Abstract: A steerable catheter comprised of two parts: a catheter body proximally secured to a steerable catheter handle and a catheter tip containing an X-shaped in cross-section lumen secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a pull wire passing through the catheter body and one of the arms of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip, one or more electrode wires passing through the catheter body and through a second arm of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip and a supporting flat wire passing through the two remaining opposite arms of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip.

Abstract: A steerable catheter comprised of an elongated catheter body containing one or more lumen; a catheter tip fixedly secured to the distal end of the catheter body and a steerable catheter handle attached to the proximal end of the catheter body wherein said steerable catheter handle is comprised of a mounting shaft containing a geared slide, a slide block, a slide block adjustment screw, and an adjustment screw guide; an adjustment knob comprised of a geared inset and an external rotation element for rotating the adjustment knob, a handle grip which fits over the mounting shaft and electrical connectors for attachment to the proximal end of the mounting shaft and which contain electrode electrical wires.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hemostasis valve which is formed of a longitudinally extended valve housing having a first opening and a central longitudinal passage communicating with an opposite second opening. A cap means is provided for enclosing the first opening of the housing, said cap means having a hole to permit insertion of a catheter. Also provided is a one-piece seal means located within the longitudinally extended housing, said seal means comprising a sealing neck having a relatively small opening therein and communicating with a slit concave exit base.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hemostasis valve which is formed of a longitudinally extended valve housing having a first opening and a central longitudinal passage communicating with an opposite second opening. A cap means is providied for enclosing the first opening of the housing, said cap means having a hole to permit insertion of a catheter. Also provided is a one-piece seal means located within the longitudinally extended housing, said seal means comprising a sealing neck having a relatively small opening therein and communicating with a sealing chamber having opposing sealing exit lips which are both readily expandable to a diameter less than that of the valve housing upon insertion of a catheter.

Abstract: An introducer tool for a screw-in endocardial lead includes a plunger housing which is connected to the connector of the endocardial lead. The plunger housing is shiftable in a locking tube between retracted and advanced positions. A stylet is insertable through the plunger housing and through the lumen of the lead for shifting the helix assembly of the lead from a retracted to an advanced position. Clamping elements on the plunger housing engage the stylet to clamp the latter against movement when the plunger housing is in the advanced position. The lead may then be rotated relative to the introducer tool about the stylet to fix the helix assembly into the endocardium.

Abstract: A stylet and introducer tool is used with a screw-in electrode which is adapted to attach living tissue to a pulse generator, such as a pacemaker or the like. The stylet has a knob at its proximal end and extends through the introducer tool and coiled conductor of the lead to engage a helix assembly positioned within the hollow electrode of the lead. The stylet is adapted to urge the helix of the helix assembly into contact with the living tissue. The knob of the stylet engages in a slot in the introducer tool to lock the stylet to the introducer tool and permit the screw-in lead to be rotated around the stylet so that the helix will penetrate the living tissue.

Abstract: An intravascular endocardial lead includes an electrically insulated flexible conductor having a lumen throughout the length thereof. A hollow connector element is connected to the proximal end of the conductor, and a hollow elongate electrode is connected to the distal end thereof. A helix assembly is positioned in the electrode and is longitudinally but non-rotatably movable from a retracted position to an extended position. A stylet is inserted through the lumen of the conductor to move the helix assembly to the extended position. Thereafter, when the conductor, electrode and helix assembly are rotated as a unit about the stylet, the helix assembly will penetrate and positively attach the lead to the body tissue and urge the electrode into engagement with the latter.

Abstract: A tool for installing a body implantable electrode of a lead that includes an electrode holder assembly having a clamp for releasably clamping an electrode mounting head and a clamp operator conductor carrier assembly rotatably mounted by the holder assembly for operating the clamp from a head clamping position to a head release position. The carrier assembly has a chamber and a bore for holding part of the lead conductor.

Abstract: A tined lead that includes an insulated electrical conductor having one end electrically connectable to a pulse generator and an opposite end extending into one end portion of a metal electrode in electrically conductive relationship therewith, the opposite end portion of the electrode having a rounded tip for contacting body tissue, an axial bore through the tip surface to reduce the electrical conductive surface area of the tip and cross bores intersecting the axial bore remote from the tip, nonconductive, integrally joined plastic plugs filling said bores, and a nonconductive molded plastic member circumferentially surrounding the electrode, other than the tip, and the portion of the conductor that is connected to the electrode; the molded plastic member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced tines extending outwardly in a direction away from the tip. The tines are finned shaped and are flattened to be more flexible about axes parallel to the electrode axis than about axes perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: A pacemaker bipolar lead assembly, for being electrically connected to a pulse generator to transmit electrical pulses into a heart, that includes a pair of wire conductor spring coils electrically connected to conductor pins, the first coil being electrically connected to a tip electrode and the second coil being electrically connected to a ring electrode. An internal ring having an outwardly facing groove is press fitted within the ring electrode with the second coil extending through the groove to retain the second coil in electrical conducting relationship with the ring electrode. Electrical insulation is provided on the coils and the conductor pins except for one end portions of the pins, the part of the second coil that is in electrical contact with the ring electrode and the juncture of the first coil with the tip electrode. An insulated portion of the first coil extends through the internal ring.

Abstract: Temporary pacemaker lead apparatus that includes a bifurcated lead assembly having a first and a second electric conductor pin connectable to terminals of an external pulse generator, a ring electrode more closely adjacent to the pins than the tip electrode, a first electric conductor having a first end electrically connected to the first pin, an intermediate portion extending through a tubular member and a second end electrically connected to the tip electrode, a second electric conductor connected to the second pin, an intermediate portion extended through the above mentioned tubular member and a second end connected to the ring electrode, a junction member having the first and second conductor intermediate portions extended therethrough, the junction member having means which connects to the head portion of a lead introducer cannula head portion for storing the cannula after the cannula has been used in extending the electrode end portion of the lead assembly into a body vessel, for example a vein.