LEAD AND CATHETER ASSEMBLY

• US 20060259111A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: GREENLAND, John, PETERSON, Charles, HAGUE, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

A method of accessing lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus with a pacing lead and guide catheter assembly. The guide catheter has an open lumen extending therethrough and a distal end provided with a pre-formed guide curve, while the pacing lead has a distal end provided with a first curve and a second curve extending proximally from the first curve. The guide catheter is inserted into an access vessel of the heart and advanced along the access vessel to the coronary sinus. The pacing lead is inserted into the guide catheter lumen and advanced distally through the guide catheter lumen. The pacing lead is rotated by advancing the second curve of the pacing lead through the guide curve to align the first curve with a pre-determined plane. The first curve of the pacing lead into one of the lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus.

Claims

1. A method of accessing lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus with a pacing lead and guide catheter assembly, said guide catheter having an open lumen extending therethrough and a distal end provided with a pre-formed guide curve, said pacing lead having a distal end provided with a first curve and a second curve extending proximally from the first curve, the method comprising:

inserting the guide catheter into an access vessel of the heart;

advancing the guide catheter along the access vessel to the coronary sinus;

inserting the pacing lead into the guide catheter lumen;

advancing the pacing lead distally through the guide catheter lumen;

aligning the first curve of the pacing lead with a plane pre-determined by the orientation of the guide curve; and

advancing the first curve of the pacing lead into one of the lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein aligning the first curve of the pacing lead with a plane pre-determined by the orientation of the guide curve further comprises advancing the second curve of the pacing lead through the guide curve.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising allowing the pacing lead to rotate as the second curve aligns to the guide curve.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the second curve of the pacing lead.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein forming the second curve of the pacing lead further comprises inserting a stylet into the lead.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein forming the second curve of the pacing lead further comprises inserting the pacing lead into an inner catheter.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising securing a distal tip of the pacing lead to the lateral branch vein of the coronary sinus.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first curve is out of plane with respect to the second curve.

9. A method of accessing lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus with a pacing lead and guide catheter assembly, the method comprising:

providing a guide catheter having an open lumen extending therethrough and a distal end having with a pre-formed guide curve;

providing a pacing lead having a distal end provided with a first curve and a second curve extending proximally from the first curve;

inserting the guide catheter into an access vessel of the heart;

advancing the guide catheter along the access vessel to the coronary sinus;

inserting the pacing lead into the guide catheter lumen;

advancing the second curve of the pacing lead through the guide curve so as to align the first curve of the pacing lead with a pre-determined plane; and

advancing the first curve of the pacing lead into one of the lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising allowing the pacing lead to rotate as the second curve aligns to the guide curve.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the second curve of the pacing lead further comprises inserting a stylet having a curved region into the pacing lead.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the second curve of the pacing lead further comprises inserting the pacing lead into an inner catheter having a curved region.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising securing a distal tip of the pacing lead to the lateral branch vein of the coronary sinus.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first curve is aligned with a pre-determined plane that is at an angle with respect to a plane defined by the second curve.

15. A method of accessing lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus with a pacing lead and guide catheter assembly, said guide catheter having an open lumen extending therethrough and a distal end provided with a pre-formed guide curve, said pacing lead having a distal end provided with a first curve and a second curve extending proximally from the first curve, the method comprising:

inserting the guide catheter into an access vessel of the heart;

advancing the guide catheter along the access vessel to the coronary sinus;

inserting the pacing lead into the guide catheter lumen;

advancing the pacing lead distally through the guide catheter lumen;

rotating the pacing lead so as to align the first curve of the pacing lead with a plane pre-determined by the orientation of the guide curve; and

advancing the first curve of the pacing lead into one of the lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising advancing the second curve of the pacing lead through the guide curve so as to rotate the pacing lead.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising forming the second curve of the pacing lead by inserting a stylet having a curved region into the lead.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising forming the second curve of the pacing lead by inserting the pacing lead into an inner catheter having a curved region.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising securing a distal tip of the pacing lead to the lateral branch vein of the coronary sinus.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the first curve of the pacing lead is aligned with a pre-determined plane that is angled with respect to a plane defined by the second curve.