Pacesetter, Inc.

Adam Weber

Jennifer Heisel

Bernhard Arnar

Thomas Blake Eby

Daniel Coyle

David Rickheim

Daniel Goodman

Scott Kerns

Mike Sacha

Byron Liehwah Chun

Craig E Mar

Bradley Charles Knippel

Sondra Orts

Scott Smith

Benjamin F James, Iv

Jeremiah Blue

Rebecca Stufft

Brett Allen Hillukka

Tyler J Strang

Kavous Sahabi

Arees Garabed

Christopher Alan Hubbard

Travis Lieber

Wade A Keller

Stephanie M Raymond

Jennifer Heisei

Benjamin F James Iv

A retrieval system for a biostimulator, such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker, is described. The biostimulator retrieval system includes a docking cap rotatably coupled to an outer catheter by a bearing. A torque shaft extends through the outer catheter and attaches to the docking cap to transmit torque to the docking cap to cause rotation of the docking cap relative to the outer catheter. The rotating docking cap can transmit torque to an attachment feature of a biostimulator received within the docking cap. The attachment feature can be captured by a snare that extends through the torque shaft. A cincher tube extends through the torque shaft around the snare, and advances over the snare independently from the torque shaft that is attached to the docking cap, to cinch the snare onto the attachment feature. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Biostimulator retrieval system having cincher tube

A transport system for delivery or retrieval of a biostimulator, such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker, is described. The biostimulator transport system includes a docking cap supported by a bearing within a bearing housing. The bearing allows relative rotation between a torque shaft connected to the docking cap and an outer catheter connected to the bearing housing. The bearing housing and the docking cap include respective bearing retainers that constrain the bearing within the bearing housing without a weld attachment. The weldless retainers of the biostimulator transport system provide a robust mechanical securement of the bearing that is not vulnerable to corrosion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Biostimulator transport system having weldless bearing retainer

A loading tool for loading a biostimulator onto a biostimulator delivery system is described. The loading tool includes a first body portion and a second body portion connected by a hinge. A latch is mounted on the first body portion, and the latch can be locked to fasten the first body portion to the second body portion. A biostimulator can be mounted in the loading tool, and a tether of a biostimulator delivery system can be inserted through a funnel in the loading tool to engage the biostimulator. An operator can use only one hand to unlock the latch, open the loading tool, and remove the loading tool from the biostimulator prior to delivering the biostimulator into a patient. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Loading tool for a biostimulator

A leadless biostimulator including an attachment feature to facilitate precise manipulation during delivery or retrieval is described. The attachment feature can be monolithically formed from a rigid material, and includes a base, a button, and a stem interconnecting the base to the button. The stem is a single post having a transverse profile extending around a central axis. The transverse profile can be annular and can surround the central axis. The leadless biostimulator includes a battery assembly having a cell can that includes an end boss. A tether recess in the end boss is axially aligned with a face port in the button to receive tethers of a delivery or retrieval system through an inner lumen of the stem. The attachment feature can be mounted on and welded to the cell can at a thickened transition region around the end boss. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Leadless pacemaker having attachment feature

Disclosed herein is a delivery system for delivering a leadless pacemaker. The delivery system may include a catheter, which may be a guide catheter. The catheter includes a distal end, a proximal end opposite the distal end, a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a locking hub operably coupled to the proximal end. The locking hub includes a lumen segment of the lumen. In one implementation, self-biasing of the lumen segment places the lumen segment out of alignment with a rest of the lumen. Deflecting the lumen segment against the self-biasing of the lumen segment places the lumen segment in coaxial alignment with the rest of the lumen. In another implementation, self-biasing of the lumen segment reduces an inner diameter of the lumen segment and actuation of the locking hub expands the inner diameter.

Catheter-based delivery system for delivering a leadless pacemaker and employing a locking hub

A lead delivery catheter having a slittable pull ring is described. The lead delivery catheter includes a deflection wire attached to the slittable pull ring to deflect the catheter. The slittable pull ring has several ring holes arranged in a pattern. The pull ring is located distal to a tubular braid of the lead delivery catheter, and a size and pattern of the ring holes can be similar to a size and pattern of holes in the tubular braid. The structural similarity between the pull ring and the tubular braid facilitates use of a consistent cutting force to slit through the tubular braid and the pull ring of the lead delivery catheter. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Deflectable lead delivery catheter having slittable pull ring

Leadless biostimulator attachment feature

Catheter-based delivery systems for delivery and retrieval of a leadless pacemaker include features to facilitate improved manipulation of the catheter and improved capture and docking functionality of leadless pacemakers. Such functionality includes mechanisms directed to deflecting and locking a deflectable catheter, maintaining tension on a retrieval feature, protection from anti-rotation, and improved docking cap and drive gear assemblies.

Catheter-based system for delivery and retrieval of a leadless pacemaker

Growing community of inventors

Minnetonka, MN, United States of America

Adam Weber