Abstract: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the vasculature. In this manner, an intravascular medical device may be implanted at a location remote from final placement, delivered via the vasculature and anchored at the initial entry point.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for responding, from internally within a patient, to an atrial arrhythmia in a heart including measuring from within the patient at least one electrocardiogram characteristic indicative of the atrial arrhythmia, and controlling from within the patient drug therapy delivery to the patient responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. Drug therapy is initiated to the patient responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. According to one aspect of the present invention, the drug therapy is staged within the patient prior to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. According to another example embodiment, the heart is paced from within the patient at a predefined rate responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic, pacing occurring alone, or in combination with drug therapy.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the vasculature. In this manner, an intravascular medical device may be implanted at a location remote from final placement, delivered via the vasculature and anchored at the initial entry point.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the vasculature. In this manner, an intravascular medical device may be implanted at a location remote from final placement, delivered via the vasculature and anchored at the initial entry point.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the vasculature. In this manner, an intravascular medical device may be implanted at a location remote from final placement, delivered via the vasculature and anchored at the initial entry point.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the vasculature. In this manner, an intravascular medical device may be implanted at a location remote from final placement, delivered via the vasculature and anchored at the initial entry point.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the vasculature. In this manner, an intravascular medical device may be implanted at a location remote from final placement, delivered via the vasculature and anchored at the initial entry point.

Abstract: A physiological pacing system including a physiological pacing lead having an electrode array and a means for fixation, including a collar for securing the fixation means to a lead body of the pacing lead, is inserted into a bore within a heart wall at a physiological pacing site. The system further includes a means to create the bore, the means being a piercing tip, which is either coupled to a piercing tool or the pacing lead. The piercing tool may be an elongated hollow shaft into which the pacing lead is slideably insertable or a stylet wire, which is slideably insertable within a lumen of the pacing lead. Once the electrode array is implanted within the bore, a first pair of electrodes is selected for sensing and a second pair of electrodes is selected for pacing.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for responding, from internally within a patient, to an atrial arrhythmia in a heart including measuring from within the patient at least one electrocardiogram characteristic indicative of the atrial arrhythmia, and controlling from within the patient drug therapy delivery to the patient responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. Drug therapy is initiated to the patient responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. According to one aspect of the present invention, the drug therapy is staged within the patient prior to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. According to another example embodiment, the heart is paced from within the patient at a predefined rate responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic, pacing occurring alone, or in combination with drug therapy.

Abstract: A physiological pacing system including a physiological pacing lead having an electrode array and a means for fixation, including a collar for securing the fixation means to a lead body of the pacing lead, is inserted into a bore within a heart wall at a physiological pacing site. The system further includes a means to create the bore, the means being a piercing tip, which is either coupled to a piercing tool or the pacing lead. The piercing tool may be an elongated hollow shaft into which the pacing lead is slideably insertable or a stylet wire, which is slideably insertable within a lumen of the pacing lead. Once the electrode array is implanted within the bore, a first pair of electrodes is selected for sensing and a second pair of electrodes is selected for pacing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing arrhythmia discrimination. Heart signals are monitored to determine when an arrhythmia state is being experienced by an individual. Once the arrhythmia state is detected, the heart of the patient is stimulated to produce stimulated heart signals. These stimulated signals are then monitored and compared with predetermined criteria in order to determine the type of arrhythmia being experienced as well as whether or not the arrhythmia requires treatment.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for responding, from internally within a patient, to an atrial arrhythmia in a heart including measuring from within the patient at least one electrocardiogram characteristic indicative of the atrial arrhythmia, and controlling from within the patient drug therapy delivery to the patient responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. Drug therapy is initiated to the patient responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. According to one aspect of the present invention, the drug therapy is staged within the patient prior to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic. According to another example embodiment, the heart is paced from within the patient at a predefined rate responsive to measuring the at least one electrocardiogram characteristic, pacing occurring alone, or in combination with drug therapy.

Abstract: A deflectable catheter for ablating tissue in the heart of a patient comprising: an axially elongated catheter shaft sized and constructed to be advanced through the vasculature of a patient into the patient's heart; a deflection wire; and an ablation electrode having first and second opposed electrically conductive surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's heart and movable with respect to each other to apply gripping force to the contacted area of heart tissue for stabilizing the position of the electrically conductive surfaces of the ablation electrode relative to the selected area of heart tissue.

Abstract: A minimally invasive implant, means for insertion, and description of how to most efficiently use it are described n several embodiments. This implant preferably has a segmented looping memory for storing triggered physiologic events. Preferred events for setting autotriggers to record physiologic signals occurring during events include arrhythmias and syncopal events. Preferably the device can function without a microprocessor. An outside device or other patient activated manual trigger is included. Auto triggers and manually set triggers may be of different sizes. The preferred physiologic events are ECG signals. Electrode spacing can be critical. Additional sensors may be provided to the device. Preferred communications with the device is through telemetry such as is used for pacemakers and other implanted devices.

Abstract: A deflectable biopsy catheter for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient comprising: an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient; a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter to the proximal end thereof; and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue. Schemes for obtaining samples from body cavities (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract, the heart, the intestines, the uterus, the muscles, the bile duct, and the esophagus) are disclosed.

Abstract: A deflectable biopsy catheter for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient comprising: an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient; a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter to the proximal end thereof; and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue. Schemes for obtaining samples from body cavities (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract, the heart, the intestines, the uterus, the muscles, the bile duct, and the esophagus) are disclosed.

Abstract: A deflectable biopsy catheter for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient comprising: an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient; a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter to the proximal end thereof; and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue. Schemes for obtaining samples from body cavities (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract, the heart, the intestines, the uterus, the muscles, the bile duct, and the esophagus) are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an enhanced capability of detecting and gathering electrical cardiac signals via an array of relatively closely spaced subcutaneous electrodes (located on the body of an implanted device) which may be employed with suitable switching circuits, signal processors, and memory to process the electrical cardiac signals between any selected pair or pairs of the electrode array in order to provide a leadless, orientation insensitive means for receiving the electrical signal from the heart.