An implantable leadless cardiac pacing device and associated retrieval features. The implantable device includes a docking member extending from the proximal end of the housing of the implantable device including a covering surrounding at least a portion of the docking member configured to facilitate retrieval of the implantable leadless cardiac pacing device.

Systems, devices, and methods for providing access to the heart. The system includes an intracardiac access device comprising an elongate member having a channel extending between a distal end and a proximal end thereof. The intracardiac access device is configured to be advanced through an extrapericardial penetration in the left atrial wall without penetrating the pericardium of the heart. An optional procedural device is configured to be advanced through the channel of the intracardiac access device into an internal chamber of the heart and configured to perform a surgical procedure in the internal chamber of the heart. A working channel of an optional suprasternal access device is configured to facilitate access of the intracardiac access device into the body of the patient by providing a path from a suprasternal opening to a position adjacent the roof of the left atrium.

Implantable leadless cardiac pacing systems and methods for providing substernal pacing using the leadless cardiac pacing systems are described. In one embodiment, an implantable leadless cardiac pacing system includes a housing, a first electrode on the housing, a second electrode on the housing, and a pulse generator within the housing and electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. The housing is implanted substantially within an anterior mediastinum of a patient and the pulse generator is configured to deliver pacing pulses to a heart of the patient via a therapy vector formed between the first and second electrodes.

A cardiac pacing system having a pulse generator for generating therapeutic electric pulses, a lead electrically coupled with the pulse generator having an electrode, a first sensor configured to monitor a physiological characteristic of a patient, a second sensor configured to monitor a second physiological characteristic of a patient and a controller. The controller can determine a pacing vector based on variables including a signal received from the second sensor, and cause the pulse generator to deliver the therapeutic electrical pulses according to the determined pacing vector. The controller can also modify pacing characteristics based on variables including a signal received from the second sensor.

A method of manufacturing a lead. The method includes providing a supporting tube, and disposing a conductive strip on an outer surface of the supporting tube such that the conductive strip extends in an axial direction along a length of the supporting tube. The method also includes mounting a chip having a first conductive contact pad and a second conductive contact pad to the supporting tube such that the first conductive contact pad is in contact with the conductive strip. The method further includes fitting an electrode to the supporting tube such that the electrode is in contact with the second conductive contact pad, and coupling a conductor to each end of the supporting tube such that each conductor is in contact with the conductive strip. The method also includes covering at least one of the chip and the conductors with a sheath to provide the lead.

A system and method for improving heart contractions during a heart function cycle (heartbeat) of a patient requires detecting a local electrical event (depolarization) during the cycle. This local electrical event is then used to trigger a stimulation interval Δt at a time t.sub.0. Importantly, the stimulation interval Δt is set to end at a time t.sub.1 during the absolute refractory period of the heart function cycle. At the time t.sub.1, a stimulator is triggered to stimulate a local sympathetic nerve on the epicardial surface of the heart. With this stimulation the sympathetic nerve secretes norepinephrine to improve a subsequent contraction of the heart.

A method and device for modulating the autonomic nervous system adjacent a pericardial space to treat cardiac arrhythmia includes a treatment source arranged to supply a treatment medium, a catheter having an end sized for insertion into the pericardial space, a medium delivery assembly having a distal end arranged to be positioned by the catheter into the pericardium, with the distal end of the delivery assembly comprising a delivery tip arranged to extend away from the distal end of the catheter into the pericardial space. A connector operatively couples the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly to the treatment source, and the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly including a plurality of delivery points for delivering the treatment medium at a plurality of treatment areas within the pericardial space. The device performs modulation or ablation of the autonomic nervous system at selected treatment areas within the pericardium.

Various embodiments of a ventricular assist system and a method of using such system are disclosed. The system includes a pump adapted to be connected to a heart of a patient, an outflow cannula including a first end adapted to be connected to an outlet of the pump and a second end adapted to be connected to an artery of the patient, and an electrode disposed on an outer surface of the outflow cannula and adapted to be disposed adjacent to an exterior wall of the heart. The system further includes a controller electrically connected to the pump and the electrode, where the controller is adapted to provide a pacing signal to the electrode.

A medical apparatus for an organ has a substrate that conforms to a shape of the organ, and a plurality of processing units connected to the substrate and distributed throughout the substrate. Each of the processing units has a sensor, processing device and actuator. The sensor senses a condition of the organ and provides a sensed signal. The processing device receives the sensed signal from said sensor, analyzes the sensed signal and provides a control signal. The actuator applies an output pulse to the organ in response to the control signal from the processing device.

A cardiac defibrillation system that includes a pulse generator to generate therapeutic electrical pulses and at least one lead inserted through an intercostal space in the region of a cardiac notch of the left lung of a patient, the lead having a distal end configured to transmit the therapeutic electrical pulses generated by the pulse generator to defibrillate the heart of the patient.