Patent ID: 7647124

Claim:
A delivery catheter for implanting an electrical lead to a right atrium of a heart in close proximity to a His bundle, the delivery catheter defining a lumen through which an electrical lead can be advanced such that the electrical lead can extend distally from a distal tip terminating the delivery catheter when being implanted, the delivery catheter further comprising: a proximal portion comprising a first segment of the delivery catheter, wherein the first segment possesses a first durometer (D); and a distal portion of the delivery catheter being hook-shaped and terminating in the distal tip, wherein the distal portion of the delivery catheter comprises a plurality of segments defined by varying durometers, wherein the plurality of segments of the distal portion comprises at least a second segment extending from and generally planar with the proximal portion, wherein the plurality of segments of the distal portion of the delivery catheter comprises two or more coterminous pre-shaped curved portions that together extend through an arc of about 250 degrees to about 340 degrees when in a resting state prior to use of the delivery catheter for implantation, wherein the two or more coterminous pre-shaped curved portions comprise at least two coterminous curved portions having different curve radii, wherein the distal tip is oriented in a direction towards the proximal portion or the second segment when projected onto a plane containing the proximal portion and the second segment, and further wherein the durometers of the plurality of segments of the distal portion are less than the first durometer of the first segment, and further wherein the durometer of the plurality of segments of the distal portion increases in a direction from the distal tip to the proximal portion.