Apparatus and method for implanting an electrical lead

Abstract

An electrical lead includes a coil disposed at a distal end of the electrical lead, the coil having an undulated shape in its free state and a fixation electrode disposed on and electrically coupled with the coil. The electrical lead further includes a pace/sense electrode disposed on the coil distally from the fixation electrode and electrically isolated from the coil and a conductor extending to the pace/sense electrode and disposed external to the coil. A method for implanting an electrical lead includes positioning the electrical lead within a vessel, positioning a fixation electrode of the electrical lead into contact with the vessel, and emitting an electrical energy from the fixation electrode to the vessel to anchor the electrical lead to the vessel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electrical lead, comprising: 
 a coil disposed at a distal end of the electrical lead, the coil having an undulated shape in its free state;    a fixation electrode disposed on and electrically coupled with the coil;    a pace/sense electrode disposed on the coil distally from the fixation electrode and electrically isolated from the coil; and    a conductor extending to the pace/sense electrode and disposed external to the coil.    
     
     
         2 . An electrical lead, according to  claim 1 , wherein the coil has a sinusoidal-like shape in its free state.  
     
     
         3 . An electrical lead, according to  claim 1 , wherein the coil is made from a nickel-cobalt-chromium superalloy.  
     
     
         4 . An electrical lead, according to  claim 1 , wherein the coil defines a lumen therein capable of receiving a stylet for transmitting fixation energy to the coil and for selectively restraining the coil in a non-undulated shape.  
     
     
         5 . An electrical lead, according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the coil defines a lumen therein capable of receiving a stylet for selectively restraining the coil in an non-undulated shape;    an insulating layer substantially covering the coil except in a portion facing the lumen such that an electrical energy may be transmitted from the stylet to the coil when the stylet is disposed within the lumen.    
     
     
         6 . A method for implanting an electrical lead, comprising: 
 positioning the electrical lead within a vessel;    positioning a fixation electrode of the electrical lead into contact with the vessel; and    emitting an electrical energy from the fixation electrode to the vessel to anchor the electrical lead to the vessel.    
     
     
         7 . A method, according to  claim 6 , further comprising urging a pace/sense electrode of the electrical lead into contact with the vessel.  
     
     
         8 . A method, according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 urging a pace/sense electrode of the electrical lead into contact with the vessel; and    determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned within the vessel.    
     
     
         9 . A method, according to  claim 8 , wherein determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned further comprises determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned based upon a pacing threshold.  
     
     
         10 . A method, according to  claim 8 , wherein determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned further comprises determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned based upon a pacing impedance.  
     
     
         11 . A method, according to  claim 8 , wherein determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned further comprises determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned based upon at least one of a width of a QRS complex and an amplitude of a QRS complex.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein emitting the electrical energy from the fixation electrode to the vessel further comprises emitting parameters of the fixation energy.  
     
     
         13 . A method for implanting an electrical lead, comprising: 
 positioning the electrical lead within a vessel;    withdrawing, at least partially, a stylet, the stylet being positioned within a lumen of the electrical lead, to allow a portion of the electrical lead to become undulated such that a fixation electrode of the electrical lead is in contact with the vessel; and    emitting an electrical energy from the fixation electrode to the vessel to anchor the electrical lead to the vessel.    
     
     
         14 . A method, according to  claim 13 , wherein partially withdrawing the stylet further comprises: 
 withdrawing the stylet from the lumen through a first distance to urge a pace/sense electrode into contact with the vessel;    determining if the pace/sense electrode is properly positioned; and    withdrawing the stylet from the lumen through a second distance to urge the fixation electrode into contact with the vessel.    
     
     
         15 . A method, according to  claim 13 , wherein partially withdrawing the stylet further comprises: 
 withdrawing the stylet from the lumen such that a first mark on the stylet is visible to urge a pace/sense electrode into contact with the vessel;    determining if the pace/sense electrode is properly positioned; and    withdrawing the stylet from the lumen such that a second mark on the stylet is visible to urge the fixation electrode into contact with the vessel.    
     
     
         16 . A method, according to  claim 13 , wherein positioning the electrical lead within the vessel further comprises positioning the electrical lead within the vessel such that a pace/sense electrode faces a myocardium.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 means for positioning the electrical lead within a vessel;    means for urging a fixation electrode of the electrical lead into contact with the vessel; and    means for emitting an electrical energy from the fixation electrode to the vessel to anchor the electrical lead to the vessel.    
     
     
         18 . An apparatus, according to  claim 17 , further comprising means for urging a pace/sense electrode of the electrical lead into contact with the vessel.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 means for urging a pace/sense electrode of the electrical lead into contact with the vessel; and    means for determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned within the vessel.    
     
     
         20 . An apparatus, according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned further comprises means for determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned based upon a pacing threshold.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned further comprises means for determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned based upon a pacing impedance.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus, according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned further comprises means for determining if at least one of the pace/sense electrode and the fixation electrode is properly positioned based upon at least one of a width of a QRS complex and an amplitude of a QRS complex.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the means for emitting the electrical energy from the fixation electrode to the vessel further comprises means for emitting [parameters of the fixation energy].  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for implanting an electrical lead, comprising: 
 means for positioning the electrical lead within a vessel;    means for partially withdrawing a stylet, inserted within a lumen of the electrical lead, to allow a portion of the electrical lead to become undulated such that a fixation electrode of the electrical lead is in contact with the vessel; and    means for emitting an electrical energy from the fixation electrode to the vessel to anchor the electrical lead to the vessel.    
     
     
         25 . An apparatus, according to  claim 24 , wherein the means for partially withdrawing the stylet further comprises: 
 means for withdrawing the stylet from the lumen through a first distance to urge a pace/sense electrode into contact with the vessel;    means for determining if the pace/sense electrode is properly positioned; and    means for withdrawing the stylet from the lumen through a second distance to urge the fixation electrode into contact with the vessel.    
     
     
         26 . An apparatus, according to  claim 24 , wherein the means for partially withdrawing the stylet further comprises: 
 means for withdrawing the stylet from the lumen such that a first mark on the stylet is visible to urge a pace/sense electrode into contact with the vessel;    means for determining if the pace/sense electrode is properly positioned; and    means for withdrawing the stylet from the lumen such that a second mark on the stylet is visible to urge the fixation electrode into contact with the vessel.    
     
     
         27 . An apparatus, according to  claim 24 , wherein the means for positioning the electrical lead within the vessel further comprises means for positioning the electrical lead within the vessel such that a pace/sense electrode faces a myocardium.