Medtronic, Inc.

Paul S Kratoska

Robert L Olson

Bruce A Behymer

Chris C Christiansen

Alan O Fung

James M Olsen

Paulus Cornelis Van Venrooij

Reginald D Robinson

Ahmed M Elmouelhi

Raymond F McMullen

Joseph P Ricci

Douglas O Hankner

Victor Duijsens

Carmen Dimovski

Bruce C Johnson

Dennis Norgon

Larry D Kuecker

Anthony Gardner

Ray McMullen

An apparatus for fastening around a cranial burr hole includes a substantially flat core and a shell encapsulating a ring portion of the core. The shell defines an orifice substantially centered within the ring portion, and has a contoured lower surface to match the cranial curvature. Pliable arms of the core extend laterally from the ring portion, each being terminated by a fastener member. A central portion of a placement tool for the apparatus has a lower part configured to extend through the apparatus orifice, and an upper part from which first and second arms of the tool extend laterally. Each tool arm is terminated with a receptacle to hold a bone screw, and, when the tool central portion lower part extends through the apparatus orifice, each receptacle aligns with a corresponding fastener member, and lower openings of the receptacles are generally oriented along the contoured lower surface.

Medical device anchoring

A medical device assembly includes a tunneler having a proximal end and a distal end and a carrier element fixed to the distal end of the tunneler. In various embodiments the carrier element is configured to be slidably disposed within a lead connection lumen. In various embodiments the carrier element includes a plurality of recesses configured to engage a lead extension set screw. In various embodiments the carrier element can freely rotate relative to the rest of the tunneler.

Medical tunneling device and method

The disclosure describes a method and a system that may be used to provide feedback regarding the flow of fluid during ablation therapy. The system includes a generator that generates energy to ablate at least a portion of a target tissue, a needle that delivers the energy to the target tissue, a return electrode that receives energy dispersed from the needle, a catheter that houses at least a portion of the needle, a pump that delivers a fluid to the target tissue via the catheter, a sensor that detects a fluid parameter indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid, and a processor that analyzes the fluid parameter detected by the sensor. The sensor may be located between the pump and the target tissue. The fluid parameter detected by the system may be pressure or flow. The system may be used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Fluid sensor for ablation therapy

An infusion system delivers drug to the patient at a fixed rate while permitting the patient to introduce a controlled bolus dosage when needed. A pump having a bulkhead that is provided with first and second flow paths from the pump reservoir to a single outlet port. The first flow path communicates with a first flow regulator which restricts flow in the first flow path to the desired fixed rate of delivery. The second flow path communicates with a patient-operated pump incorporated into the pump housing. The patient-operated pump may be in the form of a deformable reservoir that accumulates a drug bolus which may be expelled when the reservoir is compressed by the patient's fingers. A second flow regulator may be incorporated in the drug flow path upstream of the patient-operated pumping device to restrict the dosage that may accumulate therein. Additionally, a fluid control assembly incorporating a patient-controlled pump may be used with single or dual port pumps.

Infusion systems with patient-controlled dosage features

A fluid delivery system and a propellant therefor. The propellant comprises a mixture of a plurality of substances, the precise by-weight or by-molar combination of which is used to set the propellant pressure within a desirable pressure range. At least one of the plurality of propellant substances is a relatively higher vapor pressure fluid; and at least one of the plurality of propellant substances is a relatively lower vapor pressure fluid.

Fluid delivery system and propellant mixture therefor

The displacement of refill valves in an implantable drug delivery device is reduced to permit the housings of a drug delivery device to remain compact in size while permitting reservoirs of increased depth to be used. In a preferred embodiment, a collapsible link is provided as a telescoping member incorporating a coil spring. As the valve is pulled into contact with its seat, a detectable pressure increase is sensed in the refill device. In accordance with the invention, as the drug supply contained in the reservoir depletes, the reservoir surface moves towards a collapsed position, compressing the coil spring and eventually contacting the valve stem, thereby lifting the valve from its seat. By virtue of telescoping link, the valve stem length and therefore the valve travel may be reduced as compared to prior art devices, thus eliminating the need for increased housing depth when deeper reservoirs are used. The collapsible link may be comprised of a second spring combined with a telescoping link. The second spring is situated on a side of the valve opposite the telescoping link, thereby providing a downward force on the valve and valve stem. As an other alternative, the invention provides a lever arm for actuating the refill valve. A pivot for the lever arm is situated near the refill valve and a distal end of the lever arm maintained in contact with the reservoir surface using a spring bias. An intermediate portion of the lever arm engages the valve stem. Thus, as the reservoir surface moves towards the collapsed position, the displacement of the valve is a fraction of the displacement of the distal end of the lever arm.

Overfill protection systems for implantable drug delivery devices

A medication delivery device having a particularly compact size. The compact size is achieved by arranging the components of the device so that the reservoir refill port is positioned laterally adjacent a bellows medication reservoir. Preferably, the medication reservoir is doughnut shaped and the refill port is positioned in a centrally located aperture.

Medication delivery device and method of construction

A medication delivery device having a particularly compact size due to the bulged configuration of the cover. The device includes a housing having a base and a cover. The cover includes a side portion and a substantially planer surface joined by a curved portion. The curved portion is bulged outwardly in a manner such that the area of the internal cavity bounded by the side portion, the substantially planer surface and the base includes substantially all of the area which would be formed if the side portion and the substantially planer surface were extended and joined in the absence of the curved portion. This enables the entire vertical space of the internal cavity to be utilized and allows the thickness of the device to be minimized.

An apparatus and method for limiting access to a septum in a body implanted device. The apparatus includes a screen member which covers the septum. The screen member has a plurality of openings which are sized such that needles larger than a predetermined size will not pass through the openings. Needles of a size less than the predetermined size of the openings will pass through and be provided access to the septum.

Growing community of inventors

Brooklyn Park, MN, United States of America

Paul S Kratoska