Active fixation medical electrical lead
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsJohn L. Sommer, Linda L. Franke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical electrical lead and a method of its use. The lead has an elongated lead body having an outer circumference and provided with an electrode. A push tube is mounted circumferentially around the lead body and the lead body is longitudinally movable with respect thereto. A fixation helix is mounted to the push tube, extending along a generally helical axis around the outer circumference of the lead body. The lead may be employed by advancing the lead to a desired location for the fixation helix and then rotating the push tube to secure the helix to tissue. The lead body may then be moved longitudinally with respect to the push tube to place the electrode in a desirable location.
Claims13
A medical electrical lead, comprising:
- an elongated lead body having an outer circumference and provided with an electrode;
- a push tube, mounted circumferentially around the lead body, the lead body longitudinally movable with respect thereto;
- a fixation helix mounted to the push tube, extending along a generally helical axis around the outer circumference of the lead body, the fixation helix comprising a free end spaced from and extending from the lead body;
- and
- a retention mechanism employable to prevent longitudinal movement of the lead body relative to the push tube.
A medical electrical lead, comprising:
- an elongated lead body having an outer circumference and provided with an electrode;
- a fixation helix extending along a generally helical axis around the outer circumference of the lead body, the fixation helix comprising a free end spaced from and extending from the lead body, wherein the fixation helix has a winding pitch that decreases along a tip portion of the free end.
A method of implanting a lead in a patient's body, comprising:
- advancing, within in the patient's body, a lead having an elongated lead body carrying an electrode and provided with a push tube movable longitudinally around the lead body and having a fixation helix mounted to the push tube;
- locating the fixation helix at a desired fixation location in the patient's body
- rotating the push tube to attach the fixation helix to the patient's body;
- locating the electrode at a desired electrode location within the patient's body;
- and
- after locating the fixation helix and the electrode, engaging a retention mechanism employable to prevent longitudinal movement of the lead body relative to the push tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.