MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE FOR IMPLANTATION

• US 20080071339A1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Eric T., D'Aquanni, Peter J., Stalker, Kent C. B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,676,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/066 catheters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction

Abstract

An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery includes an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, and an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions. The jaw members are adapted to releasably engage an engagement feature of the implantable medical device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery, the implantable medical device including an engagement feature, the device comprising:

an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end;

a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, the jaw members adapted to releasably engage the engagement feature of the implantable medical device; and

an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the engagement feature includes an aperture sized to at least partially receive the jaw members and having an inner surface, and wherein the jaw members are adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the jaw members are adapted to deflect inwardly with respect to the distal end of the body for insertion through the aperture.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal tip portions of the jaw members are chamfered to facilitate insertion through the aperture.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of jaw members includes a pair of jaw members disposed about 180 degrees apart.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of jaw members includes three jaw members disposed about 120 degrees apart.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jaw members are normally biased inwardly with respect to the distal end of the body.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the distal end portion of the actuating member is further operable to force the jaw members outwardly when positioned proximate the distal tip portions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the engagement feature includes a yoke having a pair of lateral arms and a cross member extending between the lateral arms, the aperture located in and extending through the cross member, and further wherein the jaw members are dimensioned to extend through the aperture.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body is made from a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, shape memory polymers, and shape memory alloys.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the jaw members are made from Nitinol.

4. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the actuating member is movable within the body and dimensioned to extend distally beyond the distal tip portions of the jaw members.

13. A system comprising:

an elongate catheter having an inner lumen;

an implantable sensor sized to be slidably received within the lumen, the sensor having a proximal portion including an engagement feature; and

a retaining element movable within the lumen and including;

an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end;

a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, the jaw members adapted to releasably engage the engagement feature of the implantable medical device; and

an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the catheter is dimensioned to extend transvenously from a percutaneous incision in a patient to a pulmonary artery of the patient.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the sensor is adapted to sense blood pressure in the pulmonary artery.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the engagement feature includes an aperture sized to at least partially receive the jaw members and having an inner surface, and wherein the jaw members are adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the jaw members are adapted to deflect inwardly with respect to the distal end of the body for insertion through the aperture.

19. A method for delivering an implantable medical device including an aperture, the method comprising:

releasably engaging the implantable medical device by inserting jaw members of a retaining element through the aperture in the implantable medical device such that the jaw members engage an inner surface of the aperture, the jaw members extending distally from an elongate, tubular body of the retaining element;

advancing an actuating member through the body and positioning a distal end portion of the actuating member at a location proximate the distal tip portions of the jaw members to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members;

positioning the implantable medical device as desired, retracting the actuating member to a location proximal to the jaw members; and

retracting the body relative to the implantable medical device to retract the jaw members from the aperture.

20. The method of claim 19 for delivering an implantable sensor to an implantation site within a pulmonary artery of a patient.