Implant delivery and retrieval systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11013533-B2
Application number	US-201816214819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2018
Priority date	Dec 11, 2017
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering and retrieving a leadless pacemaker are described. A leadless pacemaker retrieval system includes a catheter system having a snare assembly to capture the leadless pacemaker. The catheter system includes sheaths extending distally from a shaft, and the snare assembly includes several snare legs, such as segments of snare loops, that extend from one sheath to connect to another sheath. The snare loops can have bights that connect to opposing sheaths to form a docking space between the legs of the snare loops and radially between the sheaths. The snare assembly is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position by translating the snare legs within lumens of the corresponding sheaths. In the engaged position, the snare assembly tightens around the leadless pacemaker to allow the leadless pacemaker to be retrieved. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A catheter system comprising:
a shaft;
a first sheath extending distally from the shaft to a first end, wherein the first sheath includes a first lumen having a first lumen end at the first end;
a second sheath extending distally from the shaft to a second end, wherein the second sheath includes a second lumen having a second lumen end at the second end; and
a snare assembly including
a plurality of first snare legs extending through the first lumen end at the first end to respective first leg ends coupled directly to the second sheath, and
a plurality of second snare legs extending through the second lumen end at the second end to respective second leg ends coupled directly to the first sheath.

2. The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of first snare legs extend through a first proximal portion of the first lumen of the first sheath, and wherein one or more of the plurality of second snare legs extend through a second proximal portion of the second lumen of the second sheath.

3. The catheter system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first snare legs are segments of a first snare loop extending from the first sheath to a first bight joining the first leg ends, and wherein the plurality of second snare legs are segments of a second snare loop extending from the second sheath to a second bight joining the second leg ends.

4. The catheter system of claim 3 , wherein the first bight is attached to the second sheath, and wherein the second bight is attached to the first sheath.

5. The catheter system of claim 4 further comprising a passage extending laterally through a wall of the second sheath, wherein the first snare loop extends through the passage such that the first bight is within the second lumen.

6. The catheter system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first snare legs include a first leg extending through the first proximal portion of the first lumen, and a second leg having a proximal end joined to the first leg.

7. The catheter system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more of the plurality of first snare legs and the one or more of the plurality of second snare legs are joined at a proximal snare segment.

8. The catheter system of claim 7 , wherein the proximal snare segment includes a hypotube, and wherein the one or more of the plurality of first snare legs and the one or more of the plurality of second snare legs are joined at a distal segment end of the hypotube.

9. The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first snare legs are attached to the second sheath by a bond.

10. The catheter system of claim 9 , wherein the bond includes a clip.

11. The catheter system of claim 1 further comprising one or more radiopaque markers on one or more of the first sheath or the second sheath.

12. The catheter system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more radiopaque markers are on one or more of the first end or the second end.

13. A leadless pacemaker retrieval system comprising:
a shaft;
a first sheath extending distally from the shaft to a first end, wherein the first sheath includes a first lumen having a first lumen end at the first end;
a second sheath extending distally from the shaft to a second end, wherein the second sheath includes a second lumen having a second lumen end at the second end;
a snare assembly including
a plurality of first snare legs extending through the first lumen end at the first end to respective first leg ends coupled directly to the second sheath, and
a plurality of second snare legs extending through the second lumen end at the second end to respective second leg ends coupled directly to the second sheath; and

one or more handle portions coupled to the snare assembly, wherein movement of the one or more handle portions causes a first length of the plurality of first snare legs between the first end and the second sheath to change.

14. The leadless pacemaker retrieval system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of first snare legs are segments of a first snare loop extending from the first sheath to a first bight joining the first leg ends, and wherein the plurality of second snare legs are segments of a second snare loop extending from the second sheath to a second bight joining the second leg ends.

15. The leadless pacemaker retrieval system of claim 14 , wherein the first bight is attached to the second sheath, and wherein the second bight is attached to the first sheath.

16. The leadless pacemaker retrieval system of claim 13 , wherein movement of the one or more handle portions causes a second length of the plurality of second snare legs between the second end and the first sheath to change.

17. The leadless pacemaker retrieval system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more handle portions includes a first handle portion coupled to one or more of the first snare legs to change the first length, and a second handle portion coupled to the one or more of the second snare legs to change the second length.

18. A method, comprising:
advancing a docking space of a snare assembly of a leadless pacemaker retrieval system over a leadless pacemaker, wherein the snare assembly includes a plurality of first snare legs extending from a first end of a first sheath to respective first leg ends coupled to a second sheath, and a plurality of second snare legs extending from a second end of the second sheath to respective second leg ends coupled to the first sheath, wherein the docking space is between the plurality of first snare legs and the plurality of second snare legs;
reducing the docking space by retracting one or more of the plurality of first snare legs into the first sheath and one or more of the plurality of second snare legs into the second sheath such that the snare assembly tightens around the leadless pacemaker; and
retracting the first sheath and the second sheath into a catheter to retrieve the leadless pacemaker.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of first snare legs are segments of a first snare loop extending from the first sheath to a first bight joining the first leg ends, and wherein the plurality of second snare legs are segments of a second snare loop extending from the second sheath to a second bight joining the second leg ends.

20. The catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the respective first leg ends are coupled directly to the second sheath distal to the shaft, and wherein the respective second leg ends are coupled directly to the first sheath distal to the shaft.

Assignees

• Pacesetter Inc

Inventors

• Goodman Daniel
• Pocrnich John

Classifications

• A61N1/372 Primary

  Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators · CPC title

• A61N1/37518

  Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation · CPC title

• A61B2017/00292

  mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means · CPC title

• A61B2017/2215

  having an open distal end · CPC title

• A61N1/3756

  Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators · CPC title