body at a butt joint. The butt joint is stabilized in at least four possible ways: insulation tubing that spans the joint is bonded to the electrode head assembly; two cabled conductors extending the length of the lead body are coupled to the electrode head assembly; an electrode head alignment peg interlocks with and is bonded to the lead body; and a coil electrode is positioned across the butt joint on the outer diameter of the assembly and the lead body. The lead size is minimized by using a compact retraction stop mechanism, a low-friction, press-fit drive shaft seal, and a small diameter coiled conductor insulated by a thin-walled insulating tube.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body having a lead body lumen and an electrode head assembly having an inner wall and an electrode head assembly lumen adjacent to the lead body lumen. The lead further includes a drive shaft that extends through the lead body lumen and the electrode head assembly lumen, and a sealing member, having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner wall of the electrode head assembly lumen. The sealing member includes an inner lumen that receives the drive shaft, an outer sealing member that is fixedly engaged with the inner wall of the electrode head assembly, and an inner sealing member engaged with the drive shaft to provide a low friction seal.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body having a plurality of lead body lumens, an electrode head assembly fixedly engaged with the lead body, a first conductor extending within a first lead body lumen of the plurality of lead body lumens, and a first electrode, positioned along the electrode head assembly, having a deformation coupling the first electrode to the first conductor and transferring traction forces applied to the lead body to the electrode head assembly. A second electrode extends along the electrode head assembly and the lead body and a second conductor extends within a second lead body lumen of the plurality of lead body lumens.

Abstract: A medical lead having a rotatable helical tip electrode helix and a retraction stop mechanism for preventing over-retraction of the helical tip electrode during lead repositioning. The retraction stop mechanism includes an engaging member positioned along a drive shaft of the lead and having a front surface, a flange portion extending along the front surface of the engaging member, and a retraction flange. Rotation of the drive shaft causes the flange portion to engage the retraction flange so that rotation of the drive shaft is absorbed by the conductor.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead that includes a lead body having a lead body lumen, an electrode head assembly fixedly engaged with the lead body and having an electrode head assembly lumen communicating with the lead body lumen, and a conductor extending within the lead body lumen and the electrode head assembly lumen. An insulating member extends through the electrode head assembly lumen and the lead body lumen to electrically isolate the conductor.

Abstract: A lead which is provided with a lead body and a connector assembly which are flexible and resistant to fatigue caused by flexing of the lead relative to an associated implantable medical device to which the lead is coupled. The lead is provided with an elongated lead body with a connector assembly located at its proximal end and carrying at least two elongated conductors extending along the lead body to the connector assembly, arranges such that distal to a first point along the lead body the lead body is provided with at least two separate longitudinal lumens, each carrying at least one of the two conductors and proximal to the first point, the lead is provided with a tubular member, arranged such that the two conductors extend proximally from the first point wrapped helically around the tubular member. In a preferred embodiment, the lead carries at least three elongated conductors, and at least one of the conductors is wrapped helically around the tubular at a pitch greater than the diameter the conductors.

Abstract: An implantable cardioversion/defibrillation lead having an elongated insulative lead body carrying a tip electrode located at its distal end and a cardioversion/defibrillation electrode located on the lead body, proximal to the tip electrode. An elongated conductor coupled to the tip electrode extends proximally within the lead body. At the proximal end of the lead body is a first connector assembly carrying a first connector and a second connector assembly carrying a second connector. An elongated, stranded or cabled conductor is coupled to the cardioversion/defibrillation electrode and to the second connector and extends uninterrupted therebetween. A cylindrical transition member is coupled to the first connector by means of a coiled conductor. A press-fit sleeve having a longitudinal lumen extending therethrough compresses the stranded or conductor between the press-fit sleeve and the transition member to provide electrical interconnection between the stranded or cabled conductor and the transition member.

Abstract: An implantable electrical lead of the type which has an insulative rigid electrode head carrying an advanceable helical electrode. The electrode head is mounted toan elongated insulative lead body which is less rigid than the electrode head and which carries an extensible conductor coupled to the helical electrode and an inextensible conductor coupled to the proximal end of the lead body. A second electrode is mounted to said lead body adjacent the electrode head and is coupled to the inextensible conductor by a conductive sleeve which is mechanically coupled to electrode head so that proximally directed traction forces applied to the lead body are applied by the inextensible conductor directly to the electrode head.

Abstract: A system for connecting electrical leads having connector assemblies carrying electrical connectors to an implantable electrical device having a device housing containing electrical circuitry, including a first connector module fixedly mounted to the device housing, with a first set of electrical connectors coupled to the circuitry within the device housing and a second connector module, with a second set of electrical connectors engageable with the first set of connectors and a second set of connectors electrically coupled to the second set of connectors and engageable with the connectors on the electrical leads and a mechanism for retaining the second module on an outer surface of the device housing adjacent the first module while the second set of connectors engages the first set of connectors.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system including an implantable electronic device having multiple electrical connectors and an associated electrical lead also having a corresponding set of electrical connectors which engage with the connectors on the device. The lead has a connector assembly mounted to its proximal end, including the lead's electrical connectors and a mechanical connector. The device has a connector block with a bore extending therethrough sized to receive the connector assembly of the lead. A pulling tool is provided for pulling the lead connector assembly proximally in the bore of said connector block from a first position in which the lead's connector assembly is not fully inserted in the connector block to a second position in which said connector assembly is fully inserted in the connector block, the pulling tool being provided with a mechanical connector which engages with mechanical connector on the lead's connector assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a locking stylet for extracting elongate, body-implantable leads or catheters having a lumen disposed therewithin. A tubular member of the present invention has an outer diameter "A" sufficiently small to permit its insertion in the lumen of a lead or catheter, and additionally has an aperture formed in the sidewall thereof at a point near the distal end thereof. A pull wire is affixed to the distal end of the tubular member through the lumen and extends slightly beyond the proximal end of the tubular member. A tractional force imparting mechanism is coupled to the proximal end of the pull wire for exerting a tractional force on the pull wire. Tractional force is transferred by the pull wire to the distal end of the tubular member and causes the distal end of the tubular member to permanently deform, sharply bend or kink at a point located beneath the aperture.

Abstract: A connector assembly for effectuating electrical and mechanical coupling between an implantable device and a lead comprises a main body portion and a rotating lever which collectively define a socket for receiving the terminal end of the lead therein. When the lever is in an unlocked or open position, very little insertion force is required to introduce the terminal end of the lead into the socket. When the lever is rotated to its closed position, a J-groove connection between the lever and the main body portion causes the lever to be drawn toward the main body portion. This inward travel of the lever causes an annular sealing grommet in the connector assembly to be compressed around the circumference of the lead body, effectuating a frictional and fluid-tight connection between the lead and the implantable device. In another embodiment of the invention, compression of the sealing grommet is accomplished by pressing downward on a slide element.

Abstract: An implantable electrode of the type in which an elongated wire coil forms the electrode surface. The electrode coil is mounted around an insulative lead body and is stabilized on the lead body by means of a plastic filler between the individual turns of the electrode coil, extending radially outwardly to approximately one-third of the diameter of the electrode coil wire. The filler is produced by stretching a portion of the lead body which normally displays an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the electrode coil sliding the electrode coil over the lead body, inserting an expandable mandrel into the lead body and expanding the mandrel to urge the lead body into contact with the electrode coil. This assembly is then heated to encourage flow of the lead body into the spaces between the electrode coil to stabilize the coil on electrode body and to present fibrotic ingrowth around the electrode coil wire.