Medical device fixation anchor having improved compaction and delivery

1. A medical device including an anchor having an expanded state and a constrained state, the anchor comprising:

a device attachment portion for coupling to a medical device,

a barb portion, and

a compression bearing portion positioned between the device attachment portion and the barb portion,

wherein in the constrained state, the compression bearing portion adopts a first non-linear configuration and effects a separation between the barb portion and a constraining member, and

wherein in the expanded state, the compression bearing portion adopts a second non-linear configuration and the barb portion is adapted to penetrate a vessel wall.

2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the barb portion is metal.

3. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a constraining member,

wherein the device attachment portion is coupled to the medical device,

and wherein the constraining member operates to maintain the anchor in the constrained state such that the compression bearing portion is in contact with the constraining member.

4. A medical device including an anchor having an expanded state and a constrained state, the anchor comprising:

a device attachment portion for coupling to a medical device,

a barb portion, and

a compression bearing portion positioned between the device attachment portion and the barb portion,

wherein in the constrained state, the compression bearing portion is curved relative to the barb portion and effects a separation between the barb portion and a constraining member, and

wherein in the expanded state, the compression bearing portion is curved relative to the barb portion and the barb portion is adapted to penetrate a vessel.

5. The medical device of claim 4 , wherein a curvature of the compression bearing portion in the constrained state is different than a curvature of the compression bearing portion in the expanded state.

6. A medical device including an anchor having an expanded state and a constrained state, the anchor comprising:

a device attachment portion for coupling to a medical device, the device attachment portion having a length and a first longitudinal axis extending along the length of the device attachment portion,

a barb portion having a length and a second longitudinal axis extending along the length of the barb portion, and

a compression bearing portion positioned between the device attachment portion and the barb portion,

wherein in the constrained state, the compression bearing portion has a first apex that is offset relative to the second longitudinal axis and effects a separation between the barb portion and a constraining member, and

wherein in the expanded state, the compression bearing portion has a second apex that is offset relative to the second longitudinal axis and the barb portion is adapted to penetrate a vessel.

7. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein in the constrained state, the compression bearing portion has a first curvature including the first apex, and wherein in the expanded state the compression bearing portion has a second curvature including the second apex.

8. The medical device of claim 7 , wherein the first and second curvatures are different.

9. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein in at least one of the constrained state and the expanded state the compression bearing portion includes a curved portion.

10. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein in both the constrained state and the expanded state the compression bearing portion includes at least one of a curved portion or a flat portion.

11. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein in at least one of the constrained state and the expanded state the compression bearing portion includes a flat portion.

12. The medical device of claim 6 , further comprising a hinge point situated between the device attachment portion and the compression bearing portion, wherein in transitioning between the constrained state and the expanded state, the compression bearing portion and the barb portion pivot about the hinge point.

13. The medical device of claim 12 , wherein the second longitudinal axis pivots about the hinge point.

14. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein in the expanded state, the first and second longitudinal axes are angularly offset relative to one another.

15. A medical device including an anchor having an expanded state and a constrained state, the anchor comprising:

a device attachment portion for coupling to a medical device, the device attachment portion having a length and a first longitudinal axis extending along the length of the device attachment portion,

a barb portion having a length and a second longitudinal axis extending along the length of the barb portion, and

a compression bearing portion positioned between the device attachment portion and the barb portion,

wherein in the constrained state, the compression bearing portion protrudes away from the second longitudinal axis and effects a separation between the barb portion and a constraining member, and

wherein in the expanded state, the compression bearing portion protrudes away from the second longitudinal axis and the barb portion is adapted to penetrate a vessel.

16. The anchor of claim 15 , wherein the barb portion and the device attachment portion remain free from contacting each other in both the constrained state and the expanded state.

17. The medical device of claim 15 , wherein in at least one of the constrained state and the expanded state the compression bearing portion includes a curved portion.

18. The medical device of claim 15 , wherein in at least one of the constrained state and the expanded state the compression bearing portion includes a flat portion.

19. The medical device of claim 15 , wherein in both the constrained state and the expanded state the compression bearing portion includes at least one of a curved portion or a flat portion.

20. The medical device of claim 15 , wherein in the expanded state, the first and second longitudinal axes are angularly offset relative to one another.