Medtronic, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Enteromedics Inc.

Iotek, Inc.

Reshape Lifesciences Inc.

Arnold W Thornton

Mark B Knudson

Katherine S Tweden

Richard R Wilson

Dennis Dong-won Kim

Xiao Kang Zhang

David W Anderson

Robert E Buuck

Roger Noel Hastings

Roger W Dahl

Steven S Hackett

Darlene A Thometz

Kenneth R Larson

Gust H Bardy

John Louis Sommer

Kenneth C Gardeski

Adrianus P Donders

Stephen Kenneth Sundquist

Scott P Thome

Elisabeth Lacy Belden

Koen Jacob Weijand

John W Humphrey

Jason William Sprain

Thomas M Soukup

Duane J Zytkovicz

Terrell W Williams

Norbert H Cannon

Joe Perttu

Dennis Dong-Won Kim

Various methods and apparatus for treating a condition associated with impaired glucose regulation in a subject comprising in one embodiment, applying a neural conduction block to a target nerve at a blocking site with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve pulses. In another embodiment, combinations of down-regulating and or up-regulating with or without pharmaceutical agents are used to treat impaired glucose regulation. In other embodiments, up-regulation or down-regulation of various nerves, such as the vagus and its branches, and the splanchnic is used to modify the production of GLP-1 and GIP, thereby controlling glucose levels. In yet further embodiments, combinations of down-regulating and or up-regulating with or without pharmaceutical agents are used to modify the production of GLP-1 and GIP, to treat impaired glucose regulation.

Methods and systems for glucose regulation

Example embodiments of an implantable device are configured to be implanted within a patient to provide medical therapy to the patient. In general, an implantable rechargeable device includes a rechargeable battery and an electronic board assembly arranged within a case and an antenna electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery. The antenna is configured to receive power and to transfer at least a portion of the received power to the rechargeable battery for recharging. A phase change material is arranged within the case around at least a portion of the electronic board assembly. The phase change material is configured to transition from a first phase to a second phase at a transition temperature when the insulating material absorbs heat (e.g., from the electronic board assembly).

Implantable device with heat storage

An improved system and method for deploying medical electrical leads is disclosed. The system includes a guiding device such as a guidewire used to navigate the vascular system of a body. The guiding device includes a fixation member that can be deployed to maintain the guiding device at a desired location within the vascular system. The fixation member may be an inflatable device such as a balloon, or alternatively, may be an expandable device constructed of flexible fibers that has both an expanded and a contracted state. The system may further include a coupling member located adjacent to the guiding device. The coupling member may be a rail extending distally from a proximal end of the guiding device to a point proximal the fixation member. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the coupling member is a channel included in the body of the guiding device adapted to slidably engage an electrode assembly. The coupling member is adapted to allow the electrode assembly to be slid to the distal end of the coupling member and deployed at a predetermined implant site. In one embodiment of the invention, the coupling member is movable with respect to the guiding device. This allows the coupling member to be re-positioned to multiple implant sites to deploy more than one electrode while the fixation mechanism remains stationary within a patient's vascular system. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the guiding device includes a lumen to delivery fluoro visible medium.

System and method for placing endocardial leads

A medical electrical lead is disclosed that is adapted for placement in the coronary sinus, or a branch vein thereof. The lead includes a first and second pace/sense electrode. A selection mechanism is provided to select either the first or the second electrode for use as a cathode, with the other electrode being selected as the anode. According to another aspect of the invention, a high-voltage coil electrode may be provided between the first and second electrodes. The coil electrode may be electrically coupled to the anode to increase the shadow area of the coil electrode.

System for providing electrical stimulation to a left chamber of a heart

The present invention is directed to a vaginal insert for delivering an agent to a urogenital tract in a patient. The patient has a vagina, and the vagina has a vaginal wall. The vaginal insert comprises a base member sized to fit within the vagina, the base member defines a chamber and a port in fluid communication with the chamber. A membrane is operatively connected to the base member. The membrane defines a reservoir and a pore. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the port. The membrane is sized so that the vaginal wall will exert pressure against the membrane when fluid is in the reservoir, thereby forcing some of the fluid to flow through the pore and to tissue of the urogenital tract.

Compressible vaginal insert and method for treating urogenital disorders

A vaginal insert and method for delivering an agent to a urogenital tract in a patient, the patient having a vagina, the vagina having anterior and posterior walls. The vaginal insert comprises a main portion and first and second portions operably connected to the main portion. The first and second portions each have an end projecting outward from the main portion, at least one of the projecting ends has means for containing the agent. The projecting ends of the first and second portions are configured to engage the anterior vaginal wall while the main portion engages the posterior vaginal wall, thereby positioning the projecting end of the first portion proximal to one side of the urogenital tract and positioning the projecting end of the second portion proximal to an opposite side of the urogenital tract.

Vaginal insert and method for treating urogenital disorders

A vaginal insert for delivering an agent to a urogenital tract in a patient. The patient has a vagina, and the vagina has an anterior wall. The vaginal insert comprises a member sized to fit within the vagina. The member has a surface defining a channel configured to engage the anterior vaginal wall and receive tissue proximal to the urethra. The member defines a chamber for retaining a supply of the agent and a plurality of delivery ports. At least some of the delivery ports are located along the channel. The plurality of delivery ports are in fluid communication with the chamber. The vaginal insert also comprises first and second electrodes. The first electrode is operably connected to the member. The first and second electrodes configured to be operably connected to a power source so that an electrical current can pass between the first and second electrodes and through tissue proximal the urethra.

Channeled vaginal insert and method for treating urogenital disorders

The present invention is a device and method for controlling longitudinal movement of a tube relative to a shaft slidably disposed within the tube, especially in the catheterization of a patient. An operative segment on the shaft cooperates with an ancillary tool to create a coupling force field between the shaft and the tool. The tube can then be moved over the shaft while the coupling force field operates through the tube to restrict the movement of the shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the shaft is a guide wire and the tube is a catheter with a lumen for slidably receiving the guide wire, while the coupling force field is created magnetically. In one embodiment, the operative segment is borne on a short guide wire extension which is selectively securable to a standard guide wire.

Magnetic medical shaft movement control device and method

The present invention is a device and method for controlling longitudinal movement of a tube relative to a shaft slidably disposed within the tube, especially in the catheterization of a patient. An operative segment on the shaft cooperates with an ancillary tool to create a coupling force field between the shaft and the tool. The tube can then be moved over the shaft while the coupling force field operates through the tube to restrict the movement of the shaft. In preferred embodiment, the shaft is a guide wire and the tube is a catheter with a lumen for slidably receiving the guide wire, while the coupling force field is created magnetically. In one embodiment, the operative segment is borne on a short guide wire extension which is selectively securable to a standard guide wire.

Shaft movement control apparatus

A method of treating cardiac conduction defects and/or congestive heart disease. The method involves identifying the branch arteries that feed blood to the specialized cardiac conduction cells of the heart and/or to any ischemic regions of the heart. Any occlusions in these arteries are then opened using conventional PTCA devices and procedures which, prior to the present invention, have not been used to treat occlusions in the branch arteries that supply blood to the heart.

Method of treating cardiac conduction defects

In a coiled wire medical lead structure, such as a transvenous, endocardial cardiac pacemaker and/or cardioverter/defibrillator lead, an improved mechanical structure for strengthening the lead to enable its intact removal by traction after a period of chronic implant, one or more normally relaxed, nonextensible filaments loosely contained within the insulating sheath and having proximal and distal ends mechanically coupled to the connector and electrode shank, respectively, of the lead operate as means for restraining the stretching of the lead body to a stretched length exceeding the relaxed, predetermined length by an amount sufficient to allow the lead to be stretched without breaking in its normal usage and during removal by traction. In certain embodiments, the filament may take the form of a loosely woven fabric sheath formed in a tubular shape and fitted in the space between the lead body outer sheath and one or more coiled wire conductors. The filament(s) or woven sheath may be embedded within or on the interior surface of the outer insulating sheath or an inner insulating sheath of a bipolar or multipolar lead.

Removable endocardial lead

Growing community of inventors

Roseville, MN, United States of America

Arnold W Thornton