Medtronic, Inc.

Scott J Brabec

William J Schindeldecker

John Louis Sommer

Douglas S Hine

Zhongping C Yang

Kenneth C Gardeski

Michael D Eggen

Kenneth R Brennen

Jean M Carver

James A Coles, Jr

Vania Lee

Duane N Mateychuk

Yong-Fu Xiao

Lepeng Zeng

Jeffrey M Gillberg

Christopher M Hobot

Eduardo N Warman

Xiaohong Zhou

Jon F Urban

Suping Lyu

Stanten C Spear

Paul J Degroot

Jordon D Honeck

James Strom

Lea A Nygren

Kaileigh E Rock

Roger E Rugland

Bruce C Johnson

Randy G Rose

Xiao Yong-Fu

An implantable medical device (IMD) comprises a plurality of deep tines configured to be advanced into a septum of a heart of a patient in different directions that are not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the implantable medical device, wherein each deep tine of the plurality of deep tines is configured to deliver cardiac pacing to cardiac tissue distal to a chamber of the heart in which the IMD is implanted, and one or more shallow electrodes engageable with the septum, wherein the one or more shallow electrodes are configured to deliver cardiac pacing to the chamber of the heart in which the IMD is implanted.

Multi-electrode implantable medical device (IMD)

An apparatus and method to discriminate cardiac events by sensing atrial and ventricular depolarizations having associated refractory periods thereafter. A fast ventricular rate is detected in response to the sensed ventricular depolarizations. Responsive to detecting the fast ventricular rate, at least one stimulus pulse is delivered to atrial tissue within the associated refractory period of the ventricle but outside of an associated refractory period of the stimulated atrial tissue. A ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse is determined, and the cardiac event is discriminated based on the ventricular response to the atrial tissue stimulus pulse.

Using focal myocardial stimulation to distinguish supraventricular tachycardia from ventricular tachycardia

Various techniques for delivering atrial pacing and supraventricular stimulation to achieve a desired ventricular rate and/or cardiac output are described. One example method described includes delivering a pacing signal configured to cause an atrial depolarization to a heart of a patient, wherein the atrial depolarization results in an associated refractory period during the cardiac cycle, and delivering a signal to a supraventricular portion of the heart of the patient subsequent to the atrial refractory period and during a ventricular refractory period of the cardiac cycle.

Supraventricular stimulation to control ventricular rate

A method for fabricating an implantable medical electrode includes roughening the electrode substrate, applying an adhesion layer, and depositing a valve metal oxide coating over the adhesion layer under conditions optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization. The electrode substrate may be a variety of electrode metals or alloys including titanium, platinum, platinum-iridium, or niobium. The adhesion layer may be formed of titanium or zirconium. The valve metal oxide coating is a ruthenium oxide coating sputtered onto the adhesion layer under controlled target power, sputtering pressure, and sputter gas ratio setting optimized to minimize electrode impedance and post-pulse polarization.

Method for fabrication of low-polarization implantable stimulation electrode

An insulative housing formed about a distal end of a medical electrical lead body includes a cavity and a port; an ionically conductive medium fills the cavity and is in intimate contact with an electrode surface contained within the cavity. When a current is delivered to the electrode surface contained within the cavity, a first current density generated at the electrode surface is smaller than a second current density generated out from the port of the insulative housing; thus, the port forms a high impedance and low polarization tissue-stimulating electrode.

High impedance and low polarization electrode

Unique electrodes and/or electrical lead assemblies are provided for stimulating cardiac tissue, muscle tissue, neurological tissue, brain tissue and/or organ tissue; to electrophysiology mapping and ablation catheters for monitoring and selectively altering physiologic conduction pathways. The electrodes, lead assemblies and catheters optionally include fluid irrigation conduit(s) for providing therapeutic and/or performance enhancing materials to adjacent biological tissue. Each device is coupled to or incorporates nanotube structures or materials therein. Methods for fabricating, deploying, and operating such medical devices are also provided.

Medical devices incorporating carbon nanotube material and methods of fabricating same

The present invention relates generally to medical devices; in particular and without limitation, to unique electrodes and/or electrical lead assemblies for stimulating cardiac tissue, muscle tissue, neurological tissue, brain tissue and/or organ tissue; to electrophysiology mapping and ablation catheters for monitoring and selectively altering physiologic conduction pathways; and, wherein said electrodes, lead assemblies and catheters optionally include fluid irrigation conduit(s) for providing therapeutic and/or performance enhancing materials to adjacent biological tissue, and wherein each said device is coupled to or incorporates nanostructure or materials therein. The present invention also provides methods for fabricating, deploying, and operating such medical devices.

A pacing lead includes a first pacing cathode coupled to a first conductor, a second pacing cathode coupled to a second conductor, and a flexible anode coupled to a third conductor. The flexible anode has a length less than approximately 10 millimeters and is spaced apart from and proximal to the first pacing cathode and spaced apart from and distal to the second pacing cathode. The spacing between the anode and the first pacing cathode is approximately equal to the spacing between the anode and the second pacing cathode.

Multipolar medical electrical lead

An implantable pacemaker is provided with subcutaneous spiral electrodes for sensing electrical signals of the heart. Subcutaneous spirals or spiral electrodes are embedded individually into three or four recessed casings placed in a compliant surround that is attached to the perimeter of the implanted medical device. The electrodes are electrically connected to the circuitry of the implanted pacemaker and detect cardiac depolarization waveforms displayable as electrocardiographic tracings on an external instrument such as a programmer. The spiral electrode constitutes the proximal end of a continuous wire that upon egress from the recessed casing is insulated using insulative material.

Subcutaneous spiral electrode for sensing electrical signals of the heart

A medical electrical lead having an elongated insulative sheath carrying an elongated electrical conductor therein and having a drug-dispensing electrode assembly coupled to a distal end of the elongated conductor. The electrode assembly takes the form of a conductive electrode member having a distal electrode portion exposed exterior to the elongated sheath and a shank portion extending proximally from the distal portion and coupled to the elongated conductor. A drug release device is mounted around the shank proximal to the distal portion of the electrode member and the electrode member is provided with at least one bore extending from a surface of the release device to a surface of the distal portion of the electrode member.

Steroid elution electrodes LVCV, left atrial medical/elecrical leads

A method of fabricating a stimulation electrode for use on an implantable lead, the lead and electrode so fabricated and a method of their use. The electrode is made by coating a conductive electrode member with a coating of a high surface area coating having micron or sub-micron surface features and after coating, plasma cleaning the electrode member. The electrode is coupled to an insulated conductor of an implantable lead and is employed to stimulate body tissue. The high surface area coating may be platinum black, ruthenium oxide, another metal oxide, a metal nitride or the like. Steroid may be applied to the electrode member after coating.

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Elk River, MN, United States of America

Scott J Brabec