Abstract: System and method for implanting an implantable medical device. A catheter has a lumen and a distal portion configured for insertion in proximity of tissue of a patient. An implantable medical device has a fixation member operatively coupled to the housing having an unengaged state when in the lumen of the catheter and an engaged state configured to engage tissue of a patient when outside of the lumen of the catheter, the medical device being magnetically attractable. A magnetic element is configured to magnetically engage the implantable medical device and to pass through the lumen of the catheter.

Abstract: An elongated implantable medical device for delivering electrical stimulation pulses to a patient includes a housing having a housing proximal end and a housing distal end and an electrical conductor having a conductor proximal end and a conductor distal end. The conductor distal end extends from the housing proximal end. The housing has a first fixation force at a first implant site after being implanted in a patient's body, and the conductor proximal end has a second fixation force at a second implant site after being implanted in a patient's body. The second fixation force is different than the first fixation force.

Abstract: Delivery tools of interventional medical systems facilitate deployment of relatively compact implantable medical devices that include sensing extensions, for example, right ventricular cardiac pacing devices that include a sensing extension for atrial sensing. An entirety of such a device is contained within a delivery tool while a distal-most portion of the tool is navigated to a target implant site; the tool is configured to expose, out from a distal opening thereof, a distal portion of the device for initial deployment, after which sensing, via a sense electrode of the aforementioned sensing extension of the device, can be evaluated without withdrawing the tool from over the remainder of the device that includes the sensing extension.

Abstract: Various fixation techniques for implantable medical device (IMDs) are described. In one example, an assembly comprises an IMD; and a set of active fixation tines attached to the IMD. The active fixation tines in the set are deployable from a spring-loaded position in which distal ends of the active fixation tines point away from the IMD to a hooked position in which the active fixation tines bend back towards the IMD. The active fixation tines are configured to secure the IMD to a patient tissue when deployed while the distal ends of the active fixation tines are positioned adjacent to the patient tissue.

Abstract: An inner member of an improved assembly for a delivery system includes a first segment formed by a multi-lumen tubing surrounded by a braided tubing, and a second segment formed by a single-lumen tubing that extends within a distal portion of the braided tubing. The single-lumen tubing accommodates an antenna of a medical device, is in fluid communication with three lumens of the multi-lumen tubing, and opens into a flared distal end of the inner member. A distal-most portion of an outer tube of the system contains the flared distal end and an enclosure of the medical device abutting the distal end. A pull wire of the assembly extends within another lumen of the multi-lumen tubing and between the single-lumen tubing and the distal extent of the braided tubing, and is coupled to a pull band mounted in a cone member that forms the flared distal end.

Abstract: Various fixation techniques for implantable medical device (IMDs) are described. In one example, an assembly comprises an IMD; and a set of active fixation tines attached to the IMD. The active fixation tines in the set are deployable from a spring-loaded position in which distal ends of the active fixation tines point away from the IMD to a hooked position in which the active fixation tines bend back towards the IMD. The active fixation tines are configured to secure the IMD to a patient tissue when deployed while the distal ends of the active fixation tines are positioned adjacent to the patient tissue.

Abstract: A device includes a signal generator module, a processing module, and a housing. The signal generator module is configured to deliver pacing pulses to an atrium. The processing module is configured to detect a ventricular activation event and determine a length of an interval between the ventricular activation event and a previous atrial event that preceded the ventricular activation event. The processing module is further configured to schedule a time at which to deliver a pacing pulse to the atrium based on the length of the interval and control the signal generator module to deliver the pacing pulse at the scheduled time. The housing is configured for implantation within the atrium. The housing encloses the stimulation generator and the processing module.

Abstract: An inner member of an improved assembly for a delivery system includes a first segment formed by a multi-lumen tubing surrounded by a braided tubing, and a second segment formed by a single-lumen tubing that extends within a distal portion of the braided tubing. The single-lumen tubing accommodates an antenna of a medical device, is in fluid communication with three lumens of the multi-lumen tubing, and opens into a flared distal end of the inner member. A distal-most portion of an outer tube of the system contains the flared distal end and an enclosure of the medical device abutting the distal end. A pull wire of the assembly extends within another lumen of the multi-lumen tubing and between the single-lumen tubing and the distal extent of the braided tubing, and is coupled to a pull band mounted in a cone member that forms the flared distal end.

Abstract: A relatively compact implantable medical device includes a fixation member formed by a plurality of fingers mounted around a perimeter of a distal end of a housing of the device; each finger is elastically deformable from a relaxed condition to an extended condition, to accommodate delivery of the device to a target implant site, and from the relaxed condition to a compressed condition, to accommodate wedging of the fingers between opposing tissue surfaces at the target implant site, wherein the compressed fingers hold a cardiac pacing electrode of the device in intimate tissue contact for the delivery of pacing stimulation to the site. Each fixation finger is preferably configured to prevent penetration thereof within the tissue when the fingers are compressed and wedged between the opposing tissue surfaces. The pacing electrode may be mounted on a pacing extension, which extends distally from the distal end of the device housing.

Abstract: A leadless pacing system includes a leadless pacing device and a sensing extension extending from a housing of the leadless pacing device. The sensing extension includes one or more electrodes with which the leadless pacing device may sense electrical cardiac activity. The one or more electrodes of the sensing extension may be carried by a self-supporting body that is configured to passively position the one or more electrodes proximate or within a chamber of the heart other than the chamber in which the LPD is implanted.

Abstract: Delivery tools of interventional medical systems facilitate deployment of relatively compact implantable medical devices that include extensions, for example, cardiac pacing devices that include an extension for atrial sensing, wherein an entirety of the device is contained within the delivery tool while a distal-most portion of the tool is navigated to a target implant site. Once at the implant site, a device fixation member may be exposed out from a distal opening of the tool, for initial deployment, while the extension remains contained within the delivery tool. The tool includes a grasping mechanism, operable, within and without a lumen of the tool, to alternately grip and release the device extension, for example, to position a distal end of the extension after the tool has been withdrawn from over an entirety of the initially deployed device.

Abstract: Delivery tools of interventional medical systems facilitate deployment of relatively compact implantable medical devices that include sensing extensions, for example, right ventricular cardiac pacing devices that include a sensing extension for atrial sensing. An entirety of such a device is contained within a delivery tool while a distal-most portion of the tool is navigated to a target implant site; the tool is configured to expose, out from a distal opening thereof, a distal portion of the device for initial deployment, after which sensing, via a sense electrode of the aforementioned sensing extension of the device, can be evaluated without withdrawing the tool from over the remainder of the device that includes the sensing extension.

Abstract: A leadless pacing system includes a leadless pacing device and a sensing extension extending from a housing of the leadless pacing device. The sensing extension includes one or more electrodes with which the leadless pacing device may sense electrical cardiac activity. The one or more electrodes of the sensing extension may be carried by a self-supporting body that is configured to passively position the one or more electrodes proximate or within a chamber of the heart other than the chamber in which the LPD is implanted.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include monitoring a physiological characteristic of a patient with a sensor that is mounted to an inner wall of a thoracic cavity of the patient, and sending a signal based on the monitored physiological characteristic from the sensor to a remote device.

Abstract: A device includes a signal generator module, a processing module, and a housing. The signal generator module is configured to deliver pacing pulses to an atrium. The processing module is configured to detect a ventricular activation event and determine a length of an interval between the ventricular activation event and a previous atrial event that preceded the ventricular activation event. The processing module is further configured to schedule a time at which to deliver a pacing pulse to the atrium based on the length of the interval and control the signal generator module to deliver the pacing pulse at the scheduled time. The housing is configured for implantation within the atrium. The housing encloses the stimulation generator and the processing module.

Abstract: Various fixation techniques for implantable medical device (IMDs) are described. In one example, an assembly comprises an IMD; and a set of active fixation tines attached to the IMD. The active fixation tines in the set are deployable from a spring-loaded position in which distal ends of the active fixation tines point away from the IMD to a hooked position in which the active fixation tines bend back towards the IMD. The active fixation tines are configured to secure the IMD to a patient tissue when deployed while the distal ends of the active fixation tines are positioned adjacent to the patient tissue.

Abstract: A device includes a signal generator module, a processing module, and a housing. The signal generator module is configured to deliver pacing pulses to an atrium. The processing module is configured to detect a ventricular activation event and determine a length of an interval between the ventricular activation event and a previous atrial event that preceded the ventricular activation event. The processing module is further configured to schedule a time at which to deliver a pacing pulse to the atrium based on the length of the interval and control the signal generator module to deliver the pacing pulse at the scheduled time. The housing is configured for implantation within the atrium. The housing encloses the stimulation generator and the processing module.

Abstract: An implantable electrical medical system comprises a low voltage cathode electrode assembly, including a cathode surface adapted for, intimate contact with electrically active tissue, and a low voltage anode electrode assembly, including an anode surface and a porous layer extending over the anode surface. The cathode surface and the anode surface function as a bipolar pair for pacing and the porous layer extending over the anode surface allows conduction therethrough and prevents the anode surface from contacting the electrically active tissue in order to prevent anodal stimulation.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include monitoring a physiological characteristic of a patient with a sensor that is mounted to an inner wall of a thoracic cavity of the patient, and sending a signal based on the monitored physiological characteristic from the sensor to a remote device.

Abstract: Various fixation techniques for implantable medical device (IMDs) are described. In one example, an assembly comprises an IMD; and a set of active fixation tines attached to the IMD. The active fixation tines in the set are deployable from a spring-loaded position in which distal ends of the active fixation tines point away from the IMD to a hooked position in which the active fixation tines bend back towards the IMD. The active fixation tines are configured to secure the IMD to a patient tissue when deployed while the distal ends of the active fixation tines are positioned adjacent to the patient tissue.