Abstract: The invention discloses an energy-providing bone-repair degradable porous scaffold, a preparation method thereof, and an application thereof. The invention obtains an energy-based biomaterial solution by compositing gelatin, a polyatomic acid and derivatives thereof, a dibasic alcohol and derivatives thereof, and a tribasic alcohol and derivatives thereof in a chemical cross-linking manner by using diisocyanate, and further obtains a porous scaffold through a drying method. The porous scaffold can avoid the problem of an acidic microenvironment caused by in vivo implantation of the existing biomaterial and keep the activity of an osteoblast cell, thereby improving the rate of repairing the damaged bone tissue with the energy-based biomaterial. The porous scaffold of the invention can be used as a filling material for bone repair in a surgical operation.

Abstract: The disclosure provides hyaluronic acid (HA) gel formulations and methods for treating the appearance of the skin. The formulations contain hyaluronic acid and at least one additional ingredient. Methods for treating lines, wrinkles, fibroblast depletions, and scars with the disclosed composition are provided as well.

Abstract: A cyclized peptide designated BMP Binding Peptide (BBP) is a synthetic peptide that avidly binds rhBMP-2, as do endogenous forms of BBP, and sequence conservation between species results in a variety of useful BBP compositions. BBP increases the over-all osteogenic activity of rhBMP-2, increases the rate at which rhBMP-2 induces bone formation, and BBP induces calcification alone. Compositions and substrates including BBP, and methods of using BBP are useful in therapeutic, diagnostic and clinical applications requiring calcification and osteogenesis.

Abstract: Described herein are bioprinters comprising: one or more printer heads, wherein a printer head comprises a means for receiving and holding at least one cartridge, and wherein said cartridge comprises contents selected from one or more of: bio-ink and support material; a means for calibrating the position of at least one cartridge; and a means for dispensing the contents of at least one cartridge. Further described herein are methods for fabricating a tissue construct, comprising: a computer module receiving input of a visual representation of a desired tissue construct; a computer module generating a series of commands, wherein the commands are based on the visual representation and are readable by a bioprinter; a computer module providing the series of commands to a bioprinter; and the bioprinter depositing bio-ink and support material according to the commands to form a construct with a defined geometry.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the patency of biodegradable, synthetic vascular grafts are provided. The methods include administering one or more cytokines and/or chemokines that promote outward tissue remodeling of the vascular grafts and vascular neotissue formation. The disclosed methods do not require cell seeding of the vascular grafts, thus avoiding many problems associated with cell seeding. Biodegradable, polymeric vascular grafts which provide controlled release of cytokines and/or chemokines at the site of vascular graft implantation are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a high strength, bioresorbable wall thickness suitable for use in an endoprosthesis such as a stent that is produced by first forming a wall thickness by melt processing or solution processing one or more bioresorbable materials into a tubular shape; drawing the shape from shorter length to an optimum longer length and reducing the diameter from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter to orient the molecular chains of the material; fabricating a stent from the tube formed of the oriented material by cutting a strut pattern in its wall thickness; covering the stent's struts with at least one coating to delay degradation of the bioresorbable material; covering the stent's struts with one or more controlled release active ingredients to minimize the risk of restenosis or other side effects; crimping the stent onto a balloon catheter assembly; delivering the stent into an anatomical lumen via percutaneous methods to a treatment location; radially expanding the stent from a smaller size to a la

Abstract: Implants for tissue repair/regeneration include a porous layer combined with dry materials that are activated to form a hydrogel upon contact with aqueous physiological fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implantable material having at least one external surface grafted with a film including carboxylate and sulfonate functions wherein the film is simultaneously synthesized and grafted directly on the external surface by radical reaction of a bifunctional adhesion primer of Formula (I) or by radical reaction of an adhesion primer and a bifunctional polymerizable monomer of Formula (II). The invention also relates to a process for directly synthesizing and grafting of a film according to the invention onto at least one external surface of an implantable material. The invention further relates to the use of a grafted implantable material for the manufacture of an antiproliferative and/or antibacterial implantable medical device. The invention also relates to compounds of Formula (I) and Formula (II).

Abstract: A digitally controlled aspirator is provided with a processor that allows the user to select operating conditions including one or more default settings. The processor further includes sensors for sensing operational and environmental conditions and adjusts the operation of the aspirator to reflect the sensed conditions.

Abstract: A catheter device and method for treating an artery with thrombus, the catheter comprising an inflatable member. A carrier catheter has a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be inserted percutaneously into an artery, the carrier catheter having a tubular body adjacent to a rear end of the inflatable member. An inflating tube passes through the tubular body and having an open front end in fluid communication with the inflatable member to inflate same. An infusion tube is adapted to infuse pharmacologic agents, the infusion tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end extending beyond the inflatable member. An aspiration tube is adapted to aspire the thrombus, the aspiration tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end between the carrier catheter and the inflatable member.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for measuring and calculating parameters to control and monitor a power transfer in an implanted medical device, including operating the device in a plurality of scalable power modes and/or coupling modes. The system may shift between or among power and/or coupling modes based on input such as data received over system communication lines, programmable timers, or electrical loading information. The system may also shift between or among power and/or coupling modes based on calculated amounts of coupling, levels of detected heat flux, and/or amounts of estimated temperature changes.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis instrument including a blood pump actuator, a dialyzer, a heparin pump, and a disposable cassette including a blood pumping portion operable with the blood pump actuator of the dialysis instrument, the blood pumping portion including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the blood pumping portion of the disposable cassette positioned and arranged to receive blood from an arterial line of an extracorporeal circuit, the outlet of the blood pumping portion of the disposable cassette positioned and arranged to deliver the blood to the dialyzer and to receive heparin from the heparin pump.

Abstract: Method of dissolving/mixing of a concentrate in/with a fluid in a multi-chamber bag and a method for the production of a medical fluid, in particular a dialysis fluid, in a multi-chamber bag. Moreover, the multi-chamber bag itself is disclosed. In all embodiments, at least two different concentrates can be included separately in powder form, liquid form or semi-liquid slurry form for dissolution in a fluid in the multi-chamber bag. In addition, the use of the multi-chamber bag in haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis or a haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis device, in particular as a container for a dialysis fluid in a haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis device, is described.

Abstract: A regeneration system that has a first regeneration module containing a first chosen regenerative substance; a second regeneration module containing the first chosen regenerative substance; and a first mixing chamber. A first outlet stream of a fluid sequentially exits the first mixing chamber, flows through the first regeneration module in fluid communication with the first chosen regenerative substance and returns to the first mixing chamber, and a second outlet stream of the fluid sequentially exits the first mixing chamber and flows through the second regeneration module in fluid communication with the first chosen regenerative substance.

Abstract: A method for monitoring conveyance of fluid in a device for extracorporeal blood treatment, whereby fluid is conveyed by a peristaltic pump in a fluid system from a low-pressure side to a high-pressure side in that an elastically deformable fluid line positioned between the low-pressure side and the high-pressure side is deformed between a support surface and at least two squeeze elements of a rotor rotating opposite the support surface in such a way that a conveyance volume section is formed between the squeeze elements, whereby a fluid pressure value in the fluid system is detected for the conveyance volume section that is specific to the conveyance volume section, and whereby the detected conveyance-volume-specific fluid pressure value of a conveyance cycle n is compared with the detected conveyance-volume-specific fluid pressure value of a previous conveyance cycle n?x.

Abstract: A solution circuit apparatus for a blood purification system having an extracorporeal blood circuit. The solution circuit apparatus includes a solution source; a warmer having a temperature sensor; a bypass branch; a delivery branch communicating with the extracorporeal blood circuit; a pump; a switch; and a control unit configured to set the solution circuit apparatus into one of a solution delivery condition and a solution stop condition. In the solution delivery condition the switch interrupts the bypass branch, and the pump delivers solution via the warmer and through the delivery branch. In the solution stop condition the switch interrupts the delivery branch, and the pump recirculates solution through the warmer via the bypass branch. In the therapy stop condition the pump rate is dependent on the output of the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Devices for washing a composition including cells are provided. The devices include a separation channel, a first wave component and a second wave component. The separation channel is positioned between the first and second wave components. Collectively, the wave components generate a standing bulk acoustic wave that isolates cells from the composition.

Abstract: A fluid flow device includes a housing configured to releasably mate with a surgical control unit for controlling fluid flow during a surgical procedure. First and second ports measure fluid pressure within a fluid path provided within the housing. The fluid flow device includes a restrictor for restricting fluid flow at a restriction location along the fluid path. The first port is located upstream of the restriction location and the second port is located downstream of the restriction location. A fluid pump is provided within the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes motion. A plurality of image frames of the portion are acquired. A stream of image frames is generated in which a vicinity of a given feature of the image frames is enhanced, by (a) automatically identifying the given feature in each of the image frames, (b) aligning the given feature in two or more of the image frames, (c) averaging sets of two or more of the aligned frames to generate a plurality of averaged image frames, and (d) displaying as a stream of image frames the plurality of averaged image frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Various syringe systems are disclosed. One illustrative syringe system may include a syringe body having a hollow lumen and a distal end. The syringe body may be configured to house a plurality of fluids therein. A first plunger may be positioned in the hollow lumen of the syringe body, forming a first seal with an inner wall of the syringe body, and forming a first compartment between the first plunger and the distal end of the syringe. A second plunger may be positioned proximal to the first plunger in the hollow lumen of the syringe body, forming a second seal with the inner wall of the syringe body, and forming a second compartment between the first plunger and the second plunger. A plurality of recesses may be disposed about the inner wall of the syringe body near the distal end of the syringe body.

Abstract: An infusion and blood collection device allows clean blood collections into a collection tube via a previously installed angiocatheter without interrupting the administration of intravenous therapies after initial installation. The device optionally includes passive control of the blood collection flow rate to prevent contamination of the collected blood draw with the IV therapy fluid being simultaneously infused through the angiocatheter. A blood collection method uses an infusion and blood collection device to draw a clean blood sample from a patient and into a collection tube via a previously installed angiocatheter without interrupting the administration of intravenous therapies.

Abstract: A medical fluid injector system (450) is disclosed that may utilize one or more of flow rate determination logic (130), injection volume determination logic (132), display control logic (134), drive ram motion control logic (136), and pressure monitoring logic (138). The flow rate determination logic (130), injection volume determination logic (132), and display control logic (134) each may utilize a concentration input (172, 192, 202) to calculate flow rates, injection volumes, and generate multi-color graphics, respectively, for a simultaneous injection configuration. The drive ram motion control logic (136) may utilize both a target pressure and a monitored pressure to derive a velocity for advancing a drive ram. The pressure monitoring logic (138) may provide a monitored pressure value for the drive ram control logic (136), where this monitored pressure value may be derived from the input power being used to advance a drive ram and the drive ram velocity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drive mechanisms suitable for use in drug delivery devices, in particular pen-type injectors, wherein a number of pre-set doses of medicinal product can be administered. In particular, the present invention relates to such drug delivery devices where a user may activate the drug delivery device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bung (20), to a drug containing cartridge (10) and to a drug delivery device, wherein the bung (20) comprises a coding feature (28) for carrying information regarding at least one of the cartridge (10) and the content of the cartridge (10). Furthermore, it relates to a method for identifying a cartridge (10) containing a medicinal product.

Abstract: A plunger cover for use with a syringe includes a sealing portion adapted to form a seal with the syringe and a central portion adapted to contact fluid within the syringe. The central portion can, for example, be more rigid than the sealing portion. The sealing portion and the central portion are connected in an overmolding process. The sealing portion can, for example, be formed from a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoplastic polyurethane. The central portion can, for example, be formed from polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate or copolymers thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns an injection device for apportioning set doses of a drug from a reservoir to a subject. The injection device comprises a housing having an interior thread formed as an outwardly pointing thread carried on an upstanding tower centrally located in the injection device. The outwardly pointing thread forms a first thread connection with an interior thread of a rotatable scale drum. The injection device further comprises a driver for moving a piston rod forward when moved axially. The driver operates the piston rod through a second thread connection having a pitch different than the first thread connection.

Abstract: In an elongated casing, an active agent container connected to an injection needle can be shifted axially by a spring force. Auto-injectors which are sold or distributed filled and with the springs tensed have to be provided with a needle protecting cap to ensure the sterility of the injection needle. When such a needle protecting cap is removed as preparation for using the auto-injector, a tensile force can be exerted on the active agent container. Therefore, the active agent container comprising the injection needle must be prevented from being undesirably pulled forwards. At least one latching tongue prevents the active agent container from being prematurely shifted with respect to the casing, by abutting a flange arranged on a sliding sleeve which accommodates the active agent container. When the auto-injector is placed onto a person's skin, a needle protecting tube is shifted into the casing, forcing the latching tongue away from the flange and, thus, freeing the travel path for needle movement.

Abstract: Techniques, kits and a delivery instrument for providing a material at a defect repair site. The instrument is a combined delivery needle/elevator/paddle that includes a delivery needle and a paddle/elevator tip attached to the end of the needle and around the most distal opening of the needle. The combined needle/elevator/paddle instrument allows both delivery (insertion or injection) of the material/mixture as well as leveling/flattening of the delivered material. The mixture/material may be micronized allograft tissue such as BioCartilage® and the surgical site may be a defect site such as a microfracture site or cartilage defect.

Abstract: There is provided an insufflation system and an insufflation apparatus which can prevent a pressure inside a lumen from rapidly increasing and can achieve operability matched to a sense an operator. The insufflation apparatus is connected to an endoscope and an insertion assisting tool which guides the endoscope into the gastrointestinal tract. Carbon dioxide can be insufflated into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient through an internal conduit of the endoscope according to an operator's operation (manual insufflation). When the operator instructs the insufflation apparatus to perform the automatic insufflation, carbon dioxide is intermittently insufflated into the gastrointestinal tract through the insertion assisting tool so as to make the pressure inside the gastrointestinal tract become a set pressure (automatic insufflation). The insufflation flow rate of the manual insufflation is switched between the high flow rate and the low flow rate according to ON/OFF state of the automatic insufflation.

Abstract: Gas-pressure-based testing, in some embodiments, features a self-leak-testing module (120) that includes an internal sensor and is configured for measuring, using the sensor, gas leakage (179, 180) from a set of walls that defines respective gas passageways that both exist within the module and are incident to the gas pressure measured. One or more walls of the set may extend outside the module. The module can be configured for deciding, based on a result of the measuring, whether a magnitude of the leakage exceeds a predetermined threshold. A source for applying the pressure may be internal (138) or external (104, 132, 135). Gas pressure based pattern recognition can be used to identify, optionally during treatment and in real time, one or more leak sites responsible for the leakage. The module is implementable as a ventilation monitoring module that measures differential flow of a breathing circuit, the testing serving to prevent cross-contamination of patients.

Abstract: A tracheotomy device has a housing configured to guide the device to an appropriate location in a suprasternal notch of a subject and a hollow penetrator associated with the housing. The penetrator resiliently moves from a retracted restrained position to an extended operational position with sufficient force to penetrate a tracheal wall, where the operational position extends a pre-determined distance from the housing. The pre-determined distance is correlated to a distance required to penetrate an anterior side of the tracheal wall without penetrating a posterior side of the tracheal wall. An actuator associated with the housing and the penetrator for releasing the penetrator is configured for use in one hand. The device is simple and disposable and may be used by unskilled caregivers to successfully and safely perform a tracheotomy on a subject with a blocked airway.

Abstract: A CPAP system includes a PAP device (5) structured to generate a supply of pressurized air, a patient interface (15) adapted to engage with the patient's face to provide a seal, an air delivery conduit (102,104) provided between the PAP device and the patient interface to deliver the supply of pressurized air along a gas delivery path from the PAP device to the patient interface, and a muffler (100) provided along the gas delivery path downstream of the PAP device.

Abstract: A respiratory apparatus for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a flow generator that generates a supply of pressurized gas to be delivered to the patient; a humidifier for vaporizing water and delivering water vapor to humidify the gas; a gas flow path leading from the flow generator to the humidifier and from the humidifier to a patient interface; and a heater in thermal contact with the gas and/or the water, wherein the heater includes an elongate heating filament in the form of a tape. A humidifier for respiratory apparatus includes a first respiratory gas passage for receiving gas from a flow generator, a humidifier chamber, a second respiratory gas passage for delivering humidified gas to a patient interface, and a heater in thermal contact with the gas and/or the water, wherein the heater includes an elongate heating filament extending along at least part of both said first and second respiratory gas passages.

Abstract: An air humidifier for generating humidified breathing air for a patient includes a boiling pot for receiving a defined water volume. The air humidifier has a partition, the partition having at least one perforation. The partition with perforation is designed to be arranged above a water surface of the defined water volume in the boiling pot.

Abstract: A catheter having an multilayered shaft section with a first layer formed of a polyimide first material and a second layer formed of a second material. In a presently preferred embodiment, the polyimide material is a thermoset polyimide. However, in alternative embodiments, a thermoplastic polyimide is used. The thermoset polyimide has a very high glass transition temperature (Tg) of approximately 400° C. (as measured by differential scanning calorimetry), and excellent dimensional stability at the processing temperature of polyamides commonly used in catheter components. As a result, during formation and assembly of the catheter, production of a thin polyimide layer with controlled dimensions is facilitated. The polyimide has a high modulus and provides a thin walled yet highly pushable shaft section, while the second layer provides kink resistance. In one embodiment, the second material is selected from the group consisting of a polyamide material and a polyurethane material.

Abstract: Arrangements and methods for delivering bioactive agents and/or cells into an extended volume of tissue are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cell-delivering needle arrangement has a tube positioned within a tube and fixedly attached to a wall thereof. In one exemplary method, a cell-delivering needle is advanced into tissue, a suspension of cells is passed through a first lumen and out of side ports, and a suspension of cells is passed through a second lumen and out of a distal opening. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for delivering fluid to treat renal hypertension including an elongated member having a distal tip and a plurality of openings formed in a sidewall proximal of the distal tip. A plurality of fluid delivery members are movably positioned in the elongated member, each of the fluid delivery members having a lumen and at least one opening communicating with the lumen for delivering fluid extravascularly. An actuator is operatively associated with the fluid delivery members, the actuator actuable to a first position to move the fluid delivery members from a retracted position within the elongated member to a deployed position extending radially with respect to the elongated member. A balloon is expandable radially from the elongated member to seal the renal artery during application of fluid through the fluid delivery members.

Abstract: A medical device includes an elongate single-wire memory-metal body with a complete length that includes a proximal stylet length, an intermediate self-coiling stylet length, and a distal stylet length that is generally straight and non-self-coiling. The moment of force of the self-coiling stylet length is less than the moment of force of the medical endoscopy needle that is resistant to the stylet's self-coiling force. The device may further include being incorporated into an endoscopy needle system where the single-wire stylet body is disposed through a lumen of a medical endoscopy needle.

Abstract: A bi-directional steerable catheter that, for a given tip deflection angle, generates a first articulation radius in a first lateral direction and a second articulation radius in a second lateral direction, the second articulation radius being different than the first articulation radius. The catheter includes two pull wire portions that can be individually and selectively put under tension to cause deflection of the tip in a corresponding lateral direction. Actuation of a first of the pull wire portions causes a shift in the neutral axis of the catheter over a portion of the steering section, resulting in articulation over a shorter length of the steering section and thus a smaller bend radius. Actuation of a second of the pull wire portions does not result in a neutral axis shift, so that articulation is over substantially the entire length of the steering section, resulting in a larger bend radius.

Abstract: In some examples, a burr hole cap assembly includes one or more markers that indicate a rotational orientation of a therapy delivery member relative to the burr hole cap assembly, where the therapy delivery member extends through an opening defined by the burr hole cap assembly. In addition, in some examples, the burr hole cap assembly includes a feature that indicates the rotational orientation of the therapy delivery member after the therapy delivery member is implanted in the patient. The feature can include the one or more markers in some examples.

Abstract: An umbilical line-securing device adapted to nonadhesively maintain an umbilical line at a location relative to an umbilical stump.

Abstract: A guide wire includes (1) a core shaft, (2) a coil body covering a distal end portion of the core shaft and having spirally wound multiple element wires, and (3) a distal end fixed portion by which a distal end of the core shaft is fixed to a distal end of the coil body. The distal end of the coil body includes (i) a fixed portion in which adjacent ones of the multiple element wires are fixed to each other and (ii) a gap portion in which adjacent ones of the multiple element wires are not fixed to each other to provide a gap between the adjacent ones of the multiple element wires in the gap portion, as viewed in a cross section that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide wire. The distal end fixed portion enters into the gap portion.

Abstract: A guidewire, methods of manufacture, and methods of use is described. The guidewire may include a core having one or more preformed ribs along a portion thereof. The ribs may form a portion of the outer surface of the guidewire or form a texture or shape of the outer surface of the guidewire. The ribs and outer texture of the guidewire can beneficially help the guidewire remain in a desired location in a body and help prevent or limit migration. Forming the ribs on the outer surface of the core may enable the guidewire to have greater rigidity and stiffness. The core may include a reduced diameter region distal of the ribs. The guidewire may include a cap over the reduced diameter region of the core.

Abstract: An adaptable inflation device for up to two balloon catheters for angioplasty includes a plurality of three port valves controlling flow to two fluid channels each coupled at an outlet to a balloon catheter for angioplasty. A single in line pressure gauge, which may be removable, monitors pressure of each channel. Each balloon catheter may be inflated and deflated, sequentially inflated, simultaneously inflated, sequentially deflated, simultaneously deflated, inflated to the same pressures, inflated to different pressures, partially deflated, and fully deflated.

Abstract: A contact sensing assembly including a catheter and an electrode including a tip portion and a base portion, and a generally central axis, with the electrode being connected to a distal end of the catheter. Optical sensor(s) may be provided for emitting and/or receiving an optical signal, with a part of the optical signal being transverse to the central axis. Optical interference member(s) may be provided for interfering with the optical signal. A method for sensing contact force exerted by an electrode on a tissue includes directing an optical signal along a portion of a catheter, emitting and/or receiving an optical signal, with a part of the optical signal being at a predetermined angle relative to the central axis, and sensing changes in intensity of the optical signal based on displacement associated with the electrode tip portion based on the contact force exerted by the electrode on the tissue.

Abstract: A connector includes a housing defining a male connector insertion section into which a male connector is inserted from the outside and an elastic valve body having a slit and blocking the male connector insertion section. The elastic valve body includes a top face having the slit and a bottom face located opposite to the top face. The housing includes a holding section having contact with the top face and the bottom face of the elastic valve body to hold the elastic valve body. The holding section surrounds the slit when the valve body is viewed from the top face. The diameter of a bottom face side holding section having contact with the bottom face is smaller than the diameter of a top face side holding section having contact with the top face.

Abstract: A needleless connector module comprises: a sleeve tube, an elastic valve, a flow guiding unit and an extension unit. The elastic valve sleeves a guiding tube of the flow guiding unit. A hollow shoulder portion of the elastic valve abuts a slanted retaining wall of the sleeve tube. Under a first usage condition, the hollow head portion of the elastic valve encloses the guiding tube narrow portion, hiding the first guiding opening in the airtight seam. Under a second usage condition, an injection tube presses the top face of the elastic valve, a hollow head portion of the elastic valve presses downward, driving the valve inner wall to abut a waist platform formed on the guiding tube, such that the first guiding opening is exposed outside the airtight seam, and such that the first guiding opening is connected to an injection opening of the injection tube.

Abstract: A header for use in implantable pulse generator devices. The header is part of electrical connector assembly having one or more openings designed to receive the terminal pin of an electrical lead wire or electrode. The header is designed to provide and sustain long-term electrical and mechanical lead wire connections between the electrodes of a terminal pin and the implantable pulse generator device.

Abstract: Implantable medical electrical leads having electrodes arranged such that a defibrillation coil electrode and a pace/sense electrode(s) are concurrently positioned substantially over the ventricle when implanted as described. The leads include an elongated lead body having a distal portion and a proximal end, a connector at the proximal end of the lead body, a defibrillation electrode located along the distal portion of the lead body, wherein the defibrillation electrode includes a first electrode segment and a second electrode segment proximal to the first electrode segment by a distance. The leads may include at least one pace/sense electrode, which in some instances, is located between the first defibrillation electrode segment and the second defibrillation electrode segment.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead includes an insulative lead body extending from a distal region to a proximal region, a conductor disposed within the insulative lead body and extending from the proximal region to the distal region, an electrode disposed on the insulative lead body and in electrical contact with the conductor, and a fibrous matrix disposed on at least part of the electrode. The fibrous matrix includes fibers. The fibers include a polyvinylidene fluoride-based (PVDF-based) polymer and a crystal-modifying additive. The PVDF-based polymer includes an amorphous PVDF phase and a crystalline PVDF phase. The crystalline PVDF phase includes a beta form crystalline structure in an amount exceeding any other crystalline structure form in the crystalline PVDF phase.