Wireless tissue electrostimulation

Abstract

A wireless electrostimulation system can comprise a wireless energy transmission source, and an implantable cardiovascular wireless electrostimulation node. A receiver circuit comprising an inductive antenna can be configured to capture magnetic energy to generate a tissue electrostimulation. A tissue electrostimulation circuit, coupled to the receiver circuit, can be configured to deliver energy captured by the receiver circuit as a tissue electrostimulation waveform. Delivery of tissue electrostimulation can be initiated by a therapy control unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delivery system for implanting an implantable electrostimulation device at a target site within a heart of a patient, the delivery system comprising:
 a delivery catheter including a lumen for housing at least part of the implantable electrostimulation device during delivery to the target site within the heart;   a flexible actuator passing transluminally through the delivery catheter, wherein the flexible actuator is actuatable between:
 a torque transmitting state where the flexible actuator is capable of transmitting a rotation torque to a retaining structure of the electrostimulation device in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction; 
 a released state where the flexible actuator releases the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device; and 
 wherein in the released state the flexible actuator is actuated to define a larger opening for receiving at least part of the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device, and in the torque transmitting state the flexible actuator is actuated to define a smaller opening to capture at least part of the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device after the at least part of the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device is received by the larger opening in the released state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide catheter having a guide lumen, wherein the delivery catheter is passed transluminally through the guide lumen of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the delivery catheter can be moved translational along the guide lumen of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrostimulation device comprises a helical tine that, when the electrostimulation device is rotated by the flexible actuator, the helical tine penetrates and secures the electrostimulation device to heart tissue at the target site. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein actuating the flexible actuator between the torque transmitting state and the released state comprises axially moving a locking wire. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery system of  claim 5 , wherein the locking wire engages the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device and helps deliver torque to the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device when in the torque transmitting state. 
     
     
         7 . The delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein the locking wire does not deliver torque to the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device when in the released state. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery system of  claim 7 , wherein the locking wire does not engage the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device when in the released state. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible actuator includes a finger adaptor that is actuatable between the torque transmitting state and the released state. 
     
     
         10 . A delivery system for implanting an implantable electrostimulation device at a target site within a heart of a patient, the delivery system comprising:
 a delivery catheter including a lumen for housing at least part of the implantable electrostimulation device during delivery to the target site within the heart;   a flexible actuator passing transluminally through the delivery catheter, wherein the flexible actuator is actuatable between:
 a torque transmitting state where the flexible actuator is capable of transmitting a rotation torque to a retaining structure of the electrostimulation device in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction; 
 a released state where the flexible actuator releases the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device; and 
 wherein the flexible actuator is actuatable from the torque transmitting state to the released state by axially moving a locking wire of the flexible actuator. 
   
     
     
         11 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein withdrawing the locking wire of the flexible actuator allows the flexible actuator to release the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device and move proximally relative to the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device. 
     
     
         12 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein withdrawing the locking wire of the flexible actuator releases an interference connection between the flexible actuator and the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device. 
     
     
         13 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , further comprising a guide catheter having a guide lumen, wherein the delivery catheter is passed transluminally through the guide lumen of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the delivery catheter can be moved translational along the guide lumen of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         15 . The delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrostimulation device comprises a helical tine that, when the electrostimulation device is rotated by the flexible actuator, the helical tine secures the electrostimulation device to heart tissue at the target site. 
     
     
         16 . A delivery system for implanting an implantable electrostimulation device at a target site within a heart of a patient, the delivery system comprising:
 a delivery catheter including a lumen for housing at least part of the implantable electrostimulation device during delivery to the target site within the heart;   a flexible actuator passing transluminally through the delivery catheter, wherein the flexible actuator is actuatable between:
 a torque transmitting state where the flexible actuator is capable of transmitting a rotation torque to a retaining structure of the electrostimulation device in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction; 
 a released state where the flexible actuator releases the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device; and 
 wherein in the released state a locking wire is moved axially along the delivery catheter in a first direction to create a larger opening for receiving at least part of the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device, and in the torque transmitting state the locking wire is moved axially along the delivery catheter in a second opposing direction to shrink the opening and to capture at least part of the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device after the at least part of the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device is received by the larger opening in the released state. 
   
     
     
         17 . The delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein moving the locking wire in the first direction allows the flexible actuator to release the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device and move proximally relative to the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device. 
     
     
         18 . The delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein moving the locking wire of the flexible actuator in the first direction releases an interference connection between the flexible actuator and the retaining structure of the electrostimulation device. 
     
     
         19 . The delivery system of  claim 16 , further comprising a guide catheter having a guide lumen, wherein the delivery catheter is passed transluminally through the guide lumen of the guide catheter, and wherein the delivery catheter can be moved translational along the guide lumen of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         20 . The delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein the electrostimulation device comprises a helical tine that, when the electrostimulation device is rotated by the flexible actuator, the helical tine secures the electrostimulation device to heart tissue at the target site.