Abstract: A medical electrical lead which features an improved anchoring sleeve. Specifically the anchoring sleeve has a first end and a second end and further has a series of circumferential suture grooves thereabout. A longitudinally extending slot is provided across each circumferential suture groove. Each slot extends across each groove but is separate from every other slot. In such a manner the area of the anchoring sleeve may be compressed in the area of the groove due to the relevant slot. Because each slot, however, only extends across one groove, the lead body is not otherwise easily compressed in the area away from each groove. Thus the sleeve does not unintentionally engage with and frictionally interfere with the lead body therethrough unless so intended. In the preferred embodiment the anchoring sleeve has three circumferential grooves, each groove having a slot through the anchor sleeve which extends across.

Abstract: In a coiled wire medical lead structure, such as a transvenous, endocardial cardiac pacemaker and/or cardioverter/defibrillator lead, an improved mechanical structure for strengthening the lead to enable its intact removal by traction after a period of chronic implant, one or more normally relaxed, nonextensible filaments loosely contained within the insulating sheath and having proximal and distal ends mechanically coupled to the connector and electrode shank, respectively, of the lead operate as means for restraining the stretching of the lead body to a stretched length exceeding the relaxed, predetermined length by an amount sufficient to allow the lead to be stretched without breaking in its normal usage and during removal by traction. In certain embodiments, the filament may take the form of a loosely woven fabric sheath formed in a tubular shape and fitted in the space between the lead body outer sheath and one or more coiled wire conductors.

Abstract: A body implantable lead for the delivery of stimulation energy to a desired body site including a drug dispenser carried by the lead which retains a drug to be dispensed while allowing the dispensing of that drug at least adjacent the desired body stimulation site. The lead is provided with an electrode having a bore open to a drug storage chamber which contains an absorbent plug. The drug is loaded into the absorbent plug, prior to use, by soaking the electrode in a solution containing the drug.