Patent ID: 7187980

Claim:
A cardiac lead comprising: a) an elongated lead body having opposed proximal and distal ends; b) a tip electrode operatively associated with the distal end of the elongated lead body and having an exposed distal end surface and a proximal reception bore; c) a connector operatively associated with the proximal end of the elongated lead body and electrically connected to the tip electrode by a conductor coil received within the proximal reception bore of the tip electrode; and d) a cylindrical eluting ring disposed at the distal end of the lead body proximate to the exposed distal end surface of the tip electrode, having an axial length of about 1 mm to 2 mm, surrounding the tip electrode and formed from a compound including silicone and about 15% to 25% by weight medicament, the eluting ring being dimensioned and configured in such a manner so as to control the rate at which the medicament is eluted from the silicone, and wherein the cylindrical eluting ring has: (i) an exposed outer diametrical eluting surface; and (ii) an exposed distal annular eluting surface in close proximity to the exposed distal end surface of the tip electrode for treating surrounding cardiac tissue over time, and wherein the axial distance between the exposed distal annular eluting surface of the eluting ring and the exposed distal end surface of the tip electrode is substantially less than the axial length of the eluting ring.