Abstract: Various embodiments of an implantable medical device and a method of implanting such device are disclosed. The device includes a housing having a first major surface, a second major surface, a sidewall that extends between the first major surface and the second major surface, and a port disposed in the sidewall. The sidewall defines a perimeter of the housing. The device further includes an electronic component disposed within the housing, and a cable electrically connected to the electronic component disposed within the housing, where the cable extends through the port. A portion of the cable is adapted to be removably connected to the housing adjacent an outer surface of the sidewall by a fastener such that the portion of the cable extends along at least a portion of the perimeter of the housing when the portion of the cable is removably connected to the housing.

Abstract: A fixation mechanism of an implantable medical device is formed by a plurality of tines fixedly mounted around a perimeter of a distal end of the device. Each tine may be said to include a first segment fixedly attached to the device, a second segment extending from the first segment, and a third segment, to which the second segment extends. When the device is loaded in a lumen of a delivery tool and a rounded free distal end of each tine engages a sidewall that defines the lumen, to hold the tines in a spring-loaded condition, the first segment of each tine, which has a spring-biased pre-formed curvature, becomes relatively straightened, and the third segment of each tine, which is terminated by the free distal end, extends away from the axis of the device at an acute angle in a range from about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees.

Abstract: Methods and systems of making a medical electrical lead type having a set of tines. A system for implantation of a lead medical electrical lead in contact with heart tissue, comprises an elongated lead body; a set of curved tines mounted to and extending from a distal end of the lead body, the tines having a length (dD) and an effective cross sectional area, and a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter encloses the lead body and has a distal capsule portion enclosing the tines. The tines exerting a spring force against the capsule and provide a stored potential energy. The delivery catheter has an elastic, not stiff and low column strength ejection means for advancing the lead and tines distally from the capsule and fixating the tines within the heart tissue, the controllable and the stored potential energy of the tines together provide a deployment energy. The tines when so fixated in the tissue provide a fixation energy. The deployment energy and the fixation energy of the tines are equivalent.

Abstract: A controller for an implantable medical device including a housing sized and configured to be received within a patient, the housing having a thermally conductive shell defining an exterior surface. At least a portion of the exterior surface of the thermally conductive shell defines at least one from the group consisting of a plurality of corrugations and a plurality of protuberances.

Abstract: An example fixation component for an implantable medical device (IMD) includes a base and a plurality of tines configured be deployed with a target deployment stiffness to engage tissue a target implant site while maintaining a target deflection stiffness after deployment. The base defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation component and is fixedly attached near the distal end of the IMD. Each tine is spaced apart from one another around a perimeter of the distal end of the IMD and extend from the base. A shape of each tine is selected to control each of the target deployment stiffness and target deflection stiffness.

Abstract: An example implantable medical device (IMD) retrieval system may include an elongate outer tubular member including a longitudinally extending lumen terminating in a distal cup that is configured to receive the IMD; and a retrieval assembly including a retrieval member that includes an elongate member terminating in at least one snare that is moveable between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration; and a fixed-curve catheter that includes a resilient material forming a distal curve and defining a lumen in which the retrieval member extends in sliding engagement, where the fixed-curve catheter extends in sliding engagement within the lumen of the elongate outer tubular member.

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 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: An implantable medical device includes ventricular and atrial portions, and a flexible leadlet that extends therebetween. An open channel of the atrial portion, formed along a core thereof, is sized to receive the leadlet therein, when the leadlet is folded over on itself. An interventional medical system includes the device and a delivery tool; a tubular sidewall of the tool defines a lumen and has a tether extending therein. A slot formed in the sidewall extends proximally from an open end thereof, coincident with a distal opening of the lumen. When the atrial portion is contained within the lumen, a segment of the leadlet extends alongside the atrial portion; another segment of the leadlet, being folded over on itself, proximal to the atrial portion, has the tether engaged therewith. The slot may allow passage of the leadlet therethrough, when the atrial portion is positioned for deployment through the distal opening.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a cap and a spring-biased tethering member coupled thereto. The cap includes first and second portions, and a transition zone extending therebetween. A girth of the first portion is sized to fit within a distal-most opening of the catheter assembly; and a girth of the second portion tapers from a first size at the transition zone, which is too large to fit within the distal-most opening, to a smaller size at a distal end of the cap. The spring-biased tethering member holds the cap in open and closed positions, when the cap first portion extends within the distal-most opening, and when the cap is separated from the distal-most opening, respectively. At the closed position, the first portion is approximately concentric with the distal-most opening, and at the open position, an entirety of the cap is laterally offset from the distal-most opening.

Abstract: A device and method are described for transmitting tissue conductance communication (TCC) signals. A device may be is configured to establish a transmission window by transmitting a TCC test signal at multiple time points over a transmission test period to a receiving device and detect at least one response to the transmitted TCC test signals performed by the receiving device. The IMD is configured to establish the transmission window based on the at least one detected response so that the transmission window is correlated to a time of relative increased transimpedance between a transmitting electrode vector and receiving electrode vector during the transmission test period.

Abstract: Methods and systems of making a medical electrical lead type having a set of tines. A system for implantation of a lead medical electrical lead in contact with heart tissue, comprises an elongated lead body; a set of curved tines mounted to and extending from a distal end of the lead body, the tines having a length (dD) and an effective cross sectional area, and a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter encloses the lead body and has a distal capsule portion enclosing the tines. The tines exerting a spring force against the capsule and provide a stored potential energy. The delivery catheter has an elastic, not stiff and low column strength ejection means for advancing the lead and tines distally from the capsule and fixating the tines within the heart tissue, the controllable and the stored potential energy of the tines together provide a deployment energy. The tines when so fixated in the tissue provide a fixation energy. The deployment energy and the fixation energy of the tines are equivalent.

Abstract: A fixation mechanism of an implantable medical device is formed by a plurality of tines fixedly mounted around a perimeter of a distal end of the device. Each tine may be said to include a first segment fixedly attached to the device, a second segment extending from the first segment, and a third segment, to which the second segment extends. When the device is loaded in a lumen of a delivery tool and a rounded free distal end of each tine engages a sidewall that defines the lumen, to hold the tines in a spring-loaded condition, the first segment of each tine, which has a spring-biased pre-formed curvature, becomes relatively straightened, and the third segment of each tine, which is terminated by the free distal end, extends away from the axis of the device at an acute angle in a range from about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees.

Abstract: Methods and systems of making a medical electrical lead type having a set of tines. A system for implantation of a lead medical electrical lead in contact with heart tissue, comprises an elongated lead body; a set of curved tines mounted to and extending from a distal end of the lead body, the tines having a length (dD) and an effective cross sectional area, and a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter encloses the lead body and has a distal capsule portion enclosing the tines. The tines exerting a spring force against the capsule and provide a stored potential energy. The delivery catheter has an elastic, not stiff and low column strength ejection means for advancing the lead and tines distally from the capsule and fixating the tines within the heart tissue, the controllable and the stored potential energy of the tines together provide a deployment energy. The tines when so fixated in the tissue provide a fixation energy. The deployment energy and the fixation energy of the tines are equivalent.

Abstract: A fixation mechanism of an implantable medical device is formed by a plurality of tines fixedly mounted around a perimeter of a distal end of the device. Each tine may be said to include a first segment fixedly attached to the device, a second segment extending from the first segment, and a third segment, to which the second segment extends. When the device is loaded in a lumen of a delivery tool and a rounded free distal end of each tine engages a sidewall that defines the lumen, to hold the tines in a spring-loaded condition, the first segment of each tine, which has a spring-biased pre-formed curvature, becomes relatively straightened, and the third segment of each tine, which is terminated by the free distal end, extends away from the axis of the device at an acute angle in a range from about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees.

Abstract: A tethering assembly for securing a medical device includes a shaft and a wire that extends in sliding engagement within a proximal lumen, a channel, and a distal receptacle of the shaft. A retainer zone of the shaft, through which the channel extends, stops a transition segment of the wire, which extends between a proximal and a distal segment of the wire, from moving into the shaft receptacle, thereby restraining a distal-most tip of the wire from moving through a distal-most opening of the receptacle. When a projecting member of the device has entered a secure zone of the receptacle, via movement through the distal-most opening and a tapering passageway thereof, the distal-most tip of the wire, which may be spring-biased, can move distally into the passageway so that the tip blocks the projecting member from moving distally, back through the passageway.

Abstract: A medical device system including at least a first implantable medical device and a second implantable medical device is configured to establish by a control module of the first implantable medical device whether the second implantable medical device is present in a patient and self-configure an operating mode of the control module in response to establishing that the second implantable medical device is present.

Abstract: Method and systems of determining adequacy of fixation of a medical lead type having a fixation helix are disclosed. The lead of the medical lead type is placed at a desired location within a patient's body and the fixation helix is screwed into tissue at that location. One or more parameters, associated with the lead, are measured at the location. Based upon the measured one or more parameters, determining a number of turns that the helix is embedded into the tissue at the location.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a cap and a spring-biased tethering member coupled thereto. The cap includes first and second portions, and a transition zone extending therebetween. A girth of the first portion is sized to fit within a distal-most opening of the catheter assembly; and a girth of the second portion tapers from a first size at the transition zone, which is too large to fit within the distal-most opening, to a smaller size at a distal end of the cap. The spring-biased tethering member holds the cap in open and closed positions, when the cap first portion extends within the distal-most opening, and when the cap is separated from the distal-most opening, respectively. At the closed position, the first portion is approximately concentric with the distal-most opening, and at the open position, an entirety of the cap is laterally offset from the distal-most opening.

Abstract: An isolated heart or heart-lung preparation in which essentially normal pumping activity of all four chambers of the heart is preserved, allowing for the use of the preparation in conjunction with investigations of electrode leads, catheters, ablation methods, cardiac implants and other medical devices intended to be used in or on a beating heart. The system can be designed to be used within a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit or a X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner. The preparation may also be employed to investigate heart and lung functions, in the presence or absence of such medical devices. In order to allow comparative imaging visualizations of either or simultaneously the heart and/or lung structures and devices located within the chambers of the heart or vessels or bronchi within the lungs, a clear perfusate such as a modified Krebs buffer solution with oxygenation is circulated through all four chambers of the heart and thus the coronary and/or pulmonary vasculatures.