MEDICAL TOOLS FOR GAINING ACCESS TO EXTRAVASCULAR SPACES

The present invention provides tools and implant techniques utilizing such tools to gain access to and implant a medical device, such as a medical electrical lead, within extravascular spaces. In oneexample, the present invention provides a tool for creating a sub-sternal tunnel in a patient. The tool comprises a relatively straight guide member extending from a first end thereof to a second endthereof, a tunneling member extending from a first end thereof to a tip thereof, the tunneling member extending alongside and coplanar with the guide member, the first end of the tunneling member andthe first end of the guide member being joined together, and a handle coupled to the guide member. 本公开提供了用于进入血管外空间并在血管外空间内植入诸如医用电引线的医疗装置的工具和使用这种工具的植入技术。在个示例中，本公开提供了种用于在患者体内形成胸骨下隧道的工具。该工具包括：相对直的导向构件，该导向构件从其第端部延伸到其第二端部；隧穿构件，该隧穿构件从其第端部延伸到其顶端，隧穿构件与导向构件并排延伸且共面，隧穿构件的第端部和导向构件的第端部接合在起；以及手柄，该手柄联接到导向构件。