Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include an implantable pacing member having a housing and a lead input. A lead may be coupled to the lead input. The lead may be designed to extend along a pericardial space, epicardium, or both and engage a heart chamber. A passageway may be defined along a portion of the length of the lead.

Methods for creating a pathway for an implantable defibrillation lead within a patient, the patient having a torso with a center, left side, and a high sternal area. The method comprises creating an incision at a first location on the left side of the torso, advancing a first medical device and a second medical device through the incision and through the subcutaneous tissue toward a second location proximate the center of the torso, deflecting a distal end of the first medical device at the second location toward a third location proximate the high sternal area, advancing a distal portion of the second medical device out through the distal end of the first medical device toward the third location, and positioning a sheath within the torso, the sheath spanning a distance between the first location and the second location and a distance between the second location and the third location.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include an implantable pacing member having a housing and a lead input. A lead may be coupled to the lead input. The lead may be designed to extend along a pericardial space, epicardium, or both and engage a heart chamber. A passageway may be defined along a portion of the length of the lead.

A method for creating a pathway for insertion of a medical lead, such as a defibrillation lead, the method includes creating an incision at a first location on the left side of the torso of the patient. A first medical device and a second medical device are advanced through the incision and through the subcutaneous tissue toward a second location proximate the center of the torso. The distal end of the first medical device is deflected at the second location toward a third location proximate the high sternal area. The second medical device is advanced out through the distal end of the first medical device toward the third location. A sheath is positioned within the torso, the sheath spanning the distance between the first location and the second location and the distance between the second location and the third location.

Described is a low voltage, pulsed electrical stimulation device (bioelectric stimulator associated with electrodes) for controlling expression of S100 protein(s) by cellular tissues. The bioelectric stimulator is useful in methods to treat a subject suffering from bladder, heart, and/or nerve tissue damage.

Devices, systems, and methods for accessing the internal and external tissues of the heart are disclosed. At least some of the embodiments disclosed herein provide access to the external surface of the heart through the pericardial space for localized delivery of substances to the heart tissue. In addition, various disclosed embodiments provide access to the internal surface of the heart for aspiration and delivery of substances to a targeted region without disturbing or interfering with nearby structures or surfaces.

A medical system comprising a guiding catheter having an inflation lumen. The inflation lumen extends within a handle and a shaft of the guiding catheter. An inflatable sleeve has a proximal end and a distal end, with the ends attached to the guiding catheter. A sealed interior portion of the inflatable sleeve is bounded by the inflatable sleeve and the shaft of the guiding catheter, and in fluid communication with a distal port of the inflation lumen. The system further comprises a delivery catheter defining a delivery lumen and configured for sliding engagement within the guide lumen of the guiding catheter.

Devices, systems, and methods for identifying a target location for implantation of a pacing lead to treat heart failure. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a method, comprising the steps of inserting at least part of a suction catheter into a blood vessel of a patient and advancing the at least part of the suction catheter to a heart, suctionally engaging a tissue of the heart using the suction catheter, positioning a pacing lead from a lumen of the suction catheter into the tissue of the heart at a first location, and operating the pacing lead in attempt to sense and confirm the presence of an indicator of the heart.

Extravascular implant tools that utilize a bore-in mechanism to safely access extravascular locations and implant techniques utilizing these tools are described. The bore-in mechanism may include a handle and a helix extending from the handle. The bore-in mechanism is used, for example, in conjunction with a tunneling tool to traverse the diaphragmatic attachments to access a substernal location. The tunneling tool may be an open channel tunneling tool or a conventional tunneling tool (e.g., metal rod).

A delivery device for installing a medical device in a patient comprising a body portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a chisel shaped tip, a receptacle disposed in the distal end of the body portion for receiving a medical device for implanting in the patient, a handle disposed at the proximal end of the body portion for facilitating advancement of the proximal end of the body portion into the patient.