Patent ID: 7509172

Claim:
An apparatus for stabilizing an elongated over the wire implantable device having an open lumen, comprising: an implantable cardiac lead, the lead having a distal end and a lumen, the lumen open at the distal end of the lead at a distal end opening; a guide wire, comprising: an elongated body having a distal end; and an enlarged portion at the distal end of the elongated body, the enlarged portion and the lead configured such that the lumen of the lead, including the distal end opening of the lumen, is passable over the enlarged portion; and a sleeve slidably disposed along the guide wire, the guide wire and the sleeve configured such that relative movement between the guide wire and the sleeve engages the enlarged portion and a distal portion of the sleeve causing the distal portion of the sleeve to expand and engage the lumen of the lead, wherein engagement of the distal portion of the sleeve and the lumen of the lead fixably couples the lead and the guide wire.