Patent ID: 9283381
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: A61N

Claim Text:
1. A tissue-penetrating fixation component for an implantable medical device, the component comprising a base portion and at least one tine portion, the base portion defining a longitudinal axis of the component and being configured for attachment to the medical device so that the longitudinal axis of the component extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device, the at least one tine portion comprising a hook segment and a distal segment, the hook segment being pre-set to extend along a curvature that encloses an angle of between 135 degrees and 270 degrees, from a proximal end thereof, in proximity to the base portion, to a distal end thereof, the distal segment being pre-set to extend from the distal end of the hook segment along a relatively straight line that is tangent to the distal end of the hook segment, and the hook segment being elastically deformable from the pre-set curvature to an open position; and wherein: the distal segment comprises a tooth and an end that surrounds the tooth; the tooth includes a foot and a tissue-piercing tip, a length of the tooth being defined from the foot to the tip; the end includes a pair of legs and a distal arch, the legs extending along the length of the tooth, on opposing sides thereof, the distal arch extending between the legs and distal to the tip, the legs being configured to bend in elastic deformation, when the hook segment is elastically deformed to the open position and a force is applied, along the longitudinal axis of the component, to push the distal arch of the distal segment against tissue, for initial tissue penetration, and the bending of the legs exposing the tip of the tooth to the tissue; and the tooth is configured to resist bending when the force is applied.