Bipolar epicardial temporary pacing lead

A method for implanting a bipolar temporary pacing lead comprising a lead body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and including first and second spaced apart wire conductors each encased in insulating material to form insulated wire conductors, a curved needle, at least one of said first and second wire conductors in said lead body distal end portion being connected to said curved needle, a straight needle, the proximal end portion of said lead body being connected to said straight needle, and said distal end portion of said lead body having insulation removed from portions of said respective first and second conductors thereby to form in said lead body distal end portion a first electrode forming, bare wire conductor portion and a second electrode forming bare wire conductor portion, said first electrode forming wire conductor portion being proximal to and spaced from said second electrode forming bare wire conductor portion such that said first electrode is a proximal electrode and said second electrode is a distal electrode, a first terminal connector sleeve being fixed around said first insulated wire conductor portion and electrically and mechanically connected to said first wire conductor therein and a second terminal connector sleeve spaced from said first terminal sleeve connector is fixed around said second insulated wire conductor portion and electrically and mechanically connected to said second wire conductor therein in the proximal end portion of said lead body in an exposed heart, said method including the steps of:

• taking a first bite with said curved needle through the epicardium to place said proximal electrode in the myo- cardium;
• taking a second bite with said curved needle through the epicardium to place said distal electrode in the myocardium spaced from said proximal electrode;
• temporarily connecting a pulse generator to said terminal connector sleeves and electrically checking the functioning of the electrodes and if they function properly, disconnecting the pulse generator;
• cutting off wire conductor end portion(s) close to the epicardium;
• passing the straight needle through a puncture site in a patent's chest wall;
• leaving a portion of the lead body in the chest cavity to compensate for heart contractions and body movement;
• placing appropriate identification tags over the connector sleeves;
• cutting the respective wire conductor portions flush with the proximal ends of the respective terminal connector sleeves;
• and
• inserting the terminal connector sleeves in respective female sockets therefor in a pacer.