Other

Medtronic, Inc.

James T Gates

Kenneth B Stokes

Suping Lyu

Thomas C Bischoff

Bruce R Mehdizadeh

Scott J Robinson

Jon M Ocel

Elisabeth Lacy Belden

Mark A Hjelle

Peter B McIntyre

Philip H Lee

Gary M Johnson

James Michael Iknayan

Randolph Ahnen

A connector terminal of a medical electrical lead or adapter includes a strut member supporting at least one electrical contact element and at least one seal zone element, which is positioned adjacent to the contact element.

Medical electrical connector

Spiral electrodes and similar structures are manufactured using a high-pressure fluid stream. Specifically, spiral electrodes are made from tubular structures by using a high-pressure water stream to precisely cut, or etch spirals of predetermined geometries to conform to a particular current distribution and conduction requirements. In an embodiment, the high-pressure water stream is tangentially and rotatably oriented against a rotating and translating tubular element. The tangential orientation enables limited cutting or etching of the tubular surface that is only in direct contact with the high pressure stream. Various geometries and spiral structures could be formed by managing the pressure and rotation of the high-pressure water stream source and the rotation and translation of the tubular element.

Alternative fabrication method for spiral electrodes

The present invention is a transvenous lead having an anchoring sleeve retaining device. The transvenous lead features a lead covered by an insulative sleeve. Positioned at the distal end of the lead is an electrode assembly. Also positioned proximate the electrode assembly is a fixation mechanism. At the proximal end of the lead body is a terminal assembly. The terminal assembly permits the lead to be connected to a pulse generator. The anchoring sleeve retaining device further features a removable portion that frictionally engages the lead and prevents the anchoring sleeve from sliding along the lead prior to suturing the anchoring sleeve to the lead.

Medical electrical lead having an anchoring sleeve retaining device

A medical electrical lead system having a torque transfer stylet. In a preferred embodiment, the torque transfer stylet comprises an elongated, stylet wire having proximal, intermediate and distal sections. The proximal and distal section of the stylet wire have a first diameter. The intermediate section spans between the proximal and distal sections. The stylet wire in this region, however, has a second diameter, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the proximal and distal sections. In addition, the intermediate section further has a length of torque coil wrapped thereabout. The torque coil preferably is wound in a coiled diameter which is the same as the first diameter of the proximal and distal sections of the stylet wire. Through such a configuration the stylet has an overall nearly uniformed diameter through its length.

Medical electrical lead system having a torque transfer stylet

A stylet-actuated, steroid-eluting, screw-in, endocardial, transvenous bipolar pacing lead. In an embodiment, the lead is provided, with a sharpened helix. Advancing and retraction of the helix is accomplished with a stylet having a flattened, screw-driver tip. Rotation of the stylet imparts rotation to the helix assembly, causing the helix to advance or retract. A segmented tip electrode having a porous coating thereon allows steroid from a monolithic controlled released device housed within the electrode assembly to be eluted at the location of the implant site.

Medical lead having segmented electrode

A substrate for use in a pacing lead having a sintered porous platinized steroid eluting electrode. The substrate has at least one raised surface which provides an advantageous mounting portion for the sintered electrode. In the preferred embodiment the mounting portion is nailhead-shaped. The present invention provides an electrode produced with increased dimensional consistency, mechanical strength and impedance as compared to electrodes having a straight wire substrate. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing such an electrode.

Substrate for a sintered electrode

An improved electrode for establishing electrical contact with a nerve of a patient. This electrical contact may be used to sense neural activity on the nerve or to artificially stimulate it to perform various medical treatments. The electrode has an outer cuff of an insulating material which is sutured around the nerve to be contacted. A drug impregnated layer of material is positioned inside of the outer cuff. This material is a polymeric matrix which permits the drug to leach out at a predetermined rate. The drug is a steroid such as dexamethasone sodium phosphate. The actual electrical contact is produced by metallic foil which is positioned on the surface of the drug impregnated layer of material which is located inside of the cuff. An insulated lead electrically couples the metallic foil to an electronic circuit located remote from the nerve. The leaching out of the drug serves to control irritation, swelling, and impedance of the nerve/electrode interface.

Steroid eluting cuff electrode for peripheral nerve stimulation

A special container vessel and associated compatible spray for dispensing hot liquids in spray form such as melted butter, margarine, peanut oil, and the like; more specifically, for spraying popcorn uniformly.

Hot spray apparatus

A container of water is mounted on a motor vehicle and a pump means for dispensing that water into a passenger compartment of said vehicle is provided. The water will be delivered in the form of spray or vapor. An electrical circuit is formed with a humidity sensing device within the passenger compartment for purposes of actuating the vapor forming and dispensing apparatus.

Humidifying system for mobile vehicles

A container of water is mounted on a motor vehicle and a means for dispensing that water into a passenger compartment of said vehicle is provided. The water will be delivered in the form of vapor. An electrical circuit is formed with a humidity sensing device within the passenger compartment for purposes of actuating the vapor forming and dispensing apparatus. When actuated, water is permitted to flow by gravity from the water container to a heating vessel, where the vapor is formed, from which the vapor may flow through a valved outlet tube to a vehicle heating duct.

A container of water is mounted on a motor vehicle and a means for dispensing that water into a passenger compartment of said vehicle is provided. The water will be delivered in the form of vapor. An electrical circuit is formed with a humidity sensing device within the passenger compartment for purposes of actuating the vapor forming and dispensing apparatus.

A pressurized plate-type reversing valve for A/C systems having unobstructed straight through fluid reversal passageways with pilot and main operating valves and control connections built into the housing structure.

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Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

James T Gates