Abstract: An implantable cell/tissue-based biosensor device detects and/or monitors the amount of one or more specific analytes within a patient. Stimulation circuitry stimulates the cells/tissue of the biosensor device causing the cells/tissue to evoke a response that is altered by the presence of a specific analyte. Sensing circuitry detects the evoked response and the amount of analyte is determined based on the detected response.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing and a coating disposed on the housing. The coating includes a conductive carrier and a therapeutic agent, e.g. an anti-infective agent such as silver particles. The conductive carrier can be any suitable conductive material, such as iridium oxide, titanium nitride, diamond-like carbon, graphite, polyaniline, platinum, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, platinum black, or poly 3,4,-ethylenedioxythiophene. Coatings containing iridium oxide and metallic silver particles are effective in inhibiting bacterial growth in vitro.

Abstract: An implantable electrical medical device and method for manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes forming a conductive substrate, placing the conductive substrate in a deposition chamber; and forming a conformal coating over the conductive substrate using atomic layer deposition. In various embodiments, the conformal coating is a conductive coating and in other embodiments the conformal coating is a dielectric coating.

Abstract: A medical device lead is presented. The medical device lead includes a lead body and a tip electrode. A radio frequency shunted sleeve head is coupled to the lead body and to the tip electrode. The sleeve head includes a proximal end and a distal end. A biostable dielectric coating is introduced over the sleeve head.

Abstract: An implantable medical electrode for use with implantable medical device systems having a base formed of a tungsten alloy. The tungsten alloy electrode may be a lead-based or leadless electrode and may be provided with or without a coating. The tungsten alloy electrode is utilized in an implantable medical device that includes an electrode having a base formed of a tungsten alloy, an electrical contact, and an electronics module adapted to be electrically coupled to the electrode via the electrical contact.

Abstract: An implantable cell/tissue-based biosensor device detects and/or monitors the amount of one or more specific analytes within a patient. Stimulation circuitry stimulates the cells/tissue of the biosensor device causing the cells/tissue to evoke a response that is altered by the presence of a specific analyte. Sensing circuitry detects the evoked response and the amount of analyte is determined based on the detected response.

Abstract: The present invention is a molecular nano film formed on a surface of an implantable medical device to provide a barrier to tissue attachment. The film comprises self-assembling cross-linking molecules.

Abstract: Methods of attaching a ligand to a surface are described that include contacting a surface with a substrate containing an amphiphilic comb polymer. The substrate is configured to provide a pattern of the amphiphilic comb polymer on a selected region of the surface. The substrate can be separated from the surface leaving the amphiphilic comb polymer on the selected region of the surface, thus providing a selected region of the surface having amphiphilic comb polymer on it. A ligand can then be deposited on the surface such that the selected region of the surface having the amphiphilic comb polymer is substantially free of the ligand.

Abstract: Methods of attaching a ligand to a surface are described that include contacting a surface with a substrate containing an amphiphilic comb polymer. The substrate is configured to provide a pattern of the amphiphilic comb polymer on a selected region of the surface. The substrate can be separated from the surface leaving the amphiphilic comb polymer on the selected region of the surface, thus providing a selected region of the surface having amphiphilic comb polymer on it. A ligand can then be deposited on the surface such that the selected region of the surface having the amphiphilic comb polymer is substantially free of the ligand.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for optimizing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may include one or more of the following steps: (a) conducting a baseline measurement of a physical parameter of a patient before initiating CRT, (b) performing an implantation process including implanting a pacing device and pacing leads in the patient, the pacing device and pacing leads for providing the CRT, (c) initiating CRT on the patient, (d) measuring the physical parameter of the patient after initiation of the CRT, (e) comparing the measured physical parameter after initiation of the CRT to the baseline measure of the physical parameter to analyze the patient's response to the CRT, (f) adjusting the CRT during the implantation process to try and improve the patient's response to the CRT, and (g) repositioning at least one of the patient leads during the implantation process to try and improve the patient's response to the CRT.

Abstract: A biomedical polymer has a substantially linear base polymer; and branched polyethylene oxide covalently bonded to the base polymer as surface active end groups. The branched polyethylene oxide has at least two, more particularly at least four, and still more particularly at least six branches. Suitable base polymers include epoxies, polyurethanes, polyurethane copolymers, fluoropolymers, polyolefins and silicone rubbers. Biologically active agents may be attached to the branched polyethylene oxide. Suitable biologically active agents include microbial peptide agents, detergents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cations, amine-containing organosilicones, diphosphonates, fatty acids, fatty acid salts, heparin and glucocorticosteroids. The biological polymer may be used as a casing for a medical unit of an implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker. In this case, the casing at least partially encloses the medical unit.

Abstract: An implantable biosensor system is disclosed for determining levels of cardiac markers in a patient to aid in the diagnosis, determination of the severity and management of cardiovascular diseases. The sensor includes nanowire sensor elements having a biological recognition element attached to a nanowire transducer that specifically binds to the cardiac marker being measured. Each of the sensor elements is associated with a protective member that prevents the sensor element from interacting with the surrounding environment. At a selected time, the protective member may be disabled, thereby allowing the sensor element to begin sensing signals within a living body.

Abstract: An implantable sensor includes a biosensor, integrated circuitry to operate the biosensor and an antenna to transmit data collected from the biosensor. The sensor does not include an internal power source and instead receives power from an external source in the form of RF energy. The RF energy is received by the sensor, rectified, and used as a DC source. The sensor is implanted in a subcutaneous location to allow the biosensor to measure desired characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining a property of an analyte using a sensing layer whose optical response changes with the analyte. The apparatus includes a housing with an optically transparent window for receiving the sensing layer. The window passes optical stimulation to the sensing layer and the optical response from the sensing layer. A stimulating light emitter is coupled to a first face of an optical body monolithically coupled to the window and a light detector is coupled to a second face of the optical body for receiving the response. The optical response changes as the concentration of the analyte changes. Reference molecules included in the sensing layer can provide a calibration signal to a second light detector mounted on a third face of the optical body. The first, second and third faces of the optical body are different and not coplanar.

Abstract: A biomedical polymer has a substantially linear base polymer; and branched polyethylene oxide covalently bonded to the base polymer as surface active end groups. The branched polyethylene oxide has at least two, more particularly at least four, and still more particularly at least six branches. Suitable base polymers include epoxies, polyurethanes, polyurethane copolymers, fluoropolymers, polyolefins and silicone rubbers. Biologically active agents may be attached to the branched polyethylene oxide. Suitable biologically active agents include microbial peptide agents, detergents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cations, amine-containing organosilicones, diphosphonates, fatty acids, fatty acid salts, heparin and glucocorticosteroids. The biological polymer may be used as a casing for a medical unit of an implantable medical device, such as a pacemaker. In this case, the casing at least partially encloses the medical unit.

Abstract: Methods of attaching a ligand to a surface are described that include contacting a surface having an amphiphilic comb polymer present thereon and having a first reactive moiety attached thereto with a substrate having at least one ligand thereon. The ligand can include a second reactive moiety, wherein the second reactive moiety of the biological ligand and the first reactive moiety of the amphiphilic comb polymer form a covalent bond. The substrate can be separated from the surface, thereby leaving the biological ligand covalently bound to the amphiphilic comb polymer.

Abstract: Functionalized polymer surfaces having reactive moieties thereon are contacted with stamps having ligands adsorbed thereto, the ligands also comprising reactive moieties. The reactive moieties of the functionalized surfaces and the ligands form covalent bonds, thus providing a method of microstamping polymer surfaces directly with ligands such as biological ligands. Using this method, devices such as tissue culture plates with polymer surfaces that are microstamped directly with ligands can be made.