Medtronic, Inc.

Leo J Kretzers

Paulus Cornelis Van Venrooij

Marc Hendriks

Vincent Larik

Michel L Verhoeven

Paulus G Adams

Berthold Kramm

Paulus A A Gubbels

Bart Van De Kerkhof

Frank Van Wijk

Victor Pj Duysens

A temporary cardiac electrical stimulating lead is disclosed where the lead body thereof may be removed from inside a patient through the application of a simple pulling force exerted on its proximal end. An electrode mounting pad is located at the distal end of the lead and has a stimulating electrode mounted thereon or therein. A distal end of the electrical conductor may serve as the stimulating electrode. The electrode mounting pad is preferably capable of biodegradably dissolving or otherwise dissociating over time in human body fluids. Thus, the lead body may be detached from the electrode mounting pad through the application of a simple pulling force and removed from the patient while the electrode mounting pad remains within the patient and dissolves or otherwise dissociates over time.

Temporary medical electrical lead having biodegradable electrode mounting pad

A system for providing electrical stimulation to the trigeminal nerve through a lead. The lead features a lead body, a coupling for connecting a lead into a medical stimulator and a distal electrode assembly. The electrode assembly features a pair of oppositely disposed curved semi-circular cuffs disposed to conform a lumen therethrough. The ends of each cuff are mounted into a resilient hinge disposed upon the distal end of the lead body. The hinge biases the cuffs towards one another in such a manner that the lumen is maintained patent such that the nerve will remain therein. The hinge is further designed so as to be easily opened so as to spread the cuffs apart. Hinge opening is accomplished through a specialized implant tool, the implant tool being a generally cylindrical tube designed to meet about the lead body. A divergence in the lead body near the hinge permits the implant tool to engage the lead body in that section and thus forces the cuffs apart. In such a manner the cuffs may be opened so as to be implanted around the lead merely through manipulation of the proximal end of the lead body. Thus, this design permits the leads to be implanted using the so-called &ldquo;key-hole&rdquo; surgical approach. Additional embodiments of the lead are also disclosed.

Medical electrical stimulation system using an electrode assembly having opposing semi-circular arms

A catheter having a multiple locking mechanism for connecting a proximal portion of the catheter shaft to a distal portion of the catheter shaft is provided. Also provided is a method for connecting a catheter shaft employing the multiple locking mechanism of the invention. The multiple locking mechanism permits a proximal shaft to be joined with a distal end portions, while simultaneously ensuring integrity of the connection between the proximal shaft and the distal end portion.

Catheter having a multiple locking mechanism

A stent which minimizes or solves the problem of restenosis. The present stent is designed so as to have a cyclical change in diameter, the change in diameter corresponding to the changes in blood pressure caused by the cardiac cycle. The present stent is constructed through several structural members, each structural member interlocking in a fashion which permits the stent diameter to be altered from a first, diastolic diameter to a second, systolic diameter. This variable diameter is provided through a series of joints between the interlocking structural members. The joints may be provided in any acceptable manner, including an interlocking dog bone configuration, an interlocking elastic coupling, mating struts, as well as interlocking guides.

Implantable stent having variable diameter

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VK Sittard, Netherlands

Leo J Kretzers