Medtronic, Inc.

University of Minnesota

Kendra Yasger

Stanten C Spear

Ronald A Drake

Gary R Fiedler

Scott William Hayden

Lester O Stener

Steven Lawrence Waldhauser

Andrea Jean Asleson

Ron A Drake

Beth C Bullemer

Lindsey Marie Tobin

Les Stener

Kelly M Wien

H Toby Markowitz

Kenneth C Gardeski

Steven L Hartmann

Andrew Bzostek

Johnson E Goode

Bradley A Jascob

Laurent Verard

Jean M Carver

Michael Neidert

Eric H Bonde

William John Havel

Phillip C Falkner

Don H Tran

Dale F Seeley

Erik Griswold

Jon D Schell

James Calvin Allan

Patrick P Senarith

Lane A Phillips

Rudolph A Beasley

Mark W Shepler

Michael R Neidert

Scott W Hayden

Beth Cristina Bullemer

Ron Alan Drake

A slitter for slitting a guide catheter has a handle and a blade assembly coupled to the handle. The blade assembly includes a shroud for receiving an elongated body of a medical device and a slitting blade having an exposed cutting edge to slit the guide catheter. The blade assembly includes a user-deflectable portion coupled to the shroud for causing the shroud to flex in response to deflection of the user-deflectable portion. The handle and the blade assembly may be assembled from piece parts in a manufacturing method.

Guide catheter slitter

Slitter with adjustable shroud

In one example, this disclosure is directed to a method for intravascular implantation of an implantable medical device comprising positioning a distal end of an elongated outer sheath forming an inner lumen adjacent a target site within a vasculature of a patient, and partially deploying an implantable medical device from the distal opening, wherein the implantable medical device includes an expandable fixation element. A portion of the expandable fixation element assumes an expanded position when the implantable medical device is partially deployed from the distal opening. The method including advancing the distal end of the outer sheath within the vasculature with the implantable medical device partially deployed from the distal opening, and monitoring at least one of the vasculature and the portion of the expandable fixation element for deflection to determine when the size of the portion of the expandable fixation element corresponds to the size of the vasculature.

Implantable medical device deployment within a vessel

A medical apparatus includes an electrically conductive lead for a medical device, the lead having an internal bore terminating at a distal lead opening, and a lead delivery device for delivering the distal end of the lead to a blood vessel during implantation of the lead. The lead delivery device includes a removably anchorable guidewire, and a fixator attached to a distal portion of the guidewire for anchoring the guidewire. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration. The fixator is capable of passing through the distal lead opening of the lead in the compact configuration. The fixator is capable of exerting a holding force in the range of about 0.89 to 4.45 N in the lumen of the blood vessel in the expanded configuration.

Lead delivery device and method

In one example, this disclosure is directed to a kit for intravascular implantation of an implantable medical device within a patient, the kit comprising an elongated outer sheath forming a first inner lumen with a distal opening, the outer sheath sized to traverse a vasculature of the patient, and an elongated inner sheath forming a second inner lumen. An outer diameter of the inner sheath is smaller than the diameter of the first inner lumen such that the inner sheath fits within the first inner lumen, wherein the inner sheath is slidable within the first inner lumen. The second inner lumen at a distal end of the inner sheath is configured to carry an implantable medical device. The inner sheath forms a slit at a distal end of the inner sheath to facilitate deployment of the implantable medical device out of the distal opening of the outer sheath.

Implantable medical device delivery with inner and outer sheaths

A slitter for slitting a guide catheter is assembled from a handle, a blade assembly coupled to the handle, and a holding mechanism coupled to the handle. The blade assembly includes a shroud for receiving an elongated body of a medical device and a slitting blade having an exposed cutting edge to slit the guide catheter.

Slitter with mechanical holding finger

A medical apparatus includes a guidewire and a fixator catheter. The fixator catheter comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, and further includes a distal opening, a fixator secured to the distal portion, and a body opening arranged between the fixator and the proximal portion. The guidewire passes through the body opening and the distal opening of the fixator catheter. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration and, in the expanded condition, is capable of anchoring the guidewire and fixator catheter in a lumen of a blood vessel.

A catheter proximal section is preferably formed from a relatively soft part and a relatively rigid part, and includes a proximal terminal end that defines a perimeter of an opening into a lumen of the catheter. The proximal section may further include a feature for interlocking engagement with an accessory tool. An inner surface of each of the relatively soft and rigid parts may be located opposite one another, on either side of the catheter lumen. The relatively soft and rigid parts may be included in a sealing assembly that further includes an attachment feature for removable connection of the assembly to the proximal section catheter.

Medical delivery systems and apparatus

A catheter has a shaft that defines a delivery lumen, for example, to deliver an elongate medical device therethrough; a proximal section of the catheter includes a seal zone portion, a handle portion and a proximal port portion. A relatively thin wall section of the proximal port portion extends between the seal zone portion and a proximal edge that defines part of a perimeter of a proximal opening of the delivery lumen. The handle portion projects laterally from the seal zone portion, generally opposite the relatively thin wall section. An inflation subassembly of the catheter includes a compliant sleeve member and an inflation lumen extending from the sleeve member, proximally along the shaft, and into a connector port formed in the handle portion. The inflation lumen may be formed by fusing a section of a tube to the shaft and molding the handle portion around another section of the tube.

Delivery catheter apparatus and methods

A syringe adapter tool facilitates inline connection of a syringe with a catheter lumen, as well as torque transfer between the syringe and catheter. The adapter tool may further facilitate passage of an instrument through a seal zone portion of the catheter lumen, which seal zone portion is located in a proximal section of the catheter.

Tools and methods related to catheter delivery

A seal member for assembly within, or a seal zone portion of, a lumen of a medical instrument/device includes a slit segment and a bore, wherein the slit segment intersects with a funnel-like segment of the bore.

Sealing for medical devices/instruments

A proximal terminal end of a proximal section of a catheter, preferably tapered, defines a perimeter of an opening into a lumen of the catheter and includes an exposed sealing area. A sealing assembly, that may be removed from the catheter, includes a relatively soft part and a relatively rigid part, wherein the exposed sealing area is formed by the soft part, and the relatively rigid part may include an attachment feature for removable connection of the assembly to the catheter. The lumen of the catheter, within the proximal section, may include a seal zone portion, which preferably includes a slit segment intersecting a funnel-like segment of a bore. The catheter proximal section may further include a feature for interlocking engagement with an accessory tool.

Catheter apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Big Lake, MN, United States of America

Kendra Yasger