Medtronic, Inc.

Stanten C Spear

Ronald A Drake

Kendra Yasger

Gary R Fiedler

Scott William Hayden

Lester O Stener

Ron A Drake

Beth C Bullemer

Lindsey Marie Tobin

Kenneth C Gardeski

James F Kelley

Johnson E Goode

Les Stener

Steven Lawrence Waldhauser

William K Wenger

Andrea Jean Asleson

Eric K Y Chan

Mohmoud K Seraj

John Louis Sommer

Andrzej M Malewicz

Rick D McVenes

Douglas S Hine

Jeremy J Odegard

Vicki L Bjorklund

Pedro A Meregotte

John J Maier

James H Vaughn

Melissa Gene Tanner Christie

Christopher M Hobot

Kenneth R Brennen

Patrick P Senarith

Jeff Jannicke

Richard Patrick Manahan

David A Schuelke

Scott J Brabec

Roger E Rugland

William J Schindeldecker

Bruce C Johnson

Kendra Lange

Elizabeth A Ellingson

Kiem Dang

Debbie L Kirihara

Jennifer L Braunschweig

Scott W Hayden

Beth Cristina Bullemer

Ron Alan Drake

A lead delivery apparatus and a method of delivering a medical lead to an anatomic target site. The method includes inserting a hydraulic plug into an internal delivery lumen of a delivery shaft, and coupling a medical lead to the hydraulic plug. Hydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic plug through the delivery lumen, thereby moving the hydraulic plug toward an anatomic target site, and advancing the medical lead toward the target site.

Lead delivery device and method

A slitter for slitting a guide catheter has a handle and a blade assembly coupled to the handle. The blade assembly includes a shroud for receiving an elongated body of a medical device and a slitting blade having an exposed cutting edge to slit the guide catheter. The blade assembly includes a user-deflectable portion coupled to the shroud for causing the shroud to flex in response to deflection of the user-deflectable portion. The handle and the blade assembly may be assembled from piece parts in a manufacturing method.

Guide catheter slitter

An improved system and method for placing implantable medical devices (IMDs) such as leads within the coronary sinus and branch veins is disclosed. In one embodiment, a slittable delivery sheath and a method of using the sheath are provided. The sheath includes a slittable hub, and a substantially straight body defining an inner lumen. The body comprises a shaft section and a distal section that is distal to, and softer than, the shaft section. A slittable braid extends adjacent to at least a portion of one of the shaft section and the distal section. In one embodiment of the invention, the sheath further includes a transition section that is distal to the shaft section, and proximal to the distal section. The transition section is softer than the shaft section, but stiffer than the distal section.

System and method for positioning implantable medical devices within coronary veins

Slitter with adjustable shroud

A slitter for slitting a guide catheter is assembled from a handle, a blade assembly coupled to the handle, and a holding mechanism coupled to the handle. The blade assembly includes a shroud for receiving an elongated body of a medical device and a slitting blade having an exposed cutting edge to slit the guide catheter.

Slitter with mechanical holding finger

A lead delivery apparatus and a method of delivering a medical lead to an anatomic target site. An elongated lead advancement member is coupled to a delivery shaft. The delivery shaft is inserted to the target site. The delivery shaft is temporarily attached to the target site using a fixator. A medical lead is inserted over the lead advancement member and pushed over the lead advancement member toward the target site.

A medical apparatus includes a guidewire and a fixator catheter. The fixator catheter comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, and further includes a distal opening, a fixator secured to the distal portion, and a body opening arranged between the fixator and the proximal portion. The guidewire passes through the body opening and the distal opening of the fixator catheter. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration and, in the expanded condition, is capable of anchoring the guidewire and fixator catheter in a lumen of a blood vessel.

A catheter proximal section is preferably formed from a relatively soft part and a relatively rigid part, and includes a proximal terminal end that defines a perimeter of an opening into a lumen of the catheter. The proximal section may further include a feature for interlocking engagement with an accessory tool. An inner surface of each of the relatively soft and rigid parts may be located opposite one another, on either side of the catheter lumen. The relatively soft and rigid parts may be included in a sealing assembly that further includes an attachment feature for removable connection of the assembly to the proximal section catheter.

Medical delivery systems and apparatus

A delivery catheter includes a pre-formed and resilient heart-wrapping segment. The segment may have a relaxed span that allows the segment to wrap around a left side of a heart from an anterior epicardial surface to a posterior epicardial surface, when the catheter is advanced along the epicardial surface, having been inserted from a sub-xiphoid access site.

Pre-formed delivery catheters

Growing community of inventors

Arden Hills, MN, United States of America

Stanten C Spear