Medtronic, Inc.

Antoine N Camps

Pierre Andre Grandjean

Jean Woloszko

Patrick T Cahalan

Marc Hendriks

Michel L Verhoeven

Linda L Cahalan

Nicolaas M Lokhoff

Jean J Rutten

Philip H Lee

Farid Moumane

Ron Van Der Kruk

Jean A Woloszko

Gary M Johnson

Willem J Van Driel

Martin T Gerber

Mark T Marshall

Alain F Carpentier

Thomas A Anderson

Teresa A Whitman

Richard N Cornelussen

Paulus Cornelis Van Venrooij

Robert Leinders

Karel F Smits

Carla Pfeiffer

Victor P Duysens

Nathalie Virag

Daniel J Stetson

Chrit W Dreessen

Frank L Skubitz

Jean Robinet

Benoit Deruyver

Paul Adams

Ralph Leinders

Mattia Bertschi

Pavel Kucera

Cor X Baeten

Michael W Polz

Markus Lazeroms

Gerrit Frederik Landheer

Bernard Cuisset

In some examples, an implantable medical device (IMD) that includes a pulse generator comprising a housing, electrodes, and circuitry configured to deliver cardiac pacing via the electrodes. The IMD may further include a lead including at least one of the electrodes, an elongate body, a fixation helix, and a connector segment. A width of the helix transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lead is greatest at a distal end of the helix. A proximal end of the elongate body may be connected to a distal end of the pulse generator, and the helix may be attached to a distal end of the elongate body. The pulse generator may include a first connector tab. A distal end of the connector segment may be configured to receive the proximal end of the elongate body and a proximal end of the connector segment may include at least one second connector member configured to engage the first connector tab.

Leaded electrical stimulation system

Temporary touch-proof connectors are disclosed that include an insulating body defining a passageway having an open leading end configured to receive a connector element of a medical lead and an enclosed trailing end shielding the connector element.

Temporary touch-proof connector for heartwires

The disclosure describes a medical lead with a retrieval wire that extends from the proximal end of the lead. The retrieval wire allows a physician to insert the medical lead into a patient and grab the retrieval wire to pull the proximal end of the lead away from the implant site. Upon gaining access to a lead connector on the proximal end of the medical lead, the physician may remove the retrieval wire and couple the lead connector to an implantable medical device that provides stimulation therapy. In this manner the physician may avoid damaging the lead connector when retrieving the medical lead. In addition, the retrieval wire may be used to provide test stimulation to verify correct electrode location. The medical lead may be used to stimulate tissue such as the stomach, small intestine, and the large intestine.

Implantable medical lead with proximal retrieval wire

The invention is directed to techniques for stimulating a colon of a patient to relieve chronic constipation. Specifically, a colon stimulation system applies one or more electrical stimuli to the colon of the patient in order to induce peristaltic activity in the colon to relieve chronic constipation. In accordance with the invention, the colon stimulation system induces peristaltic activity in the colon by applying an electrical stimulus to the colon to cause a portion of the colon to contract to a contracted state and removing the electrical stimulus to cause the colon to relax. While in the contracted state, the colon is substantially fully contracted.

Electrical stimulation of the colon to treat chronic constipation

A medical electrical lead for establishing an electrical connection with a tissue of the body, the lead having a lead body and a semi-cylindrical cuff. In the preferred embodiment the semi-cylindrical cuff features one or more electrodes. The semi-cylindrical cuff having a long flap which wraps about the cuff and a short flap which wraps about the long flap. The semi-cylindrical cuff is relatively stiff as compared to the short flap. The short flap, in turn, is relatively the same stiffness as the long flap. The stiffness of each flap may be varied, however, so that one is more or less than the other, and in turn, than the cuff. Through such a multi-flap construction the electrodes may be positioned proximal to a nerve in such a manner that the mechanically induced damage may be minimized or even entirely eliminated. Finally, a method of implanting such an electrode is also disclosed.

Medical electrical lead

The present invention relates to an intramuscular medical electrical lead, a system for providing electrical stimulation or sensing using such a lead, and methods of implanting, making and using same. The lead includes at least a first fixation member disposed distally or proximally from a sensing or stimulating electrode, and may further include a second fixation member disposed at the opposite end of the electrode form the first fixation member. The fixation members permit the electrode to be reliably and fixedly secured within a patient's muscle tissue at a desired site, and to remain so secured for a predetermined suitable period of time.

Intramuscular medical electrical lead with fixation member

The present invention includes within its scope a low-cost temporary lead for pacing, sensing, monitoring, or defibrillating at least a portion of a human or animal organ, and methods for implanting and making same. The lead has at least two electrodes and distal and proximal ends, and a novel weakened zone disposed between the blunt end of a needle and at least two electrical connectors attached to the proximal end of the lead body. The novel weakened zone permits the needle to be separated from the connectors by application of a sufficiently large bending moment or pulling force thereto. Following separation of the connectors from the needle, the connectors may be attached directly and quickly to an external electrical apparatus.

Temporary bipolar heart wire

To minimize the incidence and consequences of device related infection that occur after prosthetics implants of neuro-muscular stimulating devices, an infection resistant intra-muscular lead has been developed and is disclosed herein. Infection incidence has been decreased by using biomaterials able to release antibacterial drugs (gentamicin) at a controlled rate for the first 3-6 weeks after implant.

Intramuscular stimulation lead with enhanced infection resistance

The present invention includes within its scope a temporary lead for pacing, sensing, monitoring, or defibrillating at least a portion of a human or animal organ, and methods for implanting and making same. The lead has at least two electrodes and distal and proximal ends, and a novel weakened zone disposed between the blunt end of a needle and at least two electrical connectors attached to the proximal end of the lead body. The novel weakened zone permits the needle to be separated from the connectors by application of a sufficiently large bending moment or pulling force thereto. Following separation of the connectors from the needle, the connectors may be attached directly and quickly to an external electrical apparatus.

To minimize the incidence and consequences of device related infection that occur after prosthetics implants of neuro-muscular stimulating devices, an infection resistant intramuscular lead has been developed. Infection incidence has been decreased by using biomaterials able to release antibacterial drugs (gentamicin) at a controlled rate for the first 3-6 weeks after implant.

A method and apparatus for determining the optimum location for implanting a muscle stimulating electrode. A test probe is provided for producing an electric current at various muscle tissue locations to determine comparative threshold measurements of the selected muscle tissue locations and determine the optimum location for implanting the muscle stimulating electrode.

Method and apparatus for optimum positioning of a muscle stimulating

An intramuscular lead for the electrical stimulation of muscle tissue. The improved lead has a needle connected to a strand of suture, a coiled conductor coupled to the strand by a tapered section of the coiled conductor, an insulative cover covers part of the coiled conductor, and a terminal connector coupled to the coiled conductor provides a connection to a pulse generator. Through such a construction the lead may be more readily introduced through muscle tissue.

Intramuscular lead having improved insertion

One aspect of this invention relates to a temporary heart wire, and external connector therefore, and the combination of the two, wherein the distal end of the heart wire includes a temporary affixation coil (8) and distal pacing (2) and sensing (1) electrodes connected by means of a coaxial helicoidally wound cable (3) to a proximal electrode (7) and a breakaway needle (6) which also serves as a proximal electrode. The lead is adapted to be inserted into a disposable connector having a snap aperture element (19) for receiving the breakaway needle, and about which the needle is broken, as well as electrical contacts (17, 18) for contacting the proximal electrodes and adapted to be connected to a temporary external pacemaker. According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a permanent bipolar nerve electrode which includes two electrodes (52), (54) adapted to be positioned along the nerve trunk (58). The bipolar nerve electrode further includes an affixation coil (56) and a thin insulation layer or flap (57), this latter being adapted to be sutured to the surface of the patient's muscle to thereby preclude or limit stimulating electrical energy to be transmitted to adjacent muscles, this allowing for a more focused concentration of electrical energy to the nerve trunk (58) to be stimulated.

Bipolar nerve electrode

A temporary heart wire, and external connector therefore, and the combination of the two, wherein the distal end of the heart wire includes a temporary affixation coil (8) and distal pacing (2) and sensing (1) electrodes connected by means of a coaxial helicoidally wound cable (3) to a proximal electrode (7) and a breakaway needle (6) which also serves as a proximal electrode. The lead is adapted to be inserted into a disposable connector having a snap aperture element (19) for receiving the breakaway needle, and about which the needle is broken, as well as electrical contacts (17, 18) for contacting the proximal electrodes and adapted to be connected to a temporary external pacemaker. In an alternate embodiment, there is provided a permanent bipolar nerve electrode which includes two electrodes (52), (54) adapted to be positioned along the nerve trunk (58). The bipolar nerve electrode further includes an affixation coil (56) and a thin insulation layer or flap (57), this latter being adapted to be sutured to the surface of the patient's muscle to thereby preclude or limit stimulating electrical energy to be transmitted to adjacent muscles, this allowing for a more focused concentration of electrical energy to the nerve trunk (58) to be stimulated.

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Eys, Netherlands

Antoine N Camps