Articulating Deployment Tube for Leadless Pacemaker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional implantable cardiac pacemakers with elongate lead wires face mechanical complications and MRI compatibility issues, prompting the need for compact implantable devices that can be deployed closer to the pacing site within the heart.

Innovation Solution

A tool with an elongate inner assembly featuring a single pull wire and a distal member to engage the medical device, and an elongate outer assembly with a deployment tube that articulates due to a composite sidewall, allowing for precise targeting and deployment of compact implantable medical devices within the heart.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional implantable cardiac pacemakers with elongate lead wires are used, then the device can be implanted in a subcutaneous pocket remote from the heart, but mechanical complications and MRI compatibility issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical reliabilityVSAvoidlead wire length

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the elongate lead wire component from the traditional pacemaker system and replaces it with a compact leadless design where the pacing device is implanted directly within the heart chamber, eliminating the source of mechanical complications and MRI issues associated with long external lead wires

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a distributed architecture with long external lead wires to a compact integrated design where the pulse generator and electrodes are contained within a small package implanted directly at the pacing site, changing the spatial dimension of device placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If compact implantable devices are deployed within the heart, then mechanical complications and MRI compatibility improve, but precise targeting and navigation become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoiddeployment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system is divided into distinct functional segments: an articulating catheter for navigation, a deployment tube for positioning, and a capture mechanism for device engagement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to achieve precise compact device deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery system incorporates dynamic articulation capabilities where the catheter can change its shape and configuration during navigation and deployment, allowing the operator to position the compact device precisely at the target site within the heart chamber

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a single pull wire is used to actuate the deployment tube, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol mechanism complexityVSAvoiddeployment control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The deployment tube incorporates a composite structure combining a pull wire for actuation with a flexible member that provides additional control dimension. This composite approach allows the simpler pull wire mechanism to work in conjunction with the flexible member to achieve precise control of the deployment tube's movement and positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The tool enables the precise deployment of compact implantable medical devices within the heart, addressing mechanical and MRI compatibility issues associated with traditional systems, while facilitating easier navigation and implantation.

Implementation Method 1

the composite sidewall causes the articulating segment of the deployment tube to bend in two directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBending: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS20250177753A1Tools and assemblies thereof for implantable medical devices

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

A tool has an outer assembly, which includes a deployment tube, extending around, and moveable with respect to an inner assembly of the tool; the inner assembly includes a single pull wire and a distal member configured to engage an end of an implantable medical device. The deployment tube includes an articulating segment located just proximal to an enlarged distal-most portion, which contains the device and the distal member. Relatively soft and stiff sections of a composite sidewall define the articulating segment and extend alongside one another, such that, when the pull wire is actuated, the composite sidewall causes bending of the segment in two directions. A handle assembly of the tool includes a control member for the pull wire, and may further include a flushing subassembly that has a connector port located at an end of the handle assembly that is opposite a proximal port of the handle.