Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

Robert W Wickham, Jr

Ronald W Heil, Jr

Bruce H KenKnight

Roger W Dahl

John E Heil

Harry G Friedman

James D Kadera

Edward D Kubitschek

J Michael Hoch

An implantable defibrillation electrode including a conductive distal end portion and a non-conductive proximal end portion is provided with at least a major portion of the length of the distal end portion having a pre-configured shape and being resiliently deformable into a generally straight condition. The distal end portion includes distal and proximal ends and at least one of those ends is hollow and has hook structure shiftably supported therein for movement longitudinally thereof from a retracted position at least substantially contained within the hollow end and an extended position at least substantially fully outwardly projected from the hollow end. Spring structure is provided for yieldingly biasing the hook structure from the extended position toward the retracted position and axial thrust developing structure is slidingly telescoped through the proximal end portion and operatively associated with the hook structure for exerting an axial thrust thereon from the terminal end of the proximal end portion in order to effect shifting of the hook structure from the retracted position to the extended position.

Positive fixation device

A tool for subcutaneously implanting a subcutaneous electrode comprising several wire patch electrode segments by way of a single surgical incision. The tunneling tool comprises a stylet and a peel-away sheath. The tunneling tool is inserted into an incision, in a direction which corresponds to the desired placement of an electrode segment. Once the tunneling tool reaches a desired position, the stylet is withdrawn, thereby revealing the interior of the peel-away sheath and a resulting subcutaneous tunnel. The corresponding electrode segment is then inserted into this subcutaneous tunnel, and subsequently implanted in the patient. The implantation procedure is then repeated as many times as is necessary, using the same incision, until all the electrode segments for the particular electrode configuration have been implanted. In addition, the tunneling tool can be adapted to conform to varying electrode segment sizes, which thereby allows the tool to conform to the varying needs of each individual patient. As an even further feature, the tunneling tool can be constructed in a curved configuration to facilitate electrode implantation in the lateral thoracic region of the body.

Insertion and tunneling tool for a subcutaneous wire patch electrode

A bipolar lead for use in sensing cardiac depolarization signals and for applying electrical stimulation to cardiac tissue comprises a pair of elongated conductors contained within a lead body, the lead body terminating at its distal end in an enlarged head fabricated from an insulating plastic material. The head has a generally planar surface and projecting perpendicularly from that surface is a corkscrew electrode which is adapted to be screwed into myocardial tissue. Also supported on the planar surface of the head so as to surround the corkscrew electrode is a toroidal electrode formed from helically wound conductive wire. One of the conductors passing through the lead body connects at its distal end to the corkscrew electrode which the other conductor attached to the toroidal electrode. The toroidal configuration of the helically wound wire provides substantially increased surface area when compared to a flat disk electrode and, moreover, offers the ability of tissue to grow into the interior regions of the toroidal electrode for improved anchoring, higher amplitude of the sense depolarization signals and a higher slew rate for the signal. Another feature of the invention involves filling the interior of the hollow torus structure with a wool-like material formed from platinum or other inert conductive material for even further increasing the amount of electrode surface in contact with tissue.

Bipolar myocardial positive fixation lead with improved sensing

A system for the electrical treatment of spinal curvature through the exercise of selected spinal muscles. A probe having a blunt, muscle-penetrating tip is fitted with a sleeve such that its tip extends from the sleeve. A helical electrode is mounted on an elongated tool capable of imparting a rotational force to the electrode while allowing a disengagement with the electrode in the direction of its longitudinal axis. The probe is inserted in the paraspinal muscles and is removed while leaving the sleeve within the muscle. The electrode-tool assembly is inserted through the sleeve and the electrode secured in the paraspinal muscles by a rotational force applied to the tool. After electrode securement, the tool is withdrawn from the sleeve and the sleeve withdrawn from the muscle leaving the electrode secured within the muscle. Needle electrodes may be employed to stimulate the paraspinal muscles at several sites to establish those sites at which the induced muscle contraction provides maximum correction of the spinal curvature and the blunt probe tip may be provided with an electrode for muscle stimulation at varied penetration depths to establish the optimum depth for securement of the helical electrode. The electrodes are connected by leads to a receiver circuit implantable beneath the patient's skin and operable to receive RF modulated stimulation impulses transmitted through the skin. The impulses are developed by a patient operated RF transmitter with a cyclic on and off stimulation and rest periods so that stimulation of the muscles may take place while the patient relaxes or sleeps.

Growing community of inventors

Harris, MN, United States of America

Robert W Wickham, Jr