Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrode assemblies that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Also disclosed are various configurations of such systems, wireless electrode assemblies, and delivery catheters for delivering and implanting the electrode assemblies.

Devices and methods for assisting cardiac function. In an exemplary embodiment of a device for assisting heart function of the present disclosure, the device includes a first plate and an opposing second plate, each plate having an inner surface, a cardiac processor coupled to at least one of the first plate and the second plate, a bladder having an inner chamber and disposed between the inner surfaces, and a first catheter having a proximal end in communication with the inner chamber of the bladder and a distal end having a first pericardial balloon coupled thereto, wherein a gas and/or a liquid within the inner chamber of the bladder can be injected into the first pericardial balloon upon compression of the first plate relative to the second plate, and wherein the gas and/or the liquid can be removed from the first pericardial balloon upon retraction of the first plate relative to the second plate.

Systems and methods involve an intrathoracic cardiac stimulation device operable to provide autonomous cardiac sensing and energy delivery. The cardiac stimulation device includes a housing configured for intrathoracic placement relative to a patient's heart. A fixation arrangement of the housing is configured to affix the housing at an implant location within cardiac tissue or cardiac vasculature. An electrode arrangement supported by the housing is configured to sense cardiac activity and deliver stimulation energy to the cardiac tissue or cardiac vasculature. Energy delivery circuitry in the housing is coupled to the electrode arrangement. Detection circuitry is provided in the housing and coupled to the electrode arrangement. Communications circuitry may optionally be supported by the housing. A controller in the housing coordinates delivery of energy to the cardiac tissue or cardiac vasculature in accordance with an energy delivery protocol appropriate for the implant location.

Lead extraction is the removal of one or more leads from inside the heart utilizing a lead removal catheter having a tubular sheath that is placed in the blood vessel, either subclavian or femoral. The sheath of the lead removal catheter may accidentally tear or perforate the blood vessel as it is advanced over the lead toward the heart. Such an occurrence must be dealt with quickly to prevent harm to the patient or subject. An expandable member, such as a balloon, attached to the exterior of the sheath of a lead removal catheter can be deployed temporarily adjacent the perforation in the vessel wall. Inflation of the balloon not only stops (or substantially stops) the bleeding, but, upon inflation, the balloon may include one or more channels that allow blood to continue to flow through the channel(s) until the blood vessel perforation can be repaired.

An Implantable Medical Device (IMD) configured to be implantable in a ventricle of a patient's heart may include a housing, a first electrode secured relative to the housing, a second electrode secured relative to the housing, the second electrode spaced from the first electrode, and circuitry in the housing operatively coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. The circuitry may be configured to identify a measure of impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode at each of a plurality of times during a cardiac cycle. Each measure of impedance may represent a measure of volume of the ventricle in which the IMD is implanted. In some cases, the circuitry may generate a pacing pulse, the timing of which is based at least in part on the measure of volume of the ventricle at two or more of the plurality of times during the cardiac cycle.

An implantable medical device (IMD) with a receiving coil for wireless power transfer. The receiving coil may be disposed about a flux concentrator located in a housing of the IMD. The flux concentrator may concentrate non-radiative near-field energy through the receiving coil. In some cases, the near-field energy may be captured and converted into electrical energy that may be used to recharge a rechargeable power source of the IMD.

Systems and methods can be used to determine conduction velocity and generate one or more conduction velocity and/or pattern maps to facilitate identification of arrhythmogenic mechanisms.

A system and method of positioning an atrial pacing lead for delivery of a cardiac pacing therapy that includes sensing electrical activity of tissue of a patient from a plurality of external electrodes and determining a distribution of bi-atrial activation in response to the sensed electrical activity. A target site for delivering the atrial pacing therapy is adjusted based on a change in bi-atrial dyssynchrony that is determined in response to the determined distribution of bi-atrial activation, and placement of the atrial pacing lead for delivery of the atrial pacing therapy is determined in response to the adjusting.

This document describes methods and devices for securing epicardial devices. For example, this document describes methods and devices for securing epicardial devices by passing a sheath into a pericardial space of a patient through a first percutaneous access site, passing a guidewire through the sheath into the pericardial space of the patient, passing the guidewire through a transverse sinus of the patient, passing a snare device into the pericardial space through a second percutaneous access site, and capturing a free end portion of the guidewire using the snare device.

A surgical electrode application instrument of the minimally invasive type, having an effector which forms a rotatable and pivotable instrument head on which are mounted two opposing branches which can be moved towards each other in the manner of tongs, at least one branch of which is formed with a part-circle-shaped notch at the end for holding an electrode wire, and which each have a sickle-shaped cross-section at least in one section. The mutually facing clamping sides in the sickle-shaped section of each branch each have a number of grooves or undercuts which are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the branch and preferably run in parallel in the transverse direction of the branch.