Patent ID: 8036757

Claim:
A pacing lead for implantation in a pericardial space defined between an epicardial wall and a parietal pericardial wall, the epicardial wall and the parietal pericardial wall defining a height dimension of the pericardial space, the pacing lead comprising: an elongated lead body presenting a longitudinal axis; a generally helically shaped resilient fixation element extending from the elongated lead body along an axis oriented in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis, the resilient fixation element presenting a predetermined height dimension greater than the height dimension of the pericardial space, the lead body and the resilient fixation element defining a first lumen for receiving a stylet or guidewire such that the stylet or guidewire is selectively slidable in the first lumen to temporarily straighten the resilientfixation element to thereby facilitate implantation of the pacing lead in the pericardial space; and at least one electrode on either the lead body or the resilient fixation element, wherein when the resilient fixation element is emplaced within the pericardial space, the resilient fixation element is compressed between the epicardial wall and the parietal pericardial wall and thereby exerts a biasing force, biasing the at least one electrode against the epicardial wall.