BIASING AND FIXATION FEATURES ON LEADS

• US 20070293925A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Zarembo, Paul E., Soltis, Brian D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/126
• 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 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

A lead assembly for placement in a coronary vessel of the heart, the coronary vessel having a pericardial wall portion and a myocardial wall portion. The lead assembly comprises a lead body extending from a proximal end adapted for coupling to a pulse generator to a distal end adapted for implantation in the heart, an electrode positioned at the distal end of the lead body, and a loop biasing feature located at the distal end of the lead body. The loop biasing feature includes a resilient loop positioned to bias a portion of the electrode towards the myocardial wall portion of the coronary vessel by exerting a force against the pericardial wall portion. The loop biasing feature further includes a collar for coupling the loop biasing feature to the lead body. A method of implanting the lead assembly.

Claims

1. A lead assembly for placement in a coronary vessel of the heart, the coronary vessel having a pericardial wall portion and a myocardial wall portion, the lead assembly comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end adapted for coupling to a pulse generator to a distal end adapted for implantation in the heart;

an electrode positioned at the distal end of the lead body; and

a loop biasing feature located at the distal end of the lead body, the loop biasing feature including a resilient loop positioned to bias a portion of the electrode towards the myocardial wall portion of the coronary vessel by exerting a force against the pericardial wall portion and a collar for coupling the loop biasing feature to the lead body.

2. The lead assembly of claim 1 wherein the lead body includes a groove for receiving the collar.

3. The lead assembly of claim 1 wherein the loop biasing feature further includes a fixation structure.

4. The lead assembly of claim 1 wherein the loop biasing feature further includes a plurality of resilient loops.

5. The lead assembly of claim 4 wherein the lead body includes a distal location and at least two of the resilient loops are located at the distal location and are positioned around a circumference of the lead body.

6. The lead assembly of claim 1 wherein the lead assembly includes a plurality of loop biasing features.

7. The lead assembly of claim 1 wherein the loop biasing feature further includes a necked down region providing a pre-defined break location.

8. The lead assembly of claim 7 wherein the necked down region has a predetermined width so that the loop biasing feature breaks at a desired axial force.

9. The lead assembly of claim 1 wherein the loop biasing feature defines a tissue in-growth area extending from a portion of the pericardial wall to the lead body.

10. The lead assembly of claim 1 wherein the loop biasing feature is positioned adjacent to the electrode.

11. The lead assembly of claim 1 wherein the loop biasing feature is positioned remote from the electrode.

12. A lead assembly for placement in a coronary vessel of the heart, the coronary vessel having a pericardial wall portion and a myocardial wall portion, the lead assembly comprising:

a lead body extending from a proximal end adapted for coupling to a pulse generator to a distal end adapted for implantation in the heart, the lead body including a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

an electrode positioned at the distal end of the lead body;

a loop biasing feature located at the distal end of the lead body, the loop biasing feature including a resilient loop positioned to bias a portion of the electrode towards the myocardial wall; and

a cord coupled to the loop and extending to the proximal end of the lead body, wherein a tensile force applied to the cord causes the resilient loop to flatten towards the lead body and a portion of the loop to slide into the lumen.

13. The lead assembly of claim 12 wherein the lead body includes a cord lumen for receiving a portion of the cord.

14. The lead assembly of claim 12 wherein the loop biasing feature further includes a necked down region providing a pre-defined break location.

15. The lead assembly of claim 12 wherein the tensile force further causes an end of the resilient loop to detach from the lead body.

16. The lead assembly of claim 12 wherein the loop biasing feature defines a tissue in-growth area extending from a portion of the pericardial wall to the lead body.

17. The lead assembly of claim 12 wherein the lead assembly further includes a spring biasing the resilient loop outwardly from the lead body.

18. A method of implanting a lead in a coronary vessel of the heart, the coronary vessel having a pericardial wall portion and a myocardial wall portion, the method comprising:

providing a lead body extending from a proximal end adapted for coupling to a pulse generator to a distal end adapted for implantation in the heart, an electrode positioned at the distal end of the lead body, and a loop biasing feature located at the distal end of the lead body, the loop biasing feature including a resilient loop;

compressing the resilient loop towards the lead body by inserting the lead into a guide catheter;

advancing the distal end of the lead body into the coronary vessel to a fixation location; and

biasing the electrode towards the myocardial wall portion of the coronary vessel by engaging the loop biasing feature.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising engaging the loop biasing feature by removing the catheter.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising revising the implantation location by tensioning a cord coupled to the loop biasing feature.