Method and apparatus for fixating an implantable medical device

• US 20040176782A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bauer, Ryan T., Bergan, Matthew A., Bartlett, Terese A., Hanse, Gary H., Bjorklund, Vicki L., Sandstrom, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

A fixation mechanism coupled to an implantable device body extends from a proximal portion of the body to a distal portion of the body and includes a fixation element and a push tube segment. A push tube segment of the mechanism extends proximally from the fixation mechanism to the proximal portion of the body and is adapted to deploy the mechanism.

Claims

1. An implantable device, comprising:

an elongate body including a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a fixation mechanism formed about the body, extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion and comprising;

a fixation segment positioned in proximity to a distal end of the fixation mechanism and including a deployable lobe,

a push tube segment extending from the fixation segment proximally to a proximal end of the fixation mechanism, and

an anchor fixedly coupling the fixation mechanism distal end to the body; and

a lubricious interface between the body and a portion of the push tube;

wherein the deployable lobe is deployed when the push tube segment is pushed distally.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the push tube segment includes an internal protrusion, the protrusion forming a frictional interface between the body and the push tube segment.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the frictional interface is adapted to form a fluid tight seal.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the push tube segment further includes a sleeve portion positioned in proximity to the proximal end of the fixation mechanism and having an elliptical inner surface, the inner surface forming a frictional interface between the body and the push tube segment

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the fixation mechanism further comprises a retention groove formed in an outer surface of the push tube segment in proximity to the fixation mechanism proximal end; and

the retention groove is adapted to receive a retaining element, the retaining element adapted to fixedly couple the grip tube to the body.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a temporary holding tool adapted to engage the push tube segment.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the holding tool is further adapted to create a frictional interface between the push tube and the body.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the holding tool is further adapted to fixedly couple the push tube to the body.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the holding tool includes a longitudinally extending slot adapted to engage the push tube segment.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the slot further creates a frictional interface between the push tube and the body.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the slot further fixedly couples the push tube to the body.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the slot includes a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width, the first portion creating a frictional interface between the push tube and the body and the second portion fixedly coupling the push tube to the body.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the lubricious interface comprises a hydrophilic layer fixed to an inner diameter of the push tube or to an outer diameter of the body.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the lubricious interface comprises a coating of polyacrylamide bound to an inner surface of the push tube or an outer surface of the body.

15. The device of the claim 1, wherein the lubricious interface comprises a fluoropolymer layer fixed to an inner diameter of the push tube or to an outer diameter of the body.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the push tube includes a sidewall and a port passing through the sidewall.

17. The device of claim 2, wherein the push tube includes a sidewall and a port passing through the sidewall distal to the frictional interface.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the port is adapted to receive an infusion of fluid into a space between the fixation mechanism and the body.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the port is adapted to vent a space between the fixation mechanism and the body.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployable lobe includes a plurality of lobes positioned about a circumference of the body.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the fixation segment includes a plurality of fixation segments positioned longitudinally along the body and each of the plurality of segments includes a deployable lobe.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployable lobe includes an inner edge, the push tube includes a distal end portion engaging the inner edge, and the push tube forces the inner edge outward to deploy the lobe.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the deployable lobe includes a plurality of lobes formed by parallel slits through the fixation segment and positioned about a circumference of the fixation segment and the push tube compresses the fixation segment to deploy the plurality of lobes.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein each deployable lobe includes a plurality of lobes formed by parallel slits through each of the plurality of fixation segments and positioned about a circumference of each of the plurality of fixation segments;

and wherein the push tube compresses the plurality of fixation segments to deploy the pluralities of lobes.

25. An implantable device, comprising:

an elongate body including a proximal portion and a distal portion; and

a fixation mechanism formed about the body, extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion and comprising;

a fixation element positioned in proximity to a distal end of the fixation mechanism, and

a push tube segment extending from the fixation element to a proximal end of the fixation mechanism and including an internal protrusion, the protrusion forming a frictional interface between the body and the push tube segment.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the frictional interface is adapted to form a fluid tight seal.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein:

the fixation mechanism further comprises a retention groove formed in an outer surface of the push tube segment in proximity to the fixation mechanism proximal end; and

the retention groove is adapted to receive a retaining element, the retaining element adapted to fixedly couple the grip tube to the body.

28. The device of claim 25, further comprising a temporary holding tool adapted to engage the push tube segment.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the holding tool is further adapted to create a frictional interface between the push tube and the body.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the holding tool is further adapted to fixedly couple the push tube to the body.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein the holding tool includes a longitudinally extending slot adapted to engage the push tube segment.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the slot further creates a frictional interface between the push tube and the body.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the slot further fixedly couples the push tube to the body.

34. The device of claim 31, wherein the slot includes a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width, the first portion creating a frictional interface between the push tube and the body and the second portion fixedly coupling the push tube to the body.

35. The device of claim 25, further comprising a lubricious interface between the body and a portion of the push tube.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the lubricious interface comprises a hydrophilic layer fixed to an inner diameter of the push tube or to an outer diameter of the body.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the lubricious interface comprises a coating of polyacrylamide bound to an inner surface of the push tube or an outer surface of the body.

38. The device of the claim 35, wherein the lubricious interface comprises a fluoropolymer layer fixed to an inner diameter of the push tube or to an outer diameter of the body.

39. The device of claim 35, wherein the frictional interface is adapted to form a fluid tight seal.

40. The device of claim 25, wherein the push tube segment includes a sidewall and a port passing through the sidewall distal to the frictional interface.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the port is adapted to receive an infusion of fluid into a space between the fixation mechanism and the body.

42. The device of claim 35, wherein the push tube includes a sidewall and a port passing through the sidewall distal to the frictional interface.

43. The device of claim 40, wherein the port is adapted to vent a space between the fixation mechanism and the body.

44. A method for implanting a device, the method comprising the steps of:

deploying a fixation mechanism via a push tube segment, the fixation mechanism including a fixation element, coupled to the device body in proximity to a distal portion of the body, and the push tube segment, extending from the fixation element of the fixation mechanism proximally to a proximal portion of a device body; and

fixedly coupling the push tube segment to the proximal portion of the body in order to hold the fixation mechanism in the deployed position at an implant site.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the device comprises a lubricious interface between the fixation mechanism and the device body.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the device comprises a frictional interface between the fixation mechanism and a portion of the device body.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of engaging a retention tool onto the push tube segment to create the frictional interface.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the step of fixedly coupling the push tube segment includes a step of further engaging the retention tool onto the push tube segment.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of fixedly coupling the push tube segment includes a step of engaging a retention tool onto the push tube segment.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of fixedly coupling the push tube segment includes a step of suturing a proximal end of the push tube segment to the device body.