Cardiac vein lead and guide catheter

• US 20040064024A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sommer, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,871,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/374
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

A guide catheter and medical lead are provided wherein the lead may be used as a pull wire to steer the guide catheter. The guide catheter is provided with a flexible distal segment and the lead is provided with a distal engaging member, which may also serve as an electrode. The distal engaging member interacts with the distal catheter end such that traction applied to the proximal lead end causes flexion of the distal segment of the catheter to advance the flexible distal segment between a non-flexed position and a flexed position, allowing the catheter to be steered around obstacles.

Claims

1. A medical electrical lead system, comprising:

a catheter extending from a proximal segment to a flexible distal segment, the distal segment having a first distal end;

a lead, insertable within the catheter, extending from a proximal end to a second distal end;

an engaging member positioned along the second distal end and engaged against the first distal end when lead is inserted within the catheter, the engaging member transferring force exerted at the proximal end of the lead to the flexible distal segment and advancing the flexible distal segment from a first position to a second position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the engaging member is an electrode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible distal segment is scored to form a plurality of cut portions, each of the plurality of cut portions extending about the flexible distal section from a first end to a second end and including a non-cut portion positioned between the first end and the second end.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of cut portions extends approximately 140 degrees about the flexible distal section from the first end to the second end, and the non-cut portion extends approximately 40 degrees from the second to the first end.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a coiled conductor extending within the lead and coupled to the engaging member, the coiled conductor having a plurality of coils having a predetermined pitch, wherein the plurality of cut portions correspond to the predetermined pitch.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a strengthening member, fixedly attached to the engaging member, transferring the force exerted at the proximal end of the lead to the engaging member.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the strengthening member extends along a central axis of the lead.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the strengthening member extends in an off-set position relative to a central axis of the lead.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the strengthening member is a polyester fiber.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first distal end extends from a first end to a second end and includes a bottom wall extending between the fist end and the second end, wherein a slot is formed by the first end, the second end and the bottom wall, and the engaging member is received within the slot to engage the engaging member against the first distal end.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a handle positioned along the proximal segment of the catheter indicating a direction and amount of distance that the flexible distal section is advanced between the first position and the second position.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the engaging member is in a first state as the lead is inserted within the catheter and a second state to engage when extended outward from the catheter at the first distal end to engage against the first distal end.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a handle positioned along the proximal segment of the catheter, wherein the engaging member advances the flexible distal segment in a direction corresponding to the second state, the direction indicated by the handle.

14. A method for advancing a medical electrical lead to a target site, comprising the steps of:

inserting the lead within a guide catheter;

engaging an engaging member at a distal end of the lead against a flexible distal segment of the guide catheter;

transferring force exerted at a proximal end of the lead to the flexible distal segment through the engaging member to advance the flexible distal segment between a first position and a second position.