Claims
- 1. A lead comprising:
a lead body including a proximal end, a distal end and a helical portion between the proximal end and the distal end; a conductor adapted to carry signals to and from a heart, the conductor disposed within the lead body; and a non-helical electrode disposed on the helical portion of the lead body, the electrode electrically connected to the conductor within the lead body.
- 2. The lead of claim 1, wherein the helical portion of the lead body is elastically deformable.
- 3. The lead of claim 1, wherein the non-helical electrode is a ring electrode.
- 4. The lead a claim 1, wherein the non-helical electrode is a half-ring electrode.
- 5. A method comprising:
inserting a lead into a coronary sinus, the lead including a lead body having a proximal end, a distal end and a helical portion between the proximal end and the distal end, the lead further including a non-helical electrode disposed on the helical portion of the lead body; and delivering signals to the non-helical electrode through a conductor within the lead body.
- 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising advancing the distal end of the lead from the coronary sinus into the coronary vein.
- 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising applying a lateral force to at least one of the coronary sinus and the coronary vein using the helical portion of the lead body.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying a lateral force to at least one of the coronary sinus and the coronary vein using the helical portion of the lead body includes applying a lateral force to myocardial tissue.
- 9. A lead comprising:
a lead body including a proximal end, a distal end and a helical portion between the proximal end and the distal end; at least one conductor adapted to carry signals from a heart, the at least one conductor being disposed within the lead body; a first electrode disposed on the helical portion of the lead body, the first electrode electrically connected to at least one of the conductors within the lead body; and a second electrode disposed on the helical portion of the lead body, the second electrode being electrically connected to at least one of the conductors within the lead body.
- 10. The lead of claim 9, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are connected to a common conductor within the lead body.
- 11. The lead of claim 9, wherein the first electrode is a ring electrode and the second electrode is a ring electrode.
- 12. The lead of claim 9, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed about 120 degrees apart on the helical portion of the lead body.
- 13. The lead of claim 9, further comprising a means for providing a lateral force to at least one of a coronary sinus, a coronary vein, or myocardial tissue.
- 14. A method of applying therapy to a heart comprising:
inserting a lead through a coronary sinus into a coronary vein, the lead including a lead body having a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the lead body, the plurality of electrodes including at least a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode; delivering signals to an apical area of the coronary vein through the first electrode; delivering signals to a mid-ventricular area of the coronary vein through the second electrode; and delivering signals to a ventricular area of the coronary vein through the third electrode.
- 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising implanting a portion of the lead body in the coronary vein.
- 16. The method of claim 14, wherein delivering signals to the apical, mid-ventricular and ventricular areas of the coronary vein includes sensing and pacing the apical, mid-ventricular and ventricular areas of the coronary vein.
- 17. The method of claim 14, wherein inserting the lead through the coronary sinus into the coronary vein includes positioning electrodes against myocardial tissue in the apical, mid-ventricular and ventricular areas of the coronary vein.
- 18. The method of claim 14, wherein inserting the lead in the coronary sinus includes inserting the lead including with a helical portion on the lead body.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein implanting the lead body in the coronary vein includes applying a lateral force to the coronary vein using the helical portion of the lead body.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/651,340, filed on Aug. 30, 2000, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This application is also related to commonly assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/650,568, filed on Aug. 30, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,586, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09651340 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
10431136 |
May 2003 |
US |