Active Fixation Tines for Low-Trauma Implantable Device Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical device implantation techniques face challenges in ensuring reliable electrical contact between electrodes and target sites within the body while minimizing tissue damage during fixation.

Innovation Solution

The use of remotely-deployable active fixation tines that can permeate patient tissue without tearing it, securely anchoring implantable medical devices or their components, such as leads, to patient tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixation tines are deployed to secure the implantable medical device to patient tissue, then the reliability of electrical contact is improved, but the risk of tissue damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of electrical contactVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation tines are designed to be deployable and retractable, transitioning from a retracted state during implantation to a deployed state for secure fixation. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt to different operational phases: minimizing tissue interaction during insertion and providing strong anchorage during operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliable fixation and tissue damage prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fixation tines utilize shape memory alloy material that changes its physical properties in response to temperature or other stimuli. The tines can transition between a compliant state that minimizes tissue damage during deployment and a rigid state that provides strong fixation force, allowing the same structure to satisfy both contradictory requirements under different conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If fixation tines are made permanent to ensure secure anchoring, then the reliability of device fixation is improved, but the ease of removal and adjustment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure anchoringVSAvoidease of removal and adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation system employs actively controllable fixation elements that can be deployed to provide secure anchoring and then retracted when removal or adjustment is needed. This dynamic control allows the device to transition between firmly anchored and easily removable states, resolving the contradiction between permanent secure fixation and ease of adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fixation tines are designed to engage and disengage from tissue through controlled mechanical action. The self-contained deployment and retraction mechanisms allow the fixation system to provide its own securing and releasing functions without requiring complex external intervention, enabling both strong anchoring and straightforward removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If active fixation tines are used to permeate tissue without tearing it, then the reliability of fixation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation mechanism replaces complex multi-component mechanical systems with a more integrated design using shape memory alloy tines. The material's inherent shape memory properties provide the fixation function without requiring additional actuators, springs, or complex deployment mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable fixation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The use of shape memory alloy material combines structural support, fixation, and actuation functions in a single material system. This composite approach eliminates the need for separate mechanical components that would increase device complexity, while the material's unique properties enable reliable tissue permeation and anchoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20250288795A1Implantable medical device fixation

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

Various fixation techniques for implantable medical device (IMDs) are described. In one example, an assembly comprises an IMD; and a set of active fixation tines attached to the IMD. The active fixation tines in the set are deployable from a spring-loaded position in which distal ends of the active fixation tines point away from the IMD to a hooked position in which the active fixation tines bend back towards the IMD. The active fixation tines are configured to secure the IMD to a patient tissue when deployed while the distal ends of the active fixation tines are positioned adjacent to the patient tissue.