Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Westlund, Randy

Heil, Ronald W., Jr.

Repasky, Christina

Bye, Lyle A.

Warren, Jay A.

Kelley, Peter T.

Scheiner, Avram

Tockman, Bruce

Soltis, Brian D.

Peter T Kelley

Ronald W Heil, Jr

Avram Scheiner

Randy W Westlund

Jay A Warren

John E Heil

Jeffrey T Bartig

Qingsheng Zhu

Bruce Alan Tockman

Jason Alan Shiroff

David M Flynn

Bruce H KenKnight

William Hsu

Mohan Krishnan

Yayun Lin

Curtis Charles Lindstrom

Donald F Palme, Ii

Scott M Partridge

Robert S Booker, Iii

M Sean Coe

Gerrard Merrill Carlson

Mary Lee Cole

Randall M Peterfeso

Carol Werlein

Aaron W Janke

Gary W Goebel

Douglas A Heitkamp

David B Yingling

Brian D Soltis

Peter Tachi Callas

John S Greenland

Gary Hague

Lyle A Bye

Theodore J Schulte

Christina Repasky

Bruce Tockman

Randy Westlund

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 having a pre-formed biased portion is adapted for implantation with a body vessel and for connection to a signal generator. The lead is constructed and arranged so that when it is implanted, the electrodes are biased toward a vessel wall by the preformed biased portion, which operates to fixate the lead against the vessel wall.

Coronary vein leads having pre-formed biased portions for fixation

An apparatus includes a flexible lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the distal end having a biased portion having an outer diameter dimensioned to abut a wall of a pulmonary artery, an electrode coupled proximate the distal end, and an implantable pulse generator electrically coupled to the electrode. The implantable pulse generator is adapted to deliver a baroreflex stimulation signal to a baroreceptor in the pulmonary artery via the electrode.

Stimulation lead for stimulating the baroreceptors in the pulmonary artery

A lead having a distal end electrode assembly adapted for implantation on or about the heart or within a vein and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The electrode assembly includes conductive fixation features, such as conductive tines or flexible members, in combination with non-conductive fixation features. The conductive fixation features also include tines coated with a conductive material. The fixation features further include conductive tines which are retractable. A defibrillation coil is optionally disposed at the distal end of the lead in combination with the conductive tines.

System and assembly having conductive fixation features

A myocardial lead attachment system for securing a distal end of a lead within a myocardium of a patient's heart. The system includes a lead body, an anchor mechanism formed of a bioabsorbable or biodegradable polymer for engaging a surface of the patient's heart and a surface feature formed on a portion of the lead body for promoting formation of scar tissue around said portion of the lead body.

Absorbable myocardial lead fixation system

The present invention is a myocardial lead attachment system for securing a lead within the myocardium. The attachment system includes an anchor configured to engage the heart, a tether coupled to the anchor and a lead body. The lead body has a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen for accepting the tether and a lock housing in the lumen. A lock structure is on the tether and mates with the lock housing and restrains motion of the lead with respect to the tether in either of a proximal or a distal direction.

Distal or proximal fixation of over-the-tether myocardial leads

The present invention is a myocardial lead attachment system and method for securing a distal end of a lead within the myocardium of a patient's heart. The system includes an anchor, a tether coupled at a distal end to the anchor and a lead body. The lead body has a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough for receiving the tether. A fixation mechanism is at the distal end of the lead body, and is adapted to collapse to a first configuration during implantation and deploy to a second configuration after implantation.

Myocardial lead with fixation mechanism

A lead for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity is provided. The lead is adapted for implantation on or about the heart within the coronary vasculature and for connection to a signal generator. The lead body has one or more electrodes associated therewith. The lead is constructed and arranged so that when it is implanted, the electrodes are housed in the coronary vasculature and urged into intimate contact a vessel wall. A method for implanting the lead into the coronary vasculature is also provided, the method comprising the steps of inserting a stylet into the lead, inserting the lead into the coronary sinus, advancing the lead from the coronary sinus toward the toward the left atrium and into a coronary vein, removing the stylet, and sensing and pacing the heart. Alternatively, the method comprises placing a guide catheter into the coronary sinus, threading a guide wire into the coronary veins, pushing the lead over the guide wire and into the coronary sinus or the coronary vein, and sensing and pacing the heart via the lead in its implanted site in the coronary sinus or the coronary vein.

Leads for pacing and/or sensing the heart from within the coronary veins

Single pass lead system

Single pass lead having retractable, actively attached electrode for pacing and sensing

A single-pass endocardial lead electrode adapted for implantation on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity includes a lead body with a circumferential outer surface. The lead includes a first distal end electrode which has a first electrical conducting surface. The lead body also has a second electrode which has a second electrical conducting surface. The second electrode is adapted for positioning and fixation to the wall of the atrium of the heart. A passive fixation element may be used as part of the second electrode. The lead body also includes a curved portion which facilitates the positioning and passive fixation of the second electrode.

Single pass defibrillation/pacing lead with passively attached electrode for pacing and sensing

A single-pass endocardial lead electrode adapted for implantation in, on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity includes a lead body which is adapted for implantation within a single chamber of the heart, or multiple chambers of the heart. The lead includes a first distal end electrode which has a first electrical conducting surface. The lead body also has a second electrode which has a second electrical conducting surface. The first and second electrodes are either passively or actively attached to the wall of the heart. The lead body also includes a curved portion which facilitates the positioning of the second electrode. The main lead body alternatively includes a recess into which an atrial lead body and an active fixation element attached to one end can travel from a recessed position to a position for fixation to the wall of the heart. The active fixation element can also be moved by turning the terminal pin. The lead body can also include multiple legs, each leg carrying an electrode. The lead is attached to a pulse generator for producing pulses to the multiple sites within the heart. A movement assembly for advancing a helix is also included within the legs and comprises an externally threaded collar which engages with an internally threaded housing or housing insert. The lead further includes a helical tip which has high impedance. The electrode has at least one features of the group: the helix having a coating of an insulating material on its surface, the helix having its surface beyond the distal end of the electrode and the distal end of the electrode having a porous conductive surface at a base of the helix, a porous conductive element at a base of the helix, and a porous conductive element at the end of the electrode having an insulating coating cover from 5-95% of the surface of the porous conductive element. The porous element may further provide a guiding mechanism for the helix as it travels out of the electrode for securing the electrode to the heart.

Growing community of inventors

Buffalo, MN, United States of America

Peter T Kelley