Method and apparatus for endovenous pacing lead

• US 6,936,040 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Döernberger, Volker, Kramm, Berthold
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US10/041,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 607/120, 607/122, 607126-128, 604/19, 604/500, 604507-510
• US Class Current: 604/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0057 Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0177 having external means for receiving guide wires, wires or stiffening members, e.g. loops, clamps or lateral tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0568 with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0585 Coronary sinus electrodes

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for inserting electrical leads within a heart. In one aspect of the present invention, a method for positioning a medical electrical lead in a cardiac vein is disclosed. The method comprises inserting a lead within a coronary sinus, dispersing at least one vasodilating agent to dilate at least one cardiac vein, and inserting the lead into a dilated cardiac vein.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a medical electrical lead in a cardiac vein, comprising:

inserting a lead within a portion of a patient'"'"'s body;

dispersing at least one vasodilating agent to dilate at least one vessel; and

inserting the lead into a dilated vessel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vessel comprises a cardiac vein.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising anchoring the lead within the cardiac vein.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the lead is inserted within the dilated cardiac vein to a location adjacent to a left ventricular portion of a heart.

5. A method of positioning a medical electrical lead, comprising:

providing a lead having an electrode coupled adjacent a distal end portion thereof;

inserting the distal end portion of the lead into a cardiac vein of a patient; and

dispersing at least one vasodilating agent adjacent the distal end of the lead, wherein the vasodilating agent dilates the cardiac vein and enables the insertion of the lead into a more distal location within the cardiac vein.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising anchoring the lead within the cardiac vein.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

inserting a guide wire within a cardiac vein prior to inserting the lead into the cardiac vein.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the lead is an over-the-wire lead that is guided into the cardiac vein by a guide wire.

9. A method of inserting an electrical lead into a cardiac vein, comprising:

providing a catheter device having a first axial lumen and a distal end;

inserting the catheter device into a patient'"'"'s coronary sinus;

dispersing a vasodilating agent into the coronary sinus and at least one cardiac vein, thereby dilating a cardiac vein; and

inserting an electrical lead into the dilated cardiac vein.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

inserting the electrical lead through the first lumen of the catheter device;

fixing the location of the electrical lead within the cardiac vein; and

removing the catheter device from the patient while leaving the electrical lead implanted within the cardiac vein.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

injecting the vasodilating agent through a second axial lumen within the catheter device and dispensing the vasodilating agent at the distal end of the catheter device.

12. A method of therapeutic treatment of the left ventricle portion of a heart, comprising:

contacting a vasodilating agent with at least one cardiac vein, thereby dilating at least one cardiac vein; and

inserting an electrical lead within a dilated cardiac vein, whereby the electrical lead is positioned within the cardiac vein adjacent the left ventricle of the heart.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

connecting the electrical lead to an implantable medical device.