# US 12,594,420 B2 · Tether assemblies for medical device delivery systems

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- Number: US 12,594,420 B2
- Document ID: US12594420B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/337,909
- Filed: 2023-06-20
- Published: 2023-10-19
- Granted: 2026-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-07
- Assignees: Medtronic, Inc.
- Applicants: Medtronic, Inc.
- Inventors: Ronald A. Drake; Lester O. Stener; Brian P. Colin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594420B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/3468: {for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires (devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069)}
- A61N 1/057: {Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart}
- A61N 1/37512: {Pacemakers}
- A61N 1/37518: {Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation}
- A61N 1/3756: {Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators}
- A61N 1/37205: {Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

In some examples, a tether head assembly of a delivery system includes an inner retainer and an outer retainer that defines an aperture comprising a receptacle configured to receive an attachment member of a medical device, a passageway, and a groove. The inner retainer is movable within the groove between a second position in which the passageway is dimensioned to receive the attachment member and a first position in which the passageway is dimensioned to prevent passage of the attachment member. In some examples, a tether handle assembly defines a channel, a force transmitter within the channel, a slidable member partially received within a first end of the channel and a button partially received within a second end of the channel. Distally-directed force applied to the button may cause the force transmitter to apply proximally-directed force to the slidable member, moving the slidable member and an attached pull wire proximally.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a medical device configured to be implanted within tissue of a patient, the medical device comprising:
a housing defining a proximal end and a distal end of the medical device, the housing defining a housing width along a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the device;
a shroud structure disposed at the proximal end of the medical device and defining a cavity, the shroud structure defining a shroud width, the shroud width being narrower than the housing width, and
an attachment member disposed within the cavity; and
a tether assembly comprising:
a tether handle assembly;
a tether head assembly comprising:
an inner retainer, and
an outer retainer, wherein the outer retainer defines an aperture, the aperture comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive the attachment member, and
a passageway extending from a distal end of the tether head assembly proximally to the receptacle; and
a pull wire extending from the tether head assembly to the tether handle assembly;
wherein the inner retainer is separate from and coupled to the pull wire; and
wherein the inner retainer is configured to move at least partially into the passageway to inhibit movement of the attachment member within the aperture.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment member comprises a strut fixedly attached to the shroud structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the strut extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the strut is fixedly attached to the shroud structure at both the first end and the second end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment member defines an elongate holding surface spaced apart from the proximal end of the housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment member extends along a length orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the medical device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein when the attachment member is disposed within the receptacle of the tether head assembly, a distal portion of the outer retainer is configured to enter the cavity of the shroud structure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein when the distal portion of the outer retainer is disposed within the cavity of the shroud structure, the distal portion of the outer retainer is configured to interface with the shroud structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1,
wherein the inner retainer is configured to move at least partially between a first position wherein a distal portion of the inner retainer partially extends into the passageway and a second position wherein the distal portion of the inner retainer is positioned proximal to the passageway,
wherein when the inner retainer is in the first position, the inner retainer is configured to inhibit movement of the attachment member out of the receptacle, and
wherein when the inner retainer is in the second position, the inner retainer is configured to allow movement of the attachment member into or out of the receptacle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate member joining the shroud to a proximal end of the housing, the intermediate member having an intermediate member width which is narrower than the shroud width.

### Claim 10

A method comprising:
retracting a distal portion of an inner retainer of a tether head assembly from within a passageway of the tether head assembly via a pull wire separate from and coupled to the inner retainer, wherein the tether head assembly comprises:
the inner retainer, and
an outer retainer, wherein the outer retainer defines an aperture, the aperture comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive the attachment member, and
the passageway extending from a distal end of the tether head assembly proximally to the receptacle;
inserting an attachment member of a medical device through the passageway and into the receptacle, wherein the medical device comprises:
a housing defining a proximal end and a distal end of the medical device, and a housing width along a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the medical device,
a shroud structure disposed at the proximal end of the medical device and defining a cavity and a shroud width which is narrower than the housing width, and
the attachment member disposed within the cavity; and
advancing the inner retainer at least partially into the passageway to inhibit movement of the attachment member out of the receptacle via the passageway.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the attachment member comprises a strut fixedly attached to the shroud structure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the strut extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the strut is fixedly attached to the shroud structure at both the first end and the second end.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the attachment member defines an elongate holding surface spaced apart from the proximal end of the housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the attachment member extends along a length orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the medical device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein inserting the attachment member into the receptacle comprises:
inserting a distal portion of the outer retainer into the cavity of the shroud structure.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein when the distal portion of the outer retainer is inserted into the cavity of the shroud structure, the distal portion of the outer retainer is configured to interface with the shroud structure.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising an intermediate member joining the shroud to a proximal end of the housing, the intermediate member having an intermediate member width which is narrower than the shroud width.

### Claim 18

A medical device comprising:
a housing extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a proximal end and a distal end of the medical device, and a housing width along a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
a shroud structure disposed at the proximal end of the medical device and defining a cavity and a shroud width, the shroud width being narrower than the housing width; and
an attachment member disposed within the cavity, wherein the attachment member defines an elongate holding surface spaced apart from the proximal end, and wherein the elongate holding surface extends along a length orthogonal to the longitudinal axis,
wherein the attachment member is configured to be disposed within a receptacle within a tether head assembly to affix the medical device to the tether head assembly, and wherein when the attachment member is disposed within the receptacle, the shroud structure is configured to interface with the tether head assembly to inhibit relative motion between the medical device and the tether head assembly.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The medical device of claim 18, wherein the attachment member comprises a strut fixedly attached to the shroud structure.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The medical device of claim 19, wherein the strut extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the strut is fixedly attached to the shroud structure at both the first end and the second end.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The medical device of claim 18, wherein the cavity of the shroud structure is configured to receive at least a portion of the tether head assembly when the attachment member is disposed within the receptacle of the tether head assembly, wherein the at least a portion of the tether head assembly comprises at least a portion of an outer retainer of the tether head assembly and at least a portion of an inner retainer of the tether head assembly, and wherein the inner retainer of the tether head assembly is separate from and coupled to a pull wire of the tether head assembly.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The medical device of claim 21, wherein the shroud structure is configured to interface with the at least a portion of the tether head assembly disposed within the cavity.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The medical device of claim 18, further comprising an intermediate member joining the shroud to a proximal end of the housing, the intermediate member having an intermediate member width which is narrower than the shroud width.