Expandable member for venous lead fixation

1. A cardiac lead comprising:

a lead body having an outer surface and including a proximal end adapted to be connected to a pulse generator, a distal end, and a lumen adapted to receive a guiding member extending between the proximal end and the distal end;

at least one conductor extending within the lead body from the proximal end to the distal end;

at least one electrode located on the lead body operatively coupled to the at least one conductor;

a preformed, self-expanding helical fixation member positioned externally over a distal portion of the lead body adjacent to the at least one electrode, the fixation member including a distal end fixed to the outer surface of the lead body and an unattached, free proximal end slideably adjacent to the outer surface lead body such that the unattached free proximal end is adapted to slide along the outer surface of the lead body when the fixation member is transitioned from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein the fixation member is preformed such that in the expanded configuration the fixation member is biased to a side of the lead body.

2. The cardiac lead according to claim 1 , wherein the self-expanding helical fixation member comprises a wire or coil extending over a length of the distal portion ranging from about 0.05 inches to about 1.5 inches in the expanded configuration.

3. The cardiac lead according to claim 1 , wherein the self-expanding fixation member is in a collapsed configuration during insertion into a patient's vasculature.

4. The cardiac lead according to claim 1 , wherein the fixation member comprises a material having a Young's Modulus ranging from about 12 to about 29 Msi.

5. The cardiac lead according to claim 1 , wherein the fixation member is made from a material comprising Nitinol, nickel-titanium alloy, titanium, polyurethane, 316 SS, MP35N, platinum, platinum alloy, a biocompatible polymer, a bio-resorbable polymer, or combinations thereof.

6. The cardiac lead according to claim 1 , wherein the fixation member comprises a wire or a coil having an outer diameter ranging from about 0.005 to about 0.007 inches.

7. The cardiac lead according to claim 1 , wherein in the expanded configuration the self-expanding fixation member has an effective diameter ranging from about 4 to about 8 millimeters.

8. A cardiac rhythm management system for delivering therapy to a heart, the system comprising:

a lead body having an outer surface including a proximal end adapted to be connected to a pulse generator, a distal end, and a lumen extending there between, the lead body being configured to allow passage of a guiding member through the lead lumen;

at least one conductor extending within the lead body from the proximal end to the distal end;

at least one electrode located on a distal portion of the lead body and operatively coupled to the at least one conductor;

a pulse generator electrically coupled to the at least one conductor at the proximal end of the lead body;

a pre-formed, self-expanding helical fixation member positioned externally over the distal portion of the lead body adjacent to the at least one electrode, the fixation member including a distal end fixed to the distal end of the lead body and an unattached, free proximal end slideably adjacent to the lead body such that the unattached, free proximal end is adapted to slide along the outer surface of the lead body when the fixation member is transitioned from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the fixation member being preformed such that in an expanded configuration the fixation member is biased to a side of the lead body; and

a delivery sheath adapted to be retracted in a proximal direction to deploy the self-expanding fixation member at a target site in a coronary vessel.

9. The cardiac rhythm management system according to claim 8 further comprising a guiding member for guiding the lead through a patient's vasculature.

10. The cardiac rhythm management system according to claim 8 , wherein the self-expanding helical fixation member comprises a wire or coil extending over a length of the distal portion ranging from about 0.05 inches to about 1.5 inches in the expanded configuration.

11. The cardiac rhythm management system according to claim 8 , wherein the self-expanding fixation member comprises a wire or a coil having an outer diameter ranging from about 0.005 to about 0.007 inches.

12. The cardiac rhythm management system according to claim 8 , wherein the self-expanding fixation member comprises a material having a Young's Modulus ranging from about 12 to about 29 Msi.

13. The cardiac rhythm management system according to claim 8 , wherein in the expanded configuration, the self-expanding fixation member has an effective diameter ranging from about 4 to about 8 millimeters.

14. A lead for placement in a coronary vessel of a human heart, the lead comprising:

a lead body having an outer surface and including a proximal end adapted to be coupled to a pulse generator, a distal end, and a lumen extending there between;

at least one conductor extending within the lead body from the proximal end to the distal end;

at least one electrode located on the lead body and operatively coupled to the at least one conductor; and

a fixation means for securing the distal end of the lead body in the coronary vessel disposed externally over the outer surface of the lead body, the fixation means having a distal end fixed to the distal end of the lead body and an unattached, free proximal end slideably adjacent to the lead body such that the unattached, free proximal end is adapted to slide along the outer surface of the lead body when the fixation means is transitioned from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration.

15. The lead according to claim 14 , wherein the fixation means comprises a spiral, helical, or corkscrew-shaped wire.

16. The lead according to claim 14 , wherein when the fixation means expands from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration, the fixation means is biased to a side of the lead body.

17. The cardiac lead according to claim 14 , wherein the fixation means comprises a material having a Young's Modulus ranging from about 12 to about 29 Msi.

18. The cardiac lead according to claim 14 , wherein the fixation means comprises a wire or a coil having an outer diameter ranging from about 0.005 to about 0.007 inches.

19. The cardiac lead according to claim 14 , wherein the fixation means has a preformed shape.