Patent ID: 8532793

Claim:
A delivery system for deploying an implantable medical lead in a lumen of a blood vessel for stimulation of extravascular nerve tissue that is located adjacent to the blood vessel, via at least one electrode of the lead, the system comprising: an intravascular delivery catheter including a distal end, an aperture formed in a sidewall thereof to allow transverse passage out from the catheter, and a sensor located between the distal end and the aperture, the sensor adapted to radiate ultrasonic waves in order locate the extravascular nerve tissue, when the distal end of the catheter is inserted in the blood vessel lumen; a tubular member extendable and retractable from the catheter, via the aperture, the tubular member having a lumen configured to receive the implantable lead for advancing the lead out from the catheter and into the blood vessel lumen, when the tubular member is extended from the catheter; and a guidewire, along which the lead is advanceable, when the lead is received in the lumen of the tubular member, the guidewire being received within the lumen of the tubular member and advanceable therein, the guidewire including an anchor portion, the anchor portion being located at a distal end of the guidewire and distal to the lead, when the lead is advanced along the guidewire, the anchor portion being configured to temporarily anchor the guidewire to the wall of the blood vessel lumen, when the lead is advanced thereover and out from the catheter.