Systems, methods, and devices to facilitate insertion of certain leads with electrode(s) into patients are described. Leads can be implanted to work in conjunction with a cardiac pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator. A lead for cardiac therapy may be inserted into an intercostal space associated with the cardiac notch of a patient. Devices for delivery may include, for example, a delivery system coupled with an electrical lead and having a handle, a component advancer and insertion tips. The handle is configured to be actuated by an operator and the component advancer is configured to advance an electrical lead into the patient. The insertion tips can be configured to close around the electrical lead within the component advancer, to push through biological tissue, and to open to enable the lead to advance into the patient. The electrical lead can also be maintained in a particular orientation during the advancement into the patient.

A radially compressible cardiac gripper for at least mechanical stimulation of a heart. The cardiac gripper has two gripper arms, wherein at least one of the gripper arms comprises a flexible section configured for movement of the arm having the flexible section.

Systems, methods, and devices to facilitate insertion of certain leads with electrode(s) into patients are described. Leads can be implanted to work in conjunction with a cardiac pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator. A lead for cardiac therapy may be inserted into an intercostal space associated with the cardiac notch of a patient. Devices for delivery may include, for example, a delivery system coupled with an electrical lead and having a handle, a component advancer and insertion tips. The handle is configured to be actuated by an operator and the component advancer is configured to advance an electrical lead into the patient. The insertion tips can be configured to close around the electrical lead within the component advancer, to push through biological tissue, and to open to enable the lead to advance into the patient. The electrical lead can also be maintained in a particular orientation during the advancement into the patient.

A bio electrode and a method of forming the same are provided. The bio electrode comprises a first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite comprising a first core-shell nanowire and a first polymer. The method of forming a bio electrode comprises a step of forming a core-shell nanowire by carrying out epitaxial growth of a biocompatible metal on a surface of a core comprising a conductive metal.

An electrode (10) for treating organic tissue by means of direct current, comprising an electrode holder (20), at least one electrically conductive electrode surface (30), which is let into the electrode holder (20), wherein the at least one electrode surface (30) is connected to at least one control element (400) and wherein the at least one control element (400) is connected to a control and energy supply unit by way of electrical lines (60, 70), wherein the at least one control element (400) is configured in such a way that each individual electrode surface (30) is actuable by the at least one control element (400) in such a way that a current density (J) provided within a predetermined interval for each one of the at least one electrode surfaces (30) can be maintained or that a current density (J) for each one of the at least one electrode surfaces (30) can be maintained around a predetermined value.

Provided are devices and methods capable of interfacing with biological tissues, such as organs like the heart, in real-time and using techniques which provide the ability to monitor and control complex physical, chemical, biochemical and thermal properties of the tissues as a function of time. The described devices and methods utilize micro scale sensors and actuators to spatially monitor and control a variety of physical, chemical and biological tissue parameters, such as temperature, pH, spatial position, force, pressure, electrophysiology and to spatially provide a variety of stimuli, such as heat, light, voltage and current.

A core-shell nanowire, a method of forming the core-shell nanowire and a stretchable composite comprising the core-shell nanowire are provided. The core-shell nanowire comprises a core comprising a conductive metal and a shell comprising a biocompatible metal. The method of forming the core-shell nanowire comprises a step of forming a core-shell nanowire by carrying out epitaxial growth of a biocompatible metal on a surface of a core comprising a conductive metal. The stretchable composite comprises a first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite comprising first core-shell nanowires and a first polymer, a first insulating layer disposed on the first core-shell nanowire/polymer composite, and a second core-shell nanowire/polymer composite disposed on the first insulating layer and comprising second core-shell nanowires and a second polymer.

This document describes methods and devices for securing epicardial devices. For example, this document describes methods and devices for securing epicardial devices by passing a sheath into a pericardial space of a patient through a first percutaneous access site, passing a guidewire through the sheath into the pericardial space of the patient, passing the guidewire through a transverse sinus of the patient, passing a snare device into the pericardial space through a second percutaneous access site, and capturing a free end portion of the guidewire using the snare device.

A medical apparatus for an organ has a substrate that conforms to a shape of the organ, and a plurality of processing units connected to the substrate and distributed throughout the substrate. Each of the processing units has a sensor, processing device and actuator. The sensor senses a condition of the organ and provides a sensed signal. The processing device receives the sensed signal from said sensor, analyzes the sensed signal and provides a control signal. The actuator applies an output pulse to the organ in response to the control signal from the processing device.

An implantable direct-current electrode assembly (20, 120) has two implantable electrodes (30; 40) and a control circuit (50), to which the first and the second electrodes (30; 40) are electrically connected. The control circuit (50) is designed to establish a potential difference between the two electrodes (30; 40), so that a direct current (55) can flow between the two electrodes (30; 40). One of the electrodes (30) is a coil electrode with a maximum length that is pre-determined by the distance between the tricuspid valve and the end of the right ventricle lying opposite the tricuspid valve and the pulmonary valve. The counter-electrode (40) can be a coil electrode for the coronary sinus, or a plate electrode that can be attached to the exterior of the left ventricle.