Abstract: An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A finishing wire having temporary locking means to lock the finishing wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

Abstract: An implantable lead, being either a fixed or retractable/extendable lead, having a distal tip electrode is adapted for implantation on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The electrode includes a mechanical fastener such as a fixation helix for securing the electrode to cardiac tissue, which may or may not be electrically active. The implantable electrode with a helical tip includes an electrode which has a distal end and a proximal end. A helix is disposed within the electrode, where the helix is aligned along a radial axis of the electrode. The electrode further includes one or more of the following features: the helix having a coating of an insulating material on a surface of the helix, a porous conductive surface at a base of the helix, or a porous conductive element at the end of the electrode having an insulating coating covering from 5-95% of the surface of the porous conductive element.

Abstract: An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A removal wire having temporary locking device to lock the removal wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

Abstract: A single-pass endocardial lead electrode adapted for implantation in, on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity includes a lead body which is adapted for implantation within a single chamber of the heart, or multiple chambers of the heart. The lead includes a first distal end electrode which has a first electrical conducting surface. The lead body also has a second electrode which has a second electrical conducting surface. The first and second electrodes are either passively or actively attached to the wall of the heart. The lead body also includes a curved portion which facilitates the positioning of the second electrode. The main lead body alternatively includes a recess into which an atrial lead body and an active fixation element attached to one end can travel from a recessed position to a position for fixation to the wall of the heart. The lead is attached to a pulse generator for producing pulses to the multiple sites within the heart.

Abstract: An implantable lead, being either a fixed or retractable/extendable lead, having a distal tip electrode is adapted for implantation on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The electrode includes a mechanical fastener such as a fixation helix for securing the electrode to cardiac tissue, which may or may not be electrically active. The implantable electrode with a helical tip includes an electrode which has a distal end and a proximal end. A helix is disposed within the electrode, where the helix is aligned along a radial axis of the electrode. The electrode further includes one or more of the following features: the helix having a coating of an insulating material on a surface of the helix, a porous conductive surface at a base of the helix, or a porous conductive element at the end of the electrode having an insulating coating covering from 5-95% of the surface of the porous conductive element.

Abstract: A single-pass endocardial lead electrode adapted for implantation in, on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity includes a lead body which is adapted for implantation within a single chamber of the heart, or multiple chambers of the heart. The lead includes a first distal end electrode which has a first electrical conducting surface. The lead body also has a second electrode which has a second electrical conducting surface. The first and second electrodes are either passively or actively attached to the wall of the heart. The lead body also includes a curved portion which facilitates the positioning of the second electrode. The main lead body alternatively includes a recess into which an atrial lead body and an active fixation element attached to one end can travel from a recessed position to a position for fixation to the wall of the heart. The active fixation element can also be moved by turning the terminal pin.

Abstract: An implantable lead, being either a fixed or retractable/extendable lead, having a distal tip electrode is adapted for implantation on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The electrode includes a mechanical fastener such as a fixation helix for securing the electrode to cardiac tissue, which may or may not be electrically active. The implantable electrode with a helical tip includes an electrode which has a distal end and a proximal end. A helix is disposed within the electrode, where the helix is aligned along a radial axis of the electrode. The electrode further includes one or more of the following features: the helix having a coating of an insulating material on a surface of the helix, a porous conductive surface at a base of the helix, a porous conductive element at the end of the electrode having an insulating coating covering from 5-95% of the surface of the porous conductive element.

Abstract: An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A finishing wire having temporary locking means to lock the finishing wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

Abstract: An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A removal wire having temporary locking means to lock the removal wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

Abstract: An implantable lead, being either a fixed or retractable/extendable lead, having a distal tip electrode is adapted for implantation on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The electrode includes a mechanical fastener such as a fixation helix for securing the electrode to cardiac tissue, which may or may not be electrically active.

Abstract: A medical device is insertable and/or implantable into a body of a patient. The medical device includes a plurality of hollow and/or collapsible tines which are adapted to assist in deployment of the medical device into the body and in preventing inadvertent removal or dislodging of the medical device from the body. The tines are coupled to the medical device body at a coupling end and extend away from the device to a free end. The tines can have a number of configurations such as cylindrical or cone shaped. In addition, the cross section of the free end of the tines can be elliptical, where the free end extends to a tip. Another cross section includes a semi-circle including an open portion which can face towards or away from the medical device body. The tines also include coiled structures which can have a radial axis perpendicular to the radial axis of the medical device.

Abstract: A single-pass endocardial lead electrode adapted for implantation in, on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity includes a lead body which is adapted for implantation within a single chamber of the heart, or multiple chambers of the heart. The lead includes a first distal end electrode which has a first electrical conducting surface. The lead body also has a second electrode which has a second electrical conducting surface. The first and second electrodes are either passively or actively attached to the wall of the heart. The lead body also includes a curved portion which facilitates the positioning of the second electrode. The main lead body alternatively includes a recess into which an atrial lead body and an active fixation element attached to one end can travel from a recessed position to a position for fixation to the wall of the heart. The active fixation element can also be moved by turning the terminal pin.

Abstract: An electrode adapted for implantation on or about the heart and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity includes an electrode tip which has one electrode at the far or distal end of the electrode tip. The distal end of the electrode further includes a screen capable of conducting electrical signals and pulses. An insulative masking member is positioned over a portion of the screen to define an electrical conducting surface. A conductor for carrying current is located within the electrode tip and is electrically connected to the conducting surface.

Abstract: Intravenous cardiac leads having at least one electrode intended to be implanted within the coronary veins are disclosed. Also disclosed are structures and techniques for advancing such leads through the atrium and coronary sinus into the coronary veins.