A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways at a metal connector. The shield may be terminated by various joints including butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection to a single metal connector. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by passing between an overlapping pair of inner and outer metal connectors. The metal connectors may include features such as teeth or threads that penetrate the insulation layers of the lead. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by exiting a jacket of a lead adjacent to a metal connector and lapping onto the metal connector.

Systems and methods for implanting a medical device 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.

Implantable leadless pacing devices and medical device systems including an implantable leadless pacing device are disclosed. An example implantable leadless pacing device may include a pacing capsule. The pacing capsule may include a housing. The housing may have a proximal region and a distal region. A first electrode may be disposed along the distal region. One or more anchoring members may be coupled to the distal region. The anchoring members may each include a region with a compound curve.

An Example tool for implanting a pacemaker lead includes a body that includes a recess, a first electrical contact positioned within the recess, and a projection coupled to the body. In addition, the tool includes a second electrical contact positioned on the projection. The recess is configured to receive the pacemaker lead therein such that a first electrode of the pacemaker lead is to engage with the first electrical contact and a second electrode of the pacemaker lead is to engage with the second electrical contact. A rotation of the tool about a central axis of the pacemaker lead is configured to rotate the first electrical contact and the first electrode together about the central axis and to slidingly engage the second electrical contact along the second electrode

A medical system including a device head configured to be positioned in an atrium of a heart, an implantable medical device configured to be positioned within a vena cava of the heart, and a lead extending from the device head to the implantable medical device. A fixation element coupled to the device head is configured to engage tissues within the atrium. The device head includes an electrode configured to deliver therapy and/or sensing signals to tissues within the atrium using stimulation signals received from processing circuitry within the implantable medical device. The medical system may include a delivery catheter configured to allow delivery of the device head to the atrium.

A retention device for use with an implantable medical device (IMD) may comprise an elongate body including a configured to receive the lead of the IMD. The retention device may also include securing mechanisms coupled to the elongate body and configured to push against tissue of a patient. The securing mechanisms may also include linking elements coupled to the elongate body and a portion of the securing mechanisms.

An implantable medical lead comprising a lead body defining a lumen. The lead body includes one or more tines substantially at a distal end of the lead body. An inner member extending within the lead body lumen is configured to rotate relative to the lead body and configured to cause a rotation of a dilator. The dilator is configured such that the rotation causes or enables a lateral translation of the dilator from a first position proximal to a lead body opening to a second position distal to the lead body opening. The implantable medical lead may include a probe wire configured to slidably translate through an inner lumen of the dilator.

A device includes a handle, an expandable structure including a plurality of splines extending from a proximal hub to a distal hub, a first electrode on a first spline of the plurality of splines, an outer tube extending from the handle to the proximal hub, and a shaft extending through the outer tube from the handle to the distal hub. The expandable structure has a collapsed state and a self-expanded state. The handle is configured to retract the shaft. Retracting the shaft may expand the expandable structure outward of the self-expanded state.

A system and method for securing a medical implant within a patient. The method comprises disposing an anchor element around the implant, the anchor element including a pair of tabs each including an eyelet, and a flexible intermediate portion between the tabs, wherein disposing the anchor element around the implant includes positioning the implant within the intermediate portion and folding the anchor element such that the tabs contact one another and the eyelets aligned. The anchor element is positioned at a desired implantation position with the tabs positioned proximate soft tissue of the patient. The method further comprises inserting a distal tip of a fixation element delivery tool through the eyelets and into the soft tissue, the fixation element including at least one tissue anchor and an adjustable suture arrangement coupled to the tissue anchor. The at least one tissue anchor is deployed from the delivery tool and into the soft tissue of the patient. The delivery tool is withdrawn from the soft tissue and the eyelets of the anchor element, and the adjustable suture arrangement is tightened to secure the anchor element against the soft tissue.

Methods and systems for positioning a leadless pacing device (LPD) in cardiac tissue are disclosed. A delivery device is employed that comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therebetween sized to receive the LPD. The LPD has a leadlet extending therefrom that includes a means to fixate the leadlet to tissue. The delivery device comprises an introducer to introduce the LPD into the lumen of the delivery device. The LPD is loaded in the distal end of the lumen of the delivery device. The leadlet extends proximally from the LPD while the fixation means extends distally toward the LPD. A LPD mover is configured to advance the LPD out of the delivery device. A leadlet mover is configured to advance the leadlet out of the lumen delivery device and cause the leadlet to engage with cardiac tissue.