Myocardial steroid releasing lead

A pacing lead comprising:

• a flexible cable containing at least one electrical conductor, said flexible cable having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an electrode housing member made of nonconductive material and having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said flexible cable entering said electrode housing member at said proximal end of said electrode housing member;
• at least one electrode located at said distal end of said electrode housing member, said electrode being in electrical communication with said electrical conductor;
• a helix having a sharpened distal tip, for actively fixing said electrode in close proximity to heart tissue, said helix having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said helix being connected to said electrode housing;
• and
• storing means for storing a therapeutic medication to be dispensed into heart tissue, said storing means being located entirely within said helix and communicating with the outside of said helix only at the distal end thereof.

A pacing lead comprising:

• a flexible cable containing at least one electrical conductor, said flexible cable having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• an anchoring and energy delivery structure having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said structure being connected to said distal end of said cable, said structure comprising:
• a rigid helix having a sharpened tip adapted to pierce heart tissue and contained within an opening in said distal end of said structure;
• means for mechanically advancing said helix to cause said helix to project from said distal end and to screw said helix into heart tissue to anchor said pacing lead;
• and
• means, contained entirely within said helix and in open communication with the outside of said helix only at said sharpened tip, for storing a therapeutic medication and for releasing said therapeutic medication directly through said sharpened tip after said helix has been screwed into heart tissue.

A pacing lead comprising:

• a flexible cable containing at least one electrical conductor, said flexible cable having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• an anchoring and energy delivery structure having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said structure being connected to said distal end of said cable, said structure comprising:
• a rigid helix having a sharpened tip adapted to pierce heart tissue and contained within an opening in said distal end of said structure;
• means for mechanically advancing said helix to cause said helix to project from said distal end and to screw said helix into heart tissue to anchor said pacing lead;
• and
• a bore located entirely within said helix and in open communication with the outside of said helix only at said sharpened tip of said helix, said bore containing a therapeutic drug so that after said helix has been screwed into said heart tissue said therapeutic drug is in direct contact with said heart tissue and is directly released into said heart tissue through said sharpened tip of said helix.