Medtronic, Inc.

Darrin E Dickerson

Mark T Stewart

Paul T Rothstein

David E Francischelli

William W Malecki

Benjamin K Yaffe

Christopher F Kelly

Douglas H Gubbin

Thomas Daigle

David J Kim

Christopher Plott

Brett S Bowman

Adam Podbelski

Mark A Thompson

Phillip C Falkner

Thomas I Miller

Scott M Hanson

Adam J Rivard

Bruce A Behymer

Raymond F McMullen

Joseph P Ricci

Douglas Scott Cerny

Evan Mark Gustafson

Jeffrey R Dixon

Charles Thomas Bombeck

Chad C Whiterabbit

A method of surgical dissection of tissue with a dissector comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion comprises a plurality of segments that articulate with respect to one another and the plurality of segments includes a distal segment having a distal end; and a handle attached to the proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the handle comprises controls for articulating the plurality of segments of the distal portion of the shaft with respect to one another, comprising the steps of: positioning the distal end of the dissector in a body; advancing the distal end through the body to dissect tissue; and simultaneously articulating the plurality of segments with respect to one another. A method of surgical dissection of tissue and guiding a second device to a desired physiological location with a first device.

Method of surgical dissection and/or guidance of other medical devices into body

Tips for use on a tunneling tool provide the ability to pull an implantable medical lead extension or catheter body through a subcutaneous tunnel. The tips may include a pin with a barb, where the barb is inserted within a compliant portion of a connector body of the lead extension or a catheter body to create an interference fit that allows the connector body or catheter body to be pulled through the tunnel. The tips may include a carrier that has a cavity for the connector body, where the tunneling is performed with the carrier present on the tunneling tool. A body is positioned within the cavity of the carrier to prevent tissue from snagging on and collecting within the carrier. The body may include a tip portion that performs the tunneling function. The carrier may also provide tunneling and/or may be attached to the tunneling tool during tunneling.

Tools and methods for implantation of implantable medical lead extensions or catheters

Growing community of inventors

Blaine, MN, United States of America

Darrin E Dickerson