A distal tip coupled to a body of an implantable medical device includes a
canted passageway extending distally from a lumen of the body and an
opening terminating the passageway and positioned in proximity to a
distal end of the distal tip; a helical fixation element coupled to an
elongated member extending within the lumen of the body is adapted to
deflect along the canted passageway of the distal tip. The elongated
member is adapted to move the helical member through the passageway of
the distal tip and out from the opening and to rotate the helical element
thereby affixing the helical element into an implant site.