Patent ID: 8239039

Claim:
A lead assembly configured for implantation within a blood vessel, the lead assembly comprising: a lead body defining a lead body lumen and extending longitudinally along a lead body axis with threads coupled to the lead body; at least one conductor extending within the lead body from a proximal end toward a distal end of the lead body; a driver disposed within the lead body lumen and axially displaceable relative to the lead body axis, the driver rotatable and axially displaceable on the threads; and a driven member integral with the lead body and displaceable away from the lead body axis, the driven member at least partially defining an expandable passage, the driver displaceable-from an opening into the expandable passage and through the expandable passage, the driver having at least one outer dimension that is larger than at least one internal dimension of the expandable passage, with the driven member including at least one weaker portion, the driven member to deform at the weaker portion to define an expanded exterior diameter that is larger than a non-expanded exterior diameter of the driven member when the at least one outer dimension of the driver is disposed in the expandable passage; wherein when the driven member defines the expanded exterior diameter, the driven member is configured to engage the vessel in order to fixate the lead assembly in the vessel while resisting perforation of the vessel by the lead assembly.