Patent ID: 8685040

Claim:
A tool for placing an implantable medical electronic device within the body of a patient, the tool comprising: an implantable electrode having a proximal and a distal end; a tip positioned at the distal end of the implantable electrode, wherein the tip comprises a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said second end defining a leading edge of said tip, wherein said leading edge further comprises at least one concave notch extending into said tip from said second end of said tip, a top face extending from said second end toward said first end of said tip, a bottom face extending from said second end toward said first end of said tip and parallel to said top face, a first side edge between said top face and said bottom face, and a second side edge between said top face and said bottom face and extending parallel to said first side edge, wherein said first and second side edges define a thickness dimension of said tip, wherein a longitudinal length dimension of said top face and said bottom face is several times greater than said thickness dimension, and wherein said top face, bottom face, first side edge and second side edge of said tip together form a flat, rectangular paddle; said tip further comprising at least one of a keel or a groove extending longitudinally along said tip for at least half of said length dimension of said top face; and a shaft attached to said first end of said tip.