Medtronic, Inc.

Nico M Lokhoff

Arnoldus P Bakels

Paul A Gubbels

A medical electrical lead which features a portion of the lead body which may be made temporarily stiff. The lead preferred is designed for implantation into a body and would include electrodes for both the ventricle and the atrium. The temporarily stiff portion may be located along the lead body in the area strictly within the atrium or may also include portions of the lead body implanted in the ventricle or even in the superior vena cava. The atrial portion further includes one or more electrodes. The temporarily stiff portion is formed through the use of a cavity in the lead body filled with magnet-rheologic fluid (hereinafter called 'MRF'). Once the lead is implanted, a magnet may be used to communicate with the lead body and, in particular, with the MRF filled cavity. While in the magnetic field, the MRF will become solid and the lead body in such an area will become stiffer. The lead body, moreover, in this area will also be attracted to the magnet thereby causing the lead body in that portion to migrate towards the magnet. The MRF filled cavity may either be cylindrical in cross-section or have other cross-sections, such as a semi-circle. The temporarily stiff portion may be located anywhere along the lead body between the proximal and distal ends. In the preferred embodiment the temporarily stiff portion is located between approximately 0 and 20 cm from the lead distal end and is between approximately 2 cm and 20 cm in total length. In an additional embodiment the lead is disclosed for coronary sinus placement. Finally, a further embodiment is shown which features MRF for the transfer of force from a stylet to the lead.

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Kerkrade, Netherlands

Nico M Lokhoff