An apparatus includes a tube, a support element, multiple spines proximally coupled to the tube, and multiple electrodes coupled to the spines. The spines include respective expandable superelastic elements, and respective polymeric elements extending from respective distal ends of the superelastic elements and coupled to a surface of the support element by virtue of being bent proximally, into alignment with the surface, at a distal end of the support element. Other examples are also described.

A sensor-retention structure includes a sensor-support arm configured to hold a sensor device and a stabilizer structure associated with the sensor-support arm and configured to project away from the sensor-support arm and provide stabilizing support for the sensor-support arm.

In one example, this disclosure is directed to a kit for intravascular implantation of an implantable medical device within a patient, the kit comprising an elongated outer sheath forming a first inner lumen with a distal opening, the outer sheath sized to traverse a vasculature of the patient, and an elongated inner sheath forming a second inner lumen. An outer diameter of the inner sheath is smaller than the diameter of the first inner lumen such that the inner sheath fits within the first inner lumen, wherein the inner sheath is slidable within the first inner lumen. The second inner lumen at a distal end of the inner sheath is configured to carry an implantable medical device. The inner sheath forms a slit at a distal end of the inner sheath to facilitate deployment of the implantable medical device out of the distal opening of the outer sheath.

An injector for transcutaneously introducing a sensor into a patient, including a cannula, a base element, a sliding element arranged displaceably on the base element, for transcutaneously introducing the cannula into the patient in an injection direction, and including an ejection element for automatically pulling the cannula out of the patient counter to the injection direction by the ejection element in an ejection operation. The injector has a locking element for the ejection element such that, in a delivery state, the ejection element is lockable in an energy-charged state, and the sliding element and the locking element are configured to interact indirectly or directly in order, in an injection state, when the cannula is introduced transcutaneously into the patient, to release the locking of the ejection element in order automatically to start the ejection operation.

A delivery system for an intracorporeal device includes a sheath defining one or more lumens shaped to receive a delivery catheter or shaft and a guidewire. The system may include a delivery shaft having a distal coupling feature adapted to releasably couple with a proximal coupling feature of the intracorporeal device. The delivery system may further include a hub through which the delivery shaft and guidewire are passed. The delivery shaft may be coupled to a feature, such as a knob, that enables manipulation of the delivery shaft to decouple the distal fixation feature from the proximal fixation feature of the intracorporeal device in order to deploy the intracorporeal device within a patient.

An apparatus for implantation at an annulus (75) of an intracardiac valve includes an annuloplasty ring (110) comprising a plurality of rotatably adjoining segments (112). The ring is configured to pass over multiple threads (58), respective distal ends of which are distributed over the annulus, and, while passing over the threads, expand from a collapsed state to an expanded state by virtue of the segments rotating with respect to each other. The apparatus further comprises a lock (114), configured to lock the ring in the expanded state at the valve by inhibiting rotation of the segments with respect to each another. Other embodiments are also described.

A medical device system may include a structure including a first elongate member, a line including a plurality of flexible members, and an actuator coupled to the line to selectively transmit force to at least the first elongate member. The structure may include a delivery configuration in which at least a portion of the structure is arranged to be percutaneously delivered to a bodily cavity. Respective portions of the flexible members may be intertwined together to form a braided portion of the line, and the line may include an unbraided portion secured at least to the first elongate member. The braided portion of the line may be located between the actuator and the first elongate member.

A method of sensing a physiological parameter involves advancing a delivery catheter to a right atrium of a heart of a patient via a transcatheter access path, advancing the delivery catheter through an interatrial septum wall into a left atrium of the heart, deploying a distal anchor of a sensor implant device from the delivery catheter, anchoring the distal anchor of the sensor implant device to a first pulmonary vein, withdrawing the delivery catheter away from the first pulmonary vein, thereby exposing at least a portion of a sensor module of the sensor implant device in the left atrium, deploying a proximal anchor of the sensor implant device from the delivery system, anchoring the proximal anchor of the sensor implant device to a second pulmonary vein, and withdrawing the delivery catheter from the heart.

A guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system includes an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors may be associated with the probe. The system may include a medical device, such as a needle, separate from the probe, the medical device having a magnetic field associated therewith. The system may include a processor that uses data relating to the magnetic field sensed by the one or more sensors to determine a position and/or orientation of the medical device. The system may also include a display that shows an image of the internal body portion target taken by the ultrasound imaging probe and a depiction of the medical device positioned and/or oriented with respect to the image.

Wireless, variable inductance and resonant circuit-based vascular monitoring devices, systems, methodologies, and techniques, including specifically configured anchoring structures for same, are disclosed that can be used to assist healthcare professionals in predicting, preventing, and diagnosing various heart-related and other health conditions.