1. A method of delivering a leadless medical implant to tissue at an implantation site within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
percutaneously introducing and advancing a docking base through the vasculature of the patient to an implantation site;
deploying an anchor of the docking base into tissue at the implantation site;
percutaneously introducing and navigating a leadless medical implant through the vasculature to the implanted docking base; and
coupling the leadless medical implant to the docking base to retain the implant to tissue at the implantation site.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
removing the leadless medical implant from the docking base; and
repositioning the docking base to a second implantation site and repeating the steps of deploying the anchor, introducing the implant, and coupling the implant to the docking base.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the docking base includes a self-expanding basket-like structure defining a receptacle sized to securely receive the leadless medical implant and the step of coupling includes pushing the leadless medical implant into the receptacle.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the docking base is at least partially radiopaque and wherein the step of navigating includes utilizing fluoroscopic visualization to guide the leadless medical implant to the docking base.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of navigating includes utilizing electromagnetism to guide the implant to the docking base.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the docking base includes a battery to provide electro-magnetization to the docking base for a limited amount of time.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein a proximally extending wire is releasably attached to the docking base and wherein the step of navigating a leadless medical implant to the implanted docking base includes supplying electrical current to the docking base via the wire to electromagnetize the docking base.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
the step of detaching the wire from the docking base after the leadless medical implant is coupled to the docking base.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of detaching the wire includes unscrewing a threaded distal end of the wire from within a mating threaded recess formed within a proximal end of the docking base.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of detaching the wire includes pulling on the wire to break apart a connection between the wire and the docking base at a weakened area formed in the connection.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the leadless medical implant is a leadless pacemaker and the implantation site is an area in the heart.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the anchor is electrically connected to the leadless pacemaker and operable to serve as an electrode for delivering stimulation pulses to the tissue.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the leadless pacemaker includes an electrode at a distal end thereof for delivering stimulation pulses to the tissue and wherein the electrode is in contact with the tissue at the implantation site when the leadless pacemaker is coupled to the docking base.
14. A system for retaining a leadless medical implant to tissue at an implantation site, the system comprising:
a leadless medical implant; and
a docking base percutaneously deliverable through the vasculature, wherein the docking base includes a deployable anchor for lodging into tissue at an implantation site and a coupler that defines a receptacle for engaging and securing the medical implant therein.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the anchor and the coupler are formed from an electrically conductive material and the anchor is operable to serve as an electrode for delivering stimulation pulses from the leadless medical implant secured within the receptacle to the tissue.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the coupler is a self-expanding basket-like structure.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the leadless medical implant is received within the basket-like structure in one of a snap-fit, threaded and ratcheted engagement.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the basket-like structure is bottomless such that an electrode on a distal end of the medical implant passes through the basket-like structure to contact the tissue at the implantation site.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein the coupler is electro-magnetizable and the coupler includes a battery to electro-magnetize the docking base for a limited amount of time.
20. The system of claim 14, wherein the coupler is electro-magnetizable and the coupler includes a proximally extending wire releasably attached thereto for supplying electrical current to the docking base to electro-magnetize the docking base.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A mobile transport for scanning targets with penetrating radiation, for movement relative to the targets along a direction of travel, comprising:
a) a chassis;
b) a source of penetrating radiation mounted to said chassis;
c) one or more receptors for said penetrating radiation;
d) an instrument boom, said instrument boom comprising a mast assembly and a first boom section having longitudinal and transverse dimensions, said first boom section comprising:
a longitudinal member comprising an external surface;
a plurality of longitudinal sections, each section comprising two ends;
one or more substantially transverse flanges having opposing faces,
said flanges defining at least one hole from one face to the other; and
a plurality of longitudinal beams;
wherein said longitudinal member is internal to said longitudinal sections, at least one end of each section is joined to the face of one or more flanges, the longitudinal member extends through the hole in the one or more flanges, the external surface is joined to said one or more flanges, and said longitudinal beams rejoined to the flanges; and
e) wherein said first boom section is supported by said mast assembly, and said one or more receptors are mounted to said instrument boom.
2. The mobile transport of claim 1, wherein said instrument boom is positionable substantially transversely to the direction of travel.
3. The mobile transport of claim 1, the first boom section further comprising a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein said mast assembly supports the proximal end of the first boom section, and said first boom section supports a structure substantially at the distal end.
4. The mobile transport of claim 1, wherein said first boom section extends a distance substantially transverse to the direction of travel from said chassis, wherein said distance is greater than 144 inches.
5. The mobile transport of claim 1,
a) the instrument boom further comprising a second boom section; and
b) first boom section further comprising a distal end;
c) wherein said second boom section is downwardly extending and is supported by the distal end of the first boom section, and said first boom section’s longitudinal dimension is in a substantially horizontal plane.
6. The mobile transport of claim 5,
a) the second boom section comprising proximal and distal ends;
b) wherein said proximal end of said second boom section is supported by the first boom section, and the distal end of the second boom section translates less than about one inch in any direction relative to the source of penetrating radiation during movement relative to the targets.
7. The mobile transport of claim 5, wherein said first and second boom sections are comprised of type 6061 T6 aluminum.
8. The mobile transport of claim 1, said longitudinal member comprising a tube, wherein said tube is circular in cross-section and continuous along substantially the longitudinal extent of the first boom section.
9. The mobile transport of claim 1, each of said longitudinal sections comprising a tube segment located substantially concentrically externally of said longitudinal member.
10. The mobile transport of claim 1, each of said longitudinal beams comprising a substantially planar inward surface, and one or more legs along the beam’s longitudinal extent, and said flanges comprising edges, wherein said one or more legs extends from the inward surface substantially normal to the plane of the beam, and said inward surface is joined to said flange edges.
11. The mobile transport of claim 10, said flange edges defining a plurality of depressions corresponding congruently to said one or more legs, wherein said depressions facilitate engagement of said beams and said flange edges.