Catheter and leadless cardiac devices including electrical pathway barrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12329977-B2
Application number	US-202117521051-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2021
Priority date	Nov 21, 2016
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

Catheter and implantable leadless pacing devices, systems, and methods utilizing catheters and implantable leadless pacing devices are disclosed. An example catheter system may include a holding structure extending distally from a tubular member. An implantable device, such a leadless pacing device, may be located within a cavity of the holding structure and an electrical barrier may be located within the holding structure at a location between a proximal electrode and a distal electrode of the implantable device. The electrical barrier may inhibit electrical signals of the implantable device from traveling within the holding structure between the proximal electrode and the distal electrode of the implantable device. The holding structure may include one or more electrical ports adjacent the proximal end of the holding structure and adjacent or proximal of the proximal electrode of the implantable device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of directing electrical signals from a leadless pacing device received in a distal holding structure attached to a distal end of a delivery catheter, the method comprising:
emitting electrical signals from a first electrode of the leadless pacing device received in the distal holding structure of the delivery catheter;
directing the emitted electrical signals exterior of the distal holding structure through electrical ports in the distal holding structure at a location proximal of the first electrode of the leadless pacing device;
receiving the emitted electrical signals directed exterior of the distal holding structure at a second electrode of the leadless pacing device within the distal holding structure, wherein the second electrode of the leadless pacing device is located distal of the first electrode of the leadless pacing device; and
preventing the emitted electrical signals from traveling from the first electrode to the second electrode within the distal holding structure by providing an electrical barrier positioned within the distal holding structure such that the first electrode is located proximal of the electrical barrier and the second electrode is located distal of the electrical barrier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is positioned on a proximal end of the leadless pacing device and the second electrode is positioned on a distal end of the leadless pacing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical barrier at least partially fills a radial space between an exterior surface of the leadless pacing device and an inner surface of the distal holding structure.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the electrical barrier extends circumferentially around the exterior surface of the leadless pacing device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the electrical barrier fills an entirety of the radial space between the exterior surface of the leadless pacing device and the inner surface of the distal holding structure.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the electrical barrier extends radially from the exterior surface of the leadless pacing device.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the electrical barrier extends radially from an interior surface of the distal holding structure.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical barrier includes a nonconductive gel configured to prevent electrical signals from passing from a proximal side of the electrical barrier to a distal side of the electrical barrier.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing fluid to a cavity within the distal holding structure, wherein the electrical barrier is configured to allow the fluid to pass from a proximal side to a distal side of the electrical barrier, but prevent electrical current from passing from the proximal side to the distal side of the electrical barrier when the fluid is not crossing the electrical barrier.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electrical barrier includes a first portion having a first tension or stiffness and a second portion having a second tension or stiffness different than the first tension or stiffness.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first tension or stiffness is less than the second tension or stiffness and the first portion flexes or deflects to allow the fluid to pass through the electrical barrier in response to a pressure greater than a threshold pressure to the first portion, thereby allowing fluid to pass through the first portion.

12. A method of directing electrical signals from a leadless pacing device received in a distal holding structure attached to a distal end of a delivery catheter, the method comprising:
emitting electrical signals from a first electrode of the leadless pacing device received in the distal holding structure of the delivery catheter;
directing the emitted electrical signals exterior of the distal holding structure at a first end of the distal holding structure;
receiving the emitted electrical signals at a second electrode of the leadless pacing device inside a second end of the distal holding structure; and
preventing the emitted electrical signals from traveling from the first electrode to the second electrode within the distal holding structure by providing an electrical barrier positioned within the distal holding structure such that electrical barrier is located only axially between the first electrode and the second electrode.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first end of the distal holding structure is a proximal end, wherein directing the emitted electrical signals exterior of the distal holding structure includes directing the emitted electrical signals through electrical ports in the distal holding structure at a location proximal of the first electrode of the leadless pacing device.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical barrier at least partially fills a radial space between an exterior surface of the leadless pacing device and an inner surface of the distal holding structure.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical barrier includes a nonconductive gel configured to prevent electrical signals from passing from a proximal side of the electrical barrier to a distal side of the electrical barrier.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing fluid to a cavity within the distal holding structure, wherein the electrical barrier is configured to allow the fluid to pass from a proximal side to a distal side of the electrical barrier, but prevent electrical current from passing from the proximal side to the distal side of the electrical barrier when the fluid is not crossing the electrical barrier.

17. A method of directing electrical signals from a leadless pacing device received in a distal holding structure attached to a distal end of a delivery catheter, the method comprising:
emitting electrical signals from a first electrode on a proximal region of the leadless pacing device received in the distal holding structure of the delivery catheter;
directing the emitted electrical signals proximally through electrical ports in a proximal end of the distal holding structure and exterior of the distal holding structure;
allowing the emitted electrical signals to travel outside the distal holding structure from the proximal end to a distal end of the distal holding structure;
receiving the emitted electrical signals at a second electrode of the leadless pacing device inside the distal end of the distal holding structure; and
preventing the emitted electrical signals from traveling from the first electrode to the second electrode within the distal holding structure by providing an electrical barrier positioned within the distal holding structure such that the first electrode is located proximal of the electrical barrier and the second electrode is located distal of the electrical barrier.

Assignees

• Cardiac Pacemakers Inc

Inventors

• Kane Michael J
• Schmidt Brian L
• Wika Kevin G

Classifications

• A61N1/372

  Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators · CPC title

• A61N1/3756 Primary

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

• A61M25/0097

  characterised by the hub (connectors A61M39/10) · CPC title

• A61N1/37512 Primary

  Pacemakers · CPC title