Electrode fixation in interventional medical systems

An interventional medical system comprising:

• an implantable medical device assembly, the assembly comprising:
• a mounting structure having a length defined from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof, a thickness defined from a first surface thereof to a second surface thereof, and a width defined from a first side thereof to a second side thereof, the mounting structure comprising first and second shoulders formed in the first surface of the structure and aligned along the length of the structure, the first shoulder being adjacent to the first side of the structure, and the second shoulder being adjacent to the second side of the structure;
• an electrode protruding from the first surface of the mounting structure;
• and
• first and second tissue-penetrating fixation tines, each tine including a pre-formed V-shaped segment that extends away from a corresponding shoulder of the first surface of the mounting structure, being located on either side of the electrode so that the electrode is approximately centered therebetween, each segment including a piercing tip, and each segment being elastically deformable from a relaxed condition to an extended condition, the relaxed condition being that of the pre-formed V-shape, in which each segment bends toward the proximal end and the first surface of the mounting structure so that each piercing tip is located proximal to the electrode and away from the corresponding shoulder of the mounting structure, and the extended condition being that in which each segment bends toward the distal end of the mounting structure and extends along and within the corresponding shoulder of the mounting structure so that the piercing tip is located distal to the electrode;
• and
• a delivery tool comprising:
• an elongate shaft extending from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof;
• a holding member attached to the distal end of the shaft, the holding member including first and second opposing sidewalls defining a cavity therebetween, the cavity being sized to hold the device assembly therein, the cavity including a distal opening sized to allow passage of the device assembly therethrough, and each sidewall including a rail-like edge configured to fit in sliding engagement with a corresponding shoulder of the device assembly mounting structure;
• and
• means for applying a push force to the device assembly mounting structure, when the device assembly is held in the holding member cavity;
• and
• wherein, when the device assembly is passed into the cavity of the tool holding member through the distal opening thereof, with the rail-like edge of each holding member sidewall engaged with the corresponding shoulder of the mounting structure, the pre-formed V-shaped segment of each fixation tine is deformed into the extended condition by the rail-like edge of the corresponding sidewall.

An interventional medical system comprising:

• an implantable medical device assembly, the assembly comprising:
• a mounting structure having a length defined from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof, a thickness defined from a first surface thereof to a second surface thereof, and a width defined from a first side thereof to a second side thereof, the mounting structure comprising first and second shoulders formed in the first surface of the structure and aligned along the length of the structure, the first shoulder being adjacent to the first side of the structure, and the second shoulder being adjacent to the second side of the structure;
• an electrode protruding from the first surface of the mounting structure;
• and
• first and second tissue-penetrating fixation tines, each tine including a pre-formed V-shaped segment that extends away from a corresponding shoulder of the first surface of the mounting structure, being located on either side of the electrode so that the electrode is approximately centered therebetween, each segment including a piercing tip, and each segment being elastically deformable from a relaxed condition to an extended condition, the relaxed condition being that of the pre-formed V-shape, in which each segment bends toward the proximal end and the first surface of the mounting structure so that each piercing tip is located proximal to the electrode, and the extended condition being that in which each segment bends toward the distal end of the mounting structure and extends along the corresponding shoulder of the mounting structure so that the piercing tip is located distal to the electrode;
• and
• a delivery tool comprising:
• an elongate shaft extending from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof;
• and
• a holding member attached to the distal end of the shaft, the holding member including first and second opposing sidewalls defining a cavity therebetween, the cavity being sized to hold the device assembly therein, the cavity including a distal opening sized to allow passage of the device assembly therethrough, and each sidewall including a rail-like edge configured to fit in sliding engagement with a corresponding shoulder of the device assembly mounting structure, the rail-like edges defining a longitudinally extending slot therebetween;
• and
• wherein, when the device assembly is passed into the cavity of the tool holding member through the distal opening thereof, with the rail-like edge of each holding member sidewall engaged with the corresponding shoulder of the mounting structure, the pre-formed V-shaped segment of each fixation tine is deformed into the extended condition by the rail-like edge of the corresponding sidewall;
• and
• when the device assembly is held in the cavity of the holding member, the electrode of the device assembly extends through the slot defined by the rail-like edges of the holding member sidewalls.