Endocardial electrode lead with conical fixation mechanism
First Claim
1. A transvenous, endocardial pacemaker lead comprising:
- an elongated electrical conductor;
an insulating sleeve covering said conductor;
an exposed, conductive electrode at the distal end of said lead electrically connected to said conductor;
fixation means on the distal end of said lead for holding said lead within the heart with said electrode in conductive contact with heart tissue, comprising a conical shaped head attached to the lead around said insulating sleeve with the enlarged base end of said conical head being the portion of said head most proximally remote from said electrode, and said conical head being comprised of a plurality of rings of successively smaller diameter longitudinally spaced along the length of said lead with said rings decreasing in diameter in a direction from said base end towards said electrode, and a plurality of ribs circumferentially spaced around said rings and interconnected thereto, said ribs extending generally lengthwise of said conical head between said rings, whereby said conical head may be secured within the heart by the catching engagement of said rings with trabeculae of the heart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transvenous, endocardial heart pacemaker lead having a conical fixation device on its distal end for holding a distal tip electrode in proper pacing position within the heart. There are open spaces around the conical surface of the fixation device defined by spaced apart, circumferential rings interconnected with spaced apart ribs extending lengthwise along the conical device. Engagement of trabeculae of the heart within the open spaces and against the rings holds the lead in place.
An electrical conductor contained within an insulating sheath or catheter connects the distal tip electrode with a source of power. The conical fixation device is made out of flexible, nonconducting material.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A transvenous, endocardial pacemaker lead comprising:
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an elongated electrical conductor; an insulating sleeve covering said conductor; an exposed, conductive electrode at the distal end of said lead electrically connected to said conductor; fixation means on the distal end of said lead for holding said lead within the heart with said electrode in conductive contact with heart tissue, comprising a conical shaped head attached to the lead around said insulating sleeve with the enlarged base end of said conical head being the portion of said head most proximally remote from said electrode, and said conical head being comprised of a plurality of rings of successively smaller diameter longitudinally spaced along the length of said lead with said rings decreasing in diameter in a direction from said base end towards said electrode, and a plurality of ribs circumferentially spaced around said rings and interconnected thereto, said ribs extending generally lengthwise of said conical head between said rings, whereby said conical head may be secured within the heart by the catching engagement of said rings with trabeculae of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an electrode lead of the type having an elongated electrical conductor contained within an insulating covering with connector means at the proximal end of the lead for electrical connection to a power source and an exposed electrode at the distal end of the lead in conductive relation to the electrical conductor, improved fixation means for holding said electrode in contact with body tissue comprising:
a conical fixation device on said distal end of the lead made of flexible material and comprised of a plurality of rings circumscribing the lead in longitudinally spaced relation along the length of the lead distal end, said rings increasing in diameter in a direction away from said exposed electrode and towards the lead proximal end, and a plurality of ribs extending between and interconnected with said rings and circumferentially spaced around the lead, said ribs extending generally lengthwise of said conical device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification