Introduction of medical lead into patient

A method for implanting a lead having a fixation element distal an electrode, comprising:

• providing an introducer including a body member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the body member defines a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
• providing a lead including:
• a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end,
• a distal electrode at or near the distal end of the lead body,
• a fixation element located between the proximal end of the lead body and the distal electrode,
• an electrode array located between the proximal end of the lead body and the fixation element,
• a first positional marking on or in the lead body located between the proximal end of the lead body and the electrode array, the first marking positioned a distance from the distal electrode equal to the distance from the proximal end of the introducer body member to the distal end of the introducer body member, and
• a second positional marking on or in the lead located between the first positional marking and the electrode array, the second marking positioned a distance from the first marking equal to (i) the distance from the distal electrode to a desired location in the electrode array, or (ii) the average distance of one or more electrodes of the electrode array from the distal electrode;
• inserting the distal end of the body member of the introducer into the patient and advancing the distal end to a location of the patient;
• inserting the lead into the lumen of the introducer until the first marking of the lead is aligned with, or adjacent to, the proximal end of the body member of the introducer, resulting in the distal electrode being extended beyond the distal end of the introducer and the fixation element being retained in a retracted position by a portion of the body member of the introducer proximal the distal end;
• applying a test electrical signal to the patient via the distal electrode to determine whether the distal electrode is in a desired location of the patient;
• advancing the introducer body member over the lead until the proximal end of the introducer body member is aligned with, or adjacent to, the second marking of the lead, if the distal electrode was determined to be in the desired location of the patient;
• advancing the lead distally through the introducer lumen until the first marking is aligned with, or adjacent to, the proximal end of the introducer;
• withdrawing the introducer body member over the lead, causing the fixation element to deploy and leaving the lead implanted in the patient such that the desired location of the electrode array is positioned in the desired location of the patient.

An implantable medical lead, comprising:

• a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a distal electrode at or near the distal end of the lead body configured to apply a test electrical signal to the patient to determine whether the distal electrode is in a desired location of the patient;
• a fixation element located between the proximal end of the lead body and the distal electrode, the fixation element having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an electrode array located between the proximal end of the lead body and the fixation element;
• a first positional marking located between the proximal end of the lead body and the electrode array, the first marking positioned a distance from the distal electrode equal to, or greater than, the length of an introducer sheath for use in implanting the lead;
• and
• a second positional marking, the second marking positioned a distance from the first marking equal to the distance from the distal electrode to a desired location in the electrode array.

A system comprising:

• an introducer including a body member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the body member defines a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
• and
• an implantable medical lead configured to be inserted in the lumen of the introducer, the lead including:
• a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end,
• a distal electrode at or near the distal end of the lead body configured to apply a test electrical signal to the patient to determine whether the distal electrode is in a desired location of the patient,
• a fixation element located between the proximal end of the lead body and the distal electrode,
• an electrode array located between the proximal end of the lead body and the fixation element,
• a first positional marking located between the proximal end of the lead body and the electrode array, the first marking positioned a distance from the distal electrode equal to, or greater than, the length of an introducer sheath for use in implanting the lead, and
• a second positional marking, the second marking positioned a distance from the first marking equal to the distance from the distal electrode to a desired location in the electrode array.