Medical lead with preformed bias
A medical electrical lead and methods of implanting medical electrical leads in lumens. Leads in accordance with the invention employ preformed biases to stabilize the lead within a lumen and to orient electrodes in a preferred orientation.
1. A method of implanting a lead in a lumen, the method comprising:
a. inserting a lead in a lumen, the lead having a helical bias with a central axis and a coil diameter defined by a line perpendicular to the central axis that intersects the central axis and the line having ends that intersect with two points on the helical bias and a plurality of electrodes wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of electrodes is within a single quadrant of the helical bias and wherein each of the electrodes has a length such that a ratio of the coil diameter to the length of each of the electrodes is at least 4:1; and
b. positioning the lead within the lumen so that a tissue of interest is within the quadrant as the quadrant extends outward radially.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lumen comprises a right brachiocephalic vein and the tissue of interest comprises the right phrenic nerve.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lumen comprises a left brachiocephalic vein and the tissue of interest comprises a left phrenic nerve.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lumen comprises a superior vena cava and the tissue of interest comprises a right phrenic nerve.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lumen comprises a right internal jugular vein and the tissue of interest comprises a hypoglossal nerve.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lumen comprises the junction between a right brachiocephalic vein and a right subclavian vein.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes has a length such that ratio of the coil diameter to the length of each of the electrodes is at least 5:1.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes has a length such that ratio of the coil diameter to the length of each of the electrodes is at least 6:1.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preformed helical bias is a converging helical bias and the coil diameter is defined as the diameter of the smallest coil of the bias.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preformed helical bias is a diverging helical bias and the coil diameter is defined as the diameter of the smallest coil of the bias.