Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

John S Greenland

Bruce Alan Tockman

Gary Hague

Randy W Westlund

Paul E Zarembo

Charles R Peterson

Randall M Peterfeso

Mary N Hinders

David H Burkett

William Earl Webler, Jr

Eric Thomas Johnson

Jason Alan Shiroff

Peter J D'Aquanni

Benjamin R Fruland

Peter Tachi Callas

Peter T Kelley

Kevin Martin Magrini

Jessie Delgado

Scott A Stockmoe

Theodore J Schulte

William S Chin

David B Yingling

Gary L Hauge

Chuck Peterson

A device and method for accessing a pericardial space of the heart includes a shaft having a cavity at a distal end, a suction lumen terminating in a distal port within the cavity and a hollow needle having a distal tip extending into the cavity. The cavity may be a recess in the shaft into which the distal tip of the needle fixedly protrudes. In other embodiments, the cavity is formed by an inflatable member positioned at the distal end of the shaft and the needle is slidable relative to the shaft. Suction is applied at the cavity to draw a pericardial bleb. The needle pierces the pericardial bleb for accessing the pericardial space and also facilitates delivery of payloads into the pericardial space.

Method and system for accessing a pericardial space

A lead assembly includes an elongate body having a conductor electrically coupled with an electrode coupled to the elongate body. The lead assembly includes a push tube extending along at least a portion of the elongate body. A distal tip is coupled to the elongate body substantially adjacent to the distal end of the elongate body. The distal tip is sized and shaped to couple with a push tube distal end. In one option, the distal tip includes a seat to receive the push tube distal end. In another option, the seat is a side rail seat and a guide wire extends along the elongate body and is slidably coupled with the side rail seat. The lead assembly includes, optionally, an active fixation device slidably coupled with a portion of the elongate body, and the active fixation device is sized and shaped to couple with the push tube.

Lead assembly and methods including a push tube

An anchor for an implantable medical device, for example, and implantable physiologic sensor, includes a proximal hub portion, an intermediate portion extending radially and distally from the hub portion, and a distal portion extending distally from the proximal portion and adapted to engage an inner surface of a target vessel for securing the implantable medical device therein. The anchor can assume a collapsed configuration for delivery through a catheter, and an expanded configuration for fixation within the vessel once deployed. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion at an oblique angle, allowing the anchor to be retracted and re-collapsed within the delivery catheter after initial deployment, if re-positioning or removal of the implantable medical device is necessary or desired.

Anchor for an implantable sensor

The present invention provides a cardiac vascular occlusion system which includes inner and outer guide catheters and an occluding member disposed on the inner catheter. The occluding member may be deployed from a compressed to an expanded position to limit retrograde blood flow in a body lumen. The occluding member may be used when injecting a contrast agent into the body lumen.

Self-deploying vascular occlusion device

A guide catheter assembly for accessing lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus includes a guide catheter and a pacing lead. The guide catheter has a central lumen therethrough, a proximal end and a distal end pre-formed with a guide curve. The pacing lead is slidably receivable within the guide catheter lumen. The pacing lead has a proximal end and a distal end formed with a first curve and a second curve extending proximally from the first curve. The second curve is adapted to mate with the guide curve to direct the first curve into a selected branch vein of the coronary sinus. The second curve may be pre-formed in the pacing lead, or may be imparted to the pacing lead via a stylet or inner catheter.

Lead and catheter assembly

A method of accessing lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus with a pacing lead and guide catheter assembly. The guide catheter has an open lumen extending therethrough and a distal end provided with a pre-formed guide curve, while the pacing lead has a distal end provided with a first curve and a second curve extending proximally from the first curve. The guide catheter is inserted into an access vessel of the heart and advanced along the access vessel to the coronary sinus. The pacing lead is inserted into the guide catheter lumen and advanced distally through the guide catheter lumen. The pacing lead is rotated by advancing the second curve of the pacing lead through the guide curve to align the first curve with a pre-determined plane. The first curve of the pacing lead into one of the lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus.

The present invention is a medical assembly comprising an elongated flexible medical device, such as a cardiac lead, and a torquing member, such as a stylet, slidably receivable inside the medical device. The device and member are coupled at their distal ends by a corresponding set of opposing curves. This coupling allows more precise rotational control of the assembly when it is manipulated at its proximal end. In one embodiment, the assembly has a open curvature at its distal end. In another embodiment, the distal end has a closed curvature.

Lead delivery system having features to facilitate torquing

An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A finishing wire having temporary locking means to lock the finishing wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

Modified guidewire for left ventricular access lead

An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A removal wire having temporary locking device to lock the removal wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A removal wire having temporary locking means to lock the removal wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

A guidewire which has a tubular member, a flexible distal tip secured to the distal end of the tubular member and an exchangeable elongated core member disposed within the lumen of the tubular member. The elongated core member can be advanced distally to the distal end of the tubular member or withdrawn proximally out of the tubular member proximal end. While the guidewire is inside a patient's vessel, the elongated core member can be removed from the tubular member and exchanged for a different elongated support. By exchanging the elongated core member, the physician is able to change guidewire characteristics, such as flexibility or shape, to facilitate movement of the guidewire within the patient's lumen.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

John S Greenland