Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Toua Vang

Daniel J Foster

Kimberly A Jorgensen

Kevin J Persuitti

Timothy P Linger

An implantable medical electrical lead includes an extendable/retractable active fixation distal tip assembly. The distal tip assembly includes a shell having an internal cavity and a helix guide member extending at least partially across the cavity and including an axial surface. The distal tip assembly also includes a rotatable coupler within the cavity and a fixation helix fixedly attached to the coupler. The fixation helix engages the helix guide member such that rotation of the coupler and the fixation helix causes the coupler and the fixation helix to advance distally relative to the shell. The coupler further includes a distal rotation stop member protruding axially from the coupler configured to abut the axial surface of the helix guide member to delimit rotation and extension of the coupler and the fixation helix.

Active fixation implantable lead with rotation stop features

A connector block and associated locking setscrew for an implantable electronic tissue stimulating device are designed to eliminate thread damage to the setscrew which is a cause of the setscrew becoming stuck in the connector block. The threaded bore in the connector that is adapted to receive the setscrew is provided with an undercut at the end of the threaded bore where the undercut provides an annular, 360-degree flat surface that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the setscrew receiving bore. The setscrew employed is designed to have a shoulder machined a predetermined distance below the terminus of the final thread by machining a reduced diameter portion on the distal end of the setscrew. Now, when the setscrew is inserted into its threaded bore, the shoulder on the setscrew and the flat surface on the undercut in the connector block meet, preventing any portion of the screw threads from extending beyond the internal threads formed in the setscrew receiving bore of the connector block.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Toua Vang