Patent ID: 6944506

Claim:
A removable implantable cardiac stimulation lead system for use with an implantable stimulation device, the lead system comprising: a lead comprising a proximal connector coupled to a distal electrode by a conductor, the conductor being surrounded by an insulating sheath and comprising an axially extending lumen therein; and a stylet unit for implanting the lead system and comprising: an elongated main body extending between proximal and distal ends and defining a width at the proximal end greater than at the distal end, wherein at least a portion of the main body is dimensioned for passage through the axially extending lumen; and an enlarged feature at the distal end of the main body comprising a rounded tip end, a width greater than the width of the distal end of the main body, and a length greater than the width; wherein the distal electrode has an aperture for reception therethrough of a guidewire for use in implanting the lead and a proximally facing bearing surface for engageably receiving the tip end of the stylet, the tip end defining a width greater than that of the aperture of the distal electrode; and wherein the stylet can selectively be used for implanting the lead system in place of the guidewire.