Patent ID: 7711437

Claim:
A lead fixation device comprising: a conductive material in the form of a wire having a length, circumference and surface, the wire configured as a helix defining a lumen, the helix having an outer surface area facing away from the lumen and an inner surface area facing toward the lumen; and a layer of electrically insulating material that covers one or more selected regions of the wire leaving one or more additional regions of the wire exposed to thereby define one of the following: a plurality of individual exposed portions of wire along the length of the wire having a plurality of different configurations, the plurality of configurations comprising an exposed portion that extends completely around the circumference of the wire, an exposed portion on the outer surface of the helix opposite an insulated region on the inner surface of the helix, and an exposed portion on the inner surface of the helix opposite an insulated region on the outer surface of the helix; and an insulating strip that wraps around the circumference of the wire while advancing along the length of the wire so as to create exposed portions on the outer surface area of the helix opposite insulated regions on the inner surface of the helix, and exposed portions on the inner surface area of the helix opposite insulated regions on the outer surface of the helix.