Intra-cardiac implantable medical device

An intra-cardiac implantation system comprising:

• an intra-cardiac implantable medical device (IIMD) configured to be implanted into a heart, the IIMD including:
• a housing configured to be implanted entirely within a local chamber of the heart, wherein the housing includes a base configured to be secured to the local chamber;
• and
• an intra-cardiac (IC) device extension including an extension proximal end, an extension distal end, and an extension body extending there between, the extension body including a IIMD-to-electrode (IE) orientation segment connected to a chamber transition segment that is sufficient in length to extend from the local chamber into an adjacent chamber;
• and
• an introducer assembly configured to implant the IIMD into the heart, the introducer assembly comprising:
• a sheath having a sheath proximal end and a sheath distal end, wherein an internal passage is defined between the sheath proximal and distal ends, wherein the housing and the IC device extension are configured to be moved through the sheath distal end, and wherein the IC device extension is in a collapsed state while in the sheath;
• and
• a shape-adjusting member positioned within or over a portion of the sheath, wherein the shape-adjusting member is configured to be selectively transitioned between a navigation state, in which the sheath is configured to be navigated through vasculature of the patient, and an at-rest state, in which the sheath distal end is configured to be directed toward an implantation site within the heart.

An intra-cardiac implantation method configured to implant an intra-cardiac implantable medical device (IIMD) into a heart, wherein the IIMD includes a housing configured to be implanted entirely within a local chamber of the heart, and an intra-cardiac (IC) device extension including a proximal end, a distal end, and an extension body extending there between, wherein the extension body includes an IE orientation segment connected to a chamber transition segment that is sufficient in length to extend from the local chamber into an adjacent chamber, the method comprising:

• navigating an introducer assembly having a sheath through vasculature;
• adjusting a shape of the introducer assembly with a shape-adjusting member within the adjacent chamber so that a sheath distal end of the introducer assembly is directed toward an implantation site;
• holding the shape-adjusting member in position within the sheath;
• sliding the sheath over the shape-adjusting member;
• urging the sheath distal end into the implantation site;
• pushing the housing of the IIMD through the sheath distal end into the implantation site;
• anchoring the housing into the implantation site;
• removing the sheath from the IIMD;
• deploying the extension body within the heart during the removing operation;
• and
• stabilizing the IIMD within the heart through the anchoring and deploying operations.