Abstract: An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery includes an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, and an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions. The jaw members are adapted to releasably engage an engagement feature of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: an elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; and a basket assembly including a plurality of flexible splines; an anchor for securably affixing proximal portions of the splines, where the anchor is securably affixed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member at the distal end of the elongate tubular member; and a tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines; where the tip is recessed within the basket assembly upon radial expansion of the basket assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery includes an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, and an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions. The jaw members are adapted to releasably engage an engagement feature of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A press, an automated loading system for a press and related methods are provided including a loading system having a first assembly configured to carry a reaction cell to an anvil of a press base and a second assembly configured to assist in positioning and orientating the reaction cell on the anvil. In one embodiment, the first assembly may include a trolley displaceable along a guide member to carry the reaction cell to the anvil. The first and second assemblies may each include guide members that are displaceable relative to the anvil that are configured to position the reaction cell at a desired location and orientation on the anvil. In one embodiment, each of the guide members include arms that engage distinct sides of a cubic reaction cell. A clearing mechanism may also be incorporated to clear the surface of the anvil during operation of the system.

Abstract: A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: an elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of flexible splines; an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines, where the anchor is securably affixed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member at the distal end of the elongate tubular member; and a metallic tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery includes an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, and an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions. The jaw members are adapted to releasably engage an engagement feature of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A guide catheter assembly includes an outer guide catheter and an inner catheter slidably and rotatably disposed in the outer guide catheter. The outer guide catheter has a proximal portion and a distal portion formed into a preformed shape including a curved segment. The preformed shape includes a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, a fourth arc, and a generally straight terminal portion. The preformed shape is generally a J-shape defining, a generally open arc.

Abstract: A catheter assembly employs an outer catheter with a pre-formed distal end and an open lumen. An inner catheter having an open lumen and a pre-formed distal end is movably disposed within the outer catheter. Relative rotation and extension of the inner and outer catheters provides the distal end of the catheter assembly with an adjustable range of two- and three-dimensional shapes. The inner catheter can include sections of varying stiffness, such that extension of the inner catheter within the outer catheter modifies the shape of the outer catheter's pre-formed distal end. One or both of the outer and inner catheters includes an occlusion balloon attached to the distal end thereof. The adjustable shaping of the catheter assembly's distal tip provides an improved system for locating and cannulating cardiac venous structures, particularly the coronary sinus via the right atrium.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery includes an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, and an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions. The jaw members are adapted to releasably engage an engagement feature of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A system for sensing monophasic action potentials from endocardial tissue of a heart, includes: a plurality of flexible splines; an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines; a tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines; and a polymeric member including opposed a first open end and a second open end defining an open lumen therein between, where at least one of the plurality of flexible splines is at least partially disposed within the lumen of the polymeric member; a flexible electrode assembly strip with two or more exposed electrodes oppositely disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the polymeric member.

Abstract: A guide catheter assembly includes an outer guide catheter and an inner catheter slidably and rotatably disposed in the outer guide catheter. The outer guide catheter has a proximal portion and a distal portion formed into a preformed shape including a curved segment. The preformed shape includes a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, a fourth arc, and a generally straight terminal portion. The preformed shape is generally a J-shape defining, a generally open arc.

Abstract: Apparatus for closing a surgical incision comprise a base having left and right panels, a force distribution structure coupled to each panel, and a closure component which releasably attaches to the force distribution structure to draw the inner edges of the panels together in order to close adhered tissue edges. The force distribution structures allow the inner edges of the panels to expand while restraining expansion of the outer edges of the panels and limiting elongation of the lateral dimension of the panels. The incision closure appliance may be placed on skin or other tissue prior to forming the incision to be available to close said incision at the end of the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A guide catheter assembly includes an outer guide catheter and an inner catheter slidably and rotatably disposed in the outer guide catheter. The outer guide catheter has a proximal portion and a distal portion formed into a preformed shape including a curved segment. The preformed shape includes a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, a fourth arc, and a generally straight terminal portion. The preformed shape is generally a J-shape, having a terminal portion generally parallel to the proximal portion, a generally closed arc or a generally open arc.

Abstract: A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: an elongate tubular member; a plurality of flexible splines having proximal portions, distal portions and medial portions therein between; an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines; an atraumatic tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines; and a polymeric member including opposed a first open end and a second open end defining an open lumen therein between and an inner member surface and an outer member surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of flexible splines is at least partially disposed within the lumen of the polymeric member; a flexible electrode assembly strip with one or more exposed electrodes disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the polymeric member.

Abstract: A cardiac lead adapted for fixation at least partially within a cardiac vessel. The lead includes, in one embodiment, an elongate lead body defining a proximal region and a distal region including a distal end region having at least one electrode and a distal tip. The distal end region is configured such that the electrode and the distal tip can be implanted in the cardiac vessel. Stiffening structures in the distal region of the lead are adapted to stiffen selected portions of the lead for fixation of the electrode within the cardiac vessel. In some embodiments, the stiffening structures include an implantable member adapted to be implanted in a lumen of the lead. In other embodiments, the stiffening structures include a sheath adapted to be deployed over the lead body. In still other embodiments, the stiffening structures are integral to the lead and/or the lead body.

Abstract: A method of delivering a payload to a destination vessel branching from a coronary sinus of a patient's heart. The method comprises inserting a catheter assembly into a right atrium of the patient's heart. The catheter assembly comprises an outer catheter and an inner catheter movably disposed within the open lumen of the outer catheter. The inner and outer catheters are operable to be rotated and translated relative to one another such that the distal end of the outer catheter can assume a selectable plurality of shapes appropriate for accessing the coronary sinus. The method further comprises locating and cannulating the patient's coronary sinus by adjusting a relative orientation or longitudinal position of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter, longitudinally sliding the outer catheter over the distal end of the inner catheter to deep seat the outer catheter within the patient's coronary sinus, and delivering a payload to the destination vessel through the outer catheter or the inner catheter.

Abstract: A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: a first elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; and a basket assembly including: a plurality of flexible splines for guiding a plurality of exposed electrodes, the splines having proximal portions and distal portions; an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines; the anchor being secured at the distal end of the first elongate tubular member; an encapsulated and filament-wrapped distal tip including an encapsulant and a filament for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines in a predetermined angular relationship at the distal tip; wherein the splines comprise a superelastic material; and wherein the basket assembly has a radially expanded non-cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A system a system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: a first elongate tubular member; a basket assembly including: a plurality of flexible splines for guiding a plurality of exposed electrodes, the splines having proximal portions, distal portions and medial portions therein between; a proximal anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines; the proximal anchor being secured at the distal end of the first elongate tubular member; a distal tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines wherein at least some of the splines in the radially expanded non-spherical shape contain a distal excurvate outward bend disposed at the distal portion of the spline at a location near to the distal tip of the basket assembly to bend the splines back towards the proximal anchor.

Abstract: A device for insertion into a body lumen, includes: an electrode assembly strip with exposed electrodes including: a polymeric substrate having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface; one or more electrodes disposed over a portion of the upper surface of the polymeric substrate; one or more electrical traces disposed over a portion of the lower surface of the polymeric substrate in electrical communication with the one or more electrodes by way of metal plated holes through the substrate; and a flexible polymeric substrate having a substrate surface and a substrate wall; wherein the electrode assembly strip is compressingly and thermally bonded to the substrate surface of the flexible polymeric substrate to define a flexible electrode assembly strip; and wherein the electrode assembly strip has a thickness from about 0.0005 inches to about 0.008 inches.

Abstract: A system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: an elongate tubular member; a plurality of flexible splines having proximal portions, distal portions and medial portions therein between; an anchor for securably affixing the proximal portions of the splines; a tip for securably affixing the distal portions of the splines; and a polymeric member including opposed a first open end and a second open end defining an open lumen therein between and an inner member surface and an outer member surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of flexible splines is at least partially disposed within the lumen of the polymeric member; a flexible electrode assembly strip with one or more exposed electrodes disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the polymeric member.