Intravascular lead assembly

Claim 2

A body-implantable, intravascular lead adapted to be connected at its proximal end to a source of electrical energy and permanently secured at its distal end through the endothelial tissue of a living animal body for electrical stimulation thereof comprising: electrically conductive lead means for insertion in and guidance through a body vessel to a desired location and position inside an organ of a living animal body the lead means having a crosssection which will fit within a body vessel; electrode means affixed to the distal end of said lead means and adapted to supply electrical impulses to tissue at a desired location inside the living animal body, said electrode means including a tissue piercing portion and further including separate tissue engaging means for allowing said electrode means to be firmly lodged in and permanently secured through the endothelial tissue at the desired location; and material means substantially inert to body fluids and tissue encasing said lead means and a portion of said electrode means for sealing them from living animal body fluids and tissue.

Claim 3

The lead of claim 1 wherein the means for allowing the electrode means to be firmly lodged in and permanently secured through endothelial tissue comprises means for allowing the electrode means to be firmly lodged in and permanently secured through endocardial tissue.

Claim 4

A body-implantable, intravascular lead assembly for use in conjunction with an electromedical device, said lead assembly comprising: electrically conductive lead means of a cross-section which will fit within a body vessel having electrode means affixed to its distal end and adapted to be electrically connected at its proximal end to a source of electrical power, said electrode means including a tissue piercing portion and further including separate tissue engaging means for allowing said electrode means to be firmly lodged in and permanently secured through the endothelial tissue of selected organs of living animal bodies; means for inserting and guiding said lead means in and through a body vessel to a desired location and position inside the living animal body organ; means for allowing said electrode to be moved a predetermined distance for firmly lodging and permanently securing said electrode through the endothelial tissue of the selected organ at the desired location; and means substantially inert to body fluids and tissues for encasing and sealing all of the lead means for the living animal body fluids and tissue except the distal end of the electrode means.

Claim 5

A body-implantable, intravascular lead assembly for use in conjunction with an electromedical device, said lead assembly comprising: electrically conductive lead means of a cross-section which will fit within a body vessel having electrode means affixed to its distal end and adapted to be electrically connected at its proximal end to a source of electrical power, said electrode means including a tissue piercing portion and further including separate tissue engaging means for allowing said electrode means to be firmly lodged in and permanently secured through the endothelial tissue of selected organs of living animal bodies; means for inserting and guiding said lead means in and through a body vessel to a desired location and position inside the living animal body organ; means for allowing said electrode to be moved a predetermined distance for firmly lodging and permanently securing said electrode through the endothelial tissue of the selected organ at the desired location; and means substantially inert to body fluids and tissues for encasing and sealing all of the lead means for the living animal body fluids and tissue except the distal end of the electrode means.

Claim 6

A lead assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said electrode means includes an electrically conductive barb means for insertion into the tissue.

Claim 7

A lead assembly according to claim 4 wherein said insertion and guide means encases the lead means, said insertion and guide means comprises two separate concentric tubes fitted one within the other, the inner tube being connected to a means adapted for moving it within the outer tube.

Claim 8

A lead assembly according to claim 5 wherein said tubes are substantially cylindrical and the lead means is constructed such that it has a substantially cylindrical sleeve means having a cross-sectional diameter greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the inner tube but less than the cross-sectional diameter of the outer tube, said sleeve means being positionable within the outer tube and into abuttment with the distal end of the inner tube so as to provide movement of the lead means when the inner tube is moved within the outer tube.

Claim 9

A lead assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sleeve means has at least one ridge formed on the outer surface thereof the diameter of said ridge being substantially equal to the inside diameter of said outer tube and forming a seal with the inside wall of said outer tube to prevent the back flow of body fluids into said tubes when said sleeve is within said outer tube.

Claim 10

A lead assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for lodging and securing includes plunger means connected to said inner tube, said plunger means being adapted to forceably move the inner tube and lead means a predetermined distance so that the electrode means of said lead means moves from a position within the outer tube to a position outside the outer tube, said plunger forceable movement being used to firmly lodge and permanently secure the electrode means through the endothelial tissue Of the selected body organ.

Claim 11

A lead assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plunger means includes engageable first locking means which when in locked position insures that the barb cannot be inadvertently moved from its position within the outer tube, engageable second locking means which when locked prevents the plunger means from moving the barb further from the outer tube than a position in which it just protrudes from the outer tube, and means for preventing the plunger means from moving the barb more than a predetermined distance when lodging and securing the barb thereby preventing overly deep and injurious barb lodgings.

Claim 12

A lead assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said insertion and guide means encases the lead means, said insertion and guide means being constructed and adapted to impart sufficient rigidity to facilitate placement of the lead means.

Claim 13

The lead assembly of claim 3 wherein the means for firmly lodging and permanently securing the electrode means through the endothelial tissue of a selected body organ comprises means for firmly lodging and permanently securing the electrode through endocardial tissue.

Claim 16

A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said insertion and guide means comprises inner and outer concentric, flexible tubes, said inner and outer tubes encasing a substantial portion of said lead, said outer tube being constructed and adapted to encase said electrode.

Claim 17

A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein said plunger means is operatively connected to said inner tube for allowing said inner tube and lead to move a predetermined distance so that the electrode moves from its position within said outer tube so as to be lodged in and permanently secured to said body tissue.

Claim 18

A device as set forth in claim 14 further including additional locking means for insuring that said electrode cannot be inadvertently lodged in and secured to body tissue; and said plunger means including means for allowing said electrode to move only a predetermined distance from said outer tube when lodging and securing the electrode in the tissue so as to prevent injury to the tissue.

Claim 19

The device of claim 12 wherein the means for allowing the electrode to be moved a predetermined distance for firmly lodging and permanently securing the electrode through endothelial tissue comprises means for allowing the electrode to be moved a predetermined distance for firmly lodging and permanently securing the electrode through endocardial tissue.

Claim 20

A body-implantable, intravascular lead assembly for use in conjunction with an electro-medical device, said lead assembly comprising: electrically conductive lead means of a cross-section which will fit within a body vessel having electrode means affixed to its distal end and adapted to be electrically connected at its proximal end to a source of electrical power, said electrode means including a tissue piercing portion and further including seParate tissue engaging means for allowing said electrode means to be firmly lodged in and permanently secured through the endothelial tissue of selected organs of living animal bodies; means for inserting and guiding said lead means in and through a body vessel to a desired location and position inside the living animal body organ; means for allowing said electrode to be moved a predetermined distance for firmly lodging and permanently securing said electrode through the endothelial tissue of the selected organ at the desired location; means for allowing a threshold measurement with said electrode means while preventing a firm lodging and permanent securement of said electrode means during said threshold measurement; and means substantially inert to body fluids and tissues for encasing and sealing all of the lead means from living animal body fluids and tissue except the distal end of the electrode means.

Claim 21

A body-implantable, intravascular lead assembly for use in conjunction with an electro-medical device, said lead assembly comprising: electrically conductive lead means of a cross-section which will fit within a body vessel having electrode means affixed to its distal end and adapted to be electrically connected at its proximal end to a source of electrical power, said electrode means including a tissue piercing portion and further including seParate tissue engaging means for allowing said electrode means to be firmly lodged in and permanently secured through the endothelial tissue of selected organs of living animal bodies; means for inserting and guiding said lead means in and through a body vessel to a desired location and position inside the living animal body organ; means for allowing said electrode to be moved a predetermined distance for firmly lodging and permanently securing said electrode through the endothelial tissue of the selected organ at the desired location; means for allowing a threshold measurement with said electrode means while preventing a firm lodging and permanent securement of said electrode means during said threshold measurement; and means substantially inert to body fluids and tissues for encasing and sealing all of the lead means from living animal body fluids and tissue except the distal end of the electrode means.