Importance

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Abstract

The endocardial lead comprises an elongate electrical conductor extending substantially the length of the lead, an insulating sheath surrounding the conductor for substantially the entire length of the conductor, and an electrode assembly at the distal end of the lead. The electrode assembly comprises a tip electrode having a distal tip and a proximal end and a sleeve of insulating material extending between and surrounding the proximal end of the tip electrode and the distal end of both the insulating sheath and the elongate conductor with the distal end of the elongate conductor being electrically connected to the proximal end of the tip electrode within the sleeve. The sleeve has at least two circumferentially spaced projections, each projection extending radially and axially away from the outer surface of the sleeve rearwardly away from the distal tip. Each projection has a rear edge and at least one saw tooth which extends radially outwardly of the axis of the electrode assembly, whereby, when the electrode assembly at the distal end of the lead is implanted within a heart, the rear edge of the projection and the at least one saw tooth engage and become attached to trabeculae within a heart cavity thereby to aid in retaining the distal tip of the tip electrode in good electrical conductive engagement with a desired wall portion in the heart cavity.

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First Claim