BIASING AND FIXATION FEATURES ON LEADS

• US 20110071609A1
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian D. Soltis, Paul E. Zarembo
• Original Assignee: Brian D. Soltis, Paul E. Zarembo
• Inventors: Soltis, Brian D., Zarembo, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US12/952,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071609A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/122
• 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 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, a pace/sense 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 pace/sense electrode towards the myocardial wall portion of the coronary vessel by engaging the loop biasing feature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising engaging the loop biasing feature by removing the catheter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising revising the implantation location by tensioning a cord coupled to the loop biasing feature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the loop biasing feature further comprises a predefined break region, and the method further comprises breaking the predefined break region in order to remove the lead body.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predefined break location comprises a necked down region, and breaking the predefined break region comprises breaking the necked down region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the loop biasing feature further comprises a collar for coupling the loop biasing feature to the lead body.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the lead body further comprises a groove configured to accommodate the collar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the loop biasing feature further includes a fixation structure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the loop biasing feature further includes a plurality of resilient loops.

10. 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, the loop biasing feature including a collar for coupling the loop biasing feature to the lead body, the lead body including a groove to accommodate the collar;

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.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising engaging the loop biasing feature by removing the catheter.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising revising the implantation location by tensioning a cord coupled to the loop biasing feature.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the loop biasing feature further comprises a predefined break region, and the method further comprises breaking the predefined break region in order to remove the lead body.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predefined break location comprises a necked down region, and breaking the predefined break region comprises breaking the necked down region.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the loop biasing feature further includes a fixation structure.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the loop biasing feature further includes a plurality of resilient loops.

17. A method of implanting a lead in a branch vessel of the coronary sinus, the branch 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, a pace/sense 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 branch vessel to a fixation location; and

biasing the pace/sense electrode towards the myocardial wall portion of the branch vessel by engaging the loop biasing feature.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising engaging the loop biasing feature by removing the catheter.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrode comprises a pace/sense electrode.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the loop biasing feature further comprises a necked down region defining a predefined break region, and the method further comprises breaking the necked down region in order to remove the lead body.