Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A medical electrical lead including an inflatable member at a distal tip section, and a system of use, are disclosed. The inflation member is adapted to engage the walls of a cardiac vein or coronary artery to occlude the vessel. According to one aspect of the invention, the inflation member is formed of a bio-absorbable material. In another embodiment, the inflation member is a micro-porous material. The lead of the current invention may include a port located distal to the inflation member to deliver radiopaque dye or any other substance to a vessel when the inflation member is in the inflated state. This allows a fluoroscopic image of a patient's vascular system to be obtained while the lead is in place within a vessel. A perfusion lumen may be provided to allow a partial flow of blood to continue around the inflation member when the inflation member is occluding a vessel. In one embodiment, lead is provided with a lumen for receiving a stiffening member such as a stylet to aid in lead placement. According to one method of using the current invention, inflation member may be inflated after the lead is placed at a desired implant site to provide a temporary fixation mechanism during withdrawal of the stiffening member and/or a guide catheter or sheath used to place the lead at the implant site. This temporary fixation mechanism may also be employed to retain a desired lead location while thresholds are obtains. The inflation member may be retained in an inflated state for a longer predetermined period of time until tissue in-growth begins to occur around the lead.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim