What is claimed is:
1. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a distal end to a proximal end and including a conductor disposed therein;
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode, the electrode assembly electrically coupled with the conductor; and
the electrode assembly including at least one electrically conductive tine adapted for fixating the lead assembly within tissue, the at least one electrically conductive tine electrically coupled with the electrode assembly.
2. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive tine has a first end coupled with the lead body and a second end which extends away from the lead body.
3. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one tine is formed of electrically conductive material.
4. The lead assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a conductive polymer.
5. The lead assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a conductive silicone rubber.
6. The lead assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a conductive thermoplastic elastomer.
7. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive tine includes a conductive coating thereon.
8. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive tine is molded to the conductor.
9. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the lead assembly includes a plurality of conductive tines.
10. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive tine comprises a wire extending away from the lead body.
11. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive tine comprises a flat wire extending away from the lead body.
12. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive tine comprises a foil extending away from the lead body.
13. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one non-conductive tine adapted for fixating a portion of the lead assembly.
14. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a defibrillation electrode disposed at the distal end of the lead body.
15. The lead assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive tine is retractable toward the conductor.
16. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a distal end to a proximal end and including a conductor disposed therein;
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode, the electrode assembly electrically coupled with the conductor; and
the at least one electrode including at least one electrically conductive cone adapted for fixating the lead assembly within tissue, the at least one electrically conductive cone electrically coupled with the electrode assembly.
17. The lead assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the cone includes a conductive ring disposed on a distal end of the cone.
18. The lead assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the conductive cone is formed of a conductive polymer.
19. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end including a conductor disposed therein;
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode electrically coupled with the conductor, the electrode assembly coupled with the lead body;
at least one conductive tine coupled with a portion of the lead body; and
a conductive member disposed within a portion of the at least one tine, the conductive member electrically coupled with the electrode assembly.
20. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one tine is partially covered with non-conductive material.
21. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least one tine extends from a first end proximate the lead body to a second end disposed away from the lead body.
22. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the lead assembly includes a plurality of conductive tines.
23. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the conductive member comprises a wire.
24. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the conductive member comprises a flat wire.
25. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the conductive member comprises a foil.
26. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least one tine extends from a first end proximate the lead body to a second end disposed away from the lead body, and a conductive cap is disposed at the second end of the at least one tine.
27. The lead assembly as recited in claim 19, further comprising at least one non-conductive tine adapted for fixating a portion of the lead assembly within tissue.
28. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end defining an intermediate portion therebetween; and
at least one conductive fixation feature extending away from the lead body at an angle of less than ninety degrees, the at least one conductive fixation feature coupled with the intermediate portion of the lead body and adapted for fixating the lead assembly within a vein, at least one conductive fixation feature including an electrode.
29. The lead assembly as recited in claim 28, wherein the electrode comprises a sensing or pacing electrode.
30. The lead assembly as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one conductive fixation feature comprises a conductive tine.
31. The lead assembly as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one conductive fixation feature comprises a wire.
32. The lead assembly as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one conductive fixation feature comprises a slender projection extending from a first end proximate the lead body to a second end disposed away from the lead body at an angle.
33. The lead assembly as recited in claim 32, further comprising a conductive cap is disposed at the second end of the at least one tine.
34. The lead assembly as recited in claim 28, further comprising at least one non-conductive tine adapted for fixating a portion of the lead assembly within tissue.
35. The lead assembly as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one conductive fixation feature comprises a cone.
36. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end defining an intermediate portion therebetween;
at least one conductor disposed within the lead body and extending from a first end to a second end, the first end proximate to the proximal end of the lead body and the second end proximate to the distal end of the lead body; and
a defibrillation electrode electrically coupled with the conductor, the defibrillation coil disposed at the second end of the conductor forming a defibrillation tip at the distal end of the lead body; at least one electrically conductive tine coupled with a portion of the lead body.
37. The lead assembly as recited in claim 36, further comprising a second defibrillation coil disposed at the intermediate portion of the lead body.
38. The lead assembly as recited in claim 36, wherein the at least one conductive tine has a first end coupled with the lead body and a second end which extends away from the lead body.
39. The lead assembly as recited in claim 36, wherein the at least one tine is partially covered with non-conductive material.
40. The lead assembly as recited in claim 38, further comprising a conductive bead coupled with the second end of the conductive tine.
41. The lead assembly as recited in claim 40, wherein the conductive bead is welded with the conductive tine.
42. The lead assembly as recited in claim 36, wherein the at least one conductive tine is adapted for sensing andor pacing.
43. The lead assembly as recited in claim 42, wherein the at least one conductive tine is electrically common with the defibrillation electrode.
44. The lead assembly as recited in claim 36, wherein the defibrillation electrode is defined by a first diameter proximate the distal end of the lead body and the conductor is defined by a second diameter proximate to the proximal end of the lead body, and the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.
45. The lead assembly as recited in claim 36, further comprising an electrical discharge surface between the second defibrillation coil and the distal defibrillation tip.
46. The lead assembly as recited in claim 36, further comprising a defibrillation coil disposed at the intermediate portion of the lead body, an electrical discharge surface between the defibrillation coil and the distal defibrillation tip, and insulation disposed between the at least one conductive tine and the defibrillation coil.
47. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a distal end to a proximal end and including a conductor disposed therein;
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode, the electrode assembly electrically coupled with the conductor; and
the at least one electrode assembly including a plurality of electrically conductive tines adapted for fixating the lead assembly within tissue, the plurality of electrically conductive tines electrically coupled with the electrode assembly and adapted to send and receive electrical signals, and the conductive tines are retractable toward the conductor.
48. The lead assembly as recited in claim 47, each of the conductive tines extending from a hinge point to a distal point, the conductive tines adapted to flex at the hinge point.
49. The lead assembly as recited in claim 47, the lead body including a lumen therethrough, the retractable tines disposed within the lumen in a first position.
50. The lead assembly as recited in claim 49, the retractable tines extended out of the lumen in a second position.
51. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a distal end to a proximal end and including a conductor disposed therein;
an electrically conductive fitting coupled with the conductor;
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode, the electrode assembly electrically coupled with the fitting; and
the at least one electrode assembly comprising at least one conductive tine molded to the fitting, the at least one tine adapted for fixating the lead assembly within tissue and adapted to send and receive electrical signals.
52. The lead assembly as recited in claim 51, wherein the at least one tine is formed of a conductive polymer.
53. The lead assembly as recited in claim 51, wherein the at least one tine is formed of a conductive thermoplastic elastomer.
54. The lead assembly as recited in claim 51, wherein the at least one tine is formed of a conductive silicone rubber.
55. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a distal end to a proximal end and including a conductor disposed therein;
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode, the electrode assembly electrically coupled with the conductor;
the at least one electrode assembly including a conductive fixation feature which is adapted to send and receive electrical signals;
the conductive fixation feature extending from a first end to a second end including a flexible and conductive intermediate portion therebetween, the intermediate portion flexible away from the conductor; and
the first end of the conductive fixation feature attached to the lead body and the second end is movably coupled with the lead body.
56. The lead assembly as recited in claim 55, further comprising a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism adapted to maintain the intermediate portion in a flexed position.
57. The lead assembly as recited in claim 56, the locking mechanism comprising a slider movably disposed within a slot, and an interference slot sized to engage the slider, the slider coupled with the second end of the conductive fixation feature.
58. The lead assembly as recited in claim 55, further comprising a deployment mechanism.
59. The lead assembly as recited in claim 58, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a wire.
60. A lead assembly comprising:
a lead body extending from a distal end to a proximal end and including a conductor disposed therein;
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode, the electrode assembly electrically coupled with the conductor; and
a sheath of conductive material disposed over the electrode assembly.
61. The lead assembly as recited in claim 60, wherein the electrode assembly comprises a defibrillation coil.
62. The lead assembly as recited in claim 60, wherein the sheath of conductive material is formed of a conductive polymer.
63. The lead assembly as recited in claim 60, wherein the sheath of conductive material is formed of a conductive thermoplastic elastomer.
64. The lead assembly as recited in claim 60, wherein the sheath of conductive material is formed of conductive silicone rubber.
65. A system for delivering signals to the heart, the system comprising:
an electronics system including a cardiac activity sensor and a signal generator for producing signals to stimulate the heart; and
a lead assembly including:
a lead body extending from a distal end to a proximal end and including a conductor disposed therein;
an electrode assembly including at least one electrode, the electrode assembly electrically coupled with the conductor; and
the at least one electrode assembly including at least one electrically conductive tine adapted for fixating the lead assembly within tissue, the at least one electrically conductive tine electrically coupled with the electrode assembly, wherein the at least one tine has a first end coupled with the lead body and a second end which extends away from the lead body.
66. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein the at least one tine is formed of a conductive polymer.
67. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein the at least one tine is formed of a conductive elastomer.
68. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein the at least one conductive tine includes a conductive coating thereon.
69. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein the at least one conductive tine comprises a wire extending away from the lead body.
70. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein the at least one conductive tine extends from a first end proximate the lead body to a second end disposed away from the lead body, and a conductive cap is disposed at the second end of the at least one tine.
71. The system as recited in claim 65, further comprising at least one nonconductive tine adapted for fixating a portion of the lead assembly within tissue.
72. A method comprising:
disposing a defibrillation electrode tip on a distal end of a lead body, the lead body extending from a proximal end to the distal end and having an intermediate portion therebetween;
coupling at least one conductive tine with the intermediate portion of the lead body;
positioning the defibrillation electrode tip within an apex of a heart;
coupling the lead body to a pulse generator; and
delivering defibrillation shocks from the pulse generator via the defibrillation electrode tip.
73. The method as recited in claim 72, further comprising pacing the heart with the at least one conductive tine.
74. The method as recited in claim 72, further comprising sensing the heart with the at least one conductive tine.
75. The method as recited in claim 72, further comprising providing insulation between the defibrillation electrode tip and the at least one conductive tine.
76. The method as recited in claim 72, further comprising disposing a conductive member on a distal tip of each conductive tine.
77. The method as recited in claim 72, further comprising coupling a conductive member to the at least one conductive tine.
78. A lead comprising:
a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having an intermediate portion therebetween;
a first defibrillation electrode tip disposed at the distal end of the lead body and adapted to deliver defibrillation shocks at the distal end of the lead body;
a second defibrillation electrode disposed at the intermediate portion of the lead body and adapted to deliver defibrillation shocks at the intermediate portion of the lead body; and
at least one conductive tine disposed at the intermediate portion.
79. The lead as recited in claim 78, wherein the defibrillation electrode tip has a first outer diameter, the second defibrillation electrode has a second outer diameter, and the first outer diameter is less than the second outer diameter.
80. The lead as recited in claim 78, wherein the at least one conductive tine includes a flat wire.
81. The lead as recited in claim 78, wherein the at least one conductive tine includes a foil.
82. The lead as recited in claim 78, wherein the at least one conductive tine includes a conductive element, the lead body includes a coil, and the lead includes a means for coupling the conductive element with the coil.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of performing a competition between teams by means of at least two sets of modular units, the method comprising acts of:
connecting a first set of modular units to a second set of modular units, wherein each set of modular units comprises at least one modular unit;
determining a set of information items for at least one modular unit, wherein each information item individually relates to a specific modular unit in the first and second sets, wherein the set of information items represents competition-related information, wherein the determined set of information items comprises connection-related information indicating relative physical locations of each of said connected modular units relative to each other of said connected modular units;
creating a common game space including the determined set of information items based on the indication of the relative physical locations of each of said connected modular units relative to each other of said connected modular units such that the relative physical locations between the connected modular units defines a game space including a size and shape of a play field and thereby which competition is first performed; and
presenting the set of information items on the connected modular units during the competition.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising acts of:
receiving a first information item representing a property of a connected modular unit; and
setting a competition-related information item of connected modular units during the competition based on the received first information item.
3. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising acts of:
receiving a second information item representing a second competition; and
setting a competition-related information item of connected modular units during the second competition based on the received second information item.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising acts of:
connecting a third modular unit to at least one of the first and second set of modular units,
receiving a third information item from the third modular unit; and
setting a competition-related information item of all connected modular units during the competition based on the received third information item.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the competition related information includes a physical layout of the common game space during the competition.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the competition related information includes a physical layout of players relative to one another within the common game space during the competition.
7. A computer system for performing a competition between teams by means of at least two sets of modular units, the computer system comprising:
means for connecting a first set of modular units to a second set of modular units, wherein each set of modular units comprises at least one modular unit;
means for determining a set of information items, wherein each information item individually relates to a specific modular unit in the first and second sets; wherein the set of information items represents competition-related information of connected modular units during the competition, wherein the set of information items comprises connection-related information indicating relative physical locations of each of said connected modular units relative to each other of said connected modular units;
creating a common game space including the determined set of information items based on the indication of the relative physical locations of each of said connected modular units relative to each other of said connected modular units such that the relative physical locations between the connected modular units defines a game space including a size and shape of a play field and thereby which competition is first performed; and
means for presenting one of the information items during the competition.
8. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the competition related information includes a physical layout of the common game space during the competition.
9. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the competition related information includes a physical layout of players within the common game space during the competition.
10. A computer-executable code stored on a computer-readable non-transitory medium for performing a competition between teams by means of at least two sets of modular units, the code when executed by a computer, executes acts of:
connecting a first set of modular units to a second set of modular units, wherein each set of modular units comprises at least one modular unit;
determining for a set of information items at least one modular unit,
wherein each information item individually relates to a specific modular unit in the first and second sets,
wherein the set of information items represents competition-related information of connected modular units during the competition, wherein the set of information items comprises connection-related information indicating relative physical locations of each of said connected modular units relative to each other of said connected modular units;
creating a common playfield including the determined set of information items based on the indication of the relative physical locations of each of said connected modular units relative to each other of said connected modular units such that the relative physical locations between the connected modular units defines a game space including a size and shape of a play field and thereby which competition is first performed; and
presenting the set of information items on the connected modular units during the competition.
11. The computer-executable code as claimed in claim 10, wherein the competition related information includes a physical layout of the common game space during the competition.
12. The computer-executable code as claimed in claim 10, wherein the indication of which ones of the plurality of ports of the first set of modular units are connected to which ones of the plurality of ports of the second set of modular units determines a physical layout of players within the common game space during the competition.
13. A modular unit for performing a competition between teams by means of at least two sets of modular units, the modular unit comprising:
means for connecting a first set of modular units to a second set of modular units, wherein each set of modular units comprises at least one modular unit;
means for determining a set of information items, wherein each information item individually relates to a specific modular unit in the first and second sets, wherein the set of information items represents competition-related information of connected modular units during the competition, wherein the determined set of information items comprises connection-related information indicating relative physical locations of each of said connected modular units relative to each other of said connected modular units;
creating a common game space including the determined set of information items based on the indication of the relative physical locations of each of said connected modular units relative to each other of said connected modular units such that the relative physical locations between the connected modular units defines a game space including a size and shape of a play field and thereby which competition is first performed;
means for distributing the set of information items to the corresponding connected modular units in the first and second sets; and
means for presenting one of the information items during the competition.
14. The modular unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:
means for receiving a first information item representing a property of a connected modular unit; and
means for setting a competition-related information item of the connected modular units during the competition based on the received first information item.
15. The modular unit according to claim 13, further comprising:
means for receiving a second information item representing a second competition; and
means setting a competition-related information item based on the received second information item.
16. The modular unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the competition related information includes a physical layout of the common game space during the competition.
17. The modular unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the competition related information includes a physical layout of players within the common game space during the competition.
18. The modular unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein competition related information includes an allocation of competition related information during the competition.
19. The modular unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein a cumulative physical layout of the connected modular units determines a layout of virtual players during the competition.
20. A modular unit for performing a competition between teams by means of at least two sets of modular units, the modular unit comprising:
means for connecting a first set of modular units to a second set of modular units, wherein each set of modular units comprises at least one modular unit;
means for determining which modular unit is connected to which second modular unit or units in the first and the second set;
means for determining a set of information items, wherein each information item individually relates to a specific modular unit in the first and second sets, wherein the set of information items represents competition-related information of connected modular units during the competition, wherein the set of information items comprises connection-related information indicating physical locations of the connected modular units relative to one another as interconnected in the first and second sets in a common game space, and wherein the competition-related information during the competition depends on the physical locations of the connected modular units relative to each another and defines the game space including a size and shape of a play field and thereby which competition is first performed;
means for distributing the set of information items to the corresponding connected modular units in the sets; and
means for presenting one of the information items during the competition.