Pacemaker electrode

Abstract

An extractable endocardial tip for an electrode of an electrical stimulator has a tip body with a front end for positioning the electrode within a desired area and a back end for connecting to an electrical source. A fin protrudes from the tip body and has an anterior leading edge and a posterior receding edge wherein the posterior receding edge is serrated to form a cutting surface. The tip body also has an internally threaded bore for engaging a mating externally threaded stylet. When the tip body is pulled by pulling on the mating stylet, the serrated edge cuts through any fibrous scar tissue or any other material that surrounds the electrode to facilitate the relatively easy withdrawal of the electrode from the heart.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An extractable endocardial tip for an electrode of an electrical stimulator, the tip comprising: 
 a body having an anterior end for positioning within a desired area and a posterior end for connecting to an electrical wire; and    at least one fin protruding from the body, the fin having an anterior edge and a posterior edge.    
     
     
         2 . The tip of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the posterior edge forms a cutting surface to facilitate later extraction of the tip.  
     
     
         3 . The tip of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the posterior edge is serrated with a plurality of serrations.  
     
     
         4 . The tip of  claim 3  wherein the serrations are cut at opposite angles to enhance the sharpness of the edge.  
     
     
         5 . The tip of  claim 1  wherein the body has an outer surface that is smooth.  
     
     
         6 . The tip of  claim 1  wherein the body has outer surface with a plurality of convexities.  
     
     
         7 . The tip of  claim 1  wherein the body has outer surface with a plurality of concavities.  
     
     
         8 . The tip of  claim 1  wherein the body is generally cylindrically shaped and has a longitudinal axis and wherein the fin extends along a radial plane which intersects the longitudinal axis of the body.  
     
     
         9 . The tip of  claim 1  wherein said body is provided with a plurality of said fins.  
     
     
         10 . The tip of  claim 1  wherein the anterior edge inclines rearward and at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the body.  
     
     
         11 . The tip of  claim 1  wherein the posterior edge of said fin forms a convex curved shape.  
     
     
         12 . An extractable endocardial tip for an electrode of an electrical stimulator, the tip comprising: 
 a body having a generally cylindrical shape and having a longitudinal axis, an anterior end for positioning within a desired area, and a posterior end for connecting to an electrical wire; and    at least one fin protruding from the lead body, the fin having an anterior edge and a posterior edge, wherein the anterior edge inclines rearward and at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and at least a portion of the posterior edge forms a cutting surface to facilitate later extraction of the tip.    
     
     
         13 . The tip of  claim 12  wherein the body is provided with a threaded internal bore for engaging a mating externally threaded stylet.  
     
     
         14 . In combination, an extractable endocardial tip and extractor stylet, the combination comprising: 
 a body having a generally cylindrical shape and having a longitudinal axis, an anterior end for positioning within a desired area, and a posterior end for connecting to an electrical wire, the posterior end including an internally threaded bore for engaging a mating externally threaded stylet;    an elongate stylet having an externally threaded tip, the externally threaded tip being engaged within the internally threaded bore of the body in mating fashion to facilitate the application of pulling force on the tip body for extraction of the tip by applying a pulling force on the elongate stylet; and    at least one fin protruding from the lead body, the fin having an anterior edge and a posterior edge, wherein the anterior edge inclines rearward and at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and at least a portion of the posterior edge forms a cutting surface to facilitate later extraction of the tip.    
     
     
         15 . A method for attaching and subsequent withdrawal of an electrode from a heart muscle, the method comprising the steps of: 
 implanting an electrode within a patient's heart muscle, the electrode having an electrode tip including a tip body, the tip body having at least one fin protruding from the body that has a sharp cutting posterior edge, the tip body also having an internally threaded bore;    engaging the internally threaded bore of the tip body with an externally threaded stylet whereby a pulling force may be applied to the tip body by applying a pulling force to the threaded stylet;    withdrawing the electrode by pulling on the engaged stylet so that the sharp posterior cutting edge of the fin cuts through any fibrous scar tissue or inhibiting material surrounding the tip body, thereby allowing for withdrawal of the electrode tip from the heart muscle.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the pulling on the electrode tip continues after withdrawal of the electrode from the heart muscle until the electrode is completely withdrawn from a patient's body and upon exiting the patient's body the cutting edge of the fin is used to cut an access opening for reinsertion of another lead.