A biostimulator, such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker, including a fixation element and an electrode mounted on a resilient scaffold, is described. The fixation element and the resilient scaffold are coupled to a housing of the biostimulator. The resilient scaffold can support the electrode against a target tissue at a location that is radially offset from a location where the fixation element anchors the housing to the target tissue. A flexibility of the resilient scaffold allows the electrode to conform to a shape and movement of the target tissue when the housing is rigidly fixed to the target tissue by the fixation element. The resiliently supported electrode that is radially offset from the anchor point can reliably pace the target tissue without piercing the target tissue. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include an implantable lead. The lead may include a taper or tapered portion and a fixation helix both configured to embed within tissue. In addition, the apparatuses, systems, and methods may include a guide wire configured to obtain and record signals from the heart tissue and facilitate placement of the fixation helix.

A lead anchor comprising a longitudinally extending anchor body and a retainer. The longitudinally extending anchor body having a lumen positioned to receive a spinal cord lead therethrough and having a retainer pocket intersecting the lumen. The retainer is positioned in the retainer pocket. The retainer comprises a first grip member having at least one first aperture, a second grip member having at least one second aperture, and at least one U-shaped resilient portion connecting the first and second grip members.

A medical lead includes a lead body, a proximal connector, a helix extending from a distal end of the lead body. The helix is configured to anchor to a patient tissue, and the helix forms a helical electrode. The medical lead further includes a distal ring electrode, and a cable within the lead body, the cable including a cable conductor, a cable electrode proximate a distal end of the cable conductor, and a blunt dissection tip at a distal end of the cable. The cable is slidable within the lead body to extend and retract the cable electrode along a trajectory extending from the distal end of the lead body. When the helix is anchored to the patient tissue, the blunt dissection tip is configured to blunt dissect the patient tissue along the trajectory extending from the distal end of the lead body through extension of the cable.

An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a body, a fixation component, and an interface assembly. The body extends from a proximal portion to a distal portion along a longitudinal axis. The fixation component includes a penetrator tine. The penetrator tine includes an incisive distal end configured to penetrate a tissue to fix the IMD to the tissue. The electrode interface assembly includes a proximal section and a distal section. The proximal section is attached to and extends distally from the distal portion of the body along the longitudinal axis. The distal section extends from the proximal section of the electrode interface assembly and defines a non-incisive distal end. The distal end of the electrode interface assembly is configured to contact the tissue to control a depth of tissue penetration of the penetrator tine.

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.

A system and method for securing a medical implant within a patient includes 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, by positioning the implant within the intermediate portion and folding the anchor element such that the tabs contact one another. The anchor element is positioned at a desired implantation position with the tabs proximate soft tissue of the patient. The method further includes 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 tissue anchor is deployed from the delivery tool and into the soft tissue of the patient. The delivery tool is withdrawn and the adjustable suture arrangement is tightened.

An assembly for anchoring in tissue may include an anchor part and a biasing part. The anchor part has a support made of a resilient material and at least two needles. The needles have a stem and a tip end configured to engage tissue. A portion of the stem is embedded in the support. The needles are allowed to be positioned according to a first configuration. A biasing part is configured to position the anchor part according to a second configuration differing from the first configuration in an orientation of the needles relative to one another. The biasing part includes holding means configured to hold the anchor part in the second configuration. The support is allowed to be deformed, thereby acting as a pivot when the needles change between the first configuration and the second configuration.

A pacemaker has a housing and a therapy delivery circuit enclosed by the housing for generating pacing pulses for delivery to a patient's heart. An electrically insulative distal member is coupled directly to the housing and at least one non-tissue piercing cathode electrode is coupled directly to the insulative distal member. A tissue piercing electrode extends away from the housing.

A retention device for use with an implantable medical device (IMD) are disclosed. An illustrative retention device 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.