Medtronic, Inc.

Karel F Smits

Chrit W Dreessen

Werner Saggau

Hormoz Mehmanesh

Paulus Cornelis Van Venrooij

Ivan M Bourgeois

Nicolaas M Lokhoff

Antoine N Camps

Edwin G Duffin

Jean J G Rutten

Pierre A Grandjean

Warren S Watson

Juan C Chachques

A medical device that includes a lead having a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a housing having a connector block for receiving the proximal end of the lead body. A fixation mechanism is positioned proximal to an electrode coil located at the distal end of the lead body, and includes a locking sleeve and a mating portion positioned along the lead body proximal to the electrode. The fixation mechanism is capable of being advance from a first state corresponding to a first inner diameter of the locking sleeve and a second state corresponding to a second inner diameter of the locking sleeve greater than the first inner diameter to fixed position the electrode at a target site.

Subcutaneous lead fixation mechanisms

A medical electrical lead and introducer system. The lead is a single pass, dual chamber lead, which features in one embodiment an atrial tine. The introducer system is particularly designed for introduction of single pass, dual chamber lead which has an atrial tine. The introducer system facilitates the introduction of a such lead into a patient's heart while safeguarding the tine from damage due to kinking during lead positioning. The lead is a single pass lead which features an atrial tine while the introducer system is particularly designed for introduction of a such lead into a patient's heart so as to safeguard the tine from damage due to kinking during lead positioning. The lead is designed so as to electrically couple both the atrium and the ventricular chambers of the heart. The lead generally features several lengths each having differing stiffness as well as a pre-formed bend. The lead also features a atrial tine having an electrode at the tip. Due to the relatively fragile as well as difficult to maneuver lead, an introducer system is also disclosed. The introducer system is particularly designed to introduce such a lead. In use a removable tubing split element surrounds the atrial tine area of the lead while it is disposed through the introducer sheath, the split element both blocks the tine from lateral movement and fills up the space between the lead body and the introducer, thereby preventing blood leakage through the introducer. The element also has a longitudinal split for receiving the atrial tine while holding it against transverse movement when the lead is being repositioned. After optimal positioning of the lead, the tubing split element is withdrawn, and then the introducer is withdrawn. The tubing split element is a generally cylindrical piece of TEFLON, here called a tube split element, or just a &ldquo;tube split&rdquo;, is positioned around the lead body in the atrial tine area. The tube split element has a thickness which substantially fills the radial gap between the smaller diameter lead body and the introducer inner cylindrical wall, and has a longitudinal separation, or split, which accommodates the atrial tine, thereby permitting the tine to extend longitudinally but not transversely. The tubing split element is preferably mounted on the lead at the time of lead assembly. It has a length sufficient to extend proximally out of the introducer so that it can be withdrawn, and has a longitudinal tear line whereby the element can be separated and removed from the lead after final positioning of the lead.

Medical electrical lead and introducer system

A transvenous lead specifically designed for coronary sinus implantation. The lead features a fixation ring positioned adjacent to the electrode. The ring is constructed so as to be readily pliable and bent. The ring functions to wedge or fix the lead within the coronary sinus in such a manner that the electrode is pushed against the vessel wall while the flow of blood through the vessel is not impeded. In alternative embodiments the electrode is positioned on the ring itself. In further alternative embodiments the distal portion of the lead features a pre bent nose to assist in the positioning of the lead into the coronary sinus. The nose may be oriented relative to the ring in any acceptable manner to permit the ring and the electrode to be properly positioned relative to anywhere along the coronary sinus wall.

Medical electrical lead

Temporary medical electrical lead

A temporary atrial defibrillation lead featuring a polytetraflouroethylene ('TEFLON') felt pad in which three parallel stainless steel defibrillation wire electrodes are mounted. The pad contains holes which expose the electrode wires in a discontinuous fashion. The three electrode wires are merged into one polyurethane insulated lead body, proximal to the pad. At the proximal end of the lead body a stainless steel connector pin with break away needle are mounted, for percutaneous exteriorization of the lead pin, in an area separated from the surgical incision. The break away needle can be broken off to make the connector pin suitable to patient cable connection. The polytetraflouroethylene ('TEFLON') pad is permanently implanted on the atria and remains implanted after removal of the temporary electrode sections. The temporary electrode sections may be removed by gently pulling them at their proximal end.

An epicardial lead having an electrode extending from the bottom thereof in combination with an anchoring system adapted to secure the lead to the heart without the use of complex procedures or tools. In particular the lead achieves stable fixation through the provision of a flexible member moveable between a first position and a second position and a pair of fixation members connected to said flexible member, each fixation member having a distal end and a root, each flexible member connected to the electrode mounting at a point beyond the tip portion of the fixation member.

Medical electrical lead having stable fixation system

A temporary atrial defibrillation lead featuring a polytetraflouroethylene ('TEFLON') felt pad in which three parallel stainless steel defibrillation wire electrodes are mounted. The pad contains holes which expose the electrode wires in a discontinuous fashion. The three electrode wires are merged into one polyurethane insulated lead body, proximal to the pad. At the proximal end of the lead body a stainless steel connector pin with break away needle are mounted, for percutaneous exteriorization of the lead pin, in an area separated from the surgical incision. The break away needle can be broken off to make the connector pin suitable to patient cable connection. The (polytetraflouroethylene ('TEFLON') pad is permanently implanted on the atria and remains implanted after removal of the temporary electrode sections. The temporary electrode sections may be removed by gently pulling them at their proximal end.

An epicardial lead having an stab-in electrode extending from the bottom thereof in combination with an anchoring system adapted to secure the lead to the heart without the use of complex procedures or tools. In particular the lead achieves stable fixation through the provision of a flexible member moveable between a first position and a second position and a pair of fixation members connected to said flexible member, each fixation member having a distal end and a root, said distal end and root defining a plane said through which said stab-in electrode crosses.

Medical electrical lead having counter fixation anchoring system

A medical electrical pulse generator having a switchable connector assembly. The connector assembly is provided with connector bores, each intended to receive a medical electrical lead or a sealing plug, if no lead is provided. Electrical connectors located within the bores are arranged such that interconnection of the pulse generator circuitry within the device and electrodes on the leads and/or housing of the device can be altered by means of connector pins located on the electrical leads or the sealing plugs, which may be employed to interconnect electrical connectors within a connector bore.

Switchable connector block for implantable defibrillator

A body implantable lead affixed with a pin or pins at its proximal end adapted to be connected to a pulse generator or signal detector with an electrode or electrodes at its distal end adapted to be placed within a body cavity or in contact with body tissue. One or more electrical conductors encased within nonconductive body compatible material electrically connects the electrode with a pin and comprises a length of resilient, single filar or multifilar coil conductor wherein the conductor is non-circular in cross section. The non-circular cross section is preferably elliptic, oval, rectangular or trapezoidal with a major dimension generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the length of coiled conductor and its minor dimension generally parallel to that axis, whereby a specific ratio of torque to bending stiffness is effected. Preferably, the body implantable lead is a unipolar or a bipolar transvenous screw-in lead possessing a spiral shaped screw fixation mechanism at the distal end of the lead which is at least mechanically connected to said length of conductor. The proximal end of said length of conductor is electrically and mechanically connected to the connector pin. Rotation of the connector pin effects the rotation of the spiral attachment mechanism into body tissue.

Conductor coil with specific ratio of torque to bending stiffness

A pulse routing circuit for use in conjunction with a multiple channel defibrillator. The circuit, when coupled to a multiple channel defibrillator allows for the selection of a wide variety of multiple electrode pulse regimens and waveforms, accomplished by selective interconnection of defibrillation electrodes to the pulse routing circuit. Because the circuit employs passive switching elements, such as diodes, complex switching circuitry is not required.

Pulse routing apparatus for cardioversion and defibrillation

A cardioversion and defibrillation lead system and a method of use of the lead system for applying energy to the heart. The lead system and method of application are designed to maximize the efficiency of electrical energy and depolarizing the cells of the heart by equalizing current distribution across the heart and concentrating current in the muscular areas of the heart. The method of use of the lead system includes properly locating the electrodes, and applying pulses to the electrodes in one of several pulse regimes.

Cardioversion and defibrillation lead system with electrode extension

A defibrillation electrode fabricated by molding an elongated electrode core taking the form of two parallel segments each defining several sigmoidal curves, sliding a conductor coil over and along the electrode core, coupling the electrode coil to an elongated conductor, molding bridging members to connect the two segments of the core at spaced locations along the segments and molding a transition member to the electrode assembly at the junction of the electrode coil and the elongated conductor. The resulting electrode is particularly adapted for use as an epicardial defibrillation electrode, and displays flexibility within the plane defined by the electrode body as well as for twisting and other deformation to follow the changing surface of the heart during contractions.

Growing community of inventors

Oirsbeck, Netherlands

Karel F Smits