Apparatus and method for implanting an implantable device

An apparatus for subcutaneously inserting an implantable device within a patient, the implantable device including a housing and an antenna extending outwardly from the housing, the antenna including an antenna length, the apparatus comprising:

• a sheath portion including:
• a sheath including a proximal sheath end, a distal sheath end, and a sheath lumen extending through the sheath from the proximal sheath end to the distal sheath end, the sheath configured to accommodate the antenna of the implantable device within the sheath, the sheath including a sheath length that is at least substantially as long as the antenna length, the sheath being configured to separate to allow removal of the sheath from around the implantable device to remove the sheath from and leave the implantable device within a subcutaneous pocket within the patient;
• and
• a sheath housing at the proximal sheath end, the sheath housing including a passage substantially aligned with the sheath lumen, the sheath housing including an opening along a side of the sheath housing to allow access to the passage from the side of the sheath housing, the opening and the passage being configured to allow the housing of the implantable device to pass through the sheath housing without splitting the sheath housing;
• and
• a dilator portion removably couplable with the sheath portion including:
• a dilator including a dilator length that is at least as long as the antenna length;
• and
• a dilator handle sized and shaped to approximate a size and shape of the housing of the implantable device, the dilator fixedly attached to and extending outwardly from the dilator handle, wherein the dilator portion includes:
• a first configuration with the dilator portion coupled to the sheath portion such that the dilator is disposed within the sheath lumen with a distal dilator end extending distally from the distal sheath end and a first edge of the dilator handle faces distally, extending through the opening of the sheath housing and outside of the passage of the sheath housing to extend radially outwardly from the dilator and radially beyond the sheath, wherein, with insertion of the dilator portion coupled to the sheath portion into the patient, the distal dilator end contacts and separates the tissue of the patient to create a portion of the subcutaneous pocket configured to accommodate the antenna of the device and the first edge of the dilator handle contacts and separates the tissue of the patient to create a portion of the subcutaneous pocket configured to accommodate the housing of the implantable device;
• and
• a second configuration with the dilator portion oriented such that a receptacle of the dilator portion is facing distally, the receptacle being disposed along a second edge of the dilator handle different from the first edge of the dilator handle, the receptacle being sized and shaped to abut at least a portion of the implantable device, such that, with the dilator portion in the second configuration with the receptacle abutting the implantable device, distal relative motion of the dilator portion with respect to the sheath portion pushes the implantable device distally into and through the sheath portion and into the subcutaneous pocket within the patient.

An apparatus for subcutaneously inserting an implantable device within a patient, the implantable device including a housing and an antenna extending outwardly from the housing, the antenna including an antenna length, the apparatus comprising:

• a sheath portion including:
• a sheath including a proximal sheath end, a distal sheath end, and a sheath lumen extending through the sheath from the proximal sheath end to the distal sheath end, the sheath configured to accommodate the antenna of the implantable device within the sheath, the sheath including a sheath length that is at least substantially as long as the antenna length, the sheath being configured to separate to allow removal of the sheath from around the implantable device to remove the sheath from and leave the implantable device within a subcutaneous pocket within the patient;
• and
• a sheath housing at the proximal sheath end, the sheath housing including a passage substantially aligned with the sheath lumen, the sheath housing including an opening along a side of the sheath housing to allow access to the passage from the side of the sheath housing, the opening and the passage being configured to allow the housing of the implantable device to pass through the sheath housing without splitting the sheath housing;
• and
• a dilator portion removably couplable with the sheath portion including:
• a dilator including a dilator length that is at least as long as the antenna length;
• and
• a dilator handle sized and shaped to approximate a size and shape of the housing of the implantable device, wherein, with the dilator portion coupled to the sheath portion, the dilator is disposed within the sheath lumen with a distal dilator end extending distally from the distal sheath end and a first edge of the dilator handle faces distally, extending through the opening of the sheath housing and outside of the passage of the sheath housing to extend radially outwardly from the dilator and radially beyond the sheath, wherein, with insertion of the dilator portion coupled to the sheath portion into the patient, the distal dilator end contacts and separates the tissue of the patient to create a portion of the subcutaneous pocket configured to accommodate the antenna of the device and the first edge of the dilator handle contacts and separates the tissue of the patient to create a portion of the subcutaneous pocket configured to accommodate the housing of the implantable device.