Implantable medical device for vascular deployment

1. A leadless cardiac device configured for deployment within a patient's vasculature at a location near the patient's heart, the leadless cardiac device comprising:

an elongated housing configured to be positioned within the patient's vasculature proximate the patient's heart, the elongated housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

a power source disposed within the elongated housing;

circuitry disposed within the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the power source, the circuitry configured to pace the patient's heart and/or sense electrical activity of the patient's heart;

a first electrode fixed relative to the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the circuitry;

a second electrode fixed relative to the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the circuitry, the second electrode spaced from the first electrode and positioned along a side wall of the elongated housing;

a distal extension extending distally from the distal end of the elongated housing, the distal extension including at least one electrode positioned near a distal end thereof and operatively coupled to the circuitry; and

an expandable anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the elongated housing, the expandable anchoring mechanism having a collapsed configuration for delivery and an expanded configuration that locates the leadless cardiac device within the patient's vasculature.

2. The leadless cardiac device of claim 1 , wherein the expandable anchoring mechanism comprises an elongated tubular member comprising a plurality of interwoven filaments and defining a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end.

3. The leadless cardiac device of claim 2 , wherein the expandable anchoring mechanism further comprises a first wire having a free end extending into the lumen of the expandable anchoring mechanism and a second wire having a free end extending into the lumen of the expandable anchoring mechanism.

4. The leadless cardiac device of claim 3 , wherein the free ends form an arc of at least 180°.

5. The leadless cardiac device of claim 4 , wherein the elongated housing further comprises at least a first and a second generally flat protrusion extending from a side wall of the elongated housing.

6. The leadless cardiac device of claim 5 , wherein the first and second generally flat protrusions each include an apertures extending therethrough.

7. The leadless cardiac device of claim 6 , wherein the free ends of the first and second wires are configured to pass through the apertures of the first and second generally flat protrusions to releasably couple the elongated housing to the expandable anchoring mechanism.

8. The leadless cardiac device of claim 7 , wherein the elongated housing is configured to be uncoupled from the expandable anchoring mechanism through rotation of the elongated housing.

9. The leadless cardiac device of claim 1 , further comprising a retrieval feature disposed proximate the proximal end of the elongated housing.

10. The leadless cardiac device of claim 1 , wherein the expandable anchoring device is configured to position a side wall of the elongated housing in contact with a vessel wall.

11. The leadless cardiac device of claim 1 , wherein the expandable anchoring mechanism is configured to anchor the leadless cardiac device in the patient's superior vena cava proximate the patient's right atrium.

12. The leadless cardiac device of claim 1 , wherein the expandable anchoring mechanism is configured to anchor the leadless cardiac device in the patient's inferior vena cava proximate the patient's right atrium.

13. A leadless cardiac device configured for deployment within a patient's vasculature at a location near the patient's heart, the leadless cardiac device comprising:

a housing configured to be positioned within the patient's vena cava proximate the patient's heart, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

at least one protrusion extending from a sidewall of the housing, the at least one protrusion having an aperture extending from a top surface to a bottom surface of the protrusion;

a power source disposed within the elongated housing;

circuitry disposed within the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the power source, the circuitry configured to pace the patient's heart and/or sense electrical activity of the patient's heart;

a first electrode fixed relative to the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the circuitry;

a second electrode fixed relative to the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the circuitry, the second electrode spaced from the first electrode and positioned along a side wall of the elongated housing;

a distal extension extending distally from the distal end of the elongated housing and configured to be positioned proximal a patient's left ventricle in order to pace the left ventricle, the distal extension including at least one electrode positioned near a distal end thereof and operatively coupled to the circuitry; and

an expandable anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the elongated housing, the expandable anchoring mechanism comprising:

an elongated tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough;

a plurality of interwoven filaments forming the elongated tubular body; and

at least one of the interwoven filaments having a free end extending into the lumen of the elongated tubular body;

wherein the free end extending into the lumen of the elongated tubular body extends through the aperture in the at least one protrusion.

14. The leadless cardiac device of claim 13 , wherein the housing is configured to be uncoupled from the expandable anchoring mechanism through rotation of the elongated housing.

15. The leadless cardiac device of claim 13 , further comprising a retrieval feature disposed proximate the proximal end of the elongated housing.

16. The leadless cardiac device of claim 13 , wherein the expandable anchoring device is configured to position a sidewall of the housing in contact with a vessel wall.

17. The leadless cardiac device of claim 13 , wherein the expandable anchoring mechanism is configured to move between a collapsed configuration for delivery and a deployed expanded configuration.

18. A leadless cardiac device configured for deployment within a patient's vasculature at a location near the patient's heart, the leadless cardiac device comprising:

a housing configured to be positioned within the patient's vasculature proximate the patient's atria, the housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first protrusion extending from a sidewall of the housing adjacent the proximal end thereof;

a second protrusion extending from the sidewall of the housing adjacent the distal end thereof and along a same longitudinal line as the first protrusion;

a first aperture formed through the first protrusion and a second aperture formed through the second protrusion;

a power source disposed within the elongated housing;

circuitry disposed within the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the power source, the circuitry configured to pace the patient's heart and/or sense electrical activity of the patient's heart;

a first electrode fixed relative to the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the circuitry;

a second electrode fixed relative to the elongated housing and operatively coupled to the circuitry, the second electrode spaced from the first electrode and positioned along a side wall of the elongated housing;

a distal extension extending distally from the distal end of the elongated housing and configured to be positioned proximal a patient's left ventricle in order to pace the left ventricle, the distal extension including at least one electrode positioned near a distal end thereof and operatively coupled to the circuitry; and

an expandable anchoring mechanism releasably coupled to the elongated housing, the expandable anchoring mechanism comprising:

an elongated tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough;

a plurality of interwoven filaments forming the elongated tubular body;

a first wire having a free end extending into the lumen of the elongated tubular body adjacent a proximal end thereof; and

a second wire having a free end extending into the lumen of the elongated tubular body adjacent a distal end thereof;

wherein the free ends extending into the lumen of the elongated tubular body extend through the first and second apertures in the first and second protrusions.

19. The leadless cardiac device of claim 18 , wherein the housing is configured to be uncoupled from the expandable anchoring mechanism through rotation of the elongated housing.

20. The leadless cardiac device of claim 18 , wherein the expandable anchoring device is configured to position a sidewall of the housing in contact with a vessel wall.