Multipolar pacing method and apparatus

• US 7,082,335 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Laske, Timothy G., Klein, George J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko, George R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FILOSI, TERRI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/260,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 607/122, 607/116, 607/128, 607/127, 607/120, 607/123, 607/119, 607/126
• US Class Current: 607/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0573 chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook

Abstract

A physiological pacing system including a physiological pacing lead having an electrode array and a means for fixation, including a collar for securing the fixation means to a lead body of the pacing lead, is inserted into a bore within a heart wall at a physiological pacing site. The system further includes a means to create the bore, the means being a piercing tip, which is either coupled to a piercing tool or the pacing lead. The piercing tool may be an elongated hollow shaft into which the pacing lead is slideably insertable or a stylet wire, which is slideably insertable within a lumen of the pacing lead. Once the electrode array is implanted within the bore, a first pair of electrodes is selected for sensing and a second pair of electrodes is selected for pacing.

Claims

1. A system for delivering physiological pacing comprising:

a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrode array disposed at the distal end of the lead body, the electrode array including an alternating series of electrodes and spacer elements, the alternating electrodes including a most proximal electrode and a most distal electrode, the most proximal electrode having a proximal edge; and

a fixation element affixed to the lead body comprising a fixation member and a collar connected to the fixation member, the fixation element including a helical hook having a proximal portion disposed coaxially about the lead body and forming approximately between 1 and 5 turns about the lead body, the approximately between 1 and 5 turns being embedded within the collar, the helical hook having a distal portion extending out from the collar, forming approximately one turn about the lead body, and having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the collar;

the collar being disposed coaxially about a portion of a circumference of the lead body, having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the lead body, and being positioned at a point spaced proximally from the most proximal electrode, the collar including a distal edge spaced between approximately 0.07 inches and 0.09 inches from the proximal edge of the most proximal electrode.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrode array further includes a means for steroid elution.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for steroid elution includes a coating covering all or a portion of the electrode array.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the coating includes a steroid material selected from a group consisting of;

Dexamethasone Acetate and Beclomethasone Dipropionate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the helical hook of the fixation element includes a means for steroid elution, the means for steroid elution being a coating covering all or a portion of the distal portion of helical hook.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the coating includes a steroid material selected from a group consisting of:

Dexamethasone Acetate and Beclomethasone Dipropionate.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a guide catheter and a piercing tool;

wherein the lead body and the piercing tool are slideably insertable within the guide catheter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the piercing tool includes a piercing distal tip and an elongated hollow shaft and the lead body is slideably insertable within the shaft.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the piercing tool further includes wall portions forming a longitudinal recess having a proximal edge disposed proximal to the fixation element of the lead body, and a piercing edge terminating the piercing distal tip and being disposed distal to the most distal electrode of the lead body.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the elongated hollow shaft further includes a semi-rigid wall section being terminated along the piercing edge and a flexible wall section being terminated along the longitudinal recess.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the lead body further includes a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the lead body;

and further comprising a stiffening stylet wire being slideably insertable within the lumen.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tapered tip terminating the distal end of the lead body;

a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the lead body;

a stiffening stylet wire being slideably insertable within the lumen; and

a guide catheter, the lead body being slideably insertable within the guide catheter.