An electrode assembly for the positioning of an electrode of an implantable medical lead includes a housing and an electrode subassembly. The housing includes a proximal end for connecting to the lead and a distal end. The housing defines a housing lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The housing lumen includes internal screw threads extending along at least a portion of the housing lumen. The electrode subassembly is disposed at least partially within the housing lumen. The electrode subassembly includes a needle electrode and a coupler. The needle electrode is disposed coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the housing lumen. The coupler is disposed at a proximal end of the needle electrode. The coupler includes external screw threads engaged with the internal screw threads of the housing lumen such that rotation of the coupler moves the needle electrode along the longitudinal axis of the housing lumen.

The present invention relates to an implantable medical device, comprising a housing with an electric feedthrough, wherein the electric feedthrough comprises an insulator and an electric conductor extending through the insulator, wherein insulator is joined, particularly brazed, with the electric conductor, a first electrode configured to contact a body tissue, and a second electrode configured to act as a return electrode for the first electrode, wherein the first electrode is formed by the electric conductor of the electric feedthrough and an electrode tip, wherein the electrode tip is joined, particularly welded, with the electrical conductor.

Provided herein are systems for providing therapy to the heart of a patient. The systems include an implantable device for implantation proximate the heart of the patient. The implantable device includes: an anchoring element for maintaining the position of the implantable device after implantation in the patient, at least one sensing electrode for sensing the electrical activity of the heart, at least three pacing electrodes for delivering electrical energy to the tissue of the heart, and a controller including an algorithm for determining when the patient requires therapy. The systems further include an external device having a transceiver for transmitting energy to the implantable device.

A leadless biostimulator, such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker, having a header assembly is described. The header assembly includes a helix mount mounted on a flange. An inner surface of the helix mount conforms to an outer surface of the flange, and the outer surface has a non-circular profile such that the conforming surfaces interfere with rotation of the helix mount relative to the flange. The non-circular profile includes a linear segment, such as a radial segment, that resists rotational movement of the helix mount. The helix mount has a protrusion that extends into a recess of the flange to interfere with longitudinal movement between the helix mount and the flange. The protrusion is formed before or after mounting the helix mount on the flange. The interfering surfaces threadlessly interconnect the header assembly components. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

The present disclosure provides a stimulation lead for providing stimulation signals to nerve tissue and improved methods for constructing and manufacturing such a stimulation lead. The stimulation lead and/or methods includes a lead with a cable disposed within. At each end of the lead body a portion of the cable is exposed, and a metal ferrule is securely attached to the exposed cable portion. An electrode/contact is then securely attached to the metal ferrule such that the electrode covers the metal ferrule, a portion of the lead body, and a transition point where the exposed cable exits the lead body. A tine component may be swaged around a portion of the term end, configured to provide a retaining force against an force acting upon the stimulation lead, while allowing insertion of the stim end of the stimulation lead during implantation, and extraction of the stim end during explantation.

Provided herein are methods of treating a patient comprising providing a medical apparatus comprising an external system and an implantable system, implanting the implantable system, and delivering at least one of power or data to the implantable system with the external system. The external system comprises: at least one external antenna configured to transmit a first transmission signal to the implantable system; an external transmitter configured to drive the at least one external antenna; an external power supply; and an external controller. The implantable system comprises: at least one implantable antenna configured to receive the first transmission signal from the first external device; an implantable receiver; at least one implantable functional element configured to interface with the patient; an implantable controller; an implantable energy storage assembly; and an implantable housing surrounding at least the implantable controller and the implantable receiver. Medical apparatus are also provided.

A cochlear implant includes a cochlear lead, a housing, an antenna, a stimulation processor operably connected to the antenna and to the cochlear lead, a first fixation element, a second fixation element with a different configuration than the first fixation element, and a connector configured to simultaneously connect the first and second fixation elements to the housing in such a manner that the first and second fixation elements are independently detachable from the housing.

The present invention provides a single surgical method, procedure and/or system that creates open visual and physical access to an identified spinal treatment site that comprises both targeted vertebral and spinal levels to be treated, wherein the spinal levels comprise at least one dorsal root ganglion. A spinal treatment procedure is performed generally in combination with implantation of a neuromodulation system that may comprise placement of electrical lead(s) on the at least one dorsal root ganglion, wherein each lead is in operative connection with a pulse generator that may also be implanted during the surgical method. Electrical stimulation may be generated with the pulse generator through the electrical leads to the at least one dorsal root ganglion during and/or after the closure of the identified spinal treatment site.

A system for delivery of a leadless pacemaker. The system includes a catheter with an elongate flexible tubular body with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the tubular body includes a delivery cup with an external surface having an inflatable compliant balloon; and a pacing capsule of the leadless pacemaker releasably retained in the delivery cup. The pacing capsule includes an arrangement of tines configured to deploy and pierce a target tissue at a desired pacing capsule implant site in a coronary sinus of a patient. The balloon, when at least partially inflated, is configured to urge the delivery cup against the target tissue during deployment of the pacing capsule.

An implantable medical device (IMD) including a fixation mechanism and a leadlet supporting an electrode. The leadlet includes a shape memory material configured to urge a leadlet body of the leadlet toward a preset orientation relative to a device body of the IMD. The leadlet is configured to establish a radial displacement between the device body and a distal end of the leadlet when the shape memory material urges the leadlet toward the preset orientation. The leadlet may be configured to cause the electrode to contact tissues of the heart when the fixation mechanism attaches to tissue of the heart and the shape memory material urges the leadlet toward the preset orientation.