Abstract: A pressure sensing lead, wherein a hollow needle extending from the distal end of the lead is coupled to a pressure transducer. The hollow needle may be coiled and adapted to be screwed into human tissue, for example through the ventricular septum from the right ventricle into the left ventricle of a patient's heart, or through the wall of the heart into the pericardial sac. Alternatively, the hollow needle may be straight and a separate coiled needle mounted around the straight needle may be provided to affix the lead to body tissue. Pressure gradients are communicated from the tip of the hollow needle to its base and applied to the pressure sensor, allowing, for example, left ventricular pressure measurements to be taken from the right ventricle or pericardial sac pressure measurements to be taken from within the heart without the necessity of the pressure sensor itself passing through the heart wall.