Importance

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Abstract

The suture collar (20) is used with a pacing lead body (12), and comprises a generally cylindrical body having a throughbore (46) therethrough for receiving therethrough the pacing lead body 12, the cylindrical body (20) including a middle barrel portion (29) and tapering end portions (30 and 32), each of which taper from the barrel portion (28) to a sleeve end section (70 and 72). The barrel portion (28) is separated from the tapering end portions (30 and 32) by first and second suture receiving annular grooves (34 and 36), and the barrel portion has four slits (41-44) therein to facilitate squeezing of the barrel portion 28 around lead body (12) when sutures (24 and 26) are tied in the grooves. The suture collar (20) of the type defined above is secured to a lead body (12) by the following method including the steps of: sliding the suture collar (20) on the lead body (12) to the place of entry of the lead body (12) into a vein after an electrode tip has been inserted into and properly located within a ventricle or atrium of a heart (14); tying sutures (24 and 26) to the underlying tissue or the ligated vein in the area of the annular grooves (34 and 36); and then securing the sutures (24 and 26) tightly around the collar (20) in each groove (34 or 36) so as to cause radial displacement of the barrel portion quarter sections (81-84) against the lead body (12).

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First Claim