University of Southern California

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Yaniv Bar-Cohen

Gerald E Loeb

Ramen Chmait

Michael J Silka

Li Zhou

Raymond Peck

Steven Nutt

Mark Sklansky

Chmait Ramen

Gerald Loeb

Xiao Yun

Michael Silka

The present invention provides a novel design for sheaths intended for medical procedures. The sheath includes structures that anchor the sheath in a cavity or space when deployed but are at the same time retractable such that the sheath can be removed without tearing the tissue defining the space.

Sheath for maintaining position in a body cavity

The present invention provides an advancement in the art of cardiac pacemakers. The invention provides a novel and unobvious pacemaker system that comprises at least one pacemaker and that is, to a large extent, self-controlled, allows for long-term implantation in a patient, and minimizes current inconveniences and problems associated with battery life. The invention further includes a mechanism in which at least two pacemakers are implanted in a patient, and in which the pacemakers communicate with each other at the time of a given pacing or respiratory event, without any required external input, and adjust pacing parameters to respond to the patient's need for blood flow. The invention further provides a novel design for a pacemaker in which the pacemaker electrode is connected to the pacemaker body by a lead that is configured to allow the pacemaker to lie parallel to the epicardial surface and to reduce stress on the pacemaker and heart tissue.

Epicardial lead design

An open coiled pacemaker lead is provided that has improved structural stability and functional life in vivo. The open coiled lead includes an electrically conductive material that is coated or covered by a thin layer of electrically insulative material. The coated coiled lead has adequate spacing between adjacent coils, and has a lumen of sufficient diameter, to allow for infiltration of biological connective tissue onto the surface of the coated coil when maintained in vivo for a sufficient amount of time. Infiltration of the connective tissue essentially uniformly along the entire coiled lead strengthens and lengthens the functional life of the coated coil lead.

Implanted electrical lead for pacemaker

The present invention provides advancements in the art of cardiac pacemakers. The invention provides a pacemaker system that comprises at least one pacemaker and that is, to a large extent, self-controlled, allows for long-term implantation in a patient, and minimizes current inconveniences and problems associated with battery life. The invention further includes a mechanism in which at least two pacemakers are implanted in a patient, and in which the pacemakers communicate with each other at the time of a given pacing or respiratory event, without any required external input, and adjust pacing parameters to respond to the patient's need for blood flow. The invention further provides a design for a pacemaker in which the pacemaker electrode is connected to the pacemaker body by a lead that is configured to allow the pacemaker to lie parallel to the epicardial surface and to reduce stress on the pacemaker and heart tissue.

The present invention provides a fully intrathoracic artificial pacemaker. The pacemaker is of sufficiently compact size to allow for implantation of both the electrode and the power source within the chest cavity. In exemplary embodiments, a screw-type electrode is used for connection to heart tissue, and a relatively short lead is used to connect the electrode to a battery unit, which can comprise electronics for control of the pacemaker. An assembly for implanting the pacemaker, as well as methods of implanting the pacemaker, are disclosed. In embodiments, the device is designed as a fetal pacemaker.

Artificial cardiac pacemaker device assembly

A fully implantable cardiac pacemaker system is provided. The pacemaker system includes a pacemaker having an electrode sub-assembly containing an electrode and a base into which the electrode is embedded. It also includes an implantable package that has electronic components for providing electrical pulses to a patient's heart. The pacemaker also has a power supply and a flexible electrically conductive lead that connects the electronic components to the electrode. In addition to the pacemaker, the pacemaker system includes a removable insertion casing that is physically attached to the base portion of the electrode sub-assembly. Upon insertion of the pacemaker into a patient's heart, the pacemaker is detached from the removable insertion casing and deployed fully in the patient's chest. The pacemaker system has particular use in fetal applications.

Growing community of inventors

South Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Yaniv Bar-Cohen