Interventional medical systems, tools, and methods of use

1. An interventional medical system comprising:

an implantable medical device comprising an electronic controller, an hermetically sealed housing containing the controller, and a sensing extension coupled to the controller, the extension extending externally from a proximal end of the housing, the extension including a sense electrode;

a delivery tool facilitating deployment of the device, the tool comprising:

a handle including a control member;

an elongate inner member including a proximal end secured to the handle, a distal end, an inner conductive feature located in proximity to the distal end of the inner member, and a lumen extending proximally from an opening thereof that terminates the distal end of the inner member, the distal end of the inner member being configured to abut the proximal end of the device housing, and the lumen being sized to accommodate the extension of the device, when the distal end of the inner member abuts the proximal end of the device, such that the sense electrode interfaces with the inner conductive feature; and

an elongate deployment tube including a proximal end coupled to the control member of the handle, a distal-most portion, a lumen extending from an opening thereof at the proximal end of the deployment tube to another opening thereof that terminates the distal-most portion at a distal end thereof, and an outer conductive feature located along or in proximity to the distal-most portion, the inner member extending within the lumen of the deployment tube, an entirety of the deployment tube being longitudinally moveable with respect to the inner member by means of the control member of the handle, and the lumen of the deployment tube, along a length of the distal-most portion, being sized to contain the distal end of the inner member together with an entirety of the device housing; and

wherein the inner conductive feature of the inner member is configured to provide a conductive pathway between the interfacing sense electrode of the sensing extension of the device and the outer conductive feature of the deployment tube, and the outer conductive feature of the deployment tube is configured to provide a conductive pathway between the inner conductive feature and a location outside the deployment tube, when the inner and outer conductive features are approximately aligned with one another via movement of the deployment tube with respect to the inner member.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the inner and outer conductive features of the tool comprises one or more apertures providing conduction via fluid communication between the location outside the deployment tube and the sense electrode of the device extension, when the lumen of the inner member of the tool accommodates the extension and the distal end of the inner member abuts the proximal end of the device housing, and when the inner and outer conductive features are approximately aligned.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the inner conductive feature of the tool comprises an electrically conductive segment of the inner member of the tool, the conductive segment of the inner member being in electrical contact with the sense electrode of the device extension, when the lumen of the inner member accommodates the extension and the distal end of the inner member abuts the proximal end of the device housing; and

the outer conductive feature of the tool comprises an electrically conductive segment of the deployment tube of the tool, the conductive segment of the deployment tube being in electrical contact with the conductive segment of the inner member, when the inner and outer conductive features are approximately aligned.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the conductive segment of the inner member of the tool comprises a conductive material within a wall of the inner member; and the conductive segment of the deployment tube of the tool comprises a conductive material within a wall of the deployment tube.

5. The tool of claim 3 , wherein the conductive segment of the inner member of the tool comprises a conductive insert joined to a wall of the inner member; and the conductive segment of the deployment tube of the tool comprises a conductive insert joined to the wall of the deployment tube.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the housing of the device further includes a snare attachment feature located between the proximal end of the device housing and the sensing extension;

the tool further includes a snare member including an elongate shaft extending within the lumen of the inner member, and a loop coupled to a distal end of the shaft, the distal end of the shaft being located in proximity to the distal end of the inner member; and

the loop of the snare member is adapted to open and close around the snare attachment feature of the device via movement of the shaft of the snare member within the lumen of the inner member.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sense electrode of the device extension is spaced apart from the proximal end of the device housing by a distance of between approximately 6 cm and approximately 10 cm.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sense electrode of the device extension is spaced apart from the proximal end of the device housing by a distance of between approximately 10 cm and approximately 15 cm.

9. A method for deploying an implantable medical device, the device including an electronic controller, an hermetically sealed housing containing the controller, a fixation member coupled to a distal end of the housing, and a sensing extension coupled to the controller, the extension extending externally from a proximal end of the housing, the extension including a sense electrode, and the method comprising:

loading the device into a distal-most portion of a deployment tube of a delivery tool, such that the proximal end of the device housing abuts a distal end of an inner member of the tool, the inner member extending within a lumen formed by the deployment tube;

advancing the delivery tool, with the device loaded therein, into a venous system of a patient, such that the distal-most portion of the deployment tube is located in a right ventricle of the patient and abuts a target implant site;

retracting the deployment tube with respect to the inner member and the device to expose the fixation member of the device while pushing the inner member to engage the fixation member with tissue at the target implant site;

evaluating atrial sensing of the sense electrode of the device, after engaging the fixation member of the device, and while the sensing extension of the device remains contained within the lumen of the inner member and within the deployment tube; and

withdrawing the tool from over an entirety of the device, if evaluating the atrial sensing confirms adequate atrial sensing.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

advancing distally a shaft of a snare member of the tool relative to the inner member, to open a loop of the snare member, thereby releasing a snare attachment feature of the device from the loop, after evaluating the atrial sensing, and if evaluating the atrial sensing confirms adequate atrial sensing, and prior to withdrawing the tool from over an entirety of the device;

wherein the shaft of the snare member extends within the lumen of the inner member, the loop being coupled to a distal end of the shaft; and

the snare attachment feature of the device is located between the proximal end of the device housing and the sensing extension.