Patent ID: 7729783

Claim:
An apparatus for securing an implantable medical device (IMD) within the pericardial space via vacuum-and/or mechanically-assisted techniques, comprising: a body structure comprised of biocompatible material, said body structure having an epicardium-contacting side and an opposing pericardial sac-contacting side, wherein said body structure includes a recessed portion on the pericardial sac-contacting side; an elongated medical electrical lead mechanically and electrically coupled to said body structure and fluidly coupled to the recessed portion, wherein the fluid coupling results from a lumen extending from a proximal end portion of the lead to said recessed portion; an electrode mounted on the epicardium contacting side of the body structure; a vacuum source coupled to the lumen and configured to evacuate the recessed portion; and a deployable stylet disposed within the lumen and configured to pierce a portion of pericardial tissue when the vacuum source evacuates the recessed portion.