Patent ID: 7526343

Claim:
A method of accessing lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus with a pacing lead and guide catheter assembly, the method comprising: inserting a guide catheter into an access vessel of the heart, the guide catheter having an open lumen extending therethrough, a proximal end and a distal end pre-formed with a guide curve that is adapted to provide access to the coronary sinus via the right atrium; advancing the guide catheter along the access vessel, into the right atrium and to the coronary sinus; inserting a pacing lead into the guide catheter lumen, the pacing lead having an elongated body, an electrode coupled to the lead body and in communication with a conductor, and a fixation mechanism coupled to the lead body, wherein the pacing lead has a proximal end and a distal end pre-formed with a first curve and a second curve, the second curve extending proximally from the first curve, the second curve adapted to mate with the guide curve to direct the first curve into a selected branch vein of the coronary sinus, wherein the second curve is predisposed to self align with the guide curve without rotation of the proximal end of the lead body; advancing the pacing lead distally through the guide catheter lumen; advancing the second curve of the pacing lead into the guide curve, causing the first curve of the pacing lead to align with a plane pre-determined by the orientation of the guide curve without rotation of the proximal end of the lead body; and advancing the first curve of the pacing lead into one of the lateral branch veins of the coronary sinus.