APPARATUS FOR LEAD PLACEMENT ON A SURFACE OF THE HEART

• US 20070156217A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SentreHeart, LLC (Atricure, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaplan, Aaron, Hahnen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/687,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156217A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 having means for removal or extraction

Abstract

The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the heart surface. The elongated body is adapted for insertion between a pericardium and an epicardial surface. At least a portion of the body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to retain the body orientation between the pericardium and the epicardial surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for placing a lead on a surface of a human heart, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the elongated body having a length adapted to permit minimally invasive access to the heart, the distal end portion of the elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and having a contact surface generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a lead receiving passageway extending through the elongated body to a distal outlet on the contact surface; and

a vacuum lumen extending through the elongated body and having a proximal opening and a distal opening, wherein the distal opening is disposed on the contact surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact surface is concave in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact surface is planar in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the elongated body has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the contact surface is on the lower surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the upper surface is convex in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and the contact surface is shaped to generally conform to an epicardial surface of the heart.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the elongated body has a non-circular cross section in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the elongated body has a width that is greater than a height of the elongated body in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of the lead receiving passageway proximally adjacent the distal outlet extends at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a viewing lumen extending through the elongated body, the viewing lumen having a distal end adjacent the distal outlet.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a steering member for steering the distal end portion of the elongated body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the steering member is adapted to steer the distal end portion of the elongated body in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of the elongated body is curved relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vacuum lumen and the lead receiving passageway are non-concentric.

14. An apparatus for placing a lead on a surface of a human heart, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the elongated body having a length adapted to permit minimally invasive access to the heart, the distal end portion of the elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and having a contact surface generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a lead receiving passageway extending through the elongated body to a distal outlet on the contact surface;

a vacuum lumen extending through the elongated body and having a proximal opening and a distal opening, wherein the distal opening is disposed on the contact surface; and

a temporary pacing electrode positioned on the distal end portion of the elongated body.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the temporary pacing electrode is positioned adjacent the distal outlet.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the temporary pacing electrode is adapted for bipolar pacing and sensing.

17. An apparatus for placing a lead on a surface of a human heart, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the elongated body having sufficient length to allow minimally invasive access to the heart, the distal end portion of the elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and having a contact surface generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;

a lead receiving passageway extending through the elongated body to a distal outlet on the contact surface; and

temporary and non-invasive means for holding the distal outlet to the surface of the heart.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the temporary and non-invasive means comprises a vacuum lumen extending through the elongated body and having a proximal opening and a distal opening, wherein the distal opening is adjacent the distal outlet.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising means for pacing the surface of the heart adjacent the distal outlet.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising means for electrically mapping the surface of the heart.