Systems and methods are provided for implanting a medical device. An implantable lead comprises a lead body, with electrodes positioned at the distal end and a lead connector positioned at the proximal end. The lead body has a body outer envelope configured to fit within a lumen of an introducer sheath and the lead connector has a connector outer envelope configured to fit within the lumen of the introducer sheath. A lead adaptor is configured to interconnect the implantable lead and the pulse generator. The lead adaptor has an insertable connector that includes mating contacts and an adaptor cavity that includes cavity contacts. The cavity contacts are positioned to engage the lead contacts of the lead connector when the lead connector is inserted into the adaptor cavity. The insertable connector is configured to be inserted into the connector cavity of the pulse generator.

A transport system for delivery or retrieval of a biostimulator, such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker, is described. The biostimulator transport system includes a docking cap supported by a bearing within a bearing housing. The bearing allows relative rotation between a torque shaft connected to the docking cap and an outer catheter connected to the bearing housing. The bearing housing and the docking cap include respective bearing retainers that constrain the bearing within the bearing housing without a weld attachment. The weldless retainers of the biostimulator transport system provide a robust mechanical securement of the bearing that is not vulnerable to corrosion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

In some examples, an implantable medical device (IMD) includes a housing defined in part by a longitudinal axis, a header at a distal end of the housing, the header defining a header plane, the header plane disposed at an angle relative to a reference plane, where the reference plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a fixation mechanism extending from the header, the fixation mechanism configured to be advanced into tissue of a heart of a patient to fix at least a portion of the IMD to the heart, one or more electrodes that extend from the header and are configured to engage with the septum, and circuitry within the housing, wherein the circuitry is configured to deliver cardiac pacing to the heart via the one or more electrodes.

A leadless pacemaker, and method for storing event data therein, comprising a central processing unit, a first logic circuit configured to generate event data based on a first event occurring during operation of the leadless pacemaker, a first hardware event counter configured to be incremented if specific event data are generated by said first logic circuit, a first memory unit comprising a first bit configured to be set if said first hardware event counter is incremented to a first maximum number of counts, a second memory unit communicating with said first memory unit, wherein said central processing unit is configured to transfer said first bit to said second memory unit, a first RAM event counter in a random access memory of said leadless pacemaker, wherein said central processing unit is configured to increment said first RAM event counter if said first bit is transferred to the second memory unit.

An example catheter includes a handle assembly having a control member, an elongate body, a pull wire, and at least one radiopaque marker. The elongate body defines a lumen configured to receive a medical electrical lead including at least one electrode array. The elongate body includes a proximal portion coupled to the handle assembly and a distal portion that includes an articulating segment and a preformed curve segment. The at least one radiopaque marker is positioned on the distal portion. The pull wire extends from the control member and is anchored to the elongate body distal to the articulating segment such that actuation of the control member controllably bends the articulating segment in a first curve in a first geometric plane. The preformed curve segment defines a second curve in a second geometric plane different from the first geometric plane.

This disclosure relates to a communication amplification device for an implantable capsule, in particular for an autonomous cardiac stimulation capsule. The amplification device comprises a first holding element and a second element configured to hold the implantable capsule. The first holding element is configured to receive the distal end of the capsule and the second holding element is configured to receive the proximal end of the capsule. The first holding element comprises a communication amplification antenna configured to couple to a distal electrode of the capsule.

A lead assembly and associated process include a lead and an integrated feature that facilitates extraction of the lead from the associated body passage. The integrated feature in one embodiment is a sheath received between the associated body passage and received over the lead. The sheath has a first portion extending from adjacent the proximal end to adjacent the distal end of the lead, where the first portion has an inner surface facing with the lead outer surface and the first portion having an outer surface facing radially outward from the lead outer surface. A second portion of the sheath extends from adjacent the distal end to adjacent the proximal end of the lead. The second portion has an inner surface received over the outer surface of the first portion, and the second portion further having an outer surface abutting an inner surface of the associated body passage that receives the lead therein. The integrated feature is alternatively a wire, band, or spoke assembly.

Provided herein are systems for providing therapy to the heart of a patient. The systems include an implantable device for implantation proximate the heart of the patient. The implantable device includes: an anchoring element for maintaining the position of the implantable device after implantation in the patient, at least one sensing electrode for sensing the electrical activity of the heart, at least three pacing electrodes for delivering electrical energy to the tissue of the heart, and a controller including an algorithm for determining when the patient requires therapy. The systems further include an external device having a transceiver for transmitting energy to the implantable device.

Systems and methods which provide retractable anchor configurations for medical device leads are described. A retractable anchor may implement a retractable distention composed of a resilient material. The retractable distention may be distended when in a neutral state and may be contracted when in a biased state. A biasing bulkhead may be configured to receive a bias force sufficient to retract the retractable distention. A stylet may be inserted into an axial lumen of a medical device lead having retractable tip anchor structure and may engage the biasing bulkhead to apply a bias force. A stylet knob may be configured to interface with the stylet and provide bias force to be transferred to the biasing bulkhead of the retractable tip anchor structure. Locking the stylet knob on the medical device lead may maintain the bias force applied to the biasing bulkhead until the stylet knob is unlocked.

Systems and methods for implanting a medical device are provided and include an implantable lead comprising a lead body having a distal end and a proximal end. The implantable lead has electrodes positioned at the distal end and has a lead connector positioned at the proximal end. The lead connector includes lead contacts that are communicatively coupled to the electrodes positioned at the distal end. The lead body has a body outer envelope configured to fit within a lumen of an introducer sheath and the lead connector has a connector outer envelope configured to fit within the lumen of the introducer sheath. A pulse generator has a connector cavity. The lead adaptor is configured to interconnect the implantable lead and the pulse generator. The lead adaptor has an insertable connector that includes mating contacts and an adaptor cavity that includes cavity contacts. The cavity contacts are positioned to engage the lead contacts of the lead connector when the lead connector is inserted into the adaptor cavity. The insertable connector is configured to be inserted into the connector cavity of the pulse generator.