Delivery System with Pacing Element

Abstract

Medical device delivery assemblies are disclosed. The assembly may include a catheter-based delivery system. The assembly may include a pacing element to pace a patient's heart before, during, or after a procedure. The pacing element may be a detachable, implanting pacing element. The pacing element may be an implantable pacemaker and the implantable pacemaker may be disposed on a catheter-based delivery system. The assembly may include a prosthetic heart valve with one or more pacing elements on it. The pacing element may include a pacing strip or strips. These strips may be conductive or insulative. These strips may prevent, treat, or correct abnormal electrical communication in a heart.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A prosthetic heart valve comprising:
 a frame;   a valve assembly couple to and disposed within the frame; and   a conductive strip coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         22 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 21 , wherein the conductive strip is configured to create a pathway to facilitate electrical communication in a patient's heart. 
     
     
         23 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 21 , wherein the conductive strip is configured to prevent or correct pacing problems within a patient's heart. 
     
     
         24 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 21 , wherein the conductive strip is configured to facilitate communication near the atrioventricular note of a patient's heart. 
     
     
         25 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 21 , wherein the conductive strip has a conductivity greater than nitinol and greater than steel. 
     
     
         26 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 21 , wherein the conductive strip comprises silver or a silver alloy. 
     
     
         27 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 21 , wherein the conductive strip comprises a plurality of conductive strips. 
     
     
         28 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 27 , wherein the frame comprises wires, wherein the plurality of conductive strips are coupled to the wires of the frame. 
     
     
         29 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 27 , wherein the frame comprises wires with openings formed between the wires, wherein the conductive strips cover at least some of the openings. 
     
     
         30 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of conductive strips are oriented longitudinally with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         31 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of conductive strips are oriented circumferentially relative to the frame. 
     
     
         32 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 21 , wherein the conductive strip comprises a conductive coating applied to the frame of the prosthetic heart valve. 
     
     
         33 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an insulative strip coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         34 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 33 , wherein when the prosthetic heart valve is implanted in a patient heart, the insulative strip is configured to prevent the transmission of electrical energy to areas outside of a target area of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         35 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 33 , wherein the insulative strip is configured to prevent unwanted interference with the electrical communication of a patient's heart. 
     
     
         36 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 33 , wherein the conductive strip comprises a plurality of conductive strips, and wherein the insulative strip comprises a plurality of insulative strips. 
     
     
         37 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 36 , wherein the conductive strips and the insulative strips alternate around a circumference of the frame. 
     
     
         38 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 33 , wherein the insulative strip comprises a material with insulative properties greater than nitinol and greater than steel.