Medtronic, Inc.

Robert M Pearson

Michael F Hoey

David E Francischelli

Rahul Mehra

Scott Eric Jahns

Paul V Trescony

Richard H Comben

Jon M Ocel

Eric H Bonde

Thomas C Bischoff

Brian Lee Fideler

Victor P Duysens

Douglas O Hankner

Farid Moumane

Jean Robinet

Benoit Deruyver

Ronald Lee Mezera

John Anthony Fontecchio

Weiping Yu

A device for ablating tissue is provided. The device comprises a conductive element with a channel for irrigating fluid formed therein, which is in contact with a non-conductive microporous interface. All or a portion of the interface may be removable. When the interface is removed, a portion of the conductive element is exposed for use in ablating tissue. Methods of using the device and of removing the interface are also provided.

Method and apparatus for tissue ablation

Variable length electrodes for delivery of irrigated ablation

The present invention provides an anchor for securely positioning a catheter intended to deliver drug or other medicaments to a desired position in tissue wherever found in the body or in epidural or intrathecal space of a spinal cord or brain. The present invention comprises, in the preferred embodiment, a generally tubular body for receiving the catheter and a pair of wings to assist in securing the device. The body has a slot that extends through the body between the wings. The wings and the slot cooperate so that the opposed edges of the slot just come together as the wings are brought into contact with each other. The wings interact with the slot to radially compress the catheter within the lumen of the tubular body to hold the catheter in a fixed relation to the tubular body. In addition, the wings allow the device to be sutured to tissue to secure and fix the device to tissue. A first suture is placed around the base of the wings very near where the wings contact the body of the anchor. A second suture secures the wings together and affixes the anchor to the patient's tissue.

Medical catheter anchor

A system and method for providing medical electrical stimulation to a portion of the nervous system. The system includes a rigid hollow needle having a lumen, a flexible lead body disposed within the lumen of the needle, the lead body having a insulated coiled proximal section and an electrode section, the proximal section comprising a conductor which is coiled and insulated, the electrode section comprises a portion of the coiled conductor which is not insulated. In an alternative embodiment the electrode section features a crimp core around which a distal end of the coiled conductor which is not insulated is crimped, the rigid hollow needle is metal but which is partially covered along its outer surface with an insulation. In still further embodiments the flexible lead body has a stylet lumen therein and the lead body also has a connector pin for electrically connecting the electrical conductor to a pulse generator. Preferably this connector pin located on a proximal end of the lead body and having a diameter no greater than the inner diameter of the needle. A method of providing temporary electrical stimulation to the sacral nerve is also disclosed.

System and method for providing medical electrical stimulation to a

A sacral medical electrical lead which may be implanted and reliably fixed for a temporary period of time within the sacrum in a minimally invasive manner. The lead features a lead body having a electrical conductor positioned within an insulator sheath, a connector for electrically coupling the electrical conductor to a pulse generator, an electrode located on a distal end of the lead body, the electrode electrically coupled to the conductor, and an anchor for anchoring the lead body to sacral tissue, the anchor integral with the insulator sheath. In the preferred embodiment the anchor comprises a notched section in which the insulation of the lead body presents a macroscopically roughened surface which can thereby engage into the tissue without causing damage to the tissue.

Sacral medical electrical lead

Disclosed is a locking stylet for extracting elongate, body-implantable leads or catheters having a lumen disposed therewithin. A tubular member of the present invention has an outer diameter 'A' sufficiently small to permit its insertion in the lumen of a lead or catheter, and additionally has an aperture formed in the sidewall thereof at a point near the distal end thereof. A pull wire is affixed to the distal end of the tubular member through the lumen and extends slightly beyond the proximal end of the tubular member. A tractional force imparting mechanism is coupled to the proximal end of the pull wire for exerting a tractional force on the pull wire. Tractional force is transferred by the pull wire to the distal end of the tubular member and causes the distal end of the tubular member to permanently deform, sharply bend or kink at a point located beneath the aperture. The kinking action of the tubular member increases its maximum cross-sectional diameter at the distal end and thereby causes the distal end thereof to forcefully engage the sidewall of the lead or catheter lumen.

Locking stylet for extracting implantable lead or catheter

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Robert M Pearson