INTRAVASCULAR IMPLANTABLE DEVICE HAVING INTEGRATED ANCHOR MECHANISM

1 . A method of implanting an intravascular implantable device into a vasculature of a patient, comprising:

creating an access to a vasculature of a patient;

advancing the intravascular implantable device until it is fully within the vasculature of the patient, the intravascular implantable device including an integrated anchor and an elongated enclosure containing a battery and electronic components; and

deploying the anchor by compressing the anchor in an axial direction, so as to secure the intravascular implantable device within the vasculature of the patient.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

introducing a guidewire into the access and advancing the guidewire through the vasculature toward a heart of the patient; and

advancing the intravascular implantable device over the guidewire until it is fully within the vasculature of the patient.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a pullwire having a bulb tip on a distal end, such that the bulb tip is positioned distally of the distal end of the anchor;

providing an anchor delivery catheter, wherein a proximal portion of the pullwire is received by the anchor delivery catheter;

using the anchor delivery catheter to retract the pullwire with respect to the anchor delivery catheter such that the anchor is compressed in an axial direction, thereby deploying the anchor to secure the intravascular implantable device within the vasculature of the patient.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

deploying the anchor by compressing the anchor in an axial direction so as to anchor the intravascular implantable device such that the distal tip portion of the device is positioned generally coaxially within the vasculature.

5 . An intravascular implantable device, comprising:

an elongated enclosure containing a battery and electronic components; and

an integrated anchor mechanism operably coupled to the elongated enclosure, the anchor mechanism configured to be deployable in response to compression of the anchor mechanism in an axial direction.

6 . The intravascular implantable device of claim 5 , wherein the integrated anchor mechanism comprises:

a proximal portion configured to be coupled to the implantable intravascular device;

a distal portion;

a longitudinal axis between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and

a plurality of leg members, each leg member including a plurality of joints, each leg member configured to bend transversely outward with respect to the longitudinal axis in response to the retention device being compressed along the longitudinal axis.

7 . The intravascular implantable device of claim 5 , wherein the intravascular implantable device is flexible about a longitudinal axis at one or more points

8 . The intravascular implantable device of claim 5 , wherein the anchor mechanism is coupled to a distal end of the elongated enclosure.

9 . The retention device of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of telescoping segments extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion.

10 . The retention device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of joints comprise hinges.

11 . The retention device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of joints are deformable portions of a leg member.

12 . A system, comprising:

an intravascular implantable device;

an anchor having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of leg members, each leg member including a plurality of joints;

a pullwire configured to releasably couple to the anchor; and

an anchor delivery catheter, wherein a proximal portion of the pullwire is received by the anchor delivery catheter and the anchor delivery catheter is configured to retract the pullwire with respect to the anchor delivery catheter such that the anchor is compressed along the longitudinal axis and deployed so as to secure the intravascular implantable device within the vasculature of a patient.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the anchor further comprises a plurality of leg members, each leg member including a plurality of joints, wherein each leg member is configured to bend at the plurality of joints transversely outward with respect to the longitudinal axis in response to the retention device being compressed along the longitudinal axis.

14 . A method, comprising:

providing an intravascular implantable device having an integrated anchor mechanism, the intravascular implantable device including an integrated anchor and an elongated enclosure containing a battery and electronic components; and

providing instructions for implanting the intravascular implantable device into a vasculature of a patient, including:

creating an access to a vasculature of a patient;

advancing the intravascular implantable device until it is fully within the vasculature of the patient; and

deploying the anchor by compressing the anchor in an axial direction so as to secure the intravascular implantable device within the vasculature of the patient.