Patent ID: 8145323

Claim:
An implantable medical electrical lead for electrical stimulation of body tissue comprising: at least one electrode; a lead body having a distal end and a proximal end, the at least one electrode being located at the distal end; at least one modifiable portion that is attached to the lead body portion at the distal end in proximity to the at least one electrode; wherein the at least one modifiable portion can exist in both a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration, and wherein the inflated configuration exhibits a greater resistance to movement of the lead within the body tissue than does the deflated configuration and wherein the inflated configuration provides inflation that symmetrically encircles a longitudinal axis of the lead body; a balloon area directly attached to the lead body in proximity to the proximal end, wherein the balloon area is configured to pass through an introducer used to implant the implantable medical electrical lead during removal of the introducer; a fluid conduit interconnecting the balloon area and the at least one modifiable portion, wherein the balloon area is inflated with fluid while the at least one modifiable portion is deflated and wherein upon application of pressure to the balloon area, the balloon area is deflated while fluid from the balloon area inflates the at least one modifiable portion.