Back to results
US 12,311,166 B2Granted
Implantable medical system
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsKaileigh E. Rock, Jason D. Hamack, Andrew J. Ries
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical system including a device head configured to be positioned in an atrium of a heart, an implantable medical device configured to be positioned within a vena cava of the heart, and a lead extending from the device head to the implantable medical device. A fixation element coupled to the device head is configured to engage tissues within the atrium. The device head includes an electrode configured to deliver therapy and/or sensing signals to tissues within the atrium using stimulation signals received from processing circuitry within the implantable medical device. The medical system may include a delivery catheter configured to allow delivery of the device head to the atrium.
Claims18
A medical system comprising:
- an implantable medical device having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to be positioned within a vena cava of a heart;
- a flexible lead, wherein a proximal end of the flexible lead is attached to the distal end of the implantable medical device, wherein the flexible lead is configured to extend from the vena cava to a chamber of the heart, wherein the flexible lead defines an axis from the proximal end of the flexible lead to a distal end of the flexible lead, and wherein the flexible lead is configured to have an axial stiffness relative to the axis greater than a bending stiffness relative to the axis;
- a device head, wherein a first side of the device head is attached to the distal end of the flexible lead, wherein the device head is configured to be positioned within the chamber of the heart, and wherein the flexible lead is configured to transmit a force along the axis from one of the implantable medical device or the device head to the other of the implantable medical device or the device head;
- a fixation element attached to the device head, wherein the fixation element is configured to engage tissue to substantially secure the device head within the chamber of the heart;
- and
- an electrode coupled to the device head, wherein the electrode is configured to provide stimulation to tissues of the heart when the device head is positioned within the chamber of the heart.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a medical assembly comprising:
- an implantable medical device having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to be positioned within a vena cava of a heart;
- a flexible lead, wherein a proximal end of the flexible lead is attached to the distal end of the implantable medical device, wherein the flexible lead is configured to extend from the vena cava to an atrium of the heart, wherein the flexible lead defines an axis from the proximal end of the flexible lead to a distal end of the flexible lead, and wherein the flexible lead is configured to have an axial stiffness relative to the axis greater than a bending stiffness relative to the axis;
- a device head, wherein a first side of the device head is attached to the distal end of the flexible lead, wherein the device head is configured to be positioned within the atrium of the heart, wherein the flexible lead is configured to transmit a force along the axis from one of the implantable medical device or the device head to the other of the implantable medical device or the device head;
- a fixation element attached to the device head, wherein the fixation element is configured to engage tissue to substantially secure the device head within the atrium of the heart;
- and
- an electrode coupled to the device head, wherein the electrode is configured to provide stimulation to tissues of the heart when the device head is positioned within the atrium of the heart;
- and
- a delivery catheter defining a lumen and defining a lumen opening at a distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein:
- the lumen is configured to surround at least the implantable medical device, the flexible lead, the device head, and the fixation element, and
- the fixation element, the device head, the flexible lead, and the implantable medical device are configured to pass distally through the lumen opening.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- positioning a device head, an electrode attached to the device head, and a fixation element attached to the device head within a chamber of a heart by transmitting an axial force to the device head, wherein a first side of the device head is attached to the a distal end of a flexible lead, wherein the electrode is configured to provide stimulation to tissues of the heart when the device head is positioned within the chamber of the heart, and wherein the fixation element is configured to engage tissue to substantially secure the device head within the chamber of the heart;
- causing the flexible lead attached to the device head and attached to an implantable medical device to extend from the chamber of the heart to a vena cava of the heart using the transmitted axial force, wherein a proximal end of the flexible lead is attached to a distal end of the implantable medical device, wherein the flexible lead defines an axis from the proximal end of the flexible lead to the distal end of the flexible lead, wherein the flexible lead is configured to have an axial stiffness relative to the axis greater than a bending stiffness relative to the axis, and wherein the flexible lead is configured to transmit the axial force along the axis from one of the implantable medical device or the device head to the other of the implantable medical device or the device head;
- and
- positioning the implantable medical device within the vena cava of the heart using the transmitted axial force.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.