Patent ID: 6868291

Claim:
An arrangement to facilitate the introduction and advancement of an endocardial cardiac lead transvenously within a patient's body to position an electrode of said cardiac lead at a cardiac implantation site, said lead including a lead body extending between a lead proximal end and a distal lead end, a lead conductor extending within said lead body between said proximal and distal lead ends, and the electrode at or adjacent said lead distal end electrically connected to said lead conductor, said arrangement comprising: elongated guiding means for guiding the transvenous introduction and advancement of said endocardial lead to position said electrode at said cardiac implantation site and comprising an elongated flexible guide body extending between a guide body proximal end and a guide body distal end and capable of being advanced transvenously to position said guide body distal end in relation to a cardiac implantation site; a lead engaging loop attached to and extending outwardly of said lead distal end and having a guide body engaging lumen for receiving and slidingly engaging said guide body; and pusher means formed of an elongated pusher body of flexible material and extending between a pusher body proximal end and a pusher body distal end for advancing said cardiac lead transvenously alongside said guide body, said pusher means further comprising: guide body tracking means coupled with said pusher body distal end for receiving and slidingly engaging said guide body as said pusher body proximal end is advanced; and cardiac lead engaging means for engaging against said lead engaging loop to advance said lead engaging loop and said lead distal end attached thereto along said guide body as said pusher body proximal end is advanced until said electrode is positioned at said cardiac implantation site.