Method and apparatus for retaining medical implants within body vessels

• US 20050228471A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interventional Autonomics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Synecor LLC
• Inventors: Holbrook, Kevin, Williams, Michael S., Glenn, Richard A., Ransbury, Terrance
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37516 Intravascular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

The present application describes a retention device for anchoring a medical device within the vasculature. The device may include expandable member coupled to an intravascular medical device and proportioned for receipt within a vessel. At least a portion of the expandable member is expandable to radially engage a vessel wall and to thereby retain the medical device within the vessel. The system is suitable for a variety of intravascular devices, including but not limited to ICD'"'"'s, pacemakers, and intravascular drug delivery systems.

Claims

1. A method for retaining a medical device within a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

providing an intravascular medical device having an expandable retention device thereon;

with the retention device in a compressed position, positioning the retention device and the medical device in the blood vessel; and

expanding the retention device to the expanded position to retain the medical device within the vessel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step includes coupling the medical device and the retention device prior to the positioning step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of positioning the retention device in the compressed position within a positioning sheath, and wherein the expanding step includes releasing the retention device from the positioning sheath.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the expanding step includes causing the retention device to self-expand after being released from the positioning sheath.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the expanding step includes positioning an expansion device within the retention device and expanding the expansion device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the expansion device is a balloon.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device includes a pulse generator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a lead.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device includes a drug delivery reservoir.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a drug delivery microtubule.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes retaining the medical device such that it is fully within the vasculature.

12. The method of claim 1, further including the step of promoting tissue growth into the structure of the retention device.

13. A retention device for retaining a medical device within a blood vessel, comprising:

an expandable member coupled to an intravascular medical device and proportioned for receipt within a vessel, at least a portion of the expandable member being expandable to radially engage a vessel wall and to thereby retain the medical device within the vessel.

14. The retention device of claim 13, wherein the expandable member is a radially expandable tubular member.

15. The retention device of claim 13, wherein the expandable member supports the medical device out of contact with the vessel wall.

16. The retention device of claim 13, wherein the expandable member supports the medical device in contact with the vessel wall.

17. The retention device of claim 13 wherein the expandable member is shaped to promote tissue ingrowth.