IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH COMPRESSIBLE FIXATION MEMBER

• US 20120109272A1
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knoll, Randall L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,676,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37516 Intravascular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

An implantable medical device and method of implanting a medical device, the device including a housing surrounding an operative component and a resiliently deformable fixation member. The fixation member includes a ring shaped annulus circumscribing the housing and a plurality of elongated struts having a proximal end affixed to the housing and a distal end affixed to the annulus. The fixation member may be comprised of a hydrogel such that it may be in a smaller, dehydrated form during implantation, and then may absorb fluid to expand to a larger, hydrated form after insertion to engage the surrounding tissue.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a housing surrounding an operative component;

a resiliently deformable fixation member for supporting the housing, the fixation member comprising;

a ring shaped annulus circumscribing the housing;

a plurality of elongated struts having a proximal end affixed to the housing and a distal end affixed to the annulus.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the resiliently deformable fixation member is comprised of a hydrogel.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2 wherein the struts are curved in shape between the proximal and distal ends.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 3 wherein the struts are spaced in pairs with each strut curving away from the other of its pair between their proximal and distal ends in a circumferential direction.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 3 wherein the struts are all curved in the same circumferential direction.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5 wherein the struts are approximately evenly spaced around the housing.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the operative component comprises a sensor.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the struts and annulus are integrally formed of a biocompatible hydrogel.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 8 wherein the fixation member is configured to occupy a smaller volume when in a less hydrated state and to expand to a occupy a larger volume when in a hydrated state.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 9 wherein the volume of the fixation member in the less hydrated state allows the fixation member to be deployed through a catheter.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 9 wherein the fixation member is folded or rolled in the less hydrated state.

12. An implantable medical device for implantation into a vessel lumen comprising:

a housing surrounding an operative component;

a resiliently deformable fixation member for supporting the housing, the fixation member comprising;

a thin ring shaped annulus circumscribing the housing, having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central lumen;

a plurality of elongated struts having a proximal end affixed to the housing and a distal end affixed to the inner surface of the annulus;

wherein the fixation member is comprised of an expandable material which allows the fixation member to expand after insertion into a body lumen, and wherein the outer surface of the annulus is sized to abut an inner wall of the vessel lumen when expanded.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12 wherein the expandable material is a hydrogel.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 13 wherein the fixation member may be folded, stretched, rolled, or compressed to reduce the diameter of the medical device.

15. A method of implanting an implantable medical device comprising:

inserting a catheter distal end into a patient'"'"'s body;

advancing the catheter to a desired location within a body lumen;

passing the implantable medical device from the catheter and into the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a housing and a hydrogel fixation member comprising a plurality of struts and an annulus, wherein the struts attach the housing to the annulus, wherein the annulus circumscribes the housing, and wherein the hydrogel fixation member is in a dehydrated state;

allowing the hydrogel fixation member to absorb fluid to expand radially outward to a hydrated state wherein an outer surface of the annulus contacts an inner surface of the lumen.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the struts have a proximal end connected to the housing and a distal end connected to the annulus, and wherein the struts are curved in a circumferential direction between the proximal and distal ends.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the struts are spaced apart to provide openings between the struts.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein allowing the fixation member to hydrate comprises contacting the implantable medical device with a body fluid.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the body fluid comprises blood or interstitial fluid.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the desired location within the body lumen is within the pulmonary artery and wherein the implantable medical device further comprises a sensor.