Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to extra, intra, and transvascular medical lead placement techniques for arranging medical leads and electrical stimulation and/or sensing electrodes proximate nerve tissue within a patient. It discloses a system for implantation of a medical lead configured to deliver electrical stimulation to nerve tissue located adjacent a blood vessel, the system comprising: a catheter adapted to be positioned within a lumen of the blood vessel adjacent the nerve tissue; a deployment member extendable and retractable from the catheter through a wall of the blood vessel lumen; and an electrode connected to the deployment member such that the deployment member positions the electrode outside of the blood vessel proximate the nerve tissue when the deployment member is extended through the lumen wall.
Abstract:
An intrathecal catheter for delivering fluid to, or withdrawing fluid from, the cerebrospinal fluid compartment of a patient, includes a proximal end and a distal portion. The distal portion has an outer diameter of about 1 mm or less, a bending stiffness of about 0.002 pounds per square inch or less, and a distal end. A delivery region is located between the proximal end and the distal end, and a lumen extends from the proximal end to the delivery region. The catheter may further include a coiled structure region to prevent dislodgement of the catheter from a tissue in which the coiled structure is implanted, for example the cisterna magna. The catheter may also include tines to anchor portions of the catheter, for example to a portion of the spinal canal.
Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to extra, intra, and transvascular medical lead placement techniques for arranging medical leads and electrical stimulation and/or sensing electrodes proximate nerve tissue within a patient. It discloses an implantable medical lead system configured to deliver electrical stimulation from within a lumen of a blood vessel within a patient to nerve tissue located adjacent to and outside of the blood vessel, the system comprising: a medical lead arranged within a lumen of the blood vessel; an electrode connected toward a distal end of the lead adjacent the nerve tissue; and an active fixation member connected toward a distal end of the lead adjacent the nerve tissue and configured to anchor the lead to a wall of the blood vessel lumen.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for transvenously accessing the pericardial space via the vascular system and atrial wall, particularly through the superior vena cava and right atrial wall, to deliver treatment in the pericardial space are disclosed. A steerable instrument is advanced transvenously into the right atrium of the heart, and a distal segment is deflected into the right atrial appendage. A fixation catheter is advanced employing the steerable instrument to affix a distal fixation mechanism to the atrial wall. A distal segment of an elongated medical device, e.g., a therapeutic catheter or an electrical medical lead, is advanced through the fixation catheter lumen, through the atrial wall, and into the pericardial space. The steerable guide catheter is removed, and the elongated medical device is coupled to an implantable medical device subcutaneously implanted in the thoracic region. The fixation catheter may be left in place.
Abstract:
Catheter systems including one or more flow restrictors are disclosed. The catheter systems may include two or more delivery branches. The delivery branches may be connected to a supply catheter section using a branching catheter connector that may include one or more flow restrictors. The flow restrictors may include a restrictor body located within a lumen with a channel located between the restrictor body and interior surface of the lumen, the channel restricting flow through the lumen past the flow restrictor. The channel may be defined by a groove formed in the restrictor body and/or the interior surface of the lumen. Methods of providing pressure relief by flowing fluid past a flow restrictor are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method involves selecting a type of cell for implantation into a mammal and identifying the specific gravity or density of the cell type. Then, a carrier liquid is selected which has a specific gravity or density within a range of specific gravities or densities which approximately matches the specific gravity or density of the selected cell type. A liquid for delivery of growth cells into tissue of a mammal is also provided in which the density of a carrier fluid component is matched to the density of the cells being consistently delivered by the carrier fluid
Abstract:
Methods and systems for transvenously accessing the pericardial space via the vascular system and atrial wall, particularly through the superior vena cava and right atrial wall, to deliver a pharmacologic agent, particularly a NO-donor drug, to the heart are disclosed. A proximal connector of an infusion catheter is coupled to an infusion pump, and a distal catheter segment having a distal infusion catheter lumen end opening is disposed in the pericardial space. The implantable infusion pump is operable in conjunction with an implantable ischemia monitor to monitor the ischemic state and trigger delivery or regulate the periodic delivery of the pharmacologic agent to optimally treat ischemia. The patient may operate a patient activator that the patient when feeling ischemia symptoms to transmit a signal that is received by the implantable infusion pump and triggers delivery of a bolus and/or continuous infusion.
Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to extra, intra, and transvascular medical lead placement techniques for arranging medical leads and electrical stimulation and/or sensing electrodes proximate nerve tissue within a patient. It discloses a system for implantation of a medical lead configured to deliver electrical stimulation to nerve tissue located adjacent a blood vessel, the system comprising: a catheter adapted to be positioned within a lumen of the blood vessel adjacent the nerve tissue; a deployment member extendable and retractable from the catheter through a wall of the blood vessel lumen; and an electrode connected to the deployment member such that the deployment member positions the electrode outside of the blood vessel proximate the nerve tissue when the deployment member is extended through the lumen wall.
Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to extra, intra, and transvascular medical lead placement techniques for arranging medical leads and electrical stimulation and/or sensing electrodes proximate nerve tissue within a patient. It discloses an implantable medical lead system configured to deliver electrical stimulation to nerve tissue within a patient, the system comprising: an implantable medical lead comprising a distal portion configured for introduction into a sheath of tissue that contains the nerve tissue; an electrode electrically connected to the distal portion of the implantable medical lead; and an anchor connected to the medical lead and proximally offset from the electrode at least partially outside of the sheath to stabilize placement of the distal portion of the lead within the sheath.