Patent ID: 8744595

Claim:
A method for deploying an array of electrodes through an introducer and into tissue, the array comprising first and second electrodes spaced apart from one another along a distal end of a lead body, and the method comprising: delivering the lead body through the introducer, while viewing a first marker of a marking system that is formed at a proximal end of the lead body, the marking system to precisely mark the electrode array and including the first marker and a second marker, the first marker having a length the same as that of the first electrode of the array, the second marker having a length the same as that of the second electrode of the array, a distal end of the first marker being spaced from a distal end of the first electrode by a length that is equal to an operative length of the introducer, and the first and second markers being spaced apart from one another by a distance that is the same as a distance between the first and second electrodes; determining that the distal end of the first electrode of the delivered lead body is approximately aligned with a distal end of the introducer by viewing the distal end of the first marker approximately aligned with a proximal end of the introducer; continuing to deliver the lead body through the introducer, while continuing to view the first marker; determining that a proximal end of the first electrode of the delivered lead body is approximately aligned with the distal end of the introducer, and, thus, deployed, when a proximal end of the viewed first marker becomes approximately aligned with the proximal end of the introducer; continuing to deliver the lead body through the introducer, while viewing the second marker of the marking system; determining that a distal end of the second electrode of the delivered lead body is proximately aligned with the distal end of the introducer by viewing a distal end of the second marker approximately aligned with the proximal end of the introducer; continuing to deliver the lead body through the introducer, while continuing to view the second marker; and determining that a proximal end of the second electrode of the delivered lead body is approximately aligned with the distal end of the introducer, and, thus, deployed, when a proximal end of the viewed second marker becomes approximately aligned with the proximal end of the introducer.