Patent ID: 7313445

Claim:
An implantable cardiac vein lead comprising: an elongated lead body extending between a lead body proximal end and a lead body distal end; the lead body including a sidewall enclosing at least one electrical conductor; an elongated flexible distal guidewire extension affixed to, and extending distally from the lead body distal end to a guidewire extension distal tip, the guidewire extension including a pre-formed bend that disposes the distal tip thereof laterally beyond the lead body sidewall; and a distal fixation helix affixed to and extending distally from the lead body distal end, the fixation helix including a sharpened tip and being adapted to affix the lead body distal end at an implantation site, wherein at least a proximal portion of the guidewire extension distal tip and the helix sharpened tip both point in a same general direction.