Delivery devices and methods for leadless cardiac devices

A system for delivering an implantable leadless pacing device, the delivery device comprising:

• an elongate tubular member including a lumen extending therethrough;
• a distal holding section secured to and extending distally of a distal end of the elongate tubular member, the distal holding section defining a cavity therein and a distal opening;
• a deployment shaft slidingly disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, the deployment shaft including a lumen extending therethrough;
• a deployment funnel secured to a distal end of the deployment shaft, the deployment funnel moveable longitudinally with longitudinal movement of the deployment shaft;
• a leadless pacing device disposed in the cavity of the distal holding section, wherein the leadless pacing device includes a housing and a docking member extending proximally from the housing, wherein the docking member is seated against a radially inwardly facing surface of the deployment funnel;
• and
• one or more fluid flow paths passing between the docking member and the radially inwardly facing surface of the deployment funnel to permit fluid to flow past the docking member from the lumen of the deployment shaft.

A method of delivering a leadless pacing device, comprising:

• advancing a leadless pacing device through a vasculature of a patient with a delivery catheter, the leadless pacing device including a housing and a docking member extending proximally from the housing, the delivery catheter comprising:
• an elongate tubular member including a lumen extending therethrough;
• a distal holding section secured to and extending distally of a distal end of the elongate tubular member, the distal holding section defining a cavity therein and a distal opening;
• a deployment shaft slidingly disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, the deployment shaft including a lumen extending therethrough;
• and
• a deployment funnel secured to a distal end of the deployment shaft, the deployment funnel moveable longitudinally between a retracted position and an advanced position;
• the leadless pacing device being disposed in the cavity of the distal holding section with the docking member of the leadless pacing device seated against the deployment funnel in the retracted position;
• providing a continuous supply of fluid through the lumen of the deployment shaft, wherein the fluid supplied through the lumen of the deployment shaft flows through one or more fluid flow paths passing between the docking member and a radially inwardly facing surface of the deployment funnel into the cavity of the distal holding section.