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Implantable cardiac pacemaker leads designed to conduct electrical pacing signals from the pulse generating unit of the implantable pacemaker to electrodes placed on the outer surface of the heart (i.e., myocardial) and then conduct the bioelectric cardiac signals back to the unit. These leads typically consist of flexible wires that are completely isolated except at the electrode tip that makes contact with the heart. Myocardial (also known as epicardial) leads are directly attached to the surface of the heart using open surgery; the other end of the leads is attached through a connector to the pulse generator that is usually implanted in a surgical pocket located in the upper chest near the collarbone. Implantable cardiac pacemaker myocardial lead configurations may be unipolar, with one active electrode contact on the heart, or bipolar with two active contacts. Lead size, connector type, and other characteristics of the leads must be compatible with the pulse generator used.
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