Myocardial lead with fixation mechanism

Abstract

The present invention is a myocardial lead attachment system for securing a distal end of a cardiac lead within a myocardium of a patient's heart and anchoring against an epicardium of the patient's heart. The system includes an anchor configured to advance in a first orientation and anchor against an epicardial surface in a second orientation and a tether having a proximal end and a distal end. The anchor is coupled to the distal end of the tether. The system includes a cardiac lead having a lead body, a lumen extending through the lead body, a conductive member, a proximal end, a distal end, and an electrode configured for stimulating the myocardium located at the distal end. The lead body and the lumen are configured such that the lead body can be threaded over the proximal end of the tether and slideably advanced over the tether toward the anchor during implantation. The system includes a fixation mechanism at the distal end of the cardiac lead. The fixation mechanism is adapted to collapse to a first configuration during implantation and deploy to a second configuration after implantation.

1 . A myocardial lead attachment system for securing a distal end of a cardiac lead within a myocardium of a patient's heart and anchoring against an epicardium of the patient's heart, the system comprising:
 an anchor configured to advance in a first orientation and anchor against an epicardial surface in a second orientation;   a tether having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the anchor is coupled to the distal end of the tether;   a cardiac lead having a lead body, a lumen extending through the lead body, a conductive member, a proximal end, a distal end, and an electrode configured for stimulating the myocardium located at the distal end, wherein the lead body and the lumen are configured such that the lead body can be threaded over the proximal end of the tether and slideably advanced over the tether toward the anchor during implantation; and   a fixation mechanism at the distal end of the cardiac lead, wherein the fixation mechanism is adapted to collapse to a first configuration during implantation and deploy to a second configuration after implantation.   
   
   
       2 . The attachment system of  claim 1  wherein the fixation mechanism is comprised of a number of tines radiating out from the distal end of the lead body in the second configuration. 
   
   
       3 . The attachment system of  claim 1  wherein the fixation mechanism is shaped like a disc in the second configuration. 
   
   
       4 . The attachment system of  claim 1  wherein the fixation mechanism is shaped like a ribbed tent in the second configuration. 
   
   
       5 . The attachment system of  claim 1  wherein the fixation mechanism is an inflatable balloon. 
   
   
       6 . The attachment system of  claim 5  wherein balloon deployment fluid is delivered to the fixation mechanism through the lumen. 
   
   
       7 . The attachment system of  claim 1  wherein the fixation mechanism has a first diameter in the first configuration and a second diameter in the second configuration greater than the first diameter. 
   
   
       8 . The attachment system of  claim 1  further comprising a rapidly dissolvable coating on the fixation mechanism formed in such a manner as to retain the fixation mechanism in the first configuration. 
   
   
       9 . The attachment system of  claim 1  wherein the fixation mechanism includes a through hole for receiving the tether. 
   
   
       10 . A myocardial lead attachment system for securing a distal end of a cardiac lead within a myocardium of a patient's heart and anchoring against an epicardium of the patient's heart, the system comprising:
 an anchor configured to advance in a first orientation, rotate to a second orientation, and anchor against an epicardial surface in the second orientation;   a tether having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the anchor is coupled to the distal end of the tether;   a cardiac lead having a lead body, a lumen extending through the lead body, a conductive member, a proximal end, a distal end, and an electrode configured for stimulating the myocardium located at the distal end, wherein the lead body and the lumen are configured such that the lead body can be threaded over the proximal end of the tether and slideably advanced over the tether toward the anchor during implantation; and   a fixation mechanism at the distal end of the cardiac lead, wherein the fixation mechanism is adapted to collapse to a first configuration during implantation and deploy to a second configuration after implantation.   
   
   
       11 . The attachment system of  claim 10  wherein the fixation mechanism is comprised of a number of tines radiating out from the distal end of the lead body in the second configuration. 
   
   
       12 . The attachment system of  claim 10  wherein the fixation mechanism is shaped like a ribbed tent in the second configuration. 
   
   
       13 . The attachment system of  claim 10  wherein the fixation mechanism is an inflatable balloon. 
   
   
       14 . The attachment system of  claim 13  wherein balloon deployment fluid is delivered to the fixation mechanism through the lumen. 
   
   
       15 . The attachment system of  claim 10  wherein the fixation mechanism has a first diameter in the first configuration and a second diameter in the second configuration greater than the first diameter. 
   
   
       16 . The attachment system of  claim 10  further comprising a cellular attachment feature on the fixation mechanism. 
   
   
       17 . The attachment system of  claim 10  wherein the fixation mechanism includes a through hole for receiving the tether. 
   
   
       18 . The attachment system of  claim 17  further comprising a lock formed on the tether, wherein the through hole is sized to accept the lock. 
   
   
       19 . The attachment system of  claim 10  wherein the lead body includes a bias region adapted to absorb an axial force applied to the proximal end of the lead body. 
   
   
       20 . A myocardial lead attachment system for securing a distal end of a cardiac lead within a myocardium of a patient's heart and anchoring against an epicardial surface of the patient's heart, the system comprising:
 an anchor configured to advance in a first orientation and anchor against an epicardial surface in a second orientation;   a tether having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the anchor is coupled to the distal end of the tether;   a cardiac lead having a lead body, a lumen extending through the lead body, a conductive member, a proximal end, a distal end, and an electrode configured for stimulating the myocardium located at the distal end, wherein the lead body and the lumen are configured such that the lead body can be threaded over the proximal end of the tether and slideably advanced over the tether toward the anchor during implantation; and   means for fixing the cardiac lead positioned at the distal end of the cardiac lead.